Premier League Predictions - 19/20th March 2016

Everton v Arsenal - 12:45

This one looks like a home banker for Everton as far as i'm concerned. Arsenal's defeat to Watford in the FA Cup on Saturday did not help the mood around the Emirates and it's become toxic with fans turning on each other at the weekend. They are in desperate need of a result but I can't see it changing here.

Arsenal haven't won in the league since beating title favourites Leicester City at home which was over a month ago. Since then it's been a demoralising defeat against Manchester United and outclassed by Barcelona in Europe. 

On the other side, Everton carry the most in form striker in the league right now in Romelu Lukaku with six in as many games in the league. Despite the Toffee's being unpredictable this season this seems like the perfect team for Roberto Martinez to play against.

Prediction: 2-1 with the inform Belgian on the score sheet.

Chelsea v West Ham - 15:00

The toughest prediction over the course of the weekend here, Chelsea will still be reeling from their Champions league exit at the hands of PSG and FA cup exit on the weekend. Although West Ham are usually a side that Chelsea do well against having been beaten only once since 2012.

The Hammers however are in the form of their life and currently sit just outside the Champions League places in 5th. It's been an unbelievable season for Slaven Bilic's men and would probably gain more attention had Leicester not be where they are. 

I'm probably swerving towards a draw here purely on the fact it's probably a good result for both considering their situation although Chelsea would argue they need to be closer to the European places than they currently are. 

Prediction: 1-1 Payet is in the form of his life right now and would expect more magic from the Frenchman on the weekend. 

Crystal Palace v Leicester City - 15:00

The first fixture between these two was settled with a Jamie Vardy finish and you wouldn't look further than the same here again.

Leicester continue their unbelievable assault for the title and will be pleased to have a fit Riyad Mahrez in their ranks especially away from home. The Foxes have been blessed on the injury front this season too with Kante coming back sooner than expected.

On the other hand Palace sit precariously close to the trap door of relegation and will need a result here to put some space between them and Swansea/Sunderland and co. 

Alan Pardew will be hoping his own hitman in the form of Connor Wickham will be fit this weekend after coming into the goals recently because Leicester will eventually score as they so often do.

Prediction: 0-1 Mahrez proving the difference in this one, should be a good battle up against Pape Souare at Selhurst Park.

Watford v Stoke City - 15:00

The corresponding fixture between these two was probably Watford's best performance and result of the season. 2-0 it finished to the Hornets and was the first proper glimpse of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney's fruitful relationship. 

Stoke will have been frustrated by their defeat to Southampton last week as it was a game which didn't mirror the strides they've made all season at all. The game was practically over after Graziano Pelle's double early on.

You can't say Watford haven't been consistent they've won 10 games this season and it's been 5 home and 5 away but their performances have often been better at Vicarage Road. 

Stoke though seem to have adapted to play on the counter this season like many sides and won't be fussed by the physicality that Watford will aim to force on them too.

Prediction: 1-0 I feel like this is a game that Watford really need to win and will be on a massive high following the win at Arsenal. Expecting Ighalo to get on the scoresheet here.

West Brom v Norwich - 15:00

A few weeks ago this one would have been a proverbial six pointer but West Brom partially due to the emergence of Solomon Rondon as a cult hero have put some breathing space in their fight to stay up.

Currently sitting on 39 points you would expect that to be more than enough to keep the Baggies on course for another season of Premier League football.

On the other hand Norwich City really can't seem to find a result from anywhere at the moment and have dropped into the relegation places.

2 points from 30 in the last 10 games really do make it a steep hurdle when confidence must be at an all time low down at Carrow Road.

Prediction: 2-1 The Baggies have already beaten Norwich this season and seem to be coming into a little bit of form at the right time. Rondon and Saido Berahino always have goals in them.

Swansea v Aston Villa - 17:30

Swansea will be absolutely devastated they didn't take anything from Bournemouth on the weekend especially having fought back twice and will need to pick themselves up for a massive game this weekend.

The Swans are in decent form themselves with 4 wins in the last 10 and will be hopeful the return of Francesco Guidolin will inspire them at home where they've been dreadful this season with only 5 wins at the Liberty Stadium.

Villa need a result here it's pretty black and white, If they lose they'll end up 20 points behind their Welsh rivals and you would think that's too big a gap to recover.

Andre Ayew will be a big miss for Swansea this weekend but this will be a very close game. If the away side get a victory here it could be a late push from an almost doomed season.

Prediction: 1-0 It's a tough call here it's not going to be a walkover but you would think there's just a bit more fluidity about the Swans and should end up comfortable winners.

Newcastle v Sunderland - 13:30(Sunday)

Sunderland really like Tyne-Wear derbies don't they?

The Black Cats have won six on the bounce against their fierce rivals it's become something of a hoodoo now for Newcastle United.

Their last victory came in August 2011. Both sides come into this not in great form as shown by their league positions with only two wins in ten from both. 

