EPL Week 31 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixtures

It's a weekend of huge derbies in the next round of the Premier League.

Manchester City host Manchester United with the Sky Blues' top-flight title chances hanging by a thread. Meanwhile, Sunderland and Newcastle United meet at St. James' Park in a match that could have major repercussions in the relegation battle.

There's also the small matter of an all-London clash as West Ham United continue their bid for the top four at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

Read on for a look at the full fixture list for Week 31, along with picks for each game and analysis of who will be the key players in a big weekend of action.

Date	Time (GMT/ET)	Fixture	Pick
March 19	12:45 p.m./7:45 a.m.	Everton vs. Arsenal	Draw
March 19	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Chelsea vs. West Ham United	Chelsea
March 19	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Crystal Palace vs. Leicester City	Draw
March 19	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Watford vs. Stoke City	Stoke
March 19	3 p.m./10 a.m.	West Bromwich Albion vs. Norwich City	West Brom
March 19	5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m.	Swansea City vs. Aston Villa	Swansea
March 20	1:30 p.m./8:30 a.m.	Newcastle United vs. Sunderland	Sunderland
March 20	1:30 p.m./8:30 a.m.	Southampton vs. Liverpool	Liverpool
March 20	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Manchester City vs. Manchester United	Draw
March 20	4 p.m./11 a.m.	Tottenham Hotspur vs. Bournemouth	Tottenham

Sergio Aguero, Manchester City 

As if City hadn't made it hard enough for themselves in their attempts to win the league, they went and played out a goalless draw at relegation candidates Norwich City last time out.

It looked like a guaranteed three points for the Sky Blues and a chance to make up some ground on league leaders Leicester City, but they failed to find the back of the net against a side that has conceded 54 goals this season.

Sergio Aguero should have been the key man. He has been in fine form in 2016 and looked primed to cause the Canaries' defence all kinds of problems, per Opta:

Having failed to come up with the goods against Norwich, the Argentinian must be more clinical on Sunday against City's fierce local rivals.

Anything other than a victory against United and City's title hopes will surely be gone for another year.

However, the Red Devils' defence have looked vulnerable of late and an in-form Aguero could be in the goals at the Etihad Stadium.

In their UEFA Europa League round-of-16 first leg against Liverpool on Thursday, United's makeshift back line was all over the place and only the brilliant David de Gea prevented his side from being thrashed.

A similar performance against City from Louis van Gaal's side and Aguero should be able to take advantage.

He is arguably City's most talented player and must look to get on the ball as much as possible in the derby and run at the United defence.

It has been recently proved that they are vulnerable to quick attacks and if Aguero can find his scoring touch again against United—he has netted six times in the last six meetings between the two sides—then City should prevail.

Danny Welbeck, Arsenal

Like City, Arsenal's title hopes are fading fast following a run of nine top-flight matches in which they have won just twice.

Their ejection from the FA Cup by Watford on Sunday has raised the question, once again, of whether manager Arsene Wenger should call it a day, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones:

The Gunners' Saturday clash at Everton is a must-win if they are to keep their title hopes alive and Danny Welbeck's role will be key.

Everton's defensive qualities have been found wanting this season as they have conceded over 50 goals, and Welbeck showed with a goal against Watford that he has the ability to find the net at crunch time—although he also missed a potential equaliser late on, per BT Sport Football:

His return from injury was marked by a crucial late winner against Leicester on February 14 and his experience of having won the Premier League before—with United—could prove crucial in the run-in.

Arsenal's strikers have struggled for goals of late, with Olivier Giroud last netting in the Premier League in mid-January and Theo Walcott having only scored once in 2016 in the English top flight, per WhoScored.com.

Welbeck's return has been much better since his recovery from injury, and he looked sharp against Watford, getting into dangerous areas frequently when he came on as a substitute.

Such positioning and effectiveness could prove vital in Arsenal claiming three points against Everton and keeping their title hopes alive.