Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s Premier League fixtures, including Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Arsenal.
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Fresh from their midweek victory over Aston Villa, Manchester City can momentarily climb to the Premier League summit if they beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday lunchtime.
The Citizens will be seeking revenge against the Eagles after they let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium in December.
We say: Crystal Palace 1-3 Manchester City
Although Palace have struggled to score in recent home meetings with Man City, they have frustrated the Citizens on numerous occasions at Selhurst Park and can be optimistic of breaching their backline this time around, considering that Guardiola’s side have kept only three clean sheets in 14 top-flight away games this season.
Keeping the visitors quiet at the other end could prove challenging for the Eagles, though, especially with a makeshift defence amid their injury concerns, and City – who have scored in each of their last 11 away matches – should have few problems exploiting that en route to claiming maximum points.
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> How Man City could line up against Crystal Palace
> Man City injury, suspension list vs. Palace – Walker, Ederson and more
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Aston Villa will be looking to bounce back from a Premier League defeat in midweek when they welcome Brentford to Villa Park on Saturday afternoon.
After claiming a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture four months ago, the Villains can complete their first league double over the Bees for 77 years if they collect maximum points on home soil.
We say: Aston Villa 2-1 Brentford
Both teams are in need of claiming all three points for different reasons this weekend, but Brentford head to Villa Park as the underdogs considering their miserable away form.
Aston Villa have been hit and miss in recent home games, losing three of their last five, but they should find a way to come out on top against their relegation-threatened counterparts this time around, even if Watkins is not deemed fit to feature.
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The ‘Sean Dyche derby’ takes centre stage at Goodison Park on Saturday, as Everton play host to Burnley in a potentially pivotal Premier League battle for survival.
Vincent Kompany’s side will be seeking revenge against the Toffees after they suffered a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at Turf Moor in mid-December.
We say: Everton 2-2 Burnley
Only basement club Sheffield United (27) have scored fewer Premier League goals than Everton (31) this season, but having already scored five goals across two victories against Burnley this season, the Toffees can be confident of finding the net once again, considering the Clarets have conceded in each of their last 14 games.
Both teams will fancy their chances of claiming maximum points from this bottom-half showdown, but with little to separate the pair, we can see the spoils being shared in a closely-fought yet end-to-end contest.
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Both bidding to make an immediate return to winning ways, Fulham and Newcastle United do battle in Saturday’s Premier League encounter at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers were second best all evening in a 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, while the Magpies were pegged back in a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Everton.
We say: Fulham 2-2 Newcastle United
As abysmal as Fulham were during their midweek reverse to Nottingham Forest, the Cottagers can almost always be backed to deliver in front of the home faithful, and Silva’s squad is in far better shape than their injury-riddled visitors.
Newcastle’s impressive winning sequence against Fulham therefore ought to be snapped on Saturday, especially given the Magpies’ failures to shut up shop on the road, but Howe’s effervescent attackers can still capitalise on their hosts’ recent defensive vulnerabilities to take a point back to base.
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Kenilworth Road is the venue for a bottom-half Premier League scrap on Saturday afternoon, when Luton Town pit their wits against Bournemouth.
The Hatters’ midweek sojourn to Arsenal ended in an expected 2-0 defeat, whereas Andoni Iraola’s side edged closer to the top 10 by eking out a 1-0 triumph over Crystal Palace.
We say: Luton Town 1-2 Bournemouth
Saturday’s competitors certainly have a lot to live up to after last month’s seven-goal extravaganza at the Vitality Stadium, and neutral fans wishing for a repeat of that engrossing encounter will likely see their pleas fall on deaf ears.
Luton’s loss to Arsenal was not for the want of trying, though, and we can picture Edwards’s men quickly returning to scoring ways, but their defensive absentees should catch up to them again as Iraola’s in-form troops keep up their top-half pursuit.
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On the back of respective 1-1 draws in their midweek Premier League contests, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United endeavour to reignite their respective European charges in Saturday’s Molineux encounter.
Gary O’Neil’s men settled for a point against Burnley on Tuesday, while the Irons also came from behind to shake hands on a share of the spoils with Tottenham Hotspur.
We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 West Ham United
Not since the 2010-11 season have Wolves and West Ham taken home a point apiece from this encounter – there has been a victor in each of the last 13 meetings – but we can only picture Saturday’s game heading in that direction.
Cunha’s anticipated return to the first XI ought to give the hosts a major lift against a West Ham side without any sense of defensive discipline on the road, but O’Neil’s under-performing men should not do enough to take all three points.
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Saturday evening’s Premier League offering comes from the Amex Stadium on the South Coast, as Brighton & Hove Albion seek another scalp over title-chasing Arsenal.
The Seagulls could not find a way through Brentford in Wednesday’s goalless draw, while the Gunners were far from their best against Luton Town but still emerged triumphant by two goals to nil.
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Arsenal
Brighton may have had plenty to shout about at home in 2024, but the absence of the unpredictable Mitoma is significantly harming their attacking output – hardly reassuring reading before facing the Premier League’s masters of defence on the road.
With a handful of regular first-team starters refreshed after well-earned midweek rests, Arsenal need only kick up the intensity a notch to come away with another three points to end the evening in first place again.
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> How Arsenal could line up against Brighton
> Saka, Timber – Arsenal injury list and return dates before Brighton clash