This is probably the biggest game of the season for both and could determine each others fates going forward. Sunderland currently sit outside the relegation places but only on goal difference. Newcastle are only a point behind their rivals and have a game in hand so the stakes couldn't be higher.

Prediction: 2 - 0 Newcastle have appointed Rafa Benitez this week as their new manger following the departure of Steve McClaren and this is the ideal game for the Spaniard to be adored by the Toon Army.

Southampton v Liverpool - 13:30(Sunday)

In the last few years Liverpool have had the proverbial number of their opponents this weekend. The Reds are unbeaten in their last 5 games against Southampton including a 6-1 demolition at St Mary's in December.

Southampton however will be relieved after last weekend's away victory against Stoke City and are playing some nice football whilst conceding very little. Interestingly both these sides sit on 44 points although Liverpool have two games in hand over their rivals in the race for a European place.

Both these sides have found consistency hard to come by this season. This game always has plenty of goals even with Southampton having the 2nd best defence in the league, Liverpool rarely don't score. 

Prediction: 1-2 This genuinely could go either way with Liverpool's leaky defence giving up goals but usually scoring them as well i'm going for a smash and grab. Sturridge being fit will be a massive plus as well.

Tottenham v Bournemouth - 16:00(Sunday)

Bournemouth can probably go into this with a little less pressure than recent games. The win over Swansea last week has put them on 38 points, this leaves them only needing a few more points to guarantee staying up this season.

The Cherries can go to White Hart Lane and play their fluid football without worrying if results should go their way. Tottenham meanwhile have only lost 4 times all season and only twice at home. 

They do have the best defence in the league having only conceded 24 goals all season, half being at home. Although with the second Europe League leg against Dortmund on Thursday will they try to rescue a 3-0 deficit or will they prepare for this instead. I'm guessing the latter.

Prediction: 4-2 I see plenty of goals here with both sides looking to play football in the right manner and plenty of chances being created.

Manchester City v Manchester United - 16:00(Sunday)

Without doubt the biggest game this weekend for the neutrals. Usually a heated affair and not without incident. Hopefully it won't be the dour affair we saw at Old Trafford earlier this season.

City have the best record at scoring goals at home this season so you would fancy Sergio Aguero and co notching here. Unfortunately the defence has been a problem even with the returning Vincent Kompany. 

United are still in disarray on the injury front it's been spectacular that they've been able to hold any kind of momentum in their charge for a top 4 finish. 

A win for Man City could take them over Arsenal but still remain 9 points behind leaders Leicester even with the game in hand. Whilst for the red side of Manchester, a victory could take them within a point of their ''nosy neighbours''.

Prediction: 2-1 I feel Man City have to win this game to have any hope of staying in the title race and should have enough in the middle of the park to gain ascendancy. Expect them to concede though having conceded 17 goals in 15 home games at the Etihad.

Will Swansea ever find the right balance?

How would you describe Swansea City's season in one word well 'disastrous'. It really has been poor at every level from the board, players and staff alike, it's very unlike the club we all fell in love with.

I could write all day about how the whole Garry Monk saga has been a mess but so much time has passed and quite frankly it was the right decision going forward.

Moving on...

The appointment of Francesco Guidolin has been underwhelming in all honesty. Reports coming in after the Bournemouth defeat are suggesting that the Swans plan on parting company with the Italian at the end of the season.

In essence the whole process, the sacking of Monk, and the month surrounding it, chucking in club legend Alan Curtis who is a rookie in management as temporary manager was lazy at best.

We all know the success Garry had it's been well documented just as his failures have as well, but it was a risk which worked well but it shouldn't have to be a risk at England's highest level of football.

Alan Curtis did well over the Christmas period there were positive signs looking at the Man City result as a stand out but just like they have all season Swansea played in spurts and gaps which isn't good enough at this level.

Remember this was going on whilst the club were actively looking for a new manager and were struggling on all fronts whether it was Marcelo Bielsa or Jorge Sampaoli it became another mess.

It wasn't exactly happening on the pitch either and clearly off the pitch affairs were affecting on, it was average in games against West Ham, West Brom, Palace and Sunderland and lets not forget the disaster at Oxford in the FA Cup but the players have to take more than their fair share of blame.

So finally when Guidolin finally arrived almost six weeks later this had a feeling of a panic buy on deadline day and everyone knew it. Google and Youtube were raided to see what the new man was about but if it's THAT under the radar then you know it's coming across as desperate.

The result at Watford just before he took charge was a gentle reprieve but if Ashley Williams hadn't got his head on that cross that would have been another poor result and you wouldn't have begrudged the Hornets that either.

So what's changed since?

Well not much really, there's still a defensive frailty which mirrors the sides around them and the set piece problems which have been an achilles heel for years and years has seemed to get even worse under the Italian.

There's a renowned pressing game which he's implemented but it seems like not all the players are buying into it because you see some players chasing as Sigurdsson, Paloschi and a fluttering of others but just like in rugby if you're going to keep a high press everyone needs to follow because if one comes out of the line you can be easily picked off and that's what's happening.

