Premier League Predictions > Apr 16th & 17th

[StevieDay1983]

[StevieDay1983]

Check out the latest odds and ratings for the Premier League games taking place this coming weekend. It's a reduced fixture list due to the FA Cup Semi-Finals but there are more games midweek next week so bear that in mind when placing your bets! 

[malabgd]

Manchester United vs Norwich City

2022-04-16T16:00+02:00

 

Manchester United

Doubtful:

Out (injuries/other): Fred (25/4 m), Luke Shaw (20/0 d), Raphael Varane (18/0 d), Scott McTominay (25/1 m), Edinson Cavani (12/2 f), Mason Greenwood (18/5 f)

Suspended: -

 

Norwich City

Doubtful: -

Out (injuries/other): Brandon Williams (24/0 d, loan from Manchester United), Joshua Sargent (25/2 f), Ozan Kabak (11/0 d), Adam Idah (17/1 f), Andrew Omobamidele (5/1 d)

Suspended: -

 

Daily updated injuries and suspensions information from more than 100 football leagues and competitions worldwide at: www.injuriesandsuspensions.com

 

Overall Stats
Manchester United 16 home games	Norwich City 15 away games

1.6	Goals scored per game	0.5
1.2	Goals conceded per game	2.1
25%	Clean sheets	20%
69%	Team scored	33%
38%	Team scored twice	13%
25%	Scored in both halves	0%
44%	Goal in both halves	53%

[StevieDay1983]

Tottenham vs Brighton

The opening game in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon is the 12:30pm BST kick-off between two teams that met in the league just a month ago in Tottenham and Brighton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It was a standard 2-0 win for Tottenham in the last fixture and the home team will be hoping to earn a double over a visiting side that have started to show glimpses of a return to form.

Tottenham come into this game in the unfamiliar territory of now being favourites to seal that 4th placed spot in the league table to qualify for next season's Champions League. Antonio Conte has done a tremendous job with the club but they have required local rivals Arsenal to have a bit of a wobble. Spurs are looking to win a fifth league game in a row for the first time since 2018. The team have scored 14 goals in their last 4 league matches so there are no concerns about their attacking threat. Two clean sheets also show that the defence has tightened up as well. It's all coming together for Conte at the right time. Tottenham have now scored 34 league goals in 2022 which is a joint-best tally for clubs in the top five divisions of European football alongside Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. Striker Harry Kane could be a decent shout for anytime scorer here having bagged 8 goals in 9 games against Brighton across all competitions.

Brighton were on a dire run of form having suffered 6 league defeats in a row and only scoring 1 goal during that drought. Yet, once again, Graham Potter has managed to turn a corner with a 0-0 draw at home to Norwich followed by a superb 2-1 win away to Arsenal. I mean, we should tread with caution here. Norwich are already looking like a fair bet to be relegated and Arsenal really are their own worst enemy right now. Despite their recent blip, Brighton's overall away form remains solid having lost just 4 of their last 19 away matches in all competitions so far this season. They could win a club top flight record of 6 away league wins this season with a victory here. I do still have concerns about Brighton's scoring ability coming into this game though.

This is a massive chance for Tottenham to deliver a psychological blow to their top four rivals by picking up a win and moving 6 points clear of 5th placed Arsenal before the 3pm BST kick-offs. The team are beginning to click under Conte now and you have to back them as potential title contenders next season if they keep this up. They have beaten Manchester City twice this season after all. Brighton have done enough to avoid relegation so you have to wonder what their mentality will be like for this game. I can't see anything other than a business-like Tottenham win.

Tottenham to Win to Nil @ 2.55 with BetVictor

Anytime Scorer: Harry Kane @ 2.15 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Manchester United vs Norwich

The first of the 3pm BST kick-offs on Saturday afternoon that I'm previewing in the Premier League will see the result influence issues at both ends of the table. Manchester United host Norwich at Old Trafford with the home team hoping to improve their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League by beating a beleaguered visiting side who sit rock bottom of the table facing relegation to the Championship.

Manchester United fans will undoubtedly just be looking forward to this season finishing and having Ajax head coach Erik Hen Tag come in to start his project. The Red Devils are in 7th place and 6 points off the Champions League qualification spots. Ralf Rangnick has the lowest win percentage of any Manchester United manager in Premier League history. The club are likely to be without a number of key first team players for this game. It's just 3 wins from their last 12 games in all competitions. There's not a lot to be happy about for United supporters. United have dropped points in 5 of their 7 league games against teams currently positioned in 17th place or lower in the table. However, there is a small reason to be optimistic. The team have only suffered 1 loss in 10 home league games since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking.

Norwich did look like a team that were gone and preparing for next season in the Championship. That was until they pulled off a 2-0 win at home to Burnley last weekend. Dean Smith's side have now avoided defeat for two games in a row and are 7 points adrift of safety with 7 league games left to play. Unfortunately, Norwich have lost all 11 league games against teams currently positioned in 7th place or higher in the table. Their only two away wins this season in the league have come against the other two sides currently down in the relegation zone with them. Smith could create history here by becoming the first Premier League manager to beat Manchester United with two different teams in the same season having beaten them at Old Trafford with Aston Villa earlier in the campaign.

