Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s Premier League fixtures, including Brentford vs. Chelsea.
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Fresh from their midweek victory in the FA Cup, Chelsea travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to lock horns with West London rivals Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues will be seeking revenge against the Bees after they suffered a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge just over four months ago.
We say: Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
While defeats have become almost predicable for Brentford considering their miserable run of form, it is difficult to forecast what Chelsea side will turn up on a match-by-match basis. Nevertheless, Pochettino’s men will be regarded as favourites for Saturday’s contest.
Both sides will view this fixture as a must-win if they wish to meet their respective end-of-season targets, but this could be another tight affair in West London that ultimately ends with the spoils being shared.
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> How Chelsea could line up against Brentford
> Chelsea injury, suspension list vs. Brentford
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Returning to Premier League duty with some much-needed breathing space over the relegation zone, Everton welcome West Ham United to their Goodison Park headquarters on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams have had cause for celebration in recent days, as the Toffees’ points deduction was reduced on appeal, while the Hammers belatedly picked up their first win of 2024 at the ninth attempt.
We say: Everton 1-1 West Ham United
None of the last eight contests between Everton and West Ham has seen the two sides shake hands on a draw, but a battle between two low-block proprietors in Dyche and Moyes could give rise to a tense stalemate in what is often a low-scoring fixture.
West Ham may boast more difference-makers in the final third, but draw specialists Everton should step out to a buoyant Goodison atmosphere after a welcome points return and have a knack for keeping things tight at the back; only the top three sides have shipped fewer goals than Dyche’s men this season.
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After crashing out of the FA Cup in midweek, Brighton & Hove Albion will look to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they face a resurgent Fulham side at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since the end of October when they played out a 1-1 draw at the American Express Stadium.
We say: Fulham 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
There has been little to separate these two teams in recent years and another closely-contested encounter could be on the cards this weekend, although Fulham boast the psychological edge considering their unbeaten Premier League record over Brighton.
Neither side will be at full strength, but we believe that the Cottagers may just do enough to follow up their impressive with at Man United with another triumph over a Seagulls outfit who have won just two of their last 11 away league matches.
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Two Premier League teams who advanced from the FA Cup fifth round in midweek face off at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon as Newcastle United play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Neither side could be separated the last time that they met at Molineux just over four months ago when they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.
We say: Newcastle United 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Considering that 16 of the last 17 Premier League meetings between Newcastle and Wolves have seen both teams score, an end-to-end encounter with plenty of goalmouth action could be on the cards this weekend.
A lack of a natural centre-forward at O’Neil’s disposal is not ideal for Wolves, but they should still pose an attacking threat to Newcastle’s leaky backline and may do just enough to claim a hard-fought point in an compelling contest at St James’ Park.
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On the back of contrasting results in the FA Cup, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool reconvene for a Premier League encounter at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.
The Tricky Trees were dumped out of the cup with a 1-0 loss to Manchester United in their fifth-round affair, while the youthful Reds revelled in more knockout success with a 3-0 beating of Southampton.
We say: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Liverpool
As their injury crisis worsens by the week, Liverpool have almost always found a way to triumph in the face of adversity, and their young stars have certainly been striking fear into the hearts of opponents.
As such, the City Ground hoodoo may finally be lifted for Klopp’s side, who should not keep Santo’s team out but can capitalise on their hosts’ ongoing rearguard frailties with the help of some returning senior stars.
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> How Liverpool could line up against Nottingham Forest
> Liverpool injury, suspension list vs. Nottingham Forest
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Following a rare fortnight with no Premier League football, Tottenham Hotspur grace the North London soil again on Saturday afternoon, hosting near neighbours Crystal Palace in a capital derby.
Ange Postecoglou’s men went down 2-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers two weeks ago, while the Oliver Glasner era at Selhurst Park began with a 3-0 rout of Burnley last weekend.
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Crystal Palace
Each of Tottenham’s last nine Premier League home matches has seen the Lilywhites fail to keep a clean sheet, and a re-energised Palace crop boosted by the anticipated return of Eze should be expected to prolong Spurs’ miserable defensive streak on their own patch.
A two-week recuperation period is just what the doctor ordered for a Tottenham side who were appearing a little leggy, though, and while it may not be pretty, we still expect Postecoglou’s free-scoring charges to return to triumphant ways.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
> How Tottenham could line up against Crystal Palace
> Tottenham injury, suspension list vs. Palace
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In the wake of a crushing FA Cup loss to the reigning champions, Luton Town turn their attention back to the Premier League relegation scrap on Saturday evening, hosting Aston Villa at Kenilworth Road.
Rob Edwards’s side were blown to smithereens 6-2 by Manchester City in Tuesday’s FA Cup contest, prior to which the Lions ran out 4-2 top-flight victors at home to Nottingham Forest.
We say: Luton Town 1-4 Aston Villa
The ease in which City carved their way through a disjointed and injury-hit Luton defence spells trouble for the hosts on Saturday, especially with their visitors also boasting the fresher legs.
Edwards’s side can at least take solace from their recent propensity for scoring, but as was the case throughout February, a solitary strike should ultimately prove meaningless as Aston Villa remain in control of their Champions League destiny.
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