EPL Predictions: Picks, Top Players for Week 34 Premier League Fixtures
Leicester City must hold their nerve when they host a tricky West Ham United side in Week 34 of this Premier League season. Topping the table by seven points, the Foxes need just three more wins to clinch the title.
Welcoming the Hammers to the King Power Stadium marks the first of three games on home soil out of the final five for the leaders. Taking maximum points will pile the pressure on second-placed Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their tough trip against Stoke City to wrap up the week's fixtures.
At the bottom of the table, Norwich City's home game against Sunderland could decide the battle for survival. Win and the Canaries can open a seven-point gap over the Black Cats in 17th, all but condemning manager Sam Allardyce and his squad to the drop.
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Here are all the fixtures, including picks:
| Date | Time (BST / ET) | Match | Picks |
| Saturday, Apr. 16 | 12:45 p.m. / 7:45 a.m. | Norwich City vs. Sunderland | Norwich |
| Saturday, Apr. 16 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Everton vs. Southampton | Draw |
| Saturday, Apr. 16 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Manchester United vs. Aston Villa | United |
| Saturday, Apr. 16 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Newcastle United vs. Swansea City | Draw |
| Saturday, Apr. 16 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | West Bromwich Albion vs. Watford | Watford |
| Saturday, Apr. 16 | 5:30 p.m. / 12:30 p.m. | Chelsea vs. Manchester City | City |
| Sunday, Apr. 17 | 1:30 p.m. / 8:30 a.m. | Bournemouth vs. Liverpool | Liverpool |
| Sunday, Apr. 17 | 1:30 p.m. / 8:30 a.m. | Leicester City vs. West Ham United | Leicester |
| Sunday, Apr. 17 | 4 p.m. / 11 a.m. | Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace | Arsenal |
| Monday, Apr. 18 | 8 p.m. / 3 p.m. | Stoke City vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Draw |
Marc Albrighton, Leicester City
If there's one player who doesn't get enough credit in Leicester's remarkable run it's Marc Albrighton. The wide player has supplied six assists in England's top flight this season, per WhoScored.com.
Albrighton played several astute passes between the lines during the Foxes 2-0 away win over Sunderland on Sunday. Playing between the lines will be important against a West Ham side that had trouble picking up runners in the pulsating 3-3 home draw with Arsenal a day earlier.
While Andy Carroll's hat-trick for the Hammers naturally generated headlines, it shouldn't have escaped manager Slaven Bilic's notice how much space his defence allowed in the final third.
If Albrighton is allowed to ghost into the pockets between midfield and defence, the supply to Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez will be enough to undo the Hammers and put Leicester on the brink of the title.
Steven Naismith, Norwich City
Norwich have only scored 35 league goals this season, but in Steven Naismith they have a forward crafty enough to not only find the net, but also create chances for others.
The former Everton man will have a key role to play against a Sunderland side well-stocked with physical midfielders. Allardyce likes to secure the base with Yann M'Vila and Jan Kirchhoff.
But Naismith can keep that pair occupied with his sly runs off the ball. Dragging the protection away from Sunderland's back four will create more room for forward-thinking City midfielders such as Jonny Howson to break into the box.
It won't take many goals to decide this game, but Naismith's perceptive movement will determine who strikes.
The title seems destined for Leicester, but few processions to the trophy go smoothly. West Ham certainly boast players talented enough to slow the Foxes, even if their top-four hopes now look dashed.
Things at the foot of the table can become just as clear as the top provided Norwich can strike a decisive blow to Sunderland's survival bid. If so, the Canaries will ensure their own stay in the Premier League isn't a brief one.