Well, if Norwich fans were hoping to find optimism in the head-to-head record then they'll be desperately disappointed. Manchester United have won 21 of the last 25 encounters in all competitions. In fact, Norwich have lost by a 4-0 score in 4 of their last 5 visits to United. I'm not sure we'll see that score-line repeated here but this should be a victory for United. If not, then they can kiss the Champions League next season goodbye.

Manchester United HT/FT @ 1.95 with SBK

Manchester United -1 @ 1.87 with SpreadEx

[StevieDay1983]

Southampton vs Arsenal

The next 3pm BST kick-off on Saturday in the Premier League that I'm looking at is the clash between out-of-form Southampton and a stuttering Arsenal from St Mary's Stadium. The season is essentially done and dusted for the home team and they do look like a set of players already on holiday but can they get something against a visiting side who are starting to seemingly feel the pressure of the Champions League qualification battle?

Southampton will undoubtedly be satisfied with their season's work but it's in danger of ending on a disappointing note. The Saints are in 14th place and 12 points clear of the relegation zone but with just 1 point earned from their last 5 league games there's certainly a feeling that some players are already on the beach in their heads. It's now 4 defeats from the last 5 league games. The sudden dip in home form is particularly confusing with Ralph Hasenhuttl's men losing their last 3 league games at home having lost only 1 of their first 13 home league matches of the season. No other Premier League team has conceded more goals than the 216 league goals that Southampton have conceded since Hasenhuttl took charge.

Arsenal know that anything less than a victory here will seriously damage their prospects of qualifying for next season's Champions League. Mikel Arteta's men have lost 3 of the past 4 league games scoring just 2 goals during that spell. The Gunners continue their poor April form that has seen the club lose 7 of the last 9 league matches that they have played during this month. A worrying trend for Arsenal is that they have lost 7 of their last 8 league matches when they have conceded first. Striker Alexandre Lacazette is a decent shout for any time scorer having bagged 5 goals in his last 6 league appearances against Southampton. Bukayo Saka is another fair bet for that market having scored 5 goals in the club's last 6 away league games.

There is a risk here that Southampton could lose 3 home league games in a row against Arsenal for the first time since 1971. Arsenal have lost just 1 of their last 12 league encounters with Southampton. Interestingly, Southampton have scored first in 7 of the last 11 league match-ups which could have a fascinating impact on this game given Arsenal's awful record when conceding first in the league. I think this could be a dour game with both teams struggling for form. I can't see Southampton winning but the price on an Arsenal win is just about enough to sway me towards that.

Arsenal to Win @ 2.00 with SpreadEx

Anytime Scorer: Bukayo Saka @ 4.20 with Betfair

[StevieDay1983]

Watford vs Brentford

The final game from the 3pm BST kick-offs on Saturday in the Premier League is the fixture of relegation battlers Watford and a rejuvenated Brentford at Vicarage Road. Time is running out for the home team to start picking up some wins and give themselves a chance of survival. Can they do it here against an away side that are looking set to seal their place in the next season's Premier League in the coming games?

Watford face an almost impossible task of staying up in the Premier League this season. Roy Hodgson's side are in 19th place and 6 points adrift of safety. Not only that but their current form is diabolical with just 1 win from their last 7 league games including losing 4 of their last 5 league games. The Hornets are on the brink of an unwanted record. If they lose this game then they'll become just the second top flight team to lose 10 league matches in a row at home in a single season after Birmingham back in 1985/86. The team have lost 12 of their 15 home league matches so far this season. It's now 20 league games without a clean sheet for the team. It's all very grim reading and it's hard to see what can be done in such a short space of time to turn things around.

Brentford are a team that are managing to turn their form around. The Bees are up to 13th position and 12 points clear of the relegation zone having won 4 of their last 5 league games. It's probably no coincidence that they have won each of the 4 league games when Christian Eriksen has started. His influence is undeniable. Thomas Frank's men could win 3 top flight league games in a row for the first time since 1946. Brentford have also become the first team promoted via the Championship play-offs to win 10 league games or more in their first season back in the top flight since Crystal Palace back in 2013/14.

The pressure is all on Watford here. Not only do they need the win more badly than Brentford but they are also on the verge of losing three straight league encounters against Brentford for the first time since 1931. However, Brentford have not managed to win on any of their last 7 trips to Watford in the league. I do think this game is there to be won for Brentford mind and if Eriksen starts he will surgically pick this leaky Watford defence apart.

Brentford to Win @ 2.45 with SpreadEx

BTTS @ 1.83 with SBK

[harry_rag]

Bought Man U bookings at 9. Hasn’t worked as well of late as it once seemed to but, having been brought level from a 2-0 lead I just don’t see them failing to draw at least a single card.

