The highlight games for the next set of EPL matches are FULHAM versus TOTTENHAM and WEST HAM versus ASTON VILLA. Our feature columnist, John Newsome previews these and all game week 29 matches with his unique and insightful commentary. You can view all previous analysis from John’s regular column here: English Premier League Predictions For Saturday.
Please note all prices quoted below were correct at the time of publication
Game Week-17
Wednesday 13th
BOURNEMOUTH v LUTON
19.30 in England
The rearranged fixture between these two takes place tonight due to the original tie being abandoned following concerns over Luton’s Tom Lockyer collapsing on the pitch.
Luckily, Tom is now ok and will no doubt be in the stands cheering on his Hatters Mates.
Both have played over the weekend with Bournemouth facing Sheffield United at the Vitality and Luton taking on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Coincidentally, both gained a point apiece from draws, with the Cherries fixture against the Blades finishing in a 2-2 score and the Hatters scoring a very late equaliser against the Eagles to get a point from a draw by a 1-1 score.
Dango Ouattara and Enes Unal with Bournemouth’s 2 goals after Sheffield United had scored twice.
Dominic Solanke missed an early penalty when the score was 0-0.
When one says ‘missed’ the Big Lad slipped just as the kick was being struck with the ball ending up in Row Z.
The ex-Barnsley Striker Cauley Woodrow scored for Luton in the 96th minute to gain a point against Crystal Palace.
That was Cauley’s 2nd Premier League goal spanning almost 10 years, after scoring his first for Fulham, coincidentally against Crystal Palace back in 2014 aged 19.
Nice one Cauley, nice one son, nice one Cauley, let’s have another one.
Bournemouth come into this game sitting in 13th place with 32 points from 27 games completed.
Luton remain in the relegation zone with 21 points from 27 fixtures, however, now only 3 points away from the safe team Nottingham Forest.
These two met at the Vitality as recently as September 2021 in a Championship affair where Bournemouth got the victory over Luton by a 2-1 scoreline.
Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke with the Cherries’ goals, both in the 1st-half before the Bournemouth Defender Lloyd Kelly gifted Luton a consolation after the break.
Betfred offer Bournemouth at Odds On 4/9, the draw at 7/2 and 6/1 for Luton to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 15/8 that Justin Kluivert Scores Anytime and 11/4 that Cauley Woodrow Scores Anytime.
Draw 1-1- Get 17/2 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
Game Week-29
The following Premier League fixtures are Postponed due to one of the teams being involved in this weekend’s FA Cup Quarter-Final.
ARSENAL v CHELSEA
CRYSTAL PALACE v NEWCASTLE
MANCHESTER UNITED v SHEFFIELD UNITED
BRIGHTON v MAN CITY
WOLVES v BOURNEMOUTH
EVERTON v LIVERPOOL
As a quick side note to these FA Cup games, here’s John Newsome’s predictions,
Wolves 2 Coventry 1
Man City 3 Newcastle 1
Manchester United 1 Liverpool 2
Chelsea 2 Leicester 1
The remaining 4 Premier League games that go ahead are the reverse of Game Week-9 which took place in mid-October 2023.
Saturday 16th
BURNLEY v BRENTFORD
15.00 in England
A superb strike from David Datro Fofana and a Konstantinos Mavropanos own goal gave Burnley a surprise lead at half-time against West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Unfortunately for Vincent Kompany’s Men, the Clarets conceded 2 goals in the 2nd-half to ultimately end up with a point from a draw by a 2-2 score.
It was a point gained despite what some pundits always say ‘2 points lost’ and it wasn’t a defeat which Burnley had suffered in the previous 4 Premier League fixtures.
Burnley sit in 19th place with the same 14 points as Sheffield United both having completed 28 games.
Coincidentally, both Sheffield United and Luton gained a point from draws over the weekend.
Brentford suffered a defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday, with a late goal conceded in the 86th minute leaving the Bees distraught from a 2-1 score.
Yoane Wissa had equalised an earlier Gunners goal, taking advantage of a mistake by Aaron Ramsdale who was the Arsenal Goalkeeper, due to David Raya still technically employed by Brentford which surely will change to a permanent move at the end of the season.
Brentford sit in 15th place with 26 points from 26 fixtures completed.
