Alan Shearer’s Premier League predictions including Man Utd vs Fulham and Leeds vs Arsenal

Ahead of a thrilling weekend of Premier League action, Alan Shearer is back to give his predictions.

After a major setback last weekend, Arsenal face another tough test on Saturday when they head to Elland Road to take on Leeds United who have been beaten just once in their last 10.

Chelsea are looking to continue their inspired form under Liam Rosenior in a London derby against West Ham before Liverpool and Newcastle meet on Saturday night in what could be another Premier League classic.

Manchester City, who start the weekend just four points behind Arsenal, will be desperate to end their hoodoo against Tottenham while Aston Villa, also just four off the top, entertain Brentford.

After beating City and Arsenal in Michael Carrick’s first game in charge, Manchester United face a different sort of test at home to Fulham.

As ever, England legend and Betfair ambassador Alan Shearer has revealed his Premier League predictions to Metro.

Brighton vs Everton

This is a tough one to predict. Brighton are up and down as I’ve said a few times this season. Everton, I guess are also in the same boat. It’s a tough one to call but I think I’ll just go for a draw to be honest because I don’t know whether either team will have enough to win it.

Prediction – Draw

Leeds vs Arsenal

This is a really interesting one. The atmosphere at Elland Road will be absolutely electric and Arsenal know that and will know they are going into a cauldron of hate. I don’t think that’s too strong a word, but they have to be ready for it.

They have to try and relieve some of the pressure that they’re under and their forwards need to get amongst the goals again, but this is a tough one to call. I’m just going to go for Arsenal because I think they’ll have enough defensively, to keep Leeds out.  It’ll be a really interesting battle with Calvert-Lewin against those two centre-backs defensively, but I think Arsenal will win but it’ll be a great game.

The noise will be incredible if Arsenal get beaten again. And you can imagine what it will be like, particularly if City win or if Villa win. But Arsenal know that, so we’re not telling anyone anything that they don’t already know, but the noise will absolutely be louder.

Prediction – Arsenal win

Wolves vs Bournemouth

I think Bournemouth will be flying after the Liverpool result. I know there’s been improvements from Wolves, against City in the second half they were a lot better and created a couple of chances. I think with what Bournemouth would have picked up from last week in terms of confidence and belief, I think they might go to Molineux and nick it.

Prediction – Bournemouth win

Chelsea vs West Ham

West Ham have had some really impressive results particularly after going to Wolves and being as poor as they were. But I think Chelsea at home, the run they’re on, I think they’ll have too much for West Ham, so Chelsea home win.

I still think what I did previously with West Ham, I still think the three that are in the relegation zone at the moment may go down, but at least West Ham are putting up a bit of a fight, which they weren’t a month ago. And at least they’ve got one or two looking over their shoulders now and Forest did what they had to do last weekend. But yeah, I think Chelsea will have too much for West Ham.

Prediction – Chelsea win

Liverpool vs Newcastle

It is a huge game for both clubs. Newcastle have to try and put them under as much pressure as possible. I guess there’ll be a little bit of ill-feeling spilled over from the Northeast side, albeit Isak isn’t going to be involved at all.

Both teams had decent results in midweek. Liverpool winning by six, Newcastle going to PSG and getting a draw. With Newcastle’s away form, it doesn’t fill me with great confidence. But if they can have the same attitude and play very much like they did against PSG, whether Eddie Howe changes the system or not, again, I’ll have to wait and see. But I’m going to go with a draw.

Newcastle playing away to PSG on Wednesday could have a bigger effect on them than Liverpool playing at home, but what I would say is Eddie Howe did change a lot of personnel around. He left Bruno out because of a knock. He brought in Ramsey and Willock. He left out Barnes and Gordon so he will be able to shift it around a little bit if he feels he needs to.

But in terms of an away game in France on Wednesday and the travel that goes with it, that would only suit Liverpool rather than Newcastle but the teams in the Champions League are used to that now.

On the flip side, Liverpool have got injuries and they’ve been really poor defensively both in general play and from set pieces. So, Newcastle have to try and take advantage of that and with the pace of Newcastle and with Liverpool really suspect being hit on the counter-attack – that should suit Newcastle.

Prediction – Draw

Aston Villa vs Brentford

I was really impressed with Aston Villa last week at Newcastle. I was at St James’. They’ve got some really talented players. I know they’ve got Tielemans and Kamara out, but they have signed Douglas Luiz, and they have signed Tammy Abraham, which I think are clever signings.

Douglas Luiz was there beforehand, and Tammy Abraham was also there as well previously, so Unai Emery knows what he’s getting. They’ll be two very good additions going forward for them.

I think this is going to be a home win. Villa will have too much for them.

Prediction – Aston Villa win

Manchester United vs Fulham

A month ago, I would’ve said I haven’t really got a clue and maybe go for Fulham away win. But I think what we’ve seen in the two games with Michael Carrick has been unbelievable. I don’t see any reason why they can’t win this; I know Dorgu will be out injured for a while, but I don’t think that should upset them too much in terms of the balance.

I know Fulham got a decent win last week, and Harry Wilson is having an unbelievable season. He’s having the season of his life. I know his contract’s up at the end of the season, and he hasn’t signed a new one yet, so it’ll be really interesting keeping an eye on that.

However, I think Man United in the form they’re in, the belief and confidence and how everyone will be looking forward to that game at Old Trafford and driving them on, I would go Man United home win.

Prediction – Manchester United win

Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace must be really careful because of all the negativity that’s going around with them losing their players, losing the manager, players wanting to leave, players being linked left, right and centre with leaving. I know they’re in for Strand Larsen, but they’re on a bad run and I don’t see it ending at Forest either. So, I’ll go for a Nottingham Forest win.

Prediction – Nottingham Forest win

Tottenham vs Manchester City

Tottenham do have a good record against Man City and I always think that’s a really important thing to look at because you always get a team that, for whatever reason, you can’t even say why, but there’s always a team you come up against, which seems to be your bogey team and Spurs might just be that for Man City.

However, with Spurs’ recent results, they were dreadful at Burnley again last week and were dreadful against West Ham so why would that give me any confidence to say that they can beat Man City? But I do go back to that bogey team point. I’m going to go for a draw in this one. I’m going to go for a draw because I would expect the Tottenham players to be right up for this one, particularly after the result in midweek.

I just think of Guardiola’s experience and know-how and them having been there before in the title race that they won’t go away. And I also think because of the signings that they’ve made in Guehi and Semenyo in January, then I guess their aim is to get to within two or three points of when they play Arsenal in April. If that is the case, then that’s what they can aim to do. And they’ll have them where they want them.

I don’t think it’ll be a while before we write them off just because of their ability. Particularly when you look at their forward positions, the number of players that they’ve got, with that great ability I don’t think we’ll ever write them off.

I guess their aim is to probably be within touching distance of Arsenal come that game on April 18th.

Prediction – Draw

Sunderland vs Burnley

Yeah, I guess it was most unlike Sunderland to be 3-0 down at half time against West Ham and they were really poor and deserved to be beaten. They rallied a little bit in the second half. They do have the only unbeaten home record left in the Premier League. And because of that and because it’s Burnley, I’m going to go for a Sunderland home win.

I think that’s what the surprising thing was last week is how limp Sunderland were in the first half because we haven’t seen too much of that from them. But yeah, at home they’ve been tough to beat. With that atmosphere and that crowd, they’re always going to be.

Prediction – Sunderland win