EPL Predictions: Picks, Top Players for Week 28 Premier League Fixtures

The FA Cup quarter-final schedule means there’s a reduced Premier League fixture list in Week 28, although there are still some crucial clashes to enjoy.

Liverpool will be out to cement their spot in the division’s top four on Sunday, when they welcome Burnley to Anfield. Elsewhere, Everton and West Bromwich Albion will meet at Goodison Park, with the latter trying to chop down the gap to the former, who occupy seventh spot. Manchester City, meanwhile, host Stoke City on Wednesday.

There’s a key clash at the bottom of the table, too, with Swansea City travelling to Hull City. If the Welsh outfit do pick up three points, it should be enough to ensure they preserve their Premier League status for another season.

Here’s a look at the fixture list in full and three players who will be expected to make the difference for their respective sides.

Date	Time	Fixture	Prediction
Wednesday, March 8	8 p.m.	Manchester City vs. Stoke City	2-0
Saturday, March 11	3 p.m.	Everton vs. West Bromwich Albion	2-1
Saturday, March 11	3 p.m.	Hull City vs. Swansea City	1-2
Saturday, March 11	3 p.m.	Bournemouth vs. West Ham United	2-2
Sunday, March 12	4 p.m.	Liverpool vs. Burnley	2-0

R	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea	27	21	3	3	57	20	+37	66
2	Tottenham	27	16	8	3	53	20	+33	56
3	Manchester City	26	17	4	5	53	29	+24	55
4	Liverpool	27	15	7	5	58	34	+24	52
5	Arsenal	26	15	5	6	55	31	+24	50
6	Manchester United	26	13	10	3	39	22	+17	49
7	Everton	27	12	8	7	44	30	+14	44
8	West Bromwich Albion	27	11	7	9	36	34	+2	40
9	Stoke	27	9	8	10	32	40	-8	35
10	Southampton	26	9	6	11	32	34	-2	33
11	West Ham	27	9	6	12	36	46	-10	33
12	Burnley	27	9	4	14	30	40	-10	31
13	Watford	27	8	7	12	33	47	-14	31
14	Bournemouth	27	7	6	14	37	52	-15	27
15	Leicester	27	7	6	14	30	45	-15	27
16	Swansea	27	8	3	16	35	59	-24	27
17	Crystal Palace	27	7	4	16	35	46	-11	25
18	Middlesbrough	27	4	10	13	19	30	-11	22
19	Hull	27	5	6	16	24	53	-29	21
20	Sunderland	27	5	4	18	24	50	-26	19

Adam Lallana, Liverpool

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Against Burnley, the Reds will be tasked with unpicking a deep-sitting, defensive side at Anfield, an assignment they’ve struggled with at times this term. Lallana can play an important role in helping the team overcome these issues.

The playmaker was the man who kept Liverpool ticking in their 3-1 win against Arsenal. Lallana, pressed, won tackles and, crucially, was able to find spaces in the Gunners midfield. That’s something he’ll need to continue if the Reds are to take three points against Burnley.

Keith Costigan of FOX Sports hailed Lallana after his display against Arsenal but challenged him to produce this kind of performance more often:

Manager Jurgen Klopp will be doing the same, you sense. If Liverpool are to find a way of winning against less illustrious sides, the ball needs to be moved quickly through midfield and into dangerous areas with precision. Lallana can do both at full throttle.

Burnley have yet to win away from home in the Premier League all season, though, and they clearly lack confidence when they’re not in front of their own supporters. Lallana can help add to their misery on the road on Sunday.

Romelu Lukaku, Everton

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Although Everton fell to a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last time out, Romelu Lukaku kept up his red-hot run of goalscoring.

The Belgium international only had one real opportunity in the clash at White Hart Lane but struck a sweet finish beyond Hugo Lloris to grab his 18th goal of the Premier League season. It’s something West Brom will need to be wary about when they make the trip to Goodison Park on Saturday.

The goal on Sunday was a landmark one for the forward:

Lukaku will have to be at his best to unsettle a notoriously solid West Brom back line. Tony Pulis’ men are physical, aggressive and uncompromising in their work at the back; it means that aside from his power, the Everton striker will have to be intelligent in his movement and sharp with his back to goal.

Should Everton secure three points here it could be enough for them to sew up seventh spot in the Premier League table. You sense Lukaku, against his former club, will have a big say on the outcome of the contest.

Fernando Llorente, Swansea

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Swansea have been rejuvenated since Paul Clement took over as manager, with Fernando Llorente leading the charge up top.

After a difficult spell on loan at Sevilla last term, the Spain international has taken to life in the Premier League well since his summer move, scoring some crucial goals and offering an excellent focal point for the Welsh club.

In their last outing, Swansea benefitted from another late Llorente goal, as he grabbed the winner in a 3-2 victory over Burnley at the Liberty Stadium. Indeed, ESPN FC’s Dermot Corrigan feels he could be in line for an international return, so good is his form:

With 11 Premier League goals in 2016-17, the 32-year-old is undoubtedly the man Hull will need to play closest attention to when they host the south Wales club. They desperately need a victory, too, with the points drying up in recent weeks after a bright start under manager Marco Silva.

Three points would be crucial for Swansea in this fixture and surely enough to end any fear of relegation. With Gylfi Sigurdsson pulling the strings in midfield and Llorente causing problems aplenty up top, expect the Swans to continue their impressive resurgence.