⛅️ Friday Forecast: European race heats up and revenge for Salah? | OneFootball

The Premier League is back again after a short stop for the international break.

This is what lies in store.

💪 Game of the weekend

West Ham v Everton

Everton have never been relegated from the Premier League but this season, that is in real danger of changing.

They need to come back from the break ready for the tough fight that’s in store, with Frank Lampard’s side just three points above Watford in 18th.

But they face a difficult welcome back (even if they have won more Premier League away games at West Ham than any other side) as while they’re fighting for their lives, the high-flying Hammers welcome them to the capital aiming to secure European football next year.

Having given the support the taste for it this season with their heroics across the continent, it would be a disappointment not to set up more continental adventures in 2022/23.

It may be two sides fighting for very different objectives but this one has big ramifications on both, no matter the result.

📊 Fun fact: Although they won 1-0 at Goodison Park in October, West Ham haven’t done the double over Everton in a season since 1972/73

🔮 Our prediction: West Ham 3-1 Everton

😨 Potential upset

Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Champions League-chasing Arsenal’s trip to Crystal Palace on Monday night will not be without it’s difficulties.

Club legend Patrick Vieira came within a whisker of beating them earlier this season at the Emirates, only for Palace to succumb to an equaliser deep into injury time.

The Eagles have continued improving since that disappointment and are deservedly one game away from a return to the FA Cup final.

With fitness concerns over a trio of likely starters, Mikel Arteta will be fully aware of the banana skin that this trip across London poses.

And there’s also the Monday night omen. The Gunners have lost on just one of their last 16 trips to Palace – although it did come with a 3-0 loss on a Monday night five years ago.

📊 Fun fact: Five of the last seven meetings between these sides have ended level, with the other two resulting in a win apiece.

🔮 Our prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Arsenal

👍 Big favourites

Liverpool v Watford

The Liverpool juggernaut appears to be in full swing at the moment, with few expecting anything other than it to roll past relegation threatened Watford at Anfield.

Since drawing 2-2 at Chelsea in their first league game of the new year, the Reds have won every single game since to close the gap at the top to a single point.

This is also a fixture which has not been kind to the struggling Hornets, who have picked up four points from the last 30 on offer and all of those came at Vicarage Road.

In the last six games between the teams at Anfield, Liverpool have racked up an aggregate score of 22-1.

In addition, after Mo Salah’s World Cup play-off heartbreak in midweek, he’ll likely be extra fired up to take his frustrations out on someone. Poor Watford.

📊 Fun fact: Liverpool have won 12 of their 13 home league fixtures against Watford, whose sole win on Merseyside came in August 1999.

🔮 Our prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Watford

🤔 Too close to call

Wolves v Aston Villa

There is also the small matter of this tasty West Midlands derby at Molineux on Sunday afternoon.

Prior to kick-off, the sides are sitting side by side in the table, although Bruno Lage’s side hold a 10-point lead, a gap Villa are desperate to bridge this summer and beyond.

Steven Gerrard’s men have had some patchy form of late but a win here could go a long way to not only getting back on track but denting Wolves’ European dreams.

They are still very much in the hunt for European football but any slips here could be fatal. It will be a tense affair.

📊 Fun fact: Wolves have won three of their last five meetings with Villa, which is as many as they had in the previous 26 top flight clashes.

🔮 Our prediction: Wolves 3-2 Aston Villa

🔥 Your Fantasy Football captain should be …

Kai Havertz (Chelsea)

Over the past few weeks, the Germany forward has shown signs of hitting his best form.

He continued that during the international break too with another goal and good performances so will be expected to keep things going at home to Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

Other predictions