At the GTech back in mid-October 2023, Brentford gained the home victory over Burnley by a 3-0 scoreline.
Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo and Saman Ghoddos with the Bees goals.
Betfred offer Burnley at 23/10, the draw at 13/5 and 11/10 for Brentford to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 7/2 that Ivan Toney Scores First and 9/5 that Brentford Score in Both Halves.
Away Win 1-2- Get 15/2 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
LUTON v NOTTINGHAM FOREST
15.00 in England
Luton will have played their rearranged 28th fixture against Bournemouth on Wednesday before this weekend’s game against Nottingham Forest and technically, technically could be above Forest before kick-off if a victory is achieved against the Cherries.
At the moment, before the game against Bournemouth, the situation is,
17th Forest-24 points.
18th Luton-21 points.
The goal difference is,
17th Forest -scored 34 and conceded 50 (minus-16)
18th Luton -scored 38 and conceded 55 (minus-17)
Meaning, that any victory for Luton against Bournemouth would see the Hatters jump above the Tricky Trees before this proverbial ‘6-pointer’, even if it is 1-0 as Luton will have scored more despite the goal difference being the same.
Nottingham Forest suffered another defeat on Sunday, this time against Brighton at the Amex by a 1-0 scoreline.
The unfortunate Forest Defender Andrew Omobamidele was credited with the Brighton goal.
That’s the 4th loss in the last 5 Premier League games which isn’t good for everyone connected with the Tricky Trees.
As mentioned, Nottingham Forest sit in 17th place with 24 points and could possibly be in the relegation place before this game starts depending on the result of Bournemouth v Luton.
This will still be a relegation battle that could potentially leave the losers in the drop zone.
When Luton ventured up the M1 to the City Ground, to face Nottingham Forest, both teams shared the points from a draw by a 2-2 score.
After a goalless 1st-half, Chris Wood scored twice to give Forest a comfortable lead.
Unfortunately for Steve Cooper’s Tricky Trees, Chiedozie Ogbene and Elijah Adebayo got the Hatters’ goals to give both a point apiece from the Archbishops’ favourite scoreline.
Betfred offer Luton at 13/8, the draw at 5/2 and 8/5 for Nottingham Forest to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 7/5 that Taiwo Awoniyi Scores Anytime and 2/1 that Carlton Morris Scores Anytime.
Draw 2-2- Get 16/1 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
***Premier League Team of the Week***
GOALKEEPER- Guglielmo Vicario- Tottenham
RIGHT-BACK- John Stones- Man City
CENTRE-BACK- Virgil Van Dijk- Liverpool
CENTRE-BACK- Max Kilman- Wolves
LEFT-BACK- Destiny Udogie- Tottenham
MIDFIELDER- Declan Rice- Arsenal
MIDFIELDER- James Maddison- Tottenham
MIDFIELDER- Bruno Fernandes- Manchester United
FORWARD- Brennan Johnson- Tottenham
FORWARD- Son Heung-Min- Tottenham
FORWARD- Marcus Rashford- Manchester United
STAR MAN- John Stones- Man City
The Barnsley Beckenbaur
FULHAM v TOTTENHAM
17.30 in England
Sky Sports
Fulham suffered a defeat against Wolves at Molineux on Saturday.
Alex Iwobi did score for the Cottagers in the 98th minute, however, Wolves had 2 on the board by then and held on for the home victory by a 2-1 scoreline.
The loss leaves Fulham in 12th place with 35 points from 28 games played.
Tottenham probably gained the best result of the weekend, going to Villa Park and inflicting a defeat on Aston Villa by a devastating 4-0 away day score.
After a goalless 1st-half, goals from James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-Min and Timo Werner gave Ange’s Spurs all 3-points.
Villa were reduced to 10 men when trailing by 2-goals following a horrendous challenge by John McGinn on Destiny Udogie.
One negative to take from the game was Micky Van De Ven suffered another injury and had to be replaced early in the 2nd-half.
Micky is an integral part of the Tottenham defensive setup being one of the fastest Centre-Backs in the Premier League, which is what Ange Postecoglou bases his tactics on, so hopefully, for the LilyWhite faithful’s sake, Micky won’t be out too long.
