Premier League Predictions: Match Week 22 – Part 1
January would be a busy month in the Premier League, as some of the matches that were called off during the festive period will be played in the coming few weeks.
This is the last bit of Premier League action before the 3rd round of FA Cup is played out at the weekend. Liverpool and Manchester United will have one eye on their encounter at the weekend and that could affect their team selections for these
midweek Premier League matches.
However, we start off with our predictions for Match week 22 with the game between Seasiders and Birmingham City:
Blackpool v Birmingham City
Blackpool continue to play in the manner they believe is best suited to them, which is to attack, attack and attack. Ian Holloway’s men have picked up a total of 25 points so far and realistically, they only need 15 more to guarantee their stay in the top
flight.
They still have games in hand over their rivals. Even though they lost their last match away to Manchester City, they will go into this one full of confidence.
Birmingham, on the other hand, have been struggling to find the back of the net. Their attitude of making sure they don’t lose makes them a naive team.
Arsenal tore them apart at the weekend and if they retain similar tactics, Blackpool are more than capable of causing problems to their defence. Birmingham need to be a bit more adventurous going forward, especially in this game where Blackpool will surely
leave spaces behind.
Prediction: 2-1
Fulham v West Brom
West Brom were a touch unlucky not to get something from the weekend's clash with Manchester United. However, their performance in that match would have given them loads of confidence and if they can eradicate their silly defensive errors, they stand a good
chance of getting maximum points at Craven Cottage.
Fulham had a tough London derby against high flying Tottenham Hotspur but this game will be a totally different one. Mark Hughes knows that they need to start winning more games and with 3 defeats and 2 draws in their last 6, this game suddenly becomes a
must win for Fulham.
A win for Fulham will take them level on points with the Baggies and more importantly, out of the relegation zone. If Fulham want to stay in the Premier League and Mark Hughes wants to stay as their manager, then this is a big game for them. A win and they
can go as high up as 13th in the table.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester United v Stoke City
United just keep on doing it, there isn’t a way you can stop them from carving out results time and again. Their win against the Baggies at the weekend summed up their season so far. They never completely dominated the game, the opposition had enough chances
to win but a couple of decisions went their way and finally they scored the winner in the later part of the game to grab all three points.
Stoke City have done really well this season yet again and their win over Everton took them to 8th in the table with 27 points. However, United will be a totally different test for them and at Old Trafford, United generally dominate games.
Stoke will look to use their height and strength in the air to stifle United’s back four and likewise use their physical nature of play to win battles in the middle of the park.
It will be a different test for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men and with their FA Cup tie at the weekend against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809, United boss might just decide to rest some of his players.
Prediction: 1-1
Continued in Part 2...
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