MATCHDAY 32 PREDICTIONS by El Patron

Don’t wonder who El Patron is. My colleague Nessi Nesta asked me to step in for this weekend’s action. The questions have been posed: Who is to qualify for the top 4? Can Craig Shakespeare’s Leicester make them 6 wins on the trot when they visit the blue half of Merseyside? Is it dejavu again for Jose Mourinho? The relegation dogfight is also on with the likes of Crystal Palace, Hull City and Swansea all fighting for their lives. Here are the predictions.
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford – Saturday 2.30pm
Without Harry Kane (foot injury) and Hugo Lloris (illness), Spurs are seemingly keeping the pressure on Chelsea. Delle Alli, Christian Eriksen, Son have all stepped up to keep even the slightest of hopes alive to catch the Flying Chelsea. Their lunch-time kick off means by the time Chelsea takes on Bournemouth there could be only 4 points separating this season’s pacesetters. Watford on the other hand have had two precious wins over  Sunderland and West Brom and one more win will guarantee them safety as they will have hit the 40 point mark but they will have to wait as Spurs haven’t lost at home this season in the Premier League.
El Patron’s Prediction:  2-0                                                                                           Nessi’s Prediction: 1-2
Manchester City v Hull City – Saturday 5pm
Winless in 4 games for the Citizens is a bit of a worry for a team that wants to qualify for the top 4 but nonetheless they capitalized on other contenders misfortunes. Pep will be looking to win this one as the race for top 4 gathers pace. Marco Silva has done quite a great job at Hull City as they were at the foot of the table on January 5th now they are 17th two points above Swansea with seven games left.
El Patron’s Prediction:  3-1                                                                                         Nessi’s Prediction: 3-1
West Ham United v Swansea City – Saturday 5pm
The last two premier league meetings between the two sides have ended in the away side taking all 3 points and a 4-1 score line in both matches. Surely you wouldn’t know what to expect as both sides are having a rough patch of sorts. West Ham have lost their last 5 league matches. If the Hammers lose this, they will be dragged right into the relegation dog fight. Swansea played a good first half against Spurs but lost it at the very end this usually concludes which teams are to be relegated.
El Patron’s Prediction:    1-2                                                                                  Nessi’s Prediction: 2-1
Middlesbrough v Burnley – Saturday 5pm
There’s a dark cloud hovering over the Riverside stadium, winless in 13 games, manager less, there are all sorts of issues as the club seems to be returning to the championship just after one EPL season. This is a must win for them if they are to turn things around. Burnley are still looking for their first away win of the season. Confidence levels are high after grinding out a 1-0 win over Stoke City on Tuesday night.
El Patron’s Prediction:  0-0                                                                                    Nessi’s Prediction:  0-2
West Bromwich Albion v Southampton – Saturday 5pm
West Brom are still having one of their best seasons in recent times given the quality of players they have. Their recent form has been a mixed one with a valuable win against Arsenal, a draw at Manchester United and a defeat at the hands of Watford. I fancy them to take all three points here as Southampton also have a mixed form, the other day they beat an in form Palace but had earlier drawn blanks with Bournemouth.
El Patron’s Prediction:  1-0                                                                                   Nessi’s Prediction: 3-0
Stoke City v Liverpool- Saturday 5pm
The Potters seem to have run out of steam as results have not gone their way in recent weeks and they need to start collecting points to reach the 40point mark so as to guarantee another season in the league. Liverpool are without their star man Sadio Mane for a second game running and statistics show they have done poorly without the £34 million  signing. The positive vibe is that they haven’t lost to this opposition in their previous three games (winning all 3).
El Patron’s Prediction:  1-2                                                                                         Nessi’s Prediction: 1-2
AFC Bournemouth v Chelsea- Saturday 7:30pm
The Cherries grabbed a vital point on Wednesday which extended their unbeaten run to 5 league games but they face a tough test of a Chelsea side that want to wrap up the title as soon as possible.
EL Patron’s Prediction: 0-2                                                                                   Nessi’s Prediction: 1-1
Everton v Leicester – Sunday 5pm
Everton played out a good game at Old Trafford till Ashley Williams took matters into in his own hands causing a penalty at the very end. Lukaku has not been firing of recent and the premier league’s top scorer should find the net on this occasion but the desert foxes have turned things around after they sacked Claudio Ranieri winning 6 on the spin (5 in the league). They will have one eye on next week’s Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.
El Patron’s Prediction:  3-2                                                                                      Nessi’s Prediction: 2-2
Sunderland v Manchester United – Sunday 3.30pm
The Black Cats couldn’t wish for such a game at such a time. They have failed to score in their past 6 league games and they meet a United that doesn’t concede as statistics portray they have let in only 24 goals in 29 games which is the 2nd best defensive record this season. Mourinho will be hoping to avoid another stalemate so that his side keeps its top 4 chances alive.
El Patron’s Prediction:     1-2                                                                                    Nessi’s Prediction: 0-1
Crystal Palace v Arsenal- Monday 10pm
The Eagles’ winning streak was halted by Southampton on Wednesday night and that still kept them in the fight for survival. Arsenal hasn’t won away since February when they defeated Hull City. It will be an interesting clash as all the rest will have played with Palace fighting for survival and Arsenal racing up for a top 4 slot.
El Patron’s Prediction: 2-2                                                                                            Nessi’s Prediction: 2-0