TheCable

With the Barclays Premier League (BPL) title now a two-horse-race between Chelsea and Manchester City, another ‘title’ fight – for top-four finish – is being spearheaded by Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton.

Two of the title rivals meet this weekend as United welcome Spurs to Old Trafford.

Our soccer analysts – who have their own title fight too – are back to give you their views and predictions on this match and the other nine fixtures.

Welcome to BPL preview!

CRYSTAL PALACE V QPR

Crystal Palace have only won one of their last seven home matches in the BPL but QPR have only won one match away from home this season. Aisha, one can safely say this will end in a draw. No?

Aisha: Alan Pardew deserves credit for turning Palace’s season around even though they are not quite safe just yet. QPR are really struggling now and may not survive in the end. I think Crystal Palace will win this 2-1

Kayode: QPR are desperate to bag all the points that would boost their survival chances, but Selhurst Park is one of the toughest grounds in the league so they have their hands full here. Alan Pardew seems to have rejuvenated Palace since he took over. They have only lost three of their last 10 games in the league with four wins during that period. I fancy them winning this game 2-0

Sunday: A game between two London rivals. However, these two Londoners do not tend to fare well in the city derbies, therefore it’s a chance for one to be a winner. Crystal Palace are a fast and tactically astute side, with Yannick Bolasie, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha all giving them pace, width and unpredictability. QPR, on the other hand, are stuck with just Charlie Austin as their only on-form player, scoring even in defeat while others look like faded stars trying to impress no one. Palace have been able to get their neck out of relegation waters – almost – due to their excellent form when manager Alan Pardew was appointed early in the year but this has waned, while QPR are struggling with just a win – against Sunderland – and lost all other matches on the road this season. QPR are, however, unbeaten against Palace in seven meetings but Pardew’s men have not lost to relegation-threatened team at home and I expect that to continue against an abject QPR side away from home comfort. 3-1

ARSENAL V WEST HAM

Arsenal have managed five wins in their last six league games. Meanwhile, the visitors haven’t won a game in the league since a 3-0 at home to Hull City on January 18. Sunday, easy win for the Gunners?

Sunday: The Gunners will be in two minds this weekend, should they concentrate on the BPL and see their midweek Champions League game at Monaco as a lost cause or give it a real go? Whatever their choice, they won’t find it easy against Sam Allardyce’s Hammers in another London derby of the week. But history does not favour the West Londoners who have not defeated Arsenal in 13 previous meetings. Arsenal are also on a run of seven consecutive home wins and look good value for another with the likes of Ozil, Sanchez in their side. Aaron Ramsey is also back and they would have confidence from their Monday night win at Man United in the FA Cup. Big Sam will hope captain Noble can inspire his boys at the Emirates but I can look no further than Arsenal quickly wrapping this game up in the first 60 minutes in order to start preparations for Monaco. 3-1

Aisha: The Gunners are in very good form and, to be honest, I don’t see West Ham getting anything out of this. Arsenal to win 3-1

Kayode: West Ham have been on a terrible run of form lately, but they can catch Arsenal off guard while their mind is on the trip to Monaco next week. Arsenal will be riding high on the back of their win at Old Trafford. It was the Gunners first victory at the Theatre of Dreams since 2006. That momentum should continue against West Ham and end in Monaco. 3-0

LEICESTER CITY V HULL CITY

Leicester City have lost just one of their last seven league meetings with Hull City (W4 D2 L1). Kayode, can they maintain this superior head-to-head over the Tigers?

Kayode: This game between relegation rivals could end in victory for either side. Rock-bottom Leicester are four points adrift and seven from safety. They have a game in hand, but it’s against Chelsea. Hull are 15th on the log with 27 points. I give the match to Leicester not only because they are at home, but they need those three precious points more than the Tigers to stay in the Premier League. 2-1

Sunday: Leicester City are the most off-form team in the BPL while Hull are in some form, winning four of their last 10, with two wins and two draws in their last six. Hull City’s turn of form has coincided with the presence of January addition Dame N’Doye who has been in prolific form and has three goals in three starts, including an ingenious back-heeled goal. Unlucky not to have found the net regularly, Leicester have found goals hard to come by with only three in their last eight games at home in the King Power’s stadium and Hull could be in for a rare away win as they have a good record against relegation threatened teams, winning 3-1 at Sunderland. 1-2

Aisha: Leicester City are rock bottom of the league and it’s difficult to say if they would leave that position any time soon. However against Hull City, I fancy them to get a point. 1-1

SUNDERLAND V ASTON VILLA

Only one goal has been scored in the last three meetings between the two sides. Aisha, a boring 0-0 draw in the offing?

