Manchester City go top Premier League for first time since August if dem beat Burnley for Wednesday match. Chris Sutton, BBC Sport football expert, talk say Burnley no don mathematically down yet, but e hard to see how dem go escape. E say, “I know Artemis II just go around moon but if anybody for universe think say Burnley dey stay up, I never meet dem.”
Three Premier League games dey for midweek, all move forward because of FA Cup semi-finals wey dey for weekend. Sutton dey predict all 380 Premier League games this season, face AI, BBC readers, and guests. Alfie Watts, Race Across the World podcast host, also give im scores for these midweek matches.
For Chelsea vs Brighton game, Chelsea don lose five consecutive league games without score since 1912, when Titanic sink. Under Liam Rosenior, season dey head same way, but top-five finish still possible if Aston Villa finish fifth and win Europa League. Chelsea dey for FA Cup semi-finals this weekend too. Rosenior talk say e get “100% support” from club owners, but fans protest against owners before dem lose to Manchester United on Saturday.
Brighton dey eye top six and go pass Chelsea if dem win. Brighton beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this season with late goals from Danny Welbeck after Trevoh Chalobah red card. Sutton predict 1-1, Alfie predict 0-2, AI predict 2-1.
For Bournemouth vs Leeds, Bournemouth dey brilliant form and just announce Marco Rose go be manager next season. Andoni Iraola dey sign off in style. Leeds get back-to-back wins over Manchester United and Wolves, dem no mathematically safe yet but soon go be. Eli Junior Kroupi stoppage-time goal deny Leeds win at Elland Road in September, but Leeds no dey fade late again. Sutton predict 2-1, Alfie predict 3-1, AI predict 2-1.
For Burnley vs Manchester City, City celebrations after beating Arsenal on Sunday show how much needle dey between both sides. Pep Guardiola men dey fully focused to win wey dem need. Burnley go ahead against Nottingham Forest on Sunday but end up lose heavily. Sutton talk say City tails dey up and dem get tough games ahead, but this one go comfortable. Burnley go battle but City quality for final third go make dem boost goal difference and collect three points. Sutton predict 0-4, Alfie predict 0-3, AI predict 0-3.
Virgil van Dijk 100th-minute winner for Liverpool for Merseyside derby prove pivotal for week 33. If game finish 1-1 as Chris predict, im for take weekly win. Instead, BBC readers edge tight week. Sutton talk say im dey at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday and no fit believe am. Chris end up with six correct results and no exact scores for 60 points. AI get four correct results and one exact score for 70 points. BBC readers get five correct results and one exact score for Manchester City 2-1 win over Arsenal, leave dem on 80 points.
Chris, AI, and readers all go for 1-1 draw for Crystal Palace vs West Ham Monday game, meaning Chris and AI already know dem no fit take weekly win before final game play. Sutton guests, boxer Molly McCann and Boo Radley frontman Dr Simon ‘Sice’ Rowbottom, still for nick victory if Palace win 2-0 or 2-1 but result na 0-0 draw. McCann and Rowbottom both end up with four correct results with no exact scores for 40 points.
Burnley relegation fit near seal if dem lose to Manchester City on Wednesday night. Clarets struggle since dem return Premier League, win just four of 33 games, concede more than two goals per game on average. Dem lose five of last six games, home form weak significantly, fail to score for three of last four home matches. Scott Parker men go host Manchester City wey dey eye title firmly.
City land major blow to Arsenal Premier League title hopes on Sunday afternoon at Etihad Stadium, move to within three points of Gunners with game in hand. City don win last 14 head-to-head meetings with Burnley for all competitions, no taste defeat for previous 19 match-ups. City win three of last four away games after throw away two-goal lead to draw at Tottenham.
Burnley expected lineup: Dubravka, Hartman, Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Luis, Ward-Prowse, Anthony, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Flemming. Manchester City expected lineup: Donnarumma, Nunes, O'Reilly, Guehi, Khusanov, Rodri, Silva, Cherki, Doku, Semenyo, Haaland.
Burnley score just five goals for last nine home games against City for Premier League. Clarets fail to score for three of last four home fixtures against Guardiola men. City motivation dey high to improve goal difference and heap pressure on Mikel Arteta Arsenal. City concede only two goals for last four away games for Premier League. Guardiola men win by three-goal margins for two of City last four visits to Turf Moor.
Goal difference fit prove deciding factor for Premier League title race. Any victory for City at Turf Moor go make dem leapfrog Arsenal into first place. Comfortable win go move City at least two or three goals ahead of Gunners on goal difference. With Clarets ship four goals at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, City no go get issue break through. Early goal fit open game up. League top scorers go take full advantage of division most vulnerable defence.
City 22-year-old playmaker, Rayan Cherki, dey excellent form right now. E get four goal contributions for last three games, including goal and man-of-the-match display against Arsenal. Cherki get ten assists from 16 Premier League starts and 11 bench appearances. Three of those arrive for last four Premier League games at strike rate of 75%. City go dominate possession at Turf Moor. Cherki na type of player wey thrive against low defensive blocks. Im balance and low centre of gravity make am effective for tight spaces. French international dey hit form at perfect time as e aim to clinch place at 2026 World Cup.
The Athletic Premier League predictions challenge get dramatic late twist for title race. Subscribers look like dem don sew up first place after remarkable run of predictions over past weeks, time their charge like Pep Guardiola Manchester City. But six-year-old Wilfred come up with late charge. Boy wonder pick up record-breaking 16 points with three spot-on predictions, including big one, Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal.
At full-time at Etihad Stadium, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice dey seen mouth words, “It’s not done, it’s not done
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