Chelsea stroll past Crystal Palace, Man City pile pressure on Wenger: Premier League predictions

As the Premier League returns after the international break, Graham Caygill provides his predictions for all 10 fixtures.

Liverpool 2 Everton 1

Why? Everton are in great form in 2017 with 23 points from 10 games, but Liverpool have begun to look more rejuvenated with Sadio Mane back pulling the strings.

While Romelu Lukaku will be a big threat for Everton, Liverpool will have too much offensively for their Merseyside rivals.

Burnley 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2

Why? Burnley's home form has been superb and is the sole reason they are on course to comfortably stay in the Premier League. Of their 32 points, 29 have come at Turf Moor, but they will not add to that tally against Tottenham.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men continue to impress, even without the injured Harry Kane, and with Dele Alli in fine goalscoring form, expect more of the same from Spurs on Saturday.

Chelsea 3 Crystal Palace 0

Why? With three wins and three clean sheets in a row, Sam Allardyce's Palace have perked up, but they were against a West Bromwich Albion side having a rare off day, a limited Watford team, and a struggling Middlesbrough.

Palace do not have the quality to deal with Chelsea, and Antonio Conte’s men, with Eden Hazard back in the line-up, will take another step towards the title.

Hull City 2 West Ham United 2

Why? A big match for Hull. If the relegation-threatened side are to get out of the mire, then games like these are ones they really must win.

While Marco Silva has improved their results, they still are susceptible at the back, and Andy Carroll will fancy his chances of causing problems at set pieces.

Leicester City 2 Stoke City 1

Why? Leicester have rediscovered their mojo having won their past three games, and with Jamie Vardy looking like the striker who scored the goals that fired them to the Premier League last season, they should make it four on the trot against Stoke.

Manchester United 1 West Bromwich Albion 0

Why? Still no Zlatan Ibrahimovic for United as he continues his suspension, but United should still have enough for West Brom, despite the impressive display by Tony Pulis's side in defeating Arsenal two weeks ago. United will look to Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford for their goal threat in the absence of their top scorer.

Watford 0 Sunderland 1

Why? Watford are in poor form with one point from four games, and it is not just the results but the manner of the performances under Walter Mazzarri that will be a concern.

Jermain Defoe made a goalscoring return for England in midweek and the striker could well be the difference at Vicarage Road to give the bottom side a lifeline in their bid to stay up.

Southampton 3 Bournemouth 2

Why? Two sides who are a lot of fun. They can attack well, but neither are too solid at the back. Southampton have been playing great football of late. They were terrific in the League Cup final and should have scored more than four at Watford in a 4-3 win.

While the likely loss of Manolo Gabbiadini due to a groin strain is a blow, Nathan Redmond is playing well enough for his absence to be minimal.

Swansea City 2 Middlesbrough 0

Why? Managerless Middlesbrough have not won since December 17 and this is a crucial match for them. They need the win ideally, a draw is not great, but a defeat against one of their relegation rivals would be devastating.

Unfortunately, with Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente on form, and Swansea superb at home, having won their past three games at the Liberty Stadium, it is hard to be positive about Middlesbrough’s chances.

Arsenal 1 Manchester City 3

Why? City have had their moments of disappointment of late, but they have still looked far stronger than a woeful Arsenal, who have lost four of their past five games.

City were unlucky not to beat Liverpool last time out, with Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne showing signs of getting back to their best, and they should be too strong for Arsenal to pile further misery on Arsene Wenger.

gcaygill@thenational.ae

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