EPL Week 35 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixture Info
Just four more weeks of action remain in the 2014/15 Premier League, with plenty of scores to settle at both ends of the table.
Chelsea edged closer to the title with a drab 0-0 draw at Arsenal in Week 34, and Wednesday's trip to Leicester provides the chance to secure one of the two victories needed to become champions. Jose Mourinho's men could then clinch the title on home turf against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
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Liverpool are also in midweek action, travelling to Hull City on Tuesday, with anything but three points likely to end their push for a Champions League place. The Reds face Queens Park Rangers in Week 35, while current fourth-place occupants Manchester United welcome West Bromwich Albion to Old Trafford.
Here’s a look at the full fixture list for what’s set to be a dramatic week of action, together with an in-depth look at the game of the week:
| Date | Time (BST) | Matchup | Predictions |
| Saturday, May 2 | 12:30 p.m. | Leicester City vs. Newcastle United | 1-0 |
| Saturday, May 2 | 3 p.m. | Aston Villa vs. Everton | 2-2 |
| Saturday, May 2 | 3 p.m. | Liverpool vs. Queens Park Rangers | 1-0 |
| Saturday, May 2 | 3 p.m. | Sunderland vs. Southampton | 1-2 |
| Saturday, May 2 | 3 p.m. | Swansea City vs. Stoke City | 2-0 |
| Saturday, May 2 | 3 p.m. | West Ham United vs. Burnley | 1-1 |
| Saturday, May 2 | 5:30 p.m. | Manchester United vs. West Bromwich Albion | 3-0 |
| Sunday, May 3 | 1:30 p.m. | Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace | 2-0 |
| Sunday, May 3 | 4 p.m. | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City | 2-2 |
| Monday, May 4 | 8 p.m. | Hull City vs. Arsenal | 0-2 |
Manchester United Looking to Bounce Back
It was all looking rosy for Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United a few weeks back—performances were finally living up to their expectations and an emphatic derby victory over Manchester City put the Red Devils in the Champions League driving seat.
However, away defeats to Chelsea and Everton have put United right back in the rat race, and they’ll need a big response against West Brom on Saturday.
Albion don’t tend to enjoy themselves when they touch down at Old Trafford. In fact, they’ve won just once there since 1978, according to 11v11—although that victory came in this very fixture last season.
Saido Berahino scored the winning goal in a 2-1 triumph for the Baggies, and while they’ll be hoping history repeats itself, United look a much more solid outfit this time around.
Sure, it’s difficult to draw positives from the 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park, but the Red Devils were dominant throughout and just needed a bit of bite in the final third.
However, that won’t be helped against West Brom with Wayne Rooney on the sidelines. The skipper picked up a knee injury at his old stomping ground and Van Gaal revealed that his staff don’t yet know whether he’ll be fit for the weekend—via Paul Hirst of The Independent:
"Rooney was injured. He had a kick on his knee, so we have to wait and see how heavy it is.”
If the England man is feeling anything but 100 per cent fit, Van Gaal is likely to give him a rest, meaning one of Radamel Falcao or Robin van Persie could well be leading the line.
Neither player has produced the goods so far this season, but Saturday presents them with an opportunity to get back in the fans’ hearts.
The problems lie deeper than that for United at the moment, though, with injuries plaguing Van Gaal’s selection process.
Key Player: Michael Carrick
The likes of Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Michael Carrick all missed out the club’s last two away games, with the latter leaving a big hole in the middle of the park. Former player Phil Neville echoed such a sentiment, saying that United miss the Englishman’s presence:
"@ManUtd need to bounce back - 4 games to go - rally missing carrick the last 2 games!
— Philip Neville (@fizzer18) April 26, 2015"
Daley Blind has been outstanding at left-back for the past month, but his switch back to holding midfield didn’t exactly decorate him in glory—he looked off the pace, immobile and clumsy.
Carrick’s potential return will give United the solidity that they need and, based on Squawka Football’s stats, the result, too:
The Manchester United of old would run out comfortable winners against the likes of West Brom, so we’ll see just how much Van Gaal has turned his side around this Saturday.
Rooney’s possible absence won’t help matters, but with Carrick back in the centre dictating play and world-class strikers out with a point to prove, it could well be a comfortable day at the office for United.
Prediction: Manchester United 3-0 West Bromwich Albion
Foxes to Prey on Magpies
Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, in-form Leicester City welcome Newcastle United to the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes have played some excellent football this term, but just haven’t been able to translate those performances into results.
However, their recent resurgence shows that Premier League survival is very much a possibility, and even if they taste defeat at home to Chelsea on Wednesday, they’ll fancy their chances against the out-of-sorts Magpies.
A win would take them within one point of their opposition and separate them from the teams scrapping for their lives.
Key Player: Kasper Schmeichel
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was simply impenetrable in the Foxes' recent 1-0 victory over Burnley and he'll need another top display to keep Newcastle at bay.
Among several saves that he made at Turf Moor was one that his father would be proud of, as he showed amazing reflexes to keep out what looked a certain own goal from Robert Huth. Gary Lineker was one of many that sung his praises for the stop:
Leicester have conceded plenty of goals this year thanks to their shaky back line, and while Newcastle are hardly famed for their goalscoring, they'll be desperate to find the net as they nervously look over their shoulder at the relegation-threatened pack.
Queens Park Rangers are in said pack, and they desperately need a result at Anfield on Saturday. They’re travelling there at the right time, though, as back-to-back defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal have seemingly shattered Liverpool’s confidence.
Should the Reds bounce back to winning ways against Hull City on Tuesday, it could be a long afternoon for QPR, but you can never write off a team in turmoil.
Sunday sees two big games take centre stage, with Chelsea potentially enjoying a champions’ parade against Crystal Palace before Manchester City head to Tottenham Hotspur.
On Monday, Arsenal head to Hull looking to keep up their surge towards second place, with the Tigers desperately needing points to avoid the drop.
This stage of the Premier League season is always full of drama and tension, and even though the destination of the trophy could be settled in Week 35, there are still some mouth-watering encounters to take in.