[harry_rag]

1 hour ago, harry_rag said:

I just don’t see them failing to draw at least a single card.

Time to consign that idea to the dustbin!

[DarrenTse]

West Ham United vs Burnley

West Ham United
The Hammers were defeated 2-0 by Brentford on the road in their last encounter. However, they had gone undefeated in four of their previous six games, with three of those victories. The team have won four of their previous five home games. Moyes' side are presently sixth in the rankings, six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who with one game in hand.

Burnley
Burnley fell 2-0 on the road against dead-bottom-placed Norwich last week. They had lost five of their previous six overall games, and they had only one win in their previous 16 road trips. Dyche, the Football League's third-longest-serving manager, has lost five of his past six games in charge of the Clarets, leaving them 18th in the standings.

Prediction
Although there may be a few tired legs in the West Ham camp following their midweek European exploits, we can see the Hammers scoring a comfortable victory at home.

West Ham United  @1.73

[StevieDay1983]

Newcastle vs Leicester

The Premier League gives us a double header of fixtures on Sunday afternoon and the first of those I'm looking at is the game between mid-table sides Newcastle and Leicester in a 2:15pm BST kick-off from St James' Park. The home side probably need another win or two to make sure of their safety but they face a tricky task against an improving away team in this match.

Newcastle were one team that looked dead and buried earlier this season but Eddie Howe has come in and turned things around. The Magpies ended a three-game losing streak with a 1-0 win at home to Wolves last weekend to leave the side in 15th position and 10 points clear of relegation. The team do come into this game having won 4 home league games in a row as well. In fact, Howe's home record in the league is pretty impressive with Newcastle only losing 1 of the 10 home league games he's been in charge for. Unfortunately, Newcastle don't appear to enjoy playing on Sundays having lost 6 of their last 7 Premier League games played on that day. Can Newcastle earn a first Premier League home win over Leicester since 2014?

Leicester will be disappointed with their campaign overall so far but they have had to deal with a lot of injuries so they do deserve a large degree of sympathy. Brendan Rodgers has led his team to 9th place in the table and has seen them go unbeaten in their previous 3 league games. It's also 4 wins from their last 6 league games. Sadly, away form still blights the Foxes with the club losing 5 of their last 7 away league games. Rodgers could be the good omen that Leicester need here with the former Liverpool manager having only lost 1 of his last 6 visits to St James' Park as a manager. Could James Maddison be a player that tempts you to back him as anytime scorer having bagged 3 goals in 6 league appearances against Newcastle?

Initially, I was torn between who to back to win this with Newcastle's home form and Leicester's away form balancing the scales of league positioning. One factor that is eye-opening is that Newcastle have scored a league-high 13 goals from set-pieces this season. When you consider that Leicester have conceded a division-high 21 goals from set-pieces then it sets up a narrative. I was tempted to back a home win but I think a draw could be the better value pick.

Draw @ 3.45 with SBK

BTTS @ 1.78 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

West Ham vs Burnley

The second game I'm previewing from the Premier League on Sunday afternoon is the 2:15pm BST start between Champions League qualification contenders West Ham and relegation battlers Burnley at the London Stadium. Two teams playing in claret with completely contrasting fortunes and motivations heading into this game. Will either team come away with all 3 points?

West Ham will still be riding high after the stunning 3-0 win away to Lyon in the Europa League Quarter-Final during the week. The Hammers are currently in 7th place and just 6 points off the pace of the Champions League qualification spots. Recent slip ups from both Tottenham and Arsenal show that opportunity hasn't passed them by yet. David Moyes does need to address his team's consistency in the league though having won just 3 of their last 8 league matches. Home form has held though with the team having the chance to win 4 top flight home matches in a row for the first time since 2002. The team has scored in 17 consecutive home league games. West Ham have a cracking record at home against teams in the relegated places having won 8 of the last 9 matches against such opposition at home.

Burnley begin life after Sean Dyche after the controversial sacking of the former Watford manager. It was a decision that mystified the footballing world but owner Alan Pace declared it was time for a change of direction... not sure going down is the right direction but there we go. I'm also not sure the rumours about Dyche's sacking coming as a result of a chaotic drinking session with Duncan Ferguson are entirely accurate either! The Clarets have lost 5 of their last 6 Premier League games. Away form has continued to be terrible with Burnley winning just 1 of their 15 away league games this season. The fact Burnley have also failed to score in 5 of their last 6 league matches shows that scoring goals is a problem that is crippling this team.

I fear for Burnley after the departure of Dyche. I'm not sure what Burnley were expecting him to accomplish with that playing squad and such a limited budget. Not only are Burnley down in 18th place and 4 points adrift of safety with just 8 league games to play but they face a West Ham team absolutely buzzing for it right now after their European exploits. It is hard to predict how this will go but you have to feel it could be messy for Burnley if West Ham start well.

West Ham to Win @ 1.76 with SportNation

Anytime Scorer: Jarrod Bowen @ 3.10 with Unibet