Premier League Easter Saturday Preview

The Premier League returns this weekend with a bumper programme on Saturday, with big games at both ends of the table.

Leaders Manchester City are 16-points clear and could stretch that to 19 as their inevitable push to the title continues.

City travel to Everton in the final game of the day, at which point they will know if their nearest rivals Manchester United have closed the gap – as they host Swansea at Old Trafford earlier in the day.

The opening game of Easter Weekend sees third place Liverpool travel to fifth from bottom Crystal Palace. A win for The Reds would take them third, albeit with United still to play, whilst three points for Palace could take them five points clear of the bottom three.

Also at the wrong end, bottom of the table West Brom are in desperate need of a win, although their hopes of staying up are looking bleaker by the week. Alan Pardew’s side host Burnley – who know victory would take them to within two points of sixth placed Arsenal.

There is a huge six point clash at the London Stadium as fourth from bottom West Ham host third bottom Southampton. A win for West Ham would take them five points clear of the Saints, but a win for Mark Hughes’s new side would see them move above The Hammers.

Newcastle are five points clear of trouble, and victory over Huddersfield at St James’ Park would go some way to them guaranteeing their spot in the Premier League next season, but likewise a win for The Terriers would take them above Rafa Benitez’s side and drag them right back into trouble.

Brighton are looking to continue their wonderful season at home to Leicester, as a win for The Seagulls would see them into the top-half, whilst The Foxes could move into seventh with the three points.

Finally, Watford host Bournemouth at Vicarage Road in a archetypal mid-table clash as 10th plays 11th.

See below for a preview on the game, including predictions from former England, Crystal Palace and Tottenham midfielder Andy Gray and our own Football Insider Graeme Bailey and bet365’s Steve Freeth.

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Crystal Palace 12:30 Liverpool
Selhurst Park

TEAM NEWS: Wilfried Zaha, James Tomkins and Alexander Sorloth are all doubts for Palace, while Jeffrey Schlupp and Joel Ward ruled out. Joe Gomes misses out for Liverpool after being injured on international duty, whilst Dejan Lovren also misses out. Emre Can is also struggling with a back problem.
KEY FACT: Crystal Palace have lost each of their last three home meetings with Liverpool
MATCH ODDS: Palace 5/1 Draw 10/3 Liverpool 1/2
bet365 Pick: Draw @10/3
ANDY SAYS: I think my former club have been doing quite well, and I can see them getting the win…2-1
GRAEME SAYS: Close game but I think Liverpool will have too much for Palace…1-3
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Brighton & Hove Albion 15:00 Leicester City
Amex Stadium

TEAM NEWS: Gaetan Bong and Dale Stephens are both doubts, but Jiri Skalak could return. Steve Sidwell and Izzy Brown are both ruled out long-term, whilst Anthony Knockaert is suspended. Leonardo Ulloa is unable to face his parent club. Kelechi Iheanacho has a broken hand but could still play, whilst Leicester will asses Harry Maguire before the game. Daniel Amarety is a long-term absentee.
KEY FACT: Glenn Murray has scored six goals in his six home matches in all competitions in 2018
MATCH ODDS: Brighton 15/8 Draw 21/10 Leicester 31/20
bet365 Pick: Both Teams To Score @19/20
ANDY SAYS: A good game but I think Brighton at home will have the edge…2-1
GRAEME SAYS: I can see these two cancelling each other out…0-0
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Manchester United 15:00 Swansea City
Old Trafford

TEAM NEWS: Scott McTominay and Ander Herrera are doubts for Man United, whilst Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Daley Blind are unlikely to feature. Leroy Fer and Wilfried Bony miss out for Swansea, whilst Jordan Ayew is suspended, but Renato Sanches and Angel Rangel could feature.
KEY FACT: Swansea have avoided defeat in three of their last five visits to Old Trafford
MATCH ODDS: Man Utd 1/4 Draw 5/1 Swansea 9/1
bet365 Pick: Man Utd win and over 2.5 goals @20/21
ANDY SAYS: Comfortable home win for United, don’t see how they are getting anything other than three points…3-0
GRAEME SAYS: United will get the win, again I don’t see it being a classic but they should prevail…2-0 
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Newcastle United 15:00 Huddersfield Town
St. James’ Park

