Premier League + FA Cup predictions 16/04

Here are our predictions for this weekend’s Premier League and big FA Cup semi final fixtures. This week our predictors are Liam Milner and Ed Diggins, who has written his explanations for his predictions.

Premier League Predictions

Fixture	Ibby Akkas prediction		Ed Diggins prediction		Liam Milner prediction		Actual score
Birmingham v Sunderland	1-2		1-1		2-1		2-0
Blackpool v Wigan	2-1		2-2		2-2		1-3
Everton v Blackburn	2-0		2-1		2-0		2-0
West Brom v Chelsea	1-1		1-1		1-1		1-3
West Ham v Aston Villa	2-1		1-0		1-2		1-2
Arsenal v Liverpool	2-2		0-0		1-1		1-1
Total correct scores	Correct Results- 2	Perfect Results - 1	Correct Results - 2	Perfect Results - 0	Correct Results - 4	Perfect Results - 3

FA Cup Predictions

Fixture	Ibby Akkas prediction		Ed Diggins prediction		Liam Milner prediction		Actual score
Man City v Man United	1-0		0-1		0-2		1-0
Bolton v Stoke	2-1		1-0		2-1		0-5
Total correct scores	Correct Results- 1	Perfect Results - 1	Correct Results - 0	Perfect Results - 0	Correct Results- 0	Perfect Results - 0

The Results

Liam Milner - 13 points

Ibby Akkas - 5 points

Ed Diggins - 2 points

After a brilliant weekend of football we have a clear winner for this weeks predictions! Liam Milner absolutely ran away with it this week. He managed to get 4 correct results along with a fantastic 3 perfect predictions. Impressive stuff.

But thanks to Ed and Liam for participating this week!

Ed Diggins has been kind enough to give us his overview on this weekend’s Premier League and FA Cup ties. It’s definitely worth the read.

Ed Diggins’ thoughts on this weekend’s Premier League and FA Cup action

Saturday, 16 April 2011

Barclays Premier League

Birmingham v Sunderland, 15:00

It is not that long since people were touting Steve Bruce’s men as possible European candidates, but how things have changed. A horrific run of form and results have seen them slip into the relegation zone, something that has been familiar to them over recent years. However, I think they will pull through and beat the drop. The Blues motivation from this game is three points will not only take them level with 13^th placed Sunderland, but also takes them ever closer to safety. This will not be pretty and Sunderland would be happy to take a point I am sure. 1-1 written all over it.

Prediction – Score draw

Blackpool v Wigan, 15:00

A huge game at the tail end of the pile, the first of two this weekend which may well go a long way to deciding who stays up. Wigan lie bottom on 31 points and a win will take them above Blackpool who have been in free-fall since December. Wigan have been impressive of late if that’s the correct word to use, with a reasonable showing last week against Chelsea and holding Spurs to a 0-0 the previous week a sign that maybe they can come into form. A win here could be the springboard to success. Realistically I can not see Blackpool loosing this but both sides are really poor and both in my opinion favourites for the drop. I am going for a 2-2 here.

Prediction – Score Draw.

Everton v Blackburn, 15:00

Instinct tells me this will be the most boring game of the weekend, though in this mad league, who knows what to expect. I am going home win here, with Everton having one goal to spare over a Blackburn side hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone. They need something from this game, but recent form suggests the maximum Blackburn can expect is a draw. I don’t think they will get it, but they will put on a decent show hopefully for them. 2-1 to the Toffees is where my money is going.

Prediction – Home win.

West Brom v Chelsea, 15:00

West Brom are flying and can really put it up to the Champions here. Woy has steadied the ship and their rise up the table in recent weeks has been sensational. 7 games undefeated, 3 wins & 4 draws makes the Baggies one of the form teams in the EPL at the moment, but still, predicting a win for them over a Chelsea side not exactly in top form is all too easy. Expect a back lash and Chelsea with nothing else to play for now, will arrive at the Hawthorns all guns blazing. The home side have the added motivation of ramming the opening day 6-0 defeat where the sun don’t shine and having given Manchester United and more recently Arsenal and Liverpool a tough day out on their own patch, I predict them to get a point. I would not be surprised though to see Torres end his scoring drought. I am going for another 1-1 draw for Chelsea following on from their trip to Stoke. But that is more going against the head. Realistically if I was putting money down, I would go for 2-1 Chelsea.