Aisha: Aston Villa were boosted by their qualification for the FA Cup semi-finals and the 2-1 win over West Brom. But Sunderland at home is usually a difficult proposition. I expect both teams to cancel out each other and settle for a draw. 1-1

Kayode: Only a point separates the two sides in this key relegation battle. After back-to-back wins over local rivals West Brom, Aston Villa look re-energised under Tim Sherwood. They are on the bounce at the moment and should compound the worries of Sunderland who have been embroiled in controversy over the past two weeks. 1-3

Sunday: A real relegation six-pointer and the media’s delight of a game. Animated Tim will be doing what he knows best in the face of the quill but explosive Gus Poyet of Sunderland. The Villains will come into this fixture with the knowledge that they have Sunderland’s numbers, being undefeated by the Mackems in their last seven meetings. They are also on a run of two straight wins against fierce rivals West Brom (a run considering the hard times under former manager Paul Lambert). Tim Sherwood has got the Villains scoring again, and Agbonlahor is on-form again. Sunderland have Jermain Defoe who has gone quiet in recent weeks but could explode anytime. Poyet likes to line up with caution – a safety first approach – while Sherwood throws caution to the wind by setting up his team to attack and I think the positive approach is going to win the encounter for his team. 1-2

WEST BROM V STOKE CITY

West Brom have failed to find the net in eight of their 11 league meetings with Stoke who have lost just one game of the 11 league clashes with the host (W7, D3, L1). Aisha, an away win on the card?

Aisha: Mark Hughes has got Stoke playing very well at the moment while West Brom are beginning to find the going tough. Yes, I see an away win here. 1-2

Sunday: Tony Pulis’ heroic have seen West Brom move away from relegation and he was named manager of the month for February. His team’s home form has helped him achieve that, with Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye in good form. Stoke City are no push-overs themselves and are one of the most in-form sides in the BPL with four wins in their last six games and just a loss away from home in six. They also have an enviable away record against the Albions, unbeaten in seven matches at the Hawthorns and winning six of them. However, Pulis’ ability to pull his teams over the line in winnable encounters – especially at home – will give West Brom the edge. 2-1

Kayode: West Brom are down at the moment after losing twice to Aston Villa in the space of a week away from the Hawthorns. I see them unleashing their frustrations on Stoke in this game. 2-0

Let’s go for a brief commercial break.

Lennon celebrates with Eriksen after Spurs’ second goal in the 2-1 win at Old Trafford last season

Welcome back!

BURNLEY V MAN CITY

Burnley surprised everybody when they picked a point against Chelsea away from home. They are at home against City, Aisha, are you expecting another heroics from them?

Aisha: A very poor Burnley side take on the defending champions and title chasing Man City. There’s only one winner in this. And it’s the champions. 0-3

Kayode: With the Champions League game against Barcelona coming up few days after this clash, City are faced with a tricky situation. I expect them to focus on this game. City are five points behind league leaders Chelsea, who have a game in hand, and for Manuel Pellegrini’s men to stand any chance of reclaiming their title, they can’t afford to drop even a single point till the end of the season. 0-2

Sunday: Burnley caused major headlines in December when they came back from two goals down to draw Man City at the Etihad stadium, therefore this game is much about revenge for an embattled Manuel Pellegrini and his men as they aim to catch up on Chelsea in the title race. Burnley are no slow-coach themselves, defeating Southampton at home and with Danny Ings still in the team, I think they would cause problems for City. The Manchester blue side are all about goals, however, and they should get a couple from Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Silva and possibly Wilfried Bony if they all play some part in this encounter. 1-4

CHELSEA V SOUTHAMPTON

This fixture has a record for producing plenty of fouls, with Chelsea frequently leading the way. The clubs’ last two encounters at Stamford Bridge have seen the Blues commit 11 or more fouls, with the referee booking the Blues 11 times in the 2-2 draw in January 2013 and 15 times in their 3-1 win in December of that year. And it reminds one of the game with PSG. Aisha, another Roforofo Fight at Stamford Bridge?

