English Premier League: Predictions for the Weekend's Fixtures

With the campaign drawing to a close, the games to come over the following weeks will be crucial.

The race for the title, as well as the battle for third and fourth places, are heating up, with the finale of the season-long clashes fast approaching.

On top of this, the fight to stay alive at the foot of the table grows more interesting with every passing match.

The season can be won or lost this weekend for a variety of clubs.

Let's find out how.

Sunderland vs. Tottenham Hotspur

With both of these sides showing questionable form of late, this match will be a tricky one to call. 

At the start of the season you could have bet your house on Spurs securing the victory against the then-struggling Black Cats.

However, after a rampant surge up the table under new manager Martin O'Neil and a string of awful results for Tottenham, this one is delicately poised.

The game unquestionably means more to Spurs, but Harry's men have had a history of choking in big matches.

I see this game being close, attacking and very open, with neither side managing to take it.

My prediction: 2-2

Bolton Wanderers vs. Fulham

When the tragic incident involving Fabrice Muamba at White Hart Lane occurred in mid-March, many fans knew it would be the defining moment of the Wanderer's season.

Since that black day, Bolton have gone on to bag three straight Premier League victories, taking them a point clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand.

The spirit shown by the men from Lancashire has been one of true heroism and bravery.

In fact, the world of football should be proud for the way in which it conducted itself in the wake of Fabrice's traumatic experience.

All signs point to a slow, but eventual recovery for the big man, which I'm sure has everyone elated.

Fulham, on the other hand, have recently been patchy at best. Despite winning their last game at home to an out-of-form Norwich, Fulham have repeated their almost comedic inability to travel well away from home.

With all these factors considered, I foresee a fourth-straight Bolton win that could ultimately keep them in the top tier for next season.

My Prediction: Bolton 3-1 Fulham

Chelsea vs. Wigan Atheltic

Despite a recent improvement in form from the Lactics, the challenge of travelling to Stamford Bridge will surely be one that is beyond their abilities this season.

Admittedly, this season the former fortress has not proven to be the stronghold it once was for the Blues, but fans will be shocked to see the former league champions drop points to Wigan this Saturday.

If Chelsea do win, then it brings them just two points behind bitter rivals Arsenal, who play Manchester City on Sunday.

My Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Wigan Athletic 

Liverpool vs. Aston Villa

These two teams are arguably the most out-of-form sides in the league at the moment, with their collective previous 12 results accumulating a staggeringly poor eight points between them.

In any other season, I'd say that this would be a guaranteed three-pointer for Liverpool, who usually are strong at home.

However, as has been recently documented, this is the Liver Bird's worst season in the top flight at this stage since the mid-1950s—a season when Liverpool were relegated to Division 2.

Of course, that won't be happening this season, but that's no comfort at all for Liverpool fans who just a decade ago were toasting the success of the 2003 Champions League winning side.

It's lucky for Liverpool that their visitors are the only side at the moment (other than possibly Wolves) who might be playing poorly enough to gift them the victory.

This is a tricky one to predict, but my gut is telling me Liverpool will end the slump with a good showing.

My Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

Norwich City vs. Everton

Recent form has seen Everton climb above fierce rivals Liverpool. Although due to an impressive season from Newcastle a Europa League slot is now all but impossible, the Toffees wont want to let that advantage slip.

Norwich have, in contrast, slipped down the table after a first half of the season that surpassed all fans' expectations.

Although they've surely done enough to secure their place in England's top division for next season, I can't help but feel the rest of this one will be somewhat of the shipwreck that we perhaps thought we would witness from the first match.

That isn't to say we should be too critical of Norwich. After all, with the players and money at their disposal, what they have already achieved has been fantastic.

Everton, on the over hand, are now beginning their end of regular season God-like streak, which has seen them come out of nowhere to contest European places.

If only they could start the season this way, who knows what they could achieve?

My Prediction: Norwich 0-1 Everton

West Bromwich Albion vs. Blackburn Rovers

West Bromwich Albion have finally done it: two consecutive seasons in the Premier League without being relegated!

The Baggies had, in recent years, begun to get the reputation that dogged the famous "Yellow Submarine" of Spanish football, Villareal, for so many years.

But solid performances this season have seen them race to 36 points with seven games remaining—a tally that surely even they cannot go down from.

Blackburn are experiencing one of their worst seasons in nearly 15 years and face the very real threat of relegation.

Back-to-back defeats have seen what was a promising March run turn into a place in the bottom three at the start of April.

The game will be tight. Neither side will give much away. West Brom will try to put up points to make it up to that magic total of 40, and Rovers will just try to get something from the game.

My Prediction: 0-0

Stoke City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Another clash of two very out-of-form sides.

Its sad to see what has happened to Wolves this season. Having avoided the dreaded "second season syndrome" that has befallen so many clubs before them, the men in Orange find themselves routed to the foot of the table, 6 points behind Wigan in 19th.

It's even more upsetting when you consider that after four games of the season, Wolves were sitting pretty in the top four with 8 points. 

By that I mean to say that in the following 27 matches, Wanderers have managed to accumulate a dismal 14 points from their outings.

That's relegation form all season long. 

Stoke have also struggled in comparison to past years. 

As a recognised and respected Premier League outfit, their name and prestige has risen since their promotion to the top flight four seasons ago.

However, this year's good run in the Europa League has seen them drop in form, as they currently find themselves in mid-table mediocrity.

That being said, with the way things are going for Wolves at the moment, I can't see them getting anything at the Britannia.

My Prediction: Stoke City 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Manchester United vs. Queens Park Rangers

With 10 wins and 1 draw (the remarkable 3-3 come back against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge—which to many seemed almost like a victory) in their last 11 matches, United are on one of the best runs of form in the domestic league to recent date.

Despite a surge in performance from QPR of late going to Old Trafford at this stage of the season, to have a United team on this good of a streak will seem like an impossible task.

That being said, nothing can be ruled out. 

I'm sure we all remember the amazing result that Blackburn managed to pull off at Old Trafford in December.

Who's to say that won't happen again?

Still...

My Prediction: Manchester United 4-1 QPR

Arsenal vs. Manchester City

This is by far the best game of the weekend.

It will play a huge factor in deciding the outcome of the Premier League title and Champions League places.

A month or two ago, this game would have almost certainly gone the way of the sky blues, but a recent dip in form by them and a miraculous turnaround by the Gunners has set this one up to be a classic!

It's a fixture that poses many questions.

Will City be able to hold their nerve at such a crucial point in the season? And will Arsenal, for that matter?

Also what kind of a result will City be happy to walk away with from this one? Assuming that United do the business against QPR, the gap at the top will stretch to eight points before these two sides so much as kick a football.

If City draw–a result that most seasons would be more than acceptable at the Emirates—then that will leave them seven points behind the current champions with just six games left to play.

Whatever the outcome, this match should be one for the ages.

My Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City—all but handing United the title, if results go as expected at Old Trafford.