Premier League Predictions – Baggies to beat Leicester, Burley can pull off another shock against Gunners and United in derby triumph

By Mark Young.

There are some mouth-watering Premier League games to look forward to this weekend as Roberto Martinez’s men visit his former club Swansea, Baggies welcome lowly Leicester, while City slayers Burnley take on Arsenal and then there’s the small matter of a Manchester derby.

Our head of online Rich Laverty is up against Mark this week . . .

Swansea 2-0 Everton

Swansea have been quietly going about their business this season, and are flying high as a result. They lost Wilfried Bony in January but Bafetimbi Gomis has filled a void, along with the impressive Ki Sung-Yueng, Jack Cork and Gylfi Sigurdsson providing creative influence in the middle of the pitch.

Everton have toiled this term, with ex-Swansea boss Roberto Martinez struggling in his second season at the club. A 1-0 victory over Southampton should have appeased any fears of relegation for the Toffees but their pre-season ambitions have not been realised.

Garry Monk’s men seem to have more of a cutting edge than Everton – despite having Romelu Lukaku in attack. The Belgian is either outstanding or wasteful, but I reckon Swans won’t give him the chance to make an impact on this game.

Rich Laverty’s Prediction

Swansea 2-2 Everton

Everton are slowly starting to pick up a little bit of form and whilst neither have much to play for, it should at least make for a few goals.

West Brom 3-1 Leicester City

Tony Pulis must have been fuming after complacent West Brom were thrashed 4-1 by QPR last Saturday. The Baggies are seven points clear of the relegation zone, but are still the same number of points off the magic 40-point mark with seven games to go.

Leicester are in trouble; despite their victory over West Ham last weekend, they’re still six points from safety. Anyone who has watched the Foxes this season will tell you they don’t play like a side that are bottom of the league, but the results say something different.

The return of keeper Kasper Schmeichel is a huge boost for the visitors, who struggled in his absence. But I predict West Brom will come out fighting to win this one – if they don’t want an angry Pulis waiting for them in the dressing room again.

Rich Laverty’s Prediction

West Brom 1-2 Leicester City

Pulis needs a reaction but Leicester will be buoyed by their win over West Ham last week and also by West Brom’s home humiliation against QPR. A win for the away side makes things really interesting.

Burnley 2-1 Arsenal

Burnley added last Sunday’s draw with Spurs to some big scalps, including over City this season. It seems Sean Dyche’s men will have no fear when in-form Arsenal visit Turf Moor.

Resurgent Gunners have won their last six league games and have booked a place in the FA Cup semi-final. They have hit form at exactly the right time and sit second after their 4-1 dismantling of Liverpool.

But I believe Arsene Wenger’s team will face a tougher test here than they did at Anfield. With seven games remaining, they may struggle to continue their momentum and I predict the Clarets will pull off another shock result.

Rich Laverty’s Prediction

Burnley 1-1 Arsenal

Nobody has found it easy going to Burnley this season. Arsenal may be the form team of the league but Burnley fight for everything and have already held Manchester United and beat Manchester City.

QPR 2-2 Chelsea

It should be a Super Sunday this weekend as league leaders Chelsea make the trip to Loftus Road. Despite taking the lead twice against Villa, QPR could only manage a point, so they’ll be looking to goal hero Charlie Austin again.

Blues laboured to a 2-1 victory at home to Stoke, with Eden Hazard’s fantastic performance overshadowed by a certain Charlie Adam’s goal. He will need to be even more on his game this weekend as Diego Costa is likely to miss this one.

The title is in site for Jose Mourinho, but a trip up the road this week could be a potential banana skin on their way to Premier League glory, as QPR continue to fight for survival.

Rich Laverty’s Prediction

QPR 1-3 Chelsea

QPR’s home form isn’t what it was and they simply can’t afford to defend like they did against Aston Villa. Loic Remy’s pace will cause them more issues than an unfit Diego Costa and Eden Hazard will have all the freedom he likes to cause havoc.

Man Utd 3-1 Man City

This Manchester Derby has so much riding on it! United have been fantastic in recent weeks with wins over Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa. The 4-3-3 formation that United have been using has been working superbly with Wayne Rooney at the top of a three-pronged attack.

City slipped up in the title race again and are desperate to bounce back from defeat by Crystal Palace on Monday night. They now look destined to finish fourth and there are question marks over Manuel Pellegrini’s future, with rumoured dressing room unrest.

While the visitors have a good record in this fixture, Vincent Kompany has been uncharacteristically poor in a defence that’s struggled to keep clean sheets when it matters. Louis van Gaal may put the final nail in coffin of any remaining title hopes for City this weekend.

Rich Laverty’s Prediction

Man Utd 2-1 Man City

Whilst any United simply can’t shake off three derby defeats in a row, you can’t help but be confident given the form of the two teams. A win for United would practically seal a top four spot, but which City side and which Aguero will show up?

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