Tottenham remain in 5th place with 53 points but have a game in hand on Aston Villa who sit 4th with 55 points.
There is the possibility that the Premier League will be allocated 5 Champions League places so both Villa and Spurs could still qualify, however, both will want to finish in 4th to be certain of an adventure in the Top European Competition next season.
Tottenham gained the home victory over Fulham at the Chas and Dave Memorial Stadium in October.
Goals from Son Heung-Min and James Maddison, one in each half, gave Ange’s LilyWhites all 3 points from a 2-0 scoreline.
Betfred offer Fulham at 11/5, the draw at 11/4 and 11/10 for Tottenham to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 10/3 that Willian Scores Anytime and 5/4 that there are Over 3.5 Goals.
Away Win 1-3- Get 14/1 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
Sunday 17th
WEST HAM v ASTON VILLA
14.00 in England
West Ham snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat against Burnley on Sunday, coming from 2 goals behind to score twice gaining a point from a 2-2 score.
After conceding 2 before the half-time cup of tea, 1 being as a result of an own goal from Konstantinos Mavropanos, Lucas Paqueta and Danny Ings scored the Hammers goals to gain a point.
West Ham suffered a defeat against Freiburg in the away leg of the Europa League tie but have the chance to overturn that 1-0 score with the home game at the London Stadium taking place this Thursday.
West Ham sit in 7th place with 43 points from 28 fixtures completed.
Aston Villa suffered a devastating defeat against Tottenham at Villa Park on Sunday.
After a goalless 1st-half, Villa conceded 2 goals before a moment of madness by John McGinn saw the Scottish Midfielder shown a straight Red Card for a horrendous tackle on Destiny Udogie.
Tottenham then scored a further 2 to run out easy winners by a 4-0 scoreline.
Aston Villa stay in 4th place with 55 points from 28 games, 2 points more than Tottenham, who have played a game less.
Villa themselves play in their 2nd-leg of the Europa Conference League last-16 against Ajax at Villa Park on Thursday.
That particular tie is poised on a knife edge with the score being 0-0 from the game in the Netherlands last week.
The Battle of the Claret and Blues saw the home team gain the victory at Villa Park back in October by a 4-1 score.
Douglas Luiz scored first to give Aston Villa a lead at the break.
Douglas then converted a penalty early in the 2nd-half before Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey added 3 and 4.
Jarrod Bowen did score for the visitors to half the deficit when the score was 2-0, however, Villa retook control to inflict the defeat on the Hammers.
Betfred offer West Ham at 15/8, the draw at 13/5 and 13/10 for Aston Villa to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 2/1 that Jarrod Bowen Scores Anytime and 11/8 that Ollie Watkins Scores Anytime.
Draw 2-2- Get 10/1 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
The Scottish Premier League remains the same for the time being, with Rangers holding the position at the summit on 70 points and Celtic sitting 2nd with 68, 2 points adrift.
Rangers gained a victory over Hibernian (who?) at the weekend, however, that was in the Scottish Cup to progress to the Semi-Final, with the fierce arch-rivals Celtic also progressing after inflicting a defeat on Livingston (who?) (Doctor one presumes).
Both were kept apart in the Semi-Final lineup due to hot and cold balls in the bag when the draw was made on Sunday.
Rangers will face Hearts (who?) in the last-4 and Celtic take on Aberdeen (who?) with the potential of an exciting Old Firm Derby (another one!) at Hampden Park in May.
Let’s face it, the powers that be want a Rangers v Celtic Final to generate additional revenue.
Hearts (who?) v Aberdeen (who?) would generate about 3 cans of Irn Bru.
A quick word regarding Aberdeen is the fact that the enigmatic legend that is Neil Warnock has left Pittordrie after just 34 days in charge.
The last game being the victory against Kilmarnock on Saturday to reach the Semi-Final of the Pub Cup.
The question now is, has Old Neil got something else lined up?
The Teddy Bears got a draw against Benfica in Portugal last Thursday, in the 1st-leg of the last-16 Europa League tie and play the return leg at Ibrox this coming Thursday.
Over in Melbourne Braveheart/Kylie was still spinning around looking forward to the exciting (not) business end of the Pub League, Pub Cup and watching the Europa League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan in Dublin, on a telly back home in Ozland.
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