Premier League Week 26 Fixtures: EPL Picks and Predictions for Matchday 26

Chelsea can take a major step toward landing Jose Mourinho the title he really wants, with the potential to go 10 points clear in the Premier League race this coming weekend.

The Special One's side take on Burnley in what should be a straightforward game for the EPL leaders at Stamford Bridge.

Nearest rivals and reigning champions Manchester City face a Newcastle United team who are badly out of form. The Magpies have just one win in their last six Premier League matches, per the EPL form guide, but Manuel Pellegrini's team have also been erratic in recent times.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Here we provide you with a list of the fixtures for Week 26, as well as predictions and previews:

Date	Time (GMT)	Home	Away	Prediction
Saturday, Feb 21	3 p.m.	Aston Villa	Stoke	1-0
Saturday, Feb 21	3 p.m.	Chelsea	Burnley	4-1
Saturday, Feb 21	3 p.m.	Crystal Palace	Arsenal	1-3
Saturday, Feb 21	3 p.m.	Hull	QPR	1-0
Saturday, Feb 21	3 p.m.	Sunderland	WBA	0-1
Saturday, Feb 21	3 p.m.	Swansea	Man Utd	1-1
Saturday, Feb 21	5:30 pm.	Man City	Newcastle	2-0
Sunday, Feb 22	Noon	Tottenham	West Ham	3-1
Sunday, Feb 22	2:05 p.m.	Everton	Leicester	2-1
Sunday, Feb 22	4:15 p.m.	Southampton	Liverpool	1-2

#	Team	Pl	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea	25	18	5	2	55	21	34	59
2	Man City	25	15	7	3	51	25	26	52
3	Man Utd	25	13	8	4	43	24	19	47
4	Southampton	25	14	4	7	38	17	21	46
5	Arsenal	25	13	6	6	47	28	19	45
6	Tottenham	25	13	4	8	39	34	5	43
7	Liverpool	25	12	6	7	36	29	7	42
8	West Ham	25	10	8	7	36	28	8	38
9	Swansea	25	9	7	9	28	33	-5	34
10	Stoke	25	9	6	10	28	33	-5	33
11	Newcastle	25	8	8	9	31	37	-6	32
12	Everton	25	6	9	10	31	35	-4	27
13	Crystal Palace	25	6	9	10	27	35	-8	27
14	West Brom	25	6	8	11	24	34	-10	26
15	Sunderland	25	4	12	9	22	36	-14	24
16	Hull	25	5	8	12	23	34	-11	23
17	QPR	25	6	4	15	26	43	-17	22
18	Aston Villa	25	5	7	13	12	34	-22	22
19	Burnley	25	4	9	12	24	43	-19	21
20	Leicester	25	4	5	16	22	40	-18	17

Must-Watch Matchups

Southampton vs. Liverpool

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

If we could jump back just a few months ago to last season's campaign, it would be unthinkable that Liverpool would be chasing the tail of Southampton for a spot in the top four.

But the Saints currently sit above the Merseyside giants, as well as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur—all teams who have spent significantly more money than the St Mary's club.

Ronald Koeman has performed miracles with the side he took over in the summer after leaving Dutch club Feyenoord.

The departure of Mauricio Pochettino and several key members of the first team had many thinking the club might be relegation candidates this term, but Southampton have proved those detractors wrong.

And Koeman's achievements were recently recognised with the Manager of the Month award, as reported by BBC Sport:

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Koeman spoke to local radio, via BBC Sport, about the impact of his team this season and how other clubs have learned to respect them:

"

Maybe they thought it would be very difficult for Southampton to keep that spirit, but we are fourth in February. They now take us seriously. They are a little bit afraid now, I think.

"

Liverpool initially suffered a torrid time after Luis Suarez left Anfield for Barcelona, but Brendan Rodgers has finally got his ship in order.

Jon Super/Associated Press

The Reds looked a shadow of themselves for most of the season, with their swashbuckling attacking style compromised by the integration of newly purchased players.

However, with Daniel Sturrudge returning and Mario Balotelli showing a smidgen of good form, Liverpool now look like a team that can achieve Champions League football once again.

Rodgers seems to have his mojo back, and the dogged manager of last season has returned. BT Sport's Jake Humphrey commented on this after Liverpool's cup win at Crystal Palace, with the coach showing he means business:

But despite Liverpool's improving form, this is very much a game they must win. Both Arsenal and Spurs are showing the kind of play that will scare Manchester United, who sit just above the pack, and there is a possibility that the Reds could get lost in the mix.

A loss at Southampton would hamper Rodgers' mission and could see his side drop to seven points behind the Champions League places.

It may not matter how well Sturridge is performing up front—Liverpool must take full points from the teams who are immediately around them if they are to be in Europe's top competition next year.

Tottenham vs. West Ham

Jon Super/Associated Press

The impact of Harry Kane could only have gone unnoticed by the most unobservant of football fans, with the homegrown talent electrifying English football this season.

But now, the boy wonder comes up against a West Ham United team who have shown true defensive steel this year and find themselves on the brink of Europe.

Sam Allardyce has fashioned his team in his typical style, making the Hammers very difficult to play against, with a set of tireless forwards and midfielders.

However, West Ham were recently destroyed in the cup, losing 4-0 to West Bromwich Albion, suggesting the Hammers might now start to head down the EPL table.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Trying to stop the prolific Kane will be Big Sam's biggest challenge of the season so far—something other clubs have failed at.

From his 33 appearances in all competitions—10 of those coming from the bench—the 21-year-old has scored an astonishing 21 times, per WhoScored.com.

How Allardyce deals with Kane is yet to be seen, but the Spurs player's movement and all-round skill seems impossible to stop in his current form.

West Ham need at least a point from this game, with them slipping to 12th in the EPL form guide thanks to just one win in their last six outings.

But it is likely that Kane will once again show his prowess, with Tottenham playing an attractive and exciting brand of football.

Spurs look very much like a top-four team at present, and if that comes to pass at the end of the campaign, Kane will be the player who gets the most credit.