Premier League Predictions: Manchester City set to slip, Liverpool & Tottenham to draw

We’ve not had long to wait for more football with some great midweek games to look forward to, including Tottenham making the trip to Anfield, Stoke hosting a troubled Manchester City and former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew welcoming his old club to Selhurst Park.

But these Premier League games won’t be the only battling going on as Mark Young takes on BT Sport presenter and Newcastle fan Lynsey Hipgrave in our predictions head-to-head.

Going four it

Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham

These top-four pretenders go up against each other on the back of varying success in the derbies. Harry Kane will rock up to Anfield with no fear of facing one of the Premier League’s stingiest defences after making it 22 goals in all competitions as he sunk old rivals Arsenal.

In his current form, he could potentially take Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge’s England spot so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. The former Chelsea hitman has been eased back from injury by coming off the bench in the last couple of weeks, but he could start against Spurs this week.

Reds completely outclassed Tottenham in their first meeting at White Hart Lane this season in August but the gap has since been closed and I predict both teams could cancel each other out in an end-to-end scorcher.

Lynsey Hipgrave’s prediction

Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham

I think it’ll be a really tight game but with both Sturridge and Kane on the pitch, I’m expecting goals. I’m going for a 2-2 draw.

Stoke are City slicker

Stoke 2-0 Manchester City

Stoke and Manchester City both snatched last-gasp points at the weekend. But it was a shock as lowly Hull extended the champions winless run to four league games as they fell seven points behind Chelsea.

Yaya Toure and his fellow countryman Wilfried Bony return from the African Cup of Nations triumphant, but it’s a blow for City gaffer Manuel Pellegrini that they’ve been ruled out of this vital clash. They could do with their physical presence as they attempt to get back on track at Stoke.

The hosts have already beaten City this season as they won at the Etihad Stadium in August and if some star players don’t step up for Pellegrini in their inspirational midfielder’s absence, there’s no reason why Stoke can’t do it again.

Lynsey Hipgrave’s prediction

Stoke 1-1 Manchester City

Without Toure, City aren’t the same team and don’t have the same steel. They have never won at the Britannia and I reckon that will continue.

Ever so easy

Chelsea 3-0 Everton

Chelsea new boy Juan Cuadrado could make his first start for the league leaders but Diego Costa’s still unavailable as he sits out the last game of his ban. The goal scoring will again be left to Loic Remy and Eden Hazard to come up with the goods.

Romelu Lukaku will be looking to make an impact on his return to Stamford Bridge to prove former boss Jose Mourinho wrong but he’ll need to be at the top of his game to trouble the Chelsea defence as the table toppers continue to gather momentum.

Mourinho picked up his first victory at Villa Park in the Premier League on Saturday and should follow that up with a comfortable victory against Roberto Martinez’s Everton.

Lynsey Hipgrave’s prediction

Chelsea 1-0 Everton

Chelsea are a force even without Costa. I’m sure Everton would be happy with a draw and will probably play for a point – I just don’t think they’ll get it!

Palace two good

Crystal Palace 2-0 Newcastle

Alan Pardew must be licking his lips at the prospect of welcoming his former club Newcastle to Selhurst Park, with Palace looking like the side he wished he had in the North East.

Palace have suffered just one defeat since Pardew took over – and have an FA Cup date with Liverpool this weekend to look forward to – but in contrast, John Carver has only won once since he took over Magpies.

The Palace gaffer would love another three points in the bag against Magpies and I predict both his and Carver’s records will stay intact after this fixture.

Lynsey Hipgrave’s prediction

Crystal Palace 1-2 Newcastle

I’m worried about this one but Newcastle should have taken all three points at Stoke at the weekend and I’m backing my boys to wipe the smile off Pardew’s face.

Saints to sink Hammers

Southampton 2-1 West Ham

Southampton and West Ham are two teams eyeing Champions League qualification as the race for at least two of the top four places looks like it’ll be fascinating until the end.

Saints were saved by Sadio Mane’s last-gasp winner at QPR but West Ham were sucker-punched by a late Daley Blind equaliser that saw Hammers drop points against Manchester United, despite the hosts being the better team.

While hitmen Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia looked unstoppable up front, they are coming up against a strong defence and attack at Saints. Although West Ham should score, the hosts will probably edge it and keep the chasing pack behind them.

Lynsey Hipgrave’s prediction

Southampton 3-2 West Ham

This is a tough one … it should be a great game and I think Southampton will just edge it.

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