EPL Week 30 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixture Info
The focus of fans up and down the country is beginning to shift from an increasingly one-sided title battle towards intriguing contests elsewhere in the Premier League, with the race for the Champions League places becoming an increasingly interesting spectacle.
Liverpool and Manchester United can do their respective chances plenty of good when the two rivals square off at Anfield, while Manchester City will be hopeful of dragging themselves out of their recent slump when they welcome Tony Pulis—the newly crowned manager of the month—and West Bromwich Albion to the Etihad.
Here’s a closer look at those two aforementioned fixtures, the schedule for the upcoming game week and a couple of players poised to play a vital role for their respective teams this weekend.
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| Saturday, Mar. 21 | 12:45 p.m. | Manchester City vs. West Brom | 1-0 |
| Saturday, Mar. 21 | 3 p.m. | Aston Villa vs. Swansea | 2-1 |
| Saturday, Mar. 21 | 3 p.m. | Newcastle vs. Arsenal | 0-2 |
| Saturday, Mar. 21 | 3 p.m. | Southampton vs. Burnley | 1-0 |
| Saturday, Mar. 21 | 3 p.m. | Stoke vs. Crystal Palace | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Mar. 21 | 3 p.m. | Tottenham vs. Leicester | 3-0 |
| Saturday, Mar. 21 | 5:30 p.m. | West Ham vs. Sunderland | 1-0 |
| Sunday, Mar. 22 | 1:30 p.m. | Liverpool vs. Manchester United | 2-1 |
| Sunday, Mar. 22 | 4 p.m. | QPR vs. Everton | 2-2 |
| Sunday, Mar. 22 | 4 p.m. | Chelsea vs. Hull | 2-0 |
| 1 | Chelsea | 28 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 58 | 23 | +35 | 64 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 29 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 59 | 28 | +31 | 58 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 29 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 56 | 30 | +26 | 57 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 29 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 50 | 26 | +24 | 56 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 29 | 16 | 6 | 7 | 43 | 30 | +13 | 54 |
| 6 | Southampton | 29 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 40 | 21 | +19 | 50 |
| 7 | Tottenham | 29 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 46 | 42 | +4 | 50 |
| 8 | Stoke | 29 | 12 | 6 | 11 | 33 | 35 | -2 | 42 |
| 9 | Swansea | 29 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 33 | 38 | -5 | 40 |
| 10 | West Ham | 29 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 39 | 37 | +2 | 39 |
| 11 | Newcastle United | 29 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 32 | 46 | -14 | 35 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 29 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 34 | 40 | -6 | 33 |
| 13 | West Bromwich Albion | 29 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 27 | 36 | -9 | 33 |
| 14 | Everton | 29 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 36 | 41 | -5 | 31 |
| 15 | Hull | 29 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 26 | 37 | -11 | 28 |
| 16 | Aston Villa | 29 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 19 | 38 | -19 | 28 |
| 17 | Sunderland | 29 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 23 | 43 | -20 | 26 |
| 18 | Burnley | 29 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 26 | 47 | -21 | 25 |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers | 29 | 6 | 4 | 19 | 30 | 52 | -22 | 22 |
| 20 | Leicester | 28 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 44 | -20 | 19 |
Manchester City vs. West Bromwich Albion
Manuel Pellegrini looks as though he faces an unsalvageable task when it comes to City retaining their Premier League title, and a shift in priorities seems to be in order for the reigning champions.
Coming into this game on the back of an arduous second-leg clash with Barcelona in the Champions League, City are now just one point clear of third-place Arsenal, two ahead of Manchester United and only four clear of a resurgent Liverpool side.
Could they actually face a fight to finish in the top four? Former club captain Paul Lake thinks that City are definitely in need of some kind of jolt:
After a game at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, an early kick-off will be far from ideal for Pellegrini’s men too. Plus, in West Brom they will be going up against one of the form teams in the Premier League. The Baggies have surged clear of the relegation battle under the tutelage of Pulis and will go to the Etihad Stadium without pressure.
As noted here by Squawka Football, the Welshman has instilled a patented steel into this team since he was appointed:
With the title fading and a poor run of domestic results considered, the Etihad could be a nervy venue for this one. West Brom will surely be looking to capitalise on those frailties by sitting in deep, frustrating City’s surfeit of attacking talent and adding to the spectators’ angst. If they can get through the opening stages unscathed, they have a fine chance of taking a result.
City need a win to relieve some of the pressure on Pellegrini and prevent those uncomfortable glances over their shoulder at the triumvirate of in-form sides hoping to hunt them down. They’ll get the job done here, but expect a tight, tense affair in East Manchester.
Key Player—Sergio Aguero
Whenever City do create moments of magic it typically comes courtesy of the Argentina forward and you suspect he’ll have to be at his effervescent best if they’re to make inroads into this stringent West Brom defence.
There have been small signs that Aguero is close to approaching peak fitness and he’s going to play a major role if City are going to fight off the challenge from a crop of revitalised sides below them.
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
The clash of the weekend will see these two eternal enemies add another chapter to their longstanding rivalry, but there’s much more than just pride at stake for the pair, as they each look to give their chances of securing Champions League football a major boost with a morale-boosting win.
After some stodgy performances in recent weeks, Louis van Gaal will be delighted that his team has some momentum coming into this one. The Red Devils were excellent in their win over Tottenham, playing with a collective intensity that has been scarcely seen under the tutelage of the Dutchman.
Bleacher Report’s Rob Blanchette thinks the personnel selected by Van Gaal was central to their 3-0 victory:
They’ll be facing a Liverpool side that are in a stunning spell of recent form. The hard-earned win at Swansea City last time out may have come about as a result of an extremely fortunate goal, but the attitude, defensive cohesion and tactical adaptability showcased from Brendan Rodgers’ team definitely bodes well for a Champions League scrap.
As noted by Sky Sports News HQ, the Reds haven’t actually lost in the league since their defeat at Old Trafford in late 2014:
Their unbeaten run will continue here as well. While United were excellent against Spurs it was just one decent display amidst a host of performances in which they’ve resembled fractious components. By contrast, Liverpool are a team that have long been well drilled, diligent and much better equipped to mount a run for a Champions League scrap.
Key Player—Jordan Henderson
Winning the battle in the heart of the field is going to be so important in this fixture and in Henderson, Liverpool boast one of the in-form midfield men in the division.
The skipper in-waiting has started to add goals and assists to his array of desirable attributes, making him look increasingly like a complete player. But his intangible qualities such as aggression, leadership and organisation will be just as vital in such an important match.