Aisha: Hmm, that’s a discussion for another (General laughter). The Saints won last time out after a string of poor results. But playing against league leaders and odds on favourite to win the title is a daunting task for anyone. Chelsea don’t want any more slips and would want to win this badly. I think this will end 2-0

Kayode: With the ouster from the Champions League, Chelsea will be keen to move a step closer to the BPL title with a win in this game. Five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table with a game in hand, Jose Mourinho’s side will be in no mood to surrender that advantage. 3-2

Sunday: Chelsea got served by PSG in midweek and Southampton play in a similar pattern but with some pace on the wings coming from Saido Mane who has scored five times in his last seven starts. A reaction is always expected after a Chelsea loss and Southampton are the victim of the Jose Mourinho rule. Chelsea’s levels have dropped in recent weeks with the likes of Fabregas and Diego Costa a shadow of their usual selves, while Eden Hazard is not as prolific as earlier in the season. Although Southampton have won four of their last six away from home, Chelsea have not lost at home all season and desperately need a win to lift the mood at the Bridge – exactly what they would do. 2-1

EVERTON V NEWCASTLE

We were served a five-goal thriller when both sides met last season at Goodison Park. Kayode, are you expecting another ‘meal’?

Kayode: If only Everton could translate their form in Europe to save their faltering domestic campaign, they would be better placed on the table. They have won only one league fixture in 2015. They are about winning their second. 1-0

Aisha: I look at the Everton squad and I wonder why they have not achieved more this season. But the same could be said about Newcastle whose striker Papiss Cisse is serving a 7-match-ban for spitting. Everton have a slight edge and could nick this 1-0

Sunday: Will Thursday’s Europa league action affect Everton this weekend? I don’t think so because the Toffees played at home. Everton are closer to relegation fight than mid-table but they are beginning to show some fighting spirit although the results have not gone their way. Romelu Lukaku is finding some form and he love playing against Newcastle, scoring four in five games. Everton have drawn their last four home games and are due a win against the Magpies who have lost four of their last six away matches. 2-1

MANCHESTER UNITED V TOTTENHAM

Three or more goals have been scored in four of their last six meetings, with the highlight being Spurs’ 3-2 victory at Old Trafford in September 2012. Kayode, is another goal fest on your mine?

Kayode: United will be eager to bounce back from their 2-1 FA Cup loss to Arsenal in this game. After their massive summer spending they cannot afford to again fail to qualify for the Champions League. And that should spur them against Spurs. But a repeat of the awful defending witnessed on Monday, Harry Kane will pounce! I hope United grab the points at stake though. 2-1

Sunday: Matches between these two is always a blockbuster with United having the edge. However, things are fast changing and Spurs have won on their last two visits to Old Trafford and return there with confidence in Harry Kane and co. The Red Devils are out of all cup competitions and now have only the BPL to worry about. A top four prize is at stake between these two and the winner here would be closer to it. United desperately need to win this encounter with tough fixture against Chelsea and Man City on the horizon. Although United have failed to defeat Spurs in their last five meetings, their home form this season has been near-perfect with five wins in six, while Tottenham do give some away from home against the big clubs. Goalkeeper David De Gea to rescue United again and Rooney should be on the score sheet. Do not rule out Harry Kane who has scored six in six away games punishing United’s shambolic defence and spoiling the party. 2-1

Aisha: Man United had their ego bruised by Arsenal who knocked them out of the FA Cup on Monday. This match may ultimately decide who makes the Champions League but I have a hunch it will end 2-2

SWANSEA V LIVERPOOL

Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge has scored four goals in the last three games against Swansea. Should we be licking our lips at the prospect of him scoring again?

Kayode: The chances of Swansea’s defence keeping Sturridge quiet look slim, as they have recorded only two clean sheets in 2015 and both of those have been away from home. The England forward will score but his side won’t win the match. 1-1

Aisha: Liverpool are in form as they push for Champions League qualification. Swansea know that they are safe so I don’t expect much from them. Liverpool will want it more and I tip them to get it.

Sunday: What is expected when these two meet? Goals. The Welsh side plays a similar pattern to Liverpool coached by their former manager Brendan Rodgers – continuous passing – and they both pretty know their weaknesses. Liverpool are the most on-form team in the BPL this year and they are playing good football too. They have won five and drawn one of their last six games, scoring 13 goals and keeping four clean sheets in the run. Swansea are not off-form themselves, with three wins and a draw in six, failing to score just once and also claiming the scalp of Manchester United along the way. This indicates an open game could be on the cards and with Swansea known to rise to the occasion against the top sides (excluding the 5-0 spanking by Chelsea) a draw is good value for both teams. 1-1

WEEK 27 PREDICTIONS 

 PUNDITS LEAGUE TABLE