Particularly when the gap between the points lead and the number of football games left to play begins to narrow.
That’s exactly what’s happening in the Premier League; with 13 matches left Chelsea sits at the top, with an eight-point lead over Manchester City. While Antonio Conte’s biggest rivals have no game this weekend, his side take on Swansea, and as we all know, everyone wants points in the bag, particularly as the season comes to a climax.
WEEK 26 SATURDAY:
Chelsea vs Swansea City
I’ll start with a football prediction that Chelsea does go 11 points clear while the City players take a break in the sun. And that’s with all due respect to the great job Paul Clement has done at Swansea, lifting them from the brink of disaster to having an excellent chance of survival. The Bridge should be a step too far though.
Everton vs Sunderland
While the Swans are gliding nicely, the Black Cats are doing nothing of the sort, following a rare 4-0 win over Crystal Palace with an altogether more predictable 4-0 defeat to Southampton. Everton, unbeaten in five, are likely to compound the bottom club’s problems with 16-goal Romelu Lukaku ready to inflict the pain.
West Bromwich Albion vs Bournemouth
The Cherries need to be careful, still with a six-point cushion from the drop, but with only a point from the last five games and a defence all over the place. West Brom, up in eighth and with four home wins in six, will be a rather unforgiving place for Eddie Howe’s boys.
Hull City vs Burnley
Marco Silva has got his Tigers playing much better. However, performing heroically against the top sides is an entirely different matter to trying to get three points against the likes of Burnley. Sean Dyche’s team have been brilliant at home and woeful away, but the Clarets’ shock FA Cup exit to Lincoln may not be good news for Hull.
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough
This relegation six-pointer could be a really nerve-jangling affair. Middlesbrough are in big danger as the league’s lowest scorers and with little attacking flair, but then Big Sam’s Eagles have looked pretty dreadful at both ends, even losing to Sunderland. If he can’t win this one I suspect Sam’s magic touch may be deserting him.
WEEK 26 SUNDAY:
Watford vs West Ham United
You have to think both the Hornets and Hammers are safe in 13th and 10th place; and while it’s Slaven Bilic’s team performing better of late, Watford have arrested a slide with two recent wins. I wouldn’t be surprised by a high scoring draw here.
WEEK 26 TUESDAY:
Leicester City vs Liverpool
Two teams which have been on a dreadful run of form meet on Tuesday, the difference being, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool seem to have banished the January blues with a draw against Chelsea and a brilliant win against Spurs. The Champions could well be in the bottom three when they arrive at the ground.
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