Premier League Week 28 Predictions: EPL Picks, Key Players and Fixture Info

Chelsea’s grip on the Premier League title was strengthened at the weekend without the Blues even playing a league match, and Jose Mourinho’s men will be looking to preserve their five-point buffer at the top of the table when they travel to Upton Park to face London rivals West Ham United on Wednesday.

The Blues’ nearest challengers are Manchester City, whose defeat at Anfield looks to have put an end to their defence of the championship. But on paper, they face a much easier task than the Stamford Bridge outfit in Week 28, as they welcome bottom club Leicester City to the Etihad Stadium.

Elsewhere, there are various intriguing contests to savour in the division, as the races for the Champions League and to avoid the drop heat up. Here are the upcoming fixtures in full, the likely victors and some key men set to do the business for their respective sides.

Date	Time (GMT)	Fixture	Prediction
Tuesday, Mar. 3	7:45 p.m.	Hull City vs. Sunderland	1-0
Tuesday, Mar. 3	7:45 p.m.	Aston Villa vs. West Bromwich Albion	1-1
Tuesday, Mar. 3	7:45 p.m.	Southampton vs. Crystal Palace	2-0
Wednesday, Mar. 4	7:45 p.m.	Manchester City vs. Leicester City	3-0
Wednesday, Mar. 4	7:45 p.m.	Stoke City vs. Everton	2-1
Wednesday, Mar. 4	7:45 p.m.	Newcastle United vs. Manchester United	1-1
Wednesday, Mar. 4	7:45 p.m.	West Ham United vs. Chelsea	1-2
Wednesday, Mar. 4	7:45 p.m.	Queens Park Rangers vs. Arsenal	0-2
Wednesday, Mar. 4	7:45 p.m.	Tottenham Hotspur vs. Swansea City	2-1
Wednesday, Mar. 4	8 p.m.	Liverpool vs. Burnley	3-1

Sergio Aguero

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While there were few positives to salvage from the wreckage of City’s moribund display on Merseyside last time out, the performance of Sergio Aguero was undoubtedly one of them.

The Argentinian looks to be at full tilt once again, and although the rest of his team-mates failed to reach his high standards, Aguero could have easily snatched something from the game courtesy of his mercurial play at the sharp end of the field.

As noted by Peter Staunton of Goal.com, it currently seems as though City’s only ploy is to hope Aguero drags them out of the mire:

Against Leicester, the former Atletico Madrid man should have a major impact. The Foxes have struggled to contain aggressive, dynamic forward players throughout the campaign, and with Aguero in sumptuous form, it’s difficult to see their ponderous back line shackling him.

As noted by OptaJoe, the City forward is in a very productive vein of form at the minute:

It’s imperative City win here. Five points behind Chelsea having played a game more may seem insurmountable, but as we’ve seen on myriad occasions, the title race can occasionally spring a surprise at the climax of the campaign. But anything other than a City win would surely render their chances of retaining the title impossible.

John Terry

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Throughout the course of this campaign, Chelsea have drawn praise aplenty for their brash brand of forward play, but as is always the case with a Jose Mourinho team, the underpinning fortitude that bristles in this team is the hallmark of their success. Skipper John Terry has much to do with that particular facet of their play.

While his bravery and leadership is commonly heralded, since Mourinho has come back to Stamford Bridge, Terry has seen a massive upturn in his playing standards. As noted by former England striker Gary Lineker, he remains one of the very best at his position:

One of the major reasons for this kind of acclaim is the performances Terry turns in at tough venues, such as Upton Park. The captain knows how to lead by example, marshals his back line admirably when under pressure and is usually impeccable when implementing his vast array of fundamental defensive skills.

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As was on show in earnest during Chelsea’s League Cup victory last time out, the captain is a player who knows where the back of the net is too, per Sky Sports Football:

Terry is the kind of figure who will ensure standards remain high at the Blues, even with an enormous lead in the title race. A trip to play West Ham is always tough, but a win at a hostile Upton Park would surely extinguish any lingering chances of a City revival.

Philippe Coutinho

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There are a plethora of factors that have expedited Liverpool’s recent turnaround in fortunes, but the form of Brazilian star Philippe Coutinho is probably the most pertinent.

While his skills as a player are undeniable, there’s been a nagging sense that the former Internazionale man doesn’t have an incisive edge to his play, with assists and goals often scarce. But that’s changed since the turn of the year, and as we can see here courtesy of Sky Sports News HQ, the Reds have thrived with him in the team:

Coutinho’s latest stunner came in the Reds’ 2-1 victory over Manchester City, and throughout the 90 minutes the Brazilian scorched the Anfield pitch with some red-hot pieces of play.

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Not only is he now making telling contributions in matches, he’s also knitting the play together with a swagger, enthralling the Anfield crowd with technical flair and sashaying past opponents with unashamed panache.

Former Liverpool midfielder David Thompson rates him very highly indeed:

While City afforded Coutinho the freedom of Anfield to put his stamp on the game, against Sean Dyche’s dogged Burnley side, the 22-year-old will have to work harder to find space in dangerous areas. But expect Liverpool’s little magician to sprinkle some of his patented stardust on proceedings and push the Reds to three more valuable points.