English Premier League predictions, fixtures and results: 16 – 17 March 2022
It can’t get much tighter at the top of the English Premier League table this midweek, as Manchester City’s title defence comes under the greatest pressure yet.
There may only be three EPL fixtures played across Wednesday and Thursday, but there’s no doubt where the story lies.
Liverpool are at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night for a blockbuster clash against Arsenal.
And it’s a contest that could have dramatic consequences not only at the top of the standings but in the race for a top four finish and qualification for next season’s Uefa Champions League.
Both sides are in spectacular league form coming into their capital city showdown.
The Reds have won eight in a row, conceding just two goals along the way, since kicking off the new year with a 2-2 draw away to Chelsea.
It’s helped them close the gap to one-time runaway leaders City to four points with this one also a precious game in hand to bring them within striking distance.
Jurgen Klopp’s side breezed to a 2-0 victory away to Brighton last Saturday lunchtime, leaving them with a seven-point gap above third place, not that they look remotely like needing it.
The Gunners have won five on the bounce in the Premier League, too, leaving them odds on for a long-awaited return to the top table of European football.
Sunday’s comfortable home win over Leicester followed up successes over Watford, Brentford and twice against stuttering Wolves.
It leaves them ahead of the Black Country side, London rivals West Ham and Manchester United in the race for fourth, with this the first of a potentially pivotal three games in hand.
Lurking in eighth spot are Mikel Arteta’s North London foes Tottenham, who are also in action a little earlier on Wednesday evening.
They’re on the south coast to tackle out-of-sorts Brighton, knowing the time for any more slip-ups has likely passed if they’re to crack the Champions League qualification places come May.
All looked to be heading in the right direction for combustible boss Antonio Conte after nine unanswered goals in two games saw Spurs demolish Leeds and Everton.
But they didn’t reckon on Cristiano Ronaldo, whose weekend hat-trick at Old Trafford saw his United side come through 3-2 winners.
The Seagulls’ loss on Saturday was their fifth in succession and it’s testament to the sparkling early season form of Graham Potter’s men that relegation still shouldn’t be a concern at the Amex Stadium.
It certainly is a worry on the blue half of Merseyside, though.
Thursday night pits desperate Everton against a Newcastle side that has roared away from the drop zone, helped no end by their Saudi Arabia-powered January transfer window splurge.
Frank Lampard is already cutting a desperate figure in the Goodison Park dugout, after Sunday’s home loss to Wolves made it four in a row.
Watford’s shock win at Southampton saw them pull level on points with the Toffees either side of the dotted line, while Lampard’s men have been left further marooned by wins for Leeds and Brentford immediately above them.
The Toon Army were late losers at Chelsea on Sunday afternoon but side nine points clear of trouble thanks to a fine post-January run.
English Premier League predictions for 16 – 17 March
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Brighton | 30 | 26 |
| Tottenham | 44 | 48 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Arsenal | 28 | 57 |
| Liverpool | 52 | 55 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Everton | 42 | 38 |
| Newcastle | 32 | 47 |