TEAM NEWS: Newcastle are sweating on Matt Ritchie and Jonjo Shelvey, but January loan signing Islam Slimani remains sidelined. Huddersfield are hoping that Terence Kongolo and Sean Scannell will feature but Jon Stankovic, Michael Hefele and Danny Williams are all out.
KEY FACT: Huddersfield Town are aiming to complete a league double over Newcastle for the first time since the 1954
MATCH ODDS: Newcastle 3/4 Draw 2/5 Huddersfield 4/1
bet365 Pick: Both Teams to Score – No @7/10
ANDY SAYS: I think Huddersfield might just sneak this one…0-1
GRAEME SAYS: I would think Newcastle will have enough for the three points here…2-0 
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Watford 15:00 Bournemouth
Vicarage Road

TEAM NEWS: Watford have a host of missing players with Christian Kabasele, Gerard Deulofeu, Tom Cleverley, Younes Kaboul, Jerome Sinclair, Tommie Hoban and Nathaniel Chalobah all missing out. Tyrone Mings is definitely out, but Bournemouth hope that Asmir Begovic, Harry Arter, Steve Francis and Adam Smith could all make it.
KEY FACT: Watford have lost one of their last 16 home matches against AFC Bournemouth
MATCH ODDS: Watford 13/10 Draw 23/10 Bournemouth 21/10
bet365 Pick: Over 2.5 goals @4/5
ANDY SAYS: I see this as a draw, two mid-table teams…1-1
GRAEME SAYS: I think that Watford could have enough, and take the win…2-0
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West Bromwich Albion 15:00 Burnley
The Hawthorns

TEAM NEWS: West Brom are hoping both Nacer Chadli and Daniel Sturridge could feature, but James Morrison will not make it. Robbie Brady, Jonathan Walters and Steven Defour all sidelined through for Burnley.
KEY FACT: West Brom have won nine of their last 10 home league matches against Burnley 
MATCH ODDS: West Brom 29/20 Draw 2/1 Burnley 21/10
bet365 Pick: Burnley to win @21/10
ANDY SAYS: I believe Burnley win this, West Brom seem to have accepted they are down…1-2
GRAEME SAYS: I don’t see West Brom winning, and I think Burnley will edge it…0-1
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West Ham United 15:00 Southampton
London Stadium

TEAM NEWS: Edmilson, Manuel Lanzini and James Collins will all be given a chance to make the game, but Andy Carroll, Winston Reid, Sam Byram and Pedro Obiang remain sidelined. Ryan Betrand and Charlie Austin should both be back, but Steven Davis remains sidelined.
KEY FACT: Saints have won only two away matches in the PL this season
MATCH ODDS: West Ham 17/10 Draw 9/4 Southampton 8/5
bet365 Pick: Southampton to win @8/5
ANDY SAYS: I think Mark Hughes might do the trick here and claim a big win…0-1
GRAEME SAYS: I will go with West Ham grabbing the win with home advantage, but could be close…2-1
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Everton 17:30 Manchester City
Goodison Park

TEAM NEWS: Everton have Ashley Williams suspended and he joins Idrissa Gueye, Tom Davies, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Mason Holgate, James McCarthy and Eliaquim Mangala on the sidelines. Sergio Aguero and Fabian Delph could make the squad, whilst Benjamin Mendy is back in training but is unlikely to be risked.
KEY FACT: Everton have won six of their last nine home matches against Manchester City
MATCH ODDS: Everton 8/1 Draw 4/1 Man City 1/3
bet365 Pick: Man City to win to nil @6/5
ANDY SAYS: City will take the win, little doubt about it…0-3
GRAEME SAYS: Not sure it will be an easy win, but yes it will be a City win…0-2
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