Prediction - Score draw.

West Ham v Aston Villa, 15:00

The second of this week’s huge games in the relegation zone. A win for Villa would all but securing top flight football next season. Their form is more erratic than a whores drawers so they are not easy to predict. 3 recent horror shows at Bolton, Wolves and City point to a team in turmoil, but a good showing at Everton and home to the Magpies last week may give them the lift they so badly need. West Ham are without a win in 4, but their home form is decent enough and I think they will pull through here and get 3 vital points. 1-0 to the hammers for me.

Prediction – Home Win.

FA Cup Semi Final.

Man City v Man Utd - 17:15

The biggest game of the weekend and one of the biggest of the season so far, so it is really is impossible to call. The form book suggests an easy United win, but this is a derby, this is the FA cup and nothing will come easy for either side in this one. City’s recent record over United is poor, with only one win in 8 games. That came in last season’s home leg of the Carling Cup semi. Since then, City have seen a good performance at Old Trafford in February go to waste, succumbing to a late Wayne Rooney wonder goal in the process of a 2-1 defeat.

A key thing here is who will Alex Ferguson play? I expect up to nine changes in the United team, as Fergie looks to the upcoming gruelling schedule with one eye on Newcastle on Tuesday. I shall be in the United end at Wembley on Saturday, so of course, I can only see a United win, but this is not certain by any means. Carlos Tevez is allegedly out for City while Rooney is missing for United. United have two in form strikers in Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez, yet City’s misfiring duo of Edin Džeko and Mario Balotelli have to strike gold sooner or later, right? It really is close to call and a victory for either team would not surprise me. Neither team will want extra time but it is possible and in my opinion the result hinges on what team Fergie picks. 1-0 united, after extra time perhaps.

Prediction – Close win for United, possibly on penalties.

Sunday, 17 April 2011 Barclays Premier League.

Arsenal v Liverpool, 16:00

This result depends on the simple question, which Arsenal will turn up? The one who turned over Barcelona in the Champions league first leg or the team who seemingly has forgotten how to score at home in the league of late? Arsenals home form is patchy to say the least, its 5 games since they turned in an impressive home performance. Liverpool have intentions of Europe through fifth place and will no doubt, be going all out for the win. I think they can nick a point, at least…0-0

Prediction – Scoreless draw.

FA Cup Semi Final

Bolton v Stoke, SF, 16:00

A huge day for both clubs and the most unlikely of semi-final pairings. I have a gut instinct that Bolton will nick this one, but it depends on who reacts to the big occasion. They both have beaten each other at home this year, so there is little between them. I sense a scrappy, dour affair with few chances and a lot of the ball in the air, something that will suit Stoke more than Bolton. But Bolton will have plenty of possession and I think they can turn this into a slim 1-0 win and see them reach the final.

Prediction – Bolton win.

Make sure you follow both our predictors Ed Diggins and Liam Milner on Twitter;

Ed Diggins - @ed_diggins

Liam Milner - @liammilner

Be sure to have a look at the great Back Page Football website, where Ed himself is a contributor. - http://backpagefootball.com/

Check out Liam Milner’s fantastic blog too, Killer Pass - http://killerpass.wordpress.com/

Things you may like to read

England's new 4-3-3 system. The platform for english success? Part two - the negatives - http://tiny.cc/aexxp

Why Chelsea must drop Fernando Torres if they are to have any success this season - http://tiny.cc/56aq4

Has the FA Cup lost all of its significance in the modern game? - http://tiny.cc/co7ec