Manchester United v Aston Villa
Old Trafford
29-03-2014 @ 12.45 UK
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra; Carrick, Fellaini; Valencia, Mata, Welbeck; Rooney.
Injuries: Robin van Persie (Knee) Doubts: Jonny Evans (Calf), Chris Smalling (Hamstring), Antonio Valencia (Eye) Bans: None.
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan; Bacuna, Baker, Vlaar, Bertrand; El Ahmadi, Westwood, Delph; Weimann, Benteke, Agbonlahor.
Injuries: Chris Herd (Personal reasons), Libor Kozák (Broken leg), Charles N'Zogbia (Achilles), Jores Okore (Knee) Doubts: Karim El Ahmadi (Thigh), Andreas Weimann (Leg) Bans: None.
Manchester United lost the Manchester Derby once again last night while Aston Villa lost against Stoke last weekend. Both sides were beginning to show an upgoing form until the last round, and are looking to recover it in this match. However, Manchester United are favorites on Old Trafford on Saturday as Aston Villa have only won once against the Red Devils once since 2009. United are in more need of the three points than Aston Villa are if they want to get that crucial 5th that gives access to Europa League.
Southampton v Newcastle
St Mary's Stadium
29-03-2014 @ 15.00 UK
Southampton (4-2-3-1): Boruc; Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Ward-Prowse, Cork; Lallana, Davis, Rodriguez; Lambert.
Injuries: Kelvin Davis (Knock) Doubts: Nathaniel Clyne (Groin), Guilherme Do Prado (Knock), Jay Rodriguez (Leg), Morgan Schneiderlin (Knock), Victor Wanyama (Knock) Bans: None.
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Krul; Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Williamson, Dummett; Anita, Tioté; Sissoko, de Jong, Gouffran; Cissé.
Injuries: Mathieu Debuchy (Groin), Gabriel Obertan (Knee), Ryan Taylor (Knee), Loïc Remy (Calf) Doubts: Sam Ameobi (Ankle), Davide Santon (Illness) Bans: None.
Newcastle, 8th in the table, meets Southampton, 9th, at St Mary's Stadium this weekend, in a match where Southamptons are the favorites. However, the Saints have only won once against Newcastle since 2002. Both sides lost their last Premier League game, and only one point is separating them at the moment. Both sides are struggling with injuries at the moment, but looking at the two lineups, on paper, Southampton just looks that stronger than Newcastle.
Stoke City v Hull City
Britannia Stadium
29-03-2014 @ 15.00 UK
Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; Adam, Whelan; Odemwingie, N'Zonzi, Arnautovic; Crouch.
Injuries: Robert Huth (Knee) Doubts: Oussama Assaidi (Knee), Erik Pieters (Muscle) Bans: Jonathan Walters.
Hull City (4-4-2): McGregor; Elmohamady, Davies, Chester, Rosenior; Sagbo, Huddlestone, Livermore, Meyler; Jelavic, Long.
Injuries: Robert Brady (Groin), Joe Dudgeon (Knee), Paul McShane (Ankle) Doubts: Curtis Davies (Knock), Shane Long (Knee) Bans: George Boyd.
Stoke are unbeaten in four Premier League matches as they welcome Hull City to Britannia Stadium. The Tigers, on the other hand, have won two of their last three matches after beating West Brom last weekend. The two sides have a history of draws as five of the last ten meetings have ended without a winner while Stoke have the overhand with three wins against Hull's two. Hull can with a win move closer to Stoke in the table, but given the Potters current form they will have to work hard to get three points.
Swansea v Norwich
Liberty Stadium
29-03-2014 @ 15.00 UK
Swansea City (4-2-3-1): Vorm; Rangel, Williams, Chico, Davies; De Guzmán, Britton; Dyer, Michu, Hernández; Bony.
Injuries: Kyle Bartley (Hamstring) Doubts: None Bans: None.
Norwich (4-4-2): Ruddy; Martin, Yobo, Bassong, Olsson; Snodgrass, Tettey, Howson, Hoolahan; Elmander, van Wolfswinkel.
Injuries: Elliott Bennett (Knee), Leroy Fer (Hamstring) Doubts: Michael Turner (Lack of match fitness) Bans: None.
Swansea got a late draw against Arsenal yesterday when Mathieu Flamini scored an own goal in the dying minutes of the match. Saturday, they take on Norwich who won against Sunderland last weekend and are 13th in the table, two points ahead of Swansea. The Swans have not won in their last six Premier League matches while Norwich have two wins in their last five games. Despite the statistics, Swansea are considered the favorites by the bookmakers, and looking at the current squad situation, the Dyer, Michu, Hernández and Bony attack should be more than able to bring the Norwich defense under pressure.
Crystal Palace v Chelsea
Selhurst Park
29-03-2014 @ 15.00 UK
Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Speroni; Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Ward; Jedinak, Dikgacoi; Puncheon, Ledley, Bolasie; Jerome.
Injuries: Marouane Chamakh (Hamstring) Doubts: Dwight Gayle (Ankle) Bans: None.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Luiz, Matic; Schürrle, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
Injuries: Ashley Cole (Knock) Doubts: Samuel Eto'o (Hamstring), Marco van Ginkel (Lack of match fitness) Bans: Ramires.
Chelsea's last match ended in a 6-0 victory against Arsenal and they might as well get the same number of goals against Crystal Palace. The Glaziers have not won against Chelsea in the last four meetings, and they are not left with many chances against Oscar, Hazard and Torres in the weekend. Crystal Palace are currently 17th in the league table, three points above the relegation line while Chelsea needs three points to keep their 1st in the Premier League.
