English Premier League: Week 31 Previews and Predictions

The final games of March are on the way this coming weekend as the English Premier League enters the last eight games of competition.

With 24 points possible remaining for all clubs, there are still loads of possible outcomes that could see even mid-table teams relegated if everything went south for them.

However, that is the unlikely situation on hand.

The league title continues to be a two-horse race, but Manchester City have lost control and three points to Manchester United who nearly slipped up against Fulham.

Drama in the relegation battle continues to be the best to monitor as three point and one point swings going multiple directions each weekend continue to make life in the bottom five perilous.

Strap in this weekend for another one of great action and drama in the English Premier League.

Aston Villa vs. Chelsea

Chelsea are pressing hard to make the most of the time they have left both in Europe and in the EPL.

Roberto Di Matteo looks to be having a profound effect at just the right time as the Blues hope to ride his honeymoon good feeling period all the way to the end.

Fernando Torres looks to be regaining his form just in time to make a big impact on the last two months.

Aston Villa however, are capitulating to the bottom as this looks to be their worst finish in years.

Match Prediction: Aston Villa 1 - 3 Chelsea

Players to Watch: Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fernando Torres

Everton vs. West Bromwich Albion

Everton continue to stay on form as they are fighting to get back into the top half after two losses to Liverpool and Arsenal were followed by victory over Swansea in the League and Sunderland in the FA Cup.

The cup victory sends them to a Merseyside Derby semi-final at Wembley with Liverpool.

West Brom have fallen off their pace and have been knocked back down into the bottom half after a run of several poor results.

Everton look the favorites on the weekend.

Match Prediction: Everton 2 - 1 WBA

Players to Watch: Nikica Jelovic and Peter Odemwingie

Fulham vs. Norwich City

Fulham and Norwich City both are hoping to get back to wining ways as March was not the greatest of months for either club, seeing them both resigned to the lower half.

Norwich will be happy to be sitting comfortably ready to claim a triumphant return to the EPL.

However, Fulham will be hoping to make a final push for a more promising finish as three of their top players in Danny Murphy, Clint Dempsey and Andrew Johnson are all feared to be making their exit.

Match Prediction: Fulham 2 - 2 Norwich

Players to Watch: Clint Dempsey and James Morrison

Manchester City vs. Sunderland

The last meeting between these two clubs did not end so well for Manchester City, as the Black Cats upset the then table toppers at the Stadium of Light.

Manchester City will hope to rely on their superior home record this season in order to draw level at the top of the table prior to Manchester United's Monday kick off with Blackburn Rovers.

Carlos Tevez is expected on once again make an appearance and his return to the club looks to be just in time.

Match Prediction: Manchester City 3 - 1 Sunderland

Players to Watch: Carlos Tevez and Nicklas Bendtner

Queens Park Rangers vs. Arsenal

Queens Park Rangers are desperate for points and a match against one of the most in-form clubs in the league is not looking conducive to them gaining any.

Arsenal continue to surge up the table and have risen as high as is likely at third, making sure that the doubters of Arsene Wenger hush their mouths at least about where the club can get to in the league after a troubling start.

Bobby Zamora is sure to try his best to make it a game but without partner Djibril Cisse who is suspended yet again it is looking all Arsenal unless one other factor comes into play.

That other factor being Arsenal's problematic defense still unpredictable there is a chance that QPR could steal a late point if they can pull off anything like their victory over Liverpool.

Match Prediction: QPR 1 - 2 Arsenal

Players to Watch: Bobby Zamora and Theo Walcott.

Wigan Athletic vs. Stoke City

Wigan Athletic and Stoke City are both hoping to gain something from this weekend's clash.

The Potters are the larger and more physical of the two but their football has been poor lately despite a draw with Manchester City.

Wigan, on the other hand, have two draws on the bounce and their attacking is starting to come together in the dying months of the campaign. They could hold on and stay up to surprise us all.

Match Prediction: Wigan 3 - 1 Stoke City

Players to Watch: Victor Moses and Peter Crouch

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Bolton Wanderers

At least one set of Wanderers, either Wolverhampton or Bolton, will hope to find their way out of the woods this weekend.

Wolves are propping up the table in 20th place on 22 points while Bolton are just out of the drop zone on 26 points.

Without Mick McCarthy at the helm, Wolves have fallen apart and are now way more likely to drop than when he was in the hot seat.

Bolton, however, are hoping to push their way up in honor of fallen teammate Fabrice Muamba. As awful of a tragedy as it is, it could not have been a better time for a major event to bring the team together.

Muamba could truly now be the savior of the club's season without even stepping back on the pitch.

Match Prediction: Wolves 1 - 2 Bolton

Players to Watch: Matt Jarvis and Ryo Miyachi

Newcastle United vs. Liverpool

Andy Carroll is set to return to his former club and is sure to be the recipient of plenty of the fans' negative attention every time he touches the ball.

Newcastle are back on form and their attacking group of Demba Ba, Demba Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa is looking deadly at the moment.

If Liverpool want to win they may do best with Craig Bellamy, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez behind Luis Suarez to get the most out of his ground based attacking skills rather than playing long ball with Carroll.

However, the Reds have done little that makes sense for the majority of the season so I have to say I am skeptical of the line-up that will be on display.

With European action secured in the Europa League and no real chance of fourth place left, the club really have nothing to lose in the league.

A chance at the FA Cup trophy is only a match away and it would do good to blood youngsters against Newcastle with early substitutions to keep injury prone players like Steven Gerrard healthy for the final cup run.

Match Prediction: Newcastle 2 - 2 Liverpool

Players to Watch: Demba Cisse and Luis Suarez

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Swansea City

Tottenham are falling drastically off the pace and their win over Bolton could not have been at a better time to boost their spirits before a home clash with high flying Swansea City.

The Swans have been on a great vein of form this month and are likely candidates to pull off an upset at White Hart Lane.

Spurs need everything they have to retain their fourth place spot and keep Chelsea at bay, otherwise they are likely to succumb to the pressure and get knocked out of the top four before the end of the season.

Match Prediction: Tottenham 2 - 2 Swansea

Players to Watch: Gareth Bale and Scott Sinclair

Blackburn Rovers vs. Manchester United

Blackburn Rovers will hope to pull off another amazing upset of Manchester United and push another three points away from relegation.

Rovers secured a late come from behind victory at Old Trafford around the Christmas holiday and Manchester United will be out for revenge at Ewood Park.

United are strong, but their last outing against Fulham was very poor and if they show that kind of weakness, Blackburn will have a major opportunity to steal some points.

Match Prediction: Blackburn 2 - 1 Manchester United

Players to Watch: Junior Hoilett and Javier Hernandez

Conclusion

A great weekend of action on the way and I am predicting a few upsets are a strong possibility.

Get your predictions in the mix in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out more on Bleacher Report and at the links below. You can follow me on Twitter @thedailyatz and Facebook, or visit my website.