Keys and Gray: Premier League predictions – Week 23

Sport360 staff 06:34 23/01/2016
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  • Tough task: Guus Hiddink.

    Arsenal v Chelsea is usually a top-of-the-table clash but Sunday’s showdown at Emirate Stadium tells a different story with Chelsea in 14th place, 19 points behind top-of-the-table Arsenal.

    So have Chelsea improved since they sacked Jose Mourinho and can they claw things back to finish in the top four? Andy Gray and Richard Keys, who front beIN Sports’ Premier League coverage, discuss this and the other games.

    Arsenal v Chelsea

    Andy Gray: I don’t know if Chelsea are any better since Jose Mourinho left but the players seem a little happier and a bit more stable. Under Guus Hiddink they have played seven, won three and drawn four in the league and cup. The big problem is that they are still conceding too many goal.

    Yes, they are scoring more frequently but they have to start putting some points on the table because the teams below them are catching them up. Any hope of finishing in the top four has long gone, unless they put together an astonishing run of wins, but, for me, there is no way that is going to happen now.

    Leicester might falter a bit, but I don’t think Arsenal, Man City, Spurs, Manchester United or even Liverpool are going to throw away enough points to bring Chelsea into the top-four equation. If they could beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium it would be a huge boost for Hiddink’s side but I can’t see it. There are still too many things that aren’t right.

    Chelsea’s defence still looks suspect. Branislav Ivanovic looks half the player he was, captain John Terry is beyond his best, Cesar Azpilicueta looks half decent, Gary Cahill is good, but they don’t have a centre-back. So they need to strengthen in that area.

    Ahead of the defence John Obi Mikel has given them some stability, Cesc Fabregas looks better and Diego Costa is playing much better and maybe we will see Eden Hazard back on Sunday. I thought against Everton last week Chelsea looked like the team of old with a lot of good tempo, all the things we are used to seeing from a Chelsea side in the past so there are signs of a revival but not enough to finish in the top four or really trouble Arsenal.

    The Gunners will approach this game as they did against Manchester United when they blew them away in the first half an hour and I expect Arsene Wenger to take that approach again and send his team out to fly at Chelsea and really put their defence under the cosh.

    Chelsea’s only hope for me is to keep the game tight because they can’t win a high scoring match. Arsenal will always outscore them so Hiddink will be looking to stem the flow of goals and keep this down to a low-scoring game.

    However, I think he may well be frustrated by Arsenal who have a solid defence, a terrific goalkeeper in Petr Cech who will want to do well against his former team, and a midfield that is so creative and dangerous that you really cannot predict who is going to get the goals for them. I see a tough day ahead for Chelsea. 2-0.

    Richard Keys: For me, not much has changed at Chelsea since they got rid of Jose Mourinho. I keep hearing people saying how good it is to see Diego Costa back in form but I want to know why he wasn’t giving his all from the off. Maybe it is a coincidence that he is playing well now Mourinho has gone – I think not.

    Things are still not right at Stamford Bridge. They are still not firing as you would expect and by way of a title defence it is nothing short of pathetic.

    Yes, they needed a steady hand at the helm after Mourinho was shown the door but Hiddink was never going to replicate the success he had the last time he took control of Chelsea because the players aren’t of the same quality. Like Andy, I don’t think there is any chance of them finishing fourth.

    Hiddink hasn’t lost a game since he took over but on the other hand he hasn’t won as many as people thought he might. They might finish sixth but there is a lot of work to be done and it is more likely they will finish as mid-table mediocrity. Can I see them winning at Arsenal? No. Could I see them getting a draw at Arsenal if Mourinho was still I charge? Yes. Do I think Arsenal will tomorrow? Yes. 3-1.

    Leicester v Stoke

    AG: Leicester are playing with confidence but they have played seven games in the league and cup and only won one – a fantastic victory against Spurs when they should have been beaten. For me, this has got a draw written all over it. 2-2.

    RK: I thought Leicester were a bit sloppy at Villa and bordered on arrogant at times. You never know what you are going to get from Stoke but they are good enough to frustrate Leicester. 1-1.

    West Ham v Man City

    AG: City are getting better away from home and starting to flex their muscles. Sergio Aguero looks fit again and Yaya Toure, who was rested last week, will probably be back, as will Raheem Sterling. The Hammers will be put under a lot of pressure. 1-3.

    RK: City are looking good at the moment. Last week’s win over Palace will have reignited their appetite with, as Andy says, Aguero looking particularly lively. 0-2.

    Norwich v Liverpool

    AG: This won’t be the best game of football you will ever see but there is a lot at stake for Norwich. This fixture ended 1-1 at Anfield earlier in the season and Norwich would take the same again but I think Liverpool will nick this 1-0.

    RK: I don’t have great faith in Norwich but they have the ability to surprise us all and I am not convinced by what Jurgen Klopp is trying to do at Liverpool. 1-1.

    Crystal Palace v Tottenham

    AG: Palace look to have lost their way and Spurs are full of confidence. However, this will still be a close game because Palace are fairly miserly. 0-1.

    RK: I am surprised by Crystal Palace’s loss of form and I won’t be getting excited by the prospect of Emmanuel Adebayor or Nicklas Bendtner turning up there. The more I see Spurs, the more I like them. 1-3.

    Manchester United v Southampton

    AG: Southampton have found the ability to win games again which will make them dangerous. Amazingly, United haven’t scored in the first half at Old Trafford all season so they need to change that but I think they will win this anyway. 2-1.

    RK: United did well to win at Anfield but, my goodness, one shot on target and one goal. Apparently a row at half-time sparked a second-half performance. Really? I must have been watching another game. It was turgid. 1-1.

    Sunderland v Bournemouth

    AG: If Sunderland win they get to within three points of Bournemouth but if they lose they go nine points behind them. That is the magnitude of the game for Sam Allardyce. 1-0.

    RK: The fact that this is a must win for Sam Allardyce’s Sunderland will motivate them. 2-0.

    Watford v Newcastle

    AG: A lot of people will be tipping Newcastle here, particularly with Jonjo Shelvey looking like a great signing but Quique Sanchez Flores will make sure he is not allowed time to spray passes around. 2-1.

    RK: I thought Shelvey was at the heart of everything for Newcastle last week and if he could produce that every week it would be a massive boost for Steve McClaren. Watford were poor at Swansea and look to have found their level. 1-2.

    West Brom v Aston Villa

    AG: My old side Villa are in a better place than they were three weeks ago but the Baggies are a decent side and I am going to allow my head to rule my heart here. 1-0.

    RK: I can never give West Brom more than a goal but that’s all they will need. I’m with Andy, 1-0.

    Everton v Swansea

    AG: Everton have leaked 20 goals at home this season which is ridiculous – the worst record in the Premier League. However, they are too good for Swansea. 2-0.

    RK: I cannot believe Everton will continue to throw good leads away and despite their leaky defence, Swansea look particularly ordinary to me. 3-1.

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