While the Carabao Cup final takes centre stage this weekend, a stacked weekend of Premier League motion lies ahead before the international break.
Manchester United and Bournemouth get the weekend began early on Friday night with Michael Carrick’s side trying to tighten their grip on third place.
After an abysmal week, Chelsea must pick up the pieces away to Everton while Liverpool also face a difficult test on the road away to Brighton.
Sunday brings the Tyne-Wear derby with Newcastle United hosting Sunderland with the Black Cats drawing first blood within the reverse fixture back in December.
And in an enormous scrap at the underside, Tottenham host Nottingham Forest with each side dangling just above the relegation zone.
As ever, England legend and Betfair ambassador Alan Shearer has revealed his Premier League predictions to Metro.
Bournemouth vs Manchester United
Your football fix
Metro‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy evaluation, transfer talk and his tackle the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.
Join here, it’s an open goal.
This can be a really good game and a tricky one to predict. Man United could keep their run going after they bounced back very well from their defeat at Newcastle.
I suppose due to the situation that Michael Carrick has put Man United in, then they need to go there with full belief and confidence. Away from home, they were really poor at Newcastle, but we’ll must wait and see whether that’s something they need to have a look at. Michael Carrick has put them in a superb position for Champions League football, and I don’t expect them to get beaten against Bournemouth. I’m going to say a draw.
Prediction – Draw
Brighton vs Liverpool
Liverpool’s league form has gone flat. Their performances are flat within the league. You don’t know what you’re going to get. All of it goes on to the international break after this weekend as well, so it’s essential that you just don’t sit on a poor result for 2 weeks.
It’s a difficult one to predict. What Liverpool are going to show up? Is it the one that you just saw in midweek or is it the one that you just saw against Spurs?
It is a big game for Liverpool. Every game that they play now could be huge because you may’t spend that sum of money, win the league after which finish outside the Champions League places It’s not acceptable and the manager will know what meaning.
I re-evaluate I’m going to say a draw between Brighton and Liverpool.
Prediction – Draw
Fulham vs Burnley
I’ve not had any confidence in Burnley all season. It’s been a very tough season for them despite spending a number of quid. So, I’ll go for a house win.
Prediction – Fulham win
Everton vs Chelsea
I’ve got no confidence in Chelsea. They got battered in midweek and Newcastle beat them last weekend. I suppose they’re playing for the manager because you understand what the noise can be in the event that they get beaten again. But I’m going to go for a house win for Everton.
I believe Everton will someway scrape something from Chelsea. David Moyes has done a superb job and I’m an enormous fan of his and what he’s done, what he’s achieved and what he’s doing at Everton.
Prediction – Everton win
Leeds vs Brentford
This can be a massive game. Leeds needs the support of the fans for this one and so much more against Brentford who’re tricky opposition. They were good in the primary half on Monday night but then were terrible within the second half defensively. They’ll be trying to bounce back. I’m going to go for a house win because the gang will get them going.
It’s crazy we’re talking about Brentford for European football next season.It’s been such an odd season in some ways, but there are one or two clubs that may make the most of that. We’ve mentioned Everton and Brentford are one other one in all those clubs. Keith Andrews is doing a unbelievable job this season. Even us talking about Brentford with a probability to get into Europe tells you ways well they’ve done, but I believe Leeds need the win more and can take the three points on Saturday.
Prediction – Leeds win
Newcastle vs Sunderland
The bragging rights are massively on the road. It needs to be a house win. Sunderland got the higher of Newcastle within the reverse fixture. I all the time say you may get away with slightly bit more in these games and you may, but something tells me that this one might spill over for the improper reasons. I hope I’m not correct in saying that.
Newcastle someway must get the three points. They will’t not take the three points for obvious reasons.
The Champions League is gone. It was great to play against Barcelona, but for 45 minutes they type of put Newcastle of their place. But then you definitely get back to the Premier League, and you would like a great game to bounce back in and there’s no higher game than this. As I keep saying, it needs to be three points. There’s no other technique to put it.
They’re great games. The atmosphere is amazing, but you’ve got to play the match, not the occasion.
Prediction – Newcastle win
Aston Villa vs West Ham
Aston Villa’s form has gone flat, and their season’s gone flat but they’ve still got a terrific opportunity to get something really special out of the season. And in the event that they’re going to get it, it has to start out this weekend.
But I’ve been so impressed with the way in which West Ham have bounced back. I’ve said it repeatedly that result against Wolves should have been a turning point. A couple of things should have been said.
West Ham look a special team now and so they got a terrific point last weekend. I believe they’ll get one other point here against Aston Villa.
We’ve all the time said that confidence in football is large and Villa look as in the event that they’re devoid of any confidence. They’re far and wide defensively, which wasn’t the case. And someway, they’ve got to attempt to rescue it. That has to occur this weekend.
Prediction – Draw
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest
It’s an enormous game for all kinds of reasons; it is a gigantic game for each teams. You may imagine the response if Tottenham were to be beaten at home by Nottingham Forest.
I suppose whoever takes the three points must be greater than confident they’d have enough to stay awake. But however, whoever is beaten, then there’s an actual live probability that that team can be relegated. That’s how big this game is that this weekend.
I actually have no belief in why I’m saying this, but I’m going to go for a Tottenham home win.
Prediction – Tottenham win
MORE: Bournemouth vs Man Utd: Predicted lineup today and confirmed team news
MORE: Newcastle United reply to Manchester United approach for Bruno Guimaraes
MORE: Micah Richards claims Arsenal would ‘absolutely batter’ potential Champions League opponent