TheCable

It’s a Saturday of super derbies in the Barclays Premier League (BPL).

Yes, the 169th edition of the North London derby will take place with Arsenal travelling to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham.

It doesn’t end there though, as the longest running top flight derby will be held for the 224th time as Everton host Liverpool in a crucial league game.

It’s a huge cliché, but the two games are one of those fixtures where you can forget about form.

Our soccer analysts are mindful of this and have predicted…

Welcome to BPL preview!

TOTTENHAM V ARSENAL

Both of Tottenham’s last two wins against Arsenal were at White Hart Lane and they both ended 2-1, a score line they have been known to win by a lot this season.  Sunday, another 2-1 win for Spurs?

Sunday: More a reverse score line! A north London derby with much panache about it. Both Spurs and Gunners are in red-hot form and ready to serve a scintillating tie. However, I think Arsene Wenger’s boys will triumph due to the return of the big boys from injury. Another factor that’s in their favour is a defence that has shored up while Tottenham still concedes at the back and rely heavily on both Harry Kane and Christian Erickson. Walcott’s 2-0 sign will hurt and the Gunners are going to rub it in even in the absence of marksman Alexis Sanchez. Gunners to gun down the Lilywhites. 1-2

Kayode: This fixture usually has lots of goals but I doubt if it will be so this time.  It’s likely going to end like the last four fixtures where no more than two goals have been scored.  It will be a very tight affair which will end with the honours shared. 0-0

Aisha: Arsenal are the form team of the BPL right now. Last weekend’s 5-0 win over Aston Villa attests to this. However, Tottenham Hotspur are also having a decent run and will be tough at home. I expect a cracker of a North London Derby which should end 2-2

ASTON VILLA V CHELSEA

Villa have scored the least amount of goals in the league this season with 11 and they haven’t scored in their last six matches. While Chelsea are the league’s leading goal scorers with 52 goals to date and they have scored 11 goals in their last four league matches, which is equal to Villa’s total for the season. Aisha, it looks like the Blues will nick this?

Aisha: Sure because Aston Villa are having a torrid time at the moment and just don’t seem to know the way to goal any more as they haven’t scored in such a long time. Chelsea struggled a bit in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City but should have no trouble winning this 0-2

Sunday: With the Champions league looming in less than a fortnight, Jose Mourinho would require a professional performance and they have the perfect opponents for that in Aston Villa. Paul Lambert’s boys have not scored a league goal in over 600 hours, that is in six games of football!!! So a miracle – in the shape of new signings Scott Sinclair and Gils – would do the trick against a Chelsea defence that now sees Kurt Zouma metamorphosing into the new Desaily. Chelsea for a routine win. 0-2

Kayode: Villa have not scored in six games and this fixture is unlikely to see them return to scoring ways! Chelsea will be looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing couple of weeks and Saturday’s opponent offers the best opportunity for the league leaders to improve on their performance. The Blues to triumph at Villa Park 0-4

LEICESTER CITY V CRYSTAL PALACE

Both Leicester and Palace have each won two of the last six matches played between them, with the other two ending in draws. Kayode, who wins this time?

Kayode: Leonardo Ulloa’s seven goals have proved vital for Nigel Pearson’s side so far this season and I see him leading the Foxes to a slim win here. 1-0

Sunday: Leicester City are struggling for dear life at the bottom and they have registered points in recent weeks. This game at home gives them a little advantage but Palace are not slugs. Their wing play is exceptional and can wreak havoc. The Pardew effect dust is settling and I think an entertaining draw would be a fair result. 2-2

Aisha: Leicester City know that if they don’t start winning matches, they could end up relegated at the end of the season. Crystal Palace have enjoyed some sort of resurgence since Alan Pardew took charge but I see a draw here 1-1

MANCHESTER CITY V HULL CITY

Last time the two sides met at the Etihad Man City ran out 2-0 winners. Moreover, Hull are yet to win a Premier League game at the Etihad. Aisha, City should maintain the status quo, right?

Aisha: Man City forced Chelsea to a draw last weekend and could have won based on how much they dominated the game. I don’t fancy Hull’s chances at the Etihad stadium so I’ll go for a comfortable 3-0 win for Manchester City.

Sunday: I honestly hope Hull City do not relegate this season. After buying so many players, they play so poorly that their chances in the Championship will be slim. City need to bounce back and this is a perfect opponent. A routine win at the Etihad. 3-0

Kayode: The form of the two sides in recent weeks is quite similar as they have both managed two wins in their last six BPL games but then, it is extremely hard to see anything but a home win here. 4-0

QPR V SOUTHAMPTON

Six of the last nine meetings between these two sides have ended with away wins and it also does not bode well for the host that Southampton have won three consecutive BPL away games. Sunday, will it be four on the trot for the Saints?

Sunday: Harry Redknapp’s resignation came as a rude shock to me. However, he has been due for a while now and I think whoever comes in will get the Rangers playing better. Southampton’s form has dipped in recent weeks but they’d still fancy their chances at Loftus road where QPR have gained all their points this season. A draw for me. 1-1

Aisha: The Saints surprisingly lost to Swansea last weekend and another slip up here may bring about doubt. QPR are usually good at home but I don’t think they can beat Southampton. 1-1

Kayode: QPR play decent football at home and they should cause the Saints a few problems. A change in management should help them too. I see them winning this 1-0

Let us go on a short commercial break.

