Bolton got it all wrong at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final against Stoke but sometimes it just happens, and the way they beat Arsenal afterwards shows there were no lasting effects.
Prediction: 1-1
Blackpool v Stoke 
Of all the teams who desperately need a win at the foot of the table, surely no-one who wants it more than Blackpool.
One win and they're virtually safe. Last week against Newcastle they played well and created lots of chances so it's important they play in the same vein this time.
Stoke's win against Wolves in midweek guarantees them safety, and they'll have an eye on the FA Cup final. It's bound to be weighing heavily on their minds so there'll be no better chance for Blackpool.
Prediction: 2-0
Sunderland v Fulham 
These two teams are similar - and they're both going to end up safely in mid-table.
I'm not sure Sunderland have a fit striker, so one thing they'll have learned from this year is that you can't sell your best player - Darren Bent - in the middle of the season and then fail to replace him.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with Fulham over the summer - if the Aston Villa job becomes available, Mark Hughes would be just the right person for it. The fact that Sunderland and Fulham are safe could make it a bit more of an open match than usual.
Prediction: 2-1 
West Brom v Aston Villa
This is another match where both teams are safe, so it should make for a decent atmosphere.
West Brom's resurgence under Roy Hodgson has been outstanding and he deserves huge credit. Under him, they've played more defensively and got more points - you work it out. As for Villa, they were never going to be in serious trouble. It's not that the team were too good to go down, but they had enough individual match-winners such as Ashley Young and Stewart Downing to keep them up.
Prediction: 1-1 
Wigan v Everton
In all the time I've been doing this, Wigan are the hardest team to predict because they're so inconsistent - not week-to-week, but within games.
The other week they went 1-0 up at Sunderland and lost 4-2, how do you do that? Everton haven't got a great record at Wigan but they like a scrap and will never lie down. I think the way Wigan went from one up to four down tells you all you need to know about certain characters in their team.
Prediction: 1-2 
Chelsea v Tottenham (1730)
Spurs really need to push on to try and get the fourth Champions League spot but they've been through a spell where they haven't won in the league so maybe their European exploits have caught up with them. The worry for them is that they're already looking to the Manchester City game as the fourth-place decider, but it could all be done and dusted before then.
Chelsea have also been through a rough patch but are a better team now, probably as good as they've been all season, and now Fernando Torres has finally scored he will be a different player, but they're still not as good as last season.
I expect changes at Chelsea over the summer - they failed to replace players they let go last year, one or two more may be playing to impress potential buyers, and I think Carlo Ancelotti will go too. The way Ray Wilkins was treated, among other things, was Roman Abramovich's way of saying "I'm the owner, you just manage," but it hasn't worked.
Prediction: 2-1
SUNDAY 
Birmingham v Wolves (1200)
This will be a nervy, highly competitive match which will need a strong referee, and I think it could be that whoever has more players on the pitch at the end wins.
These are two teams who love to tackle, look at the personalities of the managers, two hard centre-halves. After being absolutely taken apart by Stoke the other day, this has become a massive game for Wolves, who can't seem to buy themselves a goal.
Birmingham will limp over the line - they had a great Carling Cup final win but I think they need to look at things in the summer. Alex McLeish is a great manager but I think some of the things he was promised by the new owners he's not really got yet.
Prediction: 1-1 
Liverpool v Newcastle (1200)
Looking back, Newcastle have had a good season after it looked like they might be strugglers.
The sacking of Chris Hughton was strange but Alan Pardew has done a good job. Newcastle are very competitive, especially away from home, but Liverpool have really been revived under Kenny Dalglish and the ball is really running for them.
Injuries have meant Dalglish has been forced to pick some youngsters but they've done really well, which may enourage him to give others a chance. There's a totally different feel to the whole club since he took charge - people have smiles on their faces, and the results have been positive.
You can't underestimate the value of team spirit, and it's only a matter of time before he gets the job full-time, as the crowd won't accept anyone else.
Prediction: 2-0 
Arsenal v Man Utd (1405)
The other week Sir Alex Ferguson said how Chelsea were United's really big rivals, and the intensity of the rivalry with Arsenal has definitely cooled down a bit recently.
Arsenal don't have the big match temperament and can't handle the tougher side of things. That's something you need players to have, you can't give it to them, but with two or three signings, they would be capable of winning the league.
I was in Germany to see United play superbly against Schalke in the Champions League, but I think people need to keep a lid on things - the opposition was hopeless. I think Fergie will approach the game like a Champions League away tie and be happy to take a draw.
Prediction: 1-1 
Man City v West Ham (1610)
When Thomas Hitzlsperger came into the team, West Ham seemed to really pick up and score goals from all angles, but they appear to have cracked now.
It's not something you can put your finger on - is it down to man-management, the tactics or what? I don't know, but something is fundamentally wrong, and with the players they've got, they should do much better. As for City, they've really got the bit between their teeth, and they'll already know how their closest rivals Tottenham have done on Saturday, which will help them.
Prediction: 2-0
| 
Навигация