The signings of Alberto Paloschi and Leroy Fer are both signings especially the latter a side of a side in current disarray.

Paloschi isn't the biggest nor is he the fastest but you can tell he's more of a back up striker and not first choice at a bigger club with respect to Chievo of course. He's shown in glimpses like his debut, Tottenham and a few occasions in other games but just like the manager who brought him in it's been inconsistent which mirrors the club's season.

Leroy Fer probably sums up the season more than anyone. I still can't believe that Swansea managed to steal the result away at Arsenal and Fer was instrumental in that game and followed it up by coming off the bench to get the assist in the massive game against Norwich last weekend.

Everyone wanted the Dutchman to start against Bournemouth away yesterday and the wish was granted and what happened, his defensive discipline was apparent which was so obvious at Norwich and QPR where he plied his trade before and it contributed to Bournemouth's second goal and thus another awful defensive performance.

You could argue that players like Federico Fernandez, Angel Rangel and Neil Taylor have become poorer players under Guidolin which is worrying considering the run in of fixtures coming up.

I personally believe Taylor has had more opportunities than young Stephen Kingsley who was naive against Joel Campbell at the Emirates but efficient going forward and will get better with more appearances but the same doesn't seem evident for Neil Taylor.

The same for Rangel who has had more than enough chances he's been a superb servant but age is catching up with the Spaniard and I believe Naughton hasn't had enough cracks of the whip to warrant sitting on the bench.

Many people believe that Guidolin has had a great effect on players like Gylfi Sigurdsson and recently Modou Barrow but I personally believe that's down to the departure of Jonjo Shelvey which was a great piece of business. Barrow has benefited from his creative instinct not being stemmed by a rigid shape.

He's the kind of player you would tell "Go out there and play your natural game and just beat your man" something a certain Jefferson Montero would have been told before that superb start to the season.

Anyone who follows my twitter feed will know my disgust in Wayne Routledge's continued place in the team, he's contributed 1 goal and 0 assists and he's been nothing short of a Championship player all season.

Just compare his contribution to Barrow on the weekend who got a goal and played a part in the Swans second. The biggest compliment you can give the Gambian is that's when the Swans tide shifted back to Bournemouth when he left the field.

All we want as football fans of any club whether it's Barcelona or whether it's Cambridge you just want players to give their all and play to the best of their ability. With that comes consistency and then a set of results should follow but there hasn't been a stable period of success at the Liberty all season.

Off the pitch you want the chiefs in charge to be prepared and organised for every opportunity. Which up until the last 18 months you could argue Huw Jenkins and co were doing.

So will Swansea find the right balance well time is starting to run out and you can't keep relying on the likes of Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich to keep struggling especially with easier run ins.

I don't have a solution to any of the problems the Swans are facing this season only ideas, someone needs to be appointed who can focus solely on defensive set pieces because at this level it could be the difference between staying up or not, think a massive centre half with plenty of experience.

Changes need to be made at the back even Fabianski hasn't been exempt from criticism this season, but Amat proved a steady deputy at Arsenal and Kingsley will flourish from youthful exuberance which seems to be drilled out of Swansea at the moment and Naughton deserves a run in the team.

At the other end of the field, Paloschi and Bafetimbi Gomis are clear they can't play as lone strikers it's pretty obvious but why do other teams have so much more success playing one up front well it's simple... movement.

You'd rather lose but create plenty of opportunities say 4-2 down than lose 1-0 and have one half chance and that's been the problem all season. Play Barrow with Ayew and both strikers haven't exactly lit their season up but Paloschi has had less chances so stick with the Italian but play to his strengths he's not going to win headers but he will make the runs so pick the guy out.

The Premier League is a physical league and more sides are opting for physicality especially for easy set piece goals look at West Brom and Palace, when you're not playing well trust Gylfi with a delivery for some players to attack and currently Swansea don't have those players.

Ki, Cork, Rangel, Taylor are all small players who have technical ability but unfortunately thats not how the game is currently being played. Even the centre halves aren't physically imposing and especially don't notch enough goals in comparison to others.

I'm not saying a team of 6ft 2 giants are needed in every position, Barcelona don't do it and they succeed very well but that's a team who have players who can hurt you but only because their put in a position to do so. The current formation is the right one of course it is, but there needs to be a fluidity to that and unfortunately I don't believe Francesco Guidolin is the answer.

Too many times this season have we lose the midfield battle which we've often dominated in the past because we have players who won't put in a shift or there's not a balance which has been struck to get the best out of every player.

Aston Villa next up, it's not a banker and shouldn't be viewed as one because Villa will see it as a game they can definitely take 3 points from and so they should. It's a simple must win but there needs to be an element of conviction with the performance to send a message to their rivals because fail to win on the weekend and I firmly believe Swansea are back in it and you can't say they don't deserve to be.

Fabianski - Naughton - Amat - Williams - Kingsley - Cork - Fer - Ayew - Sigurdsson - Barrow - Paloschi