EPL Week 27 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixtures
Arsenal's visit to take on Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday headlines Week 27 of what continues to be a fascinating Premier League season.
After a weekend off over the previous weekend, a refreshed Gunners side will be keen to puff their chest out on Merseyside, having wilted in difficult league away clashes against Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea already this term. After their shock loss to Leicester City, Liverpool need to bounce back.
Meanwhile, another north London side face another Merseyside outfit, with Tottenham Hotspur hosting Everton on Sunday before Manchester City's visit to Sunderland. League leaders Chelsea visit London rivals West Ham United on Monday.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Here's a look at the fixture list in full for Week 27, a prediction for each match and some key men who can make a big difference for their respective sides.
| Saturday, March 4 | 12:45 p.m. | Manchester United vs. Bournemouth | 2-0 |
| Saturday, March 4 | 3 p.m. | West Bromwich Albion vs. Crystal Palace | 1-1 |
| Saturday, March 4 | 3 p.m. | Swansea City vs. Burnley | 2-1 |
| Saturday, March 4 | 3 p.m. | Watford vs. Southampton | 1-1 |
| Saturday, March 4 | 3 p.m. | Leicester City vs. Hull City | 2-1 |
| Saturday, March 4 | 3 p.m. | Stoke City vs. Middlesbrough | 1-0 |
| Saturday, March 4 | 5:30 p.m. | Liverpool vs. Arsenal | 2-2 |
| Sunday, March 5 | 1:30 p.m. | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Everton | 1-1 |
| Sunday, March 5 | 4 p.m. | Sunderland vs. Manchester City | 1-4 |
| Monday, March 6 | 8 p.m. | West Ham United vs. Chelsea | 1-2 |
| 1 | Chelsea | 26 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 55 | 19 | +36 | 63 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 50 | 18 | +32 | 53 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 25 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 51 | 29 | +22 | 52 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 25 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 54 | 28 | +26 | 50 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 55 | 33 | +22 | 49 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 25 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 38 | 21 | +17 | 48 |
| 7 | Everton | 26 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 42 | 27 | +15 | 44 |
| 8 | West Bromwich Albion | 26 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 36 | 32 | +4 | 40 |
| 9 | West Ham United | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 35 | 44 | -9 | 33 |
| 10 | Stoke City | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 30 | 40 | -10 | 32 |
| 11 | Burnley | 26 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 28 | 37 | -9 | 31 |
| 12 | Watford | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 30 | 43 | -13 | 31 |
| 13 | Southampton | 25 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 31 | -3 | 30 |
| 14 | Bournemouth | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 36 | 51 | -15 | 26 |
| 15 | Leicester City | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 27 | 44 | -17 | 24 |
| 16 | Swansea City | 26 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 32 | 57 | -25 | 24 |
| 17 | Middlesbrough | 26 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 19 | 28 | -9 | 22 |
| 18 | Crystal Palace | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 33 | 46 | -13 | 22 |
| 19 | Hull City | 26 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 23 | 50 | -27 | 21 |
| 20 | Sunderland | 26 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 24 | 48 | -24 | 19 |
Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
When the Gunners head to Anfield, the midfield battle will be frantic and physical; the kind of match that Mesut Ozil has struggled to thrive in recently.
Indeed, in the aforementioned games, the German playmaker failed to put his trademark stamp on matches. Ozil was edgy in possession, struggled to find space and offered little in terms of defensive contribution.
That's not something Arsenal can afford in what is such an important fixture in the race for UEFA Champions League football. The player's agent feels as though the former Real Madrid man is being unfairly targeted, though:
Of course, Ozil is not solely responsible for Arsenal's underperformance when the pressure bites, and there have been times this season when he has thrived at the team's creative hub. However, a player of his unquestionable quality should be having a greater say against quality opponents.
There will be no sterner test of those credentials than against one of the most aggressive teams in the Premier League in Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, although they may be reeling a little after their surrender to Leicester on Monday. It's a superb chance for Ozil to ram the criticism of his doubters back down their throats.
Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
It's obvious to pinpoint Harry Kane as Tottenham's biggest threat, but a man who has scored back-to-back domestic hat-tricks will pose a major headache to any defence in the Premier League, including that of Everton.
After a hat-trick against Fulham in the FA Cup, Kane was at it again a week later in the top flight, bagging a superb first-half treble in the 4-0 win over Stoke City on Sunday.
The England international is fast establishing himself as not only one of the best forwards in the division, but one of the best in world football.
Per Josh Wright of WhoScored, should he continue scoring goals with such frequency—he has 17 this season in the Premier League—he could break plenty of records:
In the short term, Kane will need to be at his best if Spurs are to overcome a strong Everton team on Sunday. Ronald Koeman's Toffees are the most in-form team in the division alongside Chelsea and have kept five clean sheets in their last seven league matches.
The power, intelligence and quality Kane has showcased in recent weeks will be enough to ruffle the feathers of Ramiro Funes Mori and Ashley Williams, though. If their No. 10 is in the mood, he can fire Tottenham to a valuable three points.
Leroy Sane, Manchester City
It may have taken him a little time to cement his cement his place in the City side this season, not to mention adapt to the robust nature of English football, but Leroy Sane has been exhilarating to watch in recent weeks.
The German has been given a prolonged run on the left flank as of late, and it's hard not to feel sorry for the full-backs looking to stem his influence. Sane has blistering pace, plenty of skill and has showcased a burgeoning composure in the final third.
As noted by sports journalist Rafael Hernandez, in Sane and Raheem Sterling, manager Pep Guardiola has two wonderful wide players to call upon:
They are the kind of players who will be key to unpicking Sunderland. While the Black Cats are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, they will rarely move from a deep defensive shape and have shown recently, including in the 0-0 draw against Spurs, they can stifle some elite players.
Sane will be tasked with hugging the touchline, committing defenders and getting crosses into dangerous positions. Provided he plays to the same standards as he has done in recent weeks, Sunderland won't be able to stop him.
