The Premier League what if series returns for another Gameweek. There are 6 games to go in the season and this gameweek mainly focuses on the relegation scrap with a lot of the top teams having fixtures at home to mid-table and relegation sides. In the previous edition, Bournemouth dragged themselves out of the relegation zone, Man City beat the champions elect Liverpool and Spurs were delivered a crushing blow by Sheffield United in their bid for European football. Scroll down to see what I believe would’ve happened in this weekends set of fixtures.
Manchester United vs Bournemouth
What would have happened:
I’d have expected Manchester United to win this one pretty comfortably. Bournemouth have struggled for goals away from home all season and United are averaging only 0.75 goals conceded a game at home this season. Bournemouth also struggle defensively away and this all adds up for another good day out for United and a 3rd clean sheet in a row in my eyes.
Man United 2-0 Bournemouth
Burnley vs Sheffield United
What would have happened:
Sheffield United tonked Burnley 3-0 earlier in the season but this game will be a lot tougher with the pressure of a top 4 push to deal with and staying focused coming off a huge win against Spurs. Burnley would be coming into this off the back of 2 low scoring draws and there probably wouldn’t be a lot separating these sides here with Turf Moor with Burnley unbeaten in their last 5 at home. I believe Burnley would get a result out of this and I can see them edging this one 2-1 with Wood and Rodriguez scoring.
Burnley 2-1 Sheffield United
Leicester City vs Crystal Palace
What would have happened:
Leicester would’ve scored at least twice in each of their last 4 games going into this and that would be too much firepower for a Palace side that have struggled for goals as of late and created very little in the reverse fixture between these sides. With Vardy in top form at this point and the defence looking solid at home, this should be a simple 2-0 win.
Leicester 2-0 Crystal Palace
Newcastle United vs West Ham United
What would have happened:
This is a huge game for both sides with the winner taking a huge step towards safety. Steve Bruce historically has a poor record against David Moyes sides but I can see him turning that around in a matchup that tends to provide more goals than you’d expect. West Ham’s defence is really shaky and Newcastle tend to create a lot of chances at home and today is the day for me where they are more clinical than they have been for most of the season. I don’t trust them to keep a clean sheet but I believe they’d win this game 3-1 and be one result away from guaranteeing safety.
Newcastle 3-1 West Ham
Norwich City vs Brighton and Hove Albion
What would have happened:
This is a huge game in the relegation scrap and one which Norwich need to win to have any chance of staying up. Brighton would come into this one in slightly better away form than earlier in 2020 having held Sheffield United and Wolves and I believe they’re a better team than Norwich. The home atmosphere would be a boost for Norwich but their defence is a huge concern and Brighton do have quality going forward though that may not have translated into results at times. They can edge this game and probably doom Norwich to the Championship in the proces.
Norwich 1-2 Brighton
Southampton vs Manchester City
What would have happened:
This does have the potential to be a trappy game for Man City. They would have likely had a Champions League quarter final game around this time and Southampton were very close to getting a result at the Etihad. They could have easily been caught out if they weren’t fully on their game and I’m going to go for a minor upset and say they drop points here. The league title would be gone by now so there’s a decent chance players like De Bruyne and Laporte would’ve been rested here and that may hand Southampton enough initiative to get a result in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Southampton 2-2 Man City
Tottenham vs Everton
What would have happened:
This is the game where I’d have expected Kane to make his first appearance since his injury though it likely would’ve come off the bench. This would’ve given his teammates a boost in a fixture that Spurs have utterly dominated in recent times with Everton winless against Spurs since 2012. I believe this streak would continue and that Spurs would finally start to dig themselves out of the hole they’d made for themselves this season and keep a rare clean sheet for good measure.
Spurs 1-0 Everton
Chelsea vs Watford
What would have happened:
Watford tend to struggle away from home and with Chelsea getting players like Pulisic, Kovacic and Loftus-Cheek coming back from injuries they’ll only be getting stronger and this should really be an easy victory for them. Watford will likely be focusing on home games against Norwich and Newcastle coming up as ways to get them out of danger and would try and nick a point here as a bonus. Chelsea will be too strong for them though in the middle of the park and should get through a defence that has been porous away from home all season.
Chelsea 3-0 Watford
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
What would have happened:
This would’ve been a long afternoon for Villa fans. The leakiest away defence in the league going to Anfield is a recipe for disaster and with Liverpool not having any other competitions to focus on at this point they’d probably be looking to make a statement after losing at the Etihad last week. Liverpool should be able to keep a clean sheet easily and their attacking players will have a field day against this Villa defence.
Liverpool 4-0 Villa
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Arsenal
What would have happened:
Wolves have looked very good each time they’ve played Arsenal in the last couple of years and with Arsenal in poor form away from home I can see Wolves replicating the 3-1 win they had in this fixture at home last year and making it 3 league wins on the bounce. Arsenal come into this winless in their last 8 away games and this sort of form is what will cost them a place in the top 4.
Wolves 3-1 Arsenal
Updated table after Gameweek 33:
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