West Bromwich v Cardiff
The Hawthorns
29-03-2014 @ 15.00 UK
West Bromwich Albion (4-1-2-1-2): Foster; Reid, McAuley, Dawson, Ridgewell; Mulumbu; Morrison, Dorrans; Sessegnon; Thievy, Anichebe.
Injuries: Morgan Amalfitano (Knock), Chris Brunt (Knee), Billy Jones (Hamstring), Diego Lugano (Knee), Goran Popov (Neck), Claudio Yacob (Hamstring) Doubts: Victor Anichebe (Hamstring), Gareth McAuley (Ankle) Bans: Jonas Olsson.
Cardiff City (5-3-2): Marshall; Fabio, Caulker, Cala, Théophile-Catherine, John; Mutch, Medel, Kim Bo-Kyung; Bellamy, Campbell.
Injuries: Mark Hudson (Hamstring) Doubts: Graig Noone (Muscle), Andrew Taylor (Knock) Bans: None.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær have not been able to turn the Cardiff de route, finding his side 19th in the league table. Saturday, Cardiff visits West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorne in what can be another hard away match for the Welsh. That said, West Brom have not won at home in six matches, and this might just be Cardiff chance. Furthermore, West Brom is struggling with injuries at the moment, but their available players should be able to beat a weak Cardiff.
Arsenal v Manchester City
Emirates Stadium
29-03-2014 @ 17.30 UK
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta; Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski; Giroud.
Injuries: Abou Diaby (Knee), Laurent Koscielny (Calf), Ryo Miyachi (Hamstring), Mesut Özil (Hamstring), Aaron Ramsey (Thigh), Theo Walcott (Knee), Jack Wilshere (Foot) Doubts: None Bans: None.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Kompany, Clichy; Fernandinho, Touré; Navas, Silva, Nasri; Dzeko.
Injuries: Sergio Aguero (Muscle), Matija Nastasic (Knee), Micah Richards (Muscle) Doubts: None Bans: None.
Arsenal are still licking their wounds after their humiliating loss against Chelsea last week and more or less lost the chance of winning the Premier League. This week, Manchester City visits Emirates Stadium and last time the two sides met, they won 6-3 at home. Manchester City are also favorites on Saturday with their current winning streak of three consecutive matches. Arsenal needs three points to stay in the top battle, but they are not likely to get them against Manchester City on Saturday.
Fulham v Everton
Craven Cottage
30-03-2014 @ 13.40 UK
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Stockdale; Riether, Hangeland, Heitinga, Richardson; Sidwell, Kvist; Holtby, Kasami, Kacaniklic; Woodrow.
Injuries: Matthew Briggs (Hernia), Dan Burn (Muscle), Askhan Dejagah (Muscle), Damien Duff (Knee), Kostas Mitroglou (Knee), Scott Parker (Knee) Doubts: None Bans: Fernando Amorebieta.
Everton (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas, Osman, McGeady; Lukaku.
Injuries: Darron Gibson (Knee), Arouna Koné (Knee), Lacina Traoré (Hamstring), Bryan Oviedo (Broken leg), Steven Pienaar (Knee) Doubts: None Bans: None.
Everton can close in on Arsenal with a win against Fulham, currently 20th in the league table, and are the favorites in Sunday's match. The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 4-1 win to Everton, and this meeting might just end the same way. Fulham are really struggling in the bottom of the table and given they have only won one of the last ten meetings between the sides they will get in trouble on Sunday.
Liverpool v Tottenham
Anfield Road
30-03-2014 @ 16.00 UK
Liverpool (4-1-2-1-2): Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flanagan; Gerrard; Henderson, Allen; Sterling; Sturridge, Suárez.
Injuries: Sebastián Coates (Knee), Enrique (Knee) Doubts: None Bans: None.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Naughton, Vertonghen, Kaboul, Rose; Dembélé, Bentaleb; Lennon, Chadli, Eriksen; Adebayor.
Injuries: Etienne Capoue (Ankle), Erik Lamela (Thigh) Doubts: Kyle Walker (Groin) Bans: None.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 11 consecutive matches and are 3rd in the Premier League before the Tottenham match. Tottenham, on the other hand, won their last match after losing two in a row. The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 5-0 victory to Liverpool, but it is very unlikely to happen again as Tottenham looked good in their Southampton match last week. However, Liverpool will win this match as they simply seems to be unstoppable at the moment.
Sunderland v West Ham
Stadium of Light
31-03-2014 @ 20.00 UK
Sunderland (4-1-4-1): Mannone; Bardsley, Brown, O'Shea, Dossena; Bridcutt; Johnson, Colback, Ki, Scocco; Wickham.
Injuries: Steven Fletcher (Ankle), Keiren Westwood (Shoulder) Doubts: None Bans: None.
West Ham United (4-2-3-1): Adrián; Demel, Tomkins, Collins, McCartney; Noble, Taylor; Diamé, Nolan, Downing; Carroll.
Injuries: Marco Borriello (Hamstring), Joey O'Brien (Shoulder dislocation) Doubts: Matthew Jarvis (Thigh) Bans: None.
Sunderland have not won in their last four Premier League matches and are 18th in the table with three points up to Crystal Palace. West Ham have lost their last three matches and are currently six points from the relegation line. From the positions in the table, West Ham are the favorites, but the Hammers have not won against the Black Cats since 2010, and given their current form they are not likely to change this on Monday. That said, Sunderland doesn't seem to have any power up front why this probably will end in a draw.
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