The Merseyside derby has seen more red cards than any other fixture but the last one was shown Jack Rodwell (right) for a foul on Luis Suarez in Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Everton in October 2011. Are we going to see another one on Saturday?

We are back!

SWANSEA V SUNDERLAND

Sunderland have only defeated Swansea once in the BPL and that was in January 2012. Kayode, do you see them achieving this three years after their only win?

Kayode: The two sides won their last league games, though Swansea’s win over Southampton was more significant. They are at home, so I expect them to win this. 3-0

Aisha: The brilliant away win over Southampton will give Swansea massive confidence as they host Sunderland. I think this will ultimately help them win this 2-1

Sunday: Swansea stopped the rot by handing Southampton a rare home defeat and the Welsh side would want to build some momentum. Life without Wilfried Bony has been tough but they are showing signs of life again. Sunderland are scoring goals again and that the good news, thanks to Jermaine Defoe’s presence. However, it remains to be seen if Gus Poyet would be pragmatic or industrious in his setup. Whichever he chooses, I think Gary Monk’s side would scrape the win. 2-1

EVERTON V LIVERPOOL

Everton have claimed just three wins out of 11 at home this season, losing three and drawing five. However, along with QPR, Liverpool remain the only side not to draw a BPL game away from home, winning six and losing five. Aisha, who wins this grudge match?

Aisha: The Merseyside derby. But while Liverpool are beginning to rediscover form, Everton are struggling. Daniel Sturridge returned with a bang last weekend and could play another crucial role in this game. I see this one finishing 2-2

Sunday: It’s a Merseyside derby that has seen more draws in recent years and the form book predicts another. Everton have been a shadow of themselves this season but they can match the top teams on their day. Liverpool have also improved and they have the euphoria of FA Cup qualification and most importantly, Daniel Sturridge is back and playing like he never left. A cracker is on the cards here. 1-1

Kayode: It will be a very close game and gladly both sides have stopped leaking in goals of late after conceding heavily in the opening round of matches. It smells like 1-1.

BURNLEY V WEST BROM

Burnley have only scored 11 goals in 12 home games this season, but four of those have come in the last two fixtures at Turf Moor. Sunday, where will the goals come from?

Sunday: Burnley were poor in their defeat at Sunderland last week while West Brom played well but lost to Tottenham. What Tony Pulis guarantees as a coach are no two bad results at a go from his team, especially not a fellow struggling team. West Brom are still adjusting to Pulis while Burnley play like tired team in recent games.‎ Relegation six-pointer but the results would be shared. 1-1

Aisha: It’s really difficult to see how Burnley will survive relegation this season but stranger things have happened. Will they get maximum points against West Brom? I doubt it so I’ll say 1-1

Kayode: Both teams head in to the fixture looking to bounce back from defeats in their previous games. I win for Burnley will move them off the relegation zone considering relegation rivals Leicester and Crystal Palace are meeting and should cancel each other out. 1-0

NEWCASTLE V STOKE

There is a history of goals in matches between these two sides, with seven of their last nine encounters producing three or more. Sunday, will your Newcastle rain in the goals this time around?

Sunday: In John Carver I trust! (Stands up singing: “Carver, Carver, he’ll blow your in tatters!”). The interim coach has stuck to his entertaining panache of attacking football and the results have been improving too. We should make light work of a Stoke City side that are better on the road but the absence of talisman Bojan should give them away, especially with Cabella, Rivierre playing fantastically and the home grown players too are showing their worth. Fortress St. James’ Park! 3-1

Kayode: Stoke are two points ahead of Newcastle in 10th place, but after this game the Magpies will climb ahead of them. The uncertainty surrounding Carver’s position has been banished – until the summer anyway – following his appointment as head coach for the rest of the season. This should auger well for them. 1-0

Aisha: Both sides probably sense that they will finish in mid table and may not go full throttle in this game. The result could be a 0-0 draw.

WEST HAM V MANCHESTER UNITED

Seven points separate these two at the start of the weekend with the home side winning just one of their last six in the league compared to United winning their last two. Kayode, will your team make it three on the trot?

Kayode: Most likely and I see a repeat of the result when the two sides met at Old Trafford with Manchester United winning 2-1. 1-2

Aisha: These two sides may ultimately battle for the top four positions but Man United have the advantage for now. A win for West Ham will make them one of the contenders for the top four spots something Man United wouldn’t want. I think this is a 2-2 draw

Sunday: This game is a not going to be the easiest for Man United. West Ham away is always a daunting task. However with their array of star attackers they should nick this. It’s pretty simple: play 4-4-2 and they’d win, play 3-5-2 and their chance is very slim. West Ham are no mincemeat themselves and they’d bombard United’s leaky defence all afternoon via Carroll’s robust attacking style. Rooney to lead United to a crucial away win. 1-2

WEEK 23 PREDICTIONS

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