Football News: Premier League Match Preview Thursday 19th April 2018

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Thursday 19th April 2018

Burnley v Chelsea 7:45pm kick off

N'Koudou (tight hamstring) doubt
Mee (shin injury) out
Walters (fitness) major doubt
Arfield (calf strain) out
Defour (knee injury) out
Brady (knee injury) out

Sixth place is very much in reach of Burnley now, in fact a win tonight will see them move above Arsenal to hold the place, though the Gunners will have a game in hand. Who would have believed it if you had said to them before the season started that Burnley would be battling against the Gooners for 6th in the final weeks of the season? Five wins in a row has put them in a position were they can be guaranteed European football next season. European football for Burnley! When Sean Dyche took charge he was having to sell players to keep the club afloat, it is a minor miracle to achieve what he has. The big question though is whether or not it is sustainable? A lengthy Europa League campaign would certainly stretch their resources to the fullest.
Most important player: Chris Wood. His return from injury has brought goals back into the team.

Drinkwater (calf strain) out
Ampadu (broken ankle) out
Luiz (ankle injury expected return 28th April) out

Top 4 is still possible, though unlikely, if they win tonight, so a lot is riding on this game for the Londoners. With an FA Cup semi-final to come on Sunday, it is difficult to believe an outside chance of top 4 is enough to go full strength in this game. The main issue for Antonio Conte is that a defeat to Burnley puts them within reach of both Burnley and Arsenal below them. The way Chelsea are performing right now, you would not discount the possibility of them losing more points before the season ends either.
Most important player: Tiemoue Bakayoko. Could this be his chance to show what he can do? It is unlikely Conte will want to risk Kante, so perhaps this is his moment to finally shine in a Chelsea shirt.

Defining Battle: this is going to be a midfield battle to decide the game. With Conte's slavish devotion to a back 3 system that is not working, he tends to leave the central midfield area overrun by opponents. While N'Golo Kante has been even better than ever in there this season, he is trying to do the work of 3 men and even he is not quite capable of that. If, as seems likely, Kante is rested for this match, Chelsea's vulnerable midfield area will be very exposed and open to the Clarets to exploit.

Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 0-2
Ed003 - 0-2
Ed004 - 2-1
Ed007 - 0-1
Ed018 - 1-2
Ed025 - 1-1
Ed033 - 1-2

Leicester City v Southampton 7:45pm kick off

Schmeichel (ankle injury) late fitness test
Okazaki (ankle injury) late fitness test
Iborra (hamstring injury expected return 1st June) out
James (Achilles injury expected return 1st June) out
Amartey (hamstring injury expected return 28th April) major doubt

This is a real grudge match for Claude Puel who will want to once again show the Southampton board they were wrong to sack him in the summer. There is little else really for the Foxes to play for, as they wallow in mid-table obscurity with no chance of moving up the table and no worries about relegation. Though there is a very outside chance of 8th making it into Europe, I doubt anyone at the club will be pinning much hope on that, as it would require Arsenal to win the Europa League, as well as Saints failing in the FA Cup.
Most important player: Danny Simpson. With little protection in front of him, Simpson will be the player under most pressure for Leicester.

Davis (Achilles injury) major doubt
McQueen (groin strain) doubt
Stephens (suspended) out

Performances have shown improvement under Mark Hughes, but the results have shown no improvement at all. In fact, if anything, they have got worse, as Soton are currently on a run of 4 defeats in a row and have dropped 5 points behind safety. The weekend's defeat to Chelsea showed how fragile confidence is within the team as they crumbled once Chelsea pulled a goal back. Counting this game, Hughes has just five games left to perform one of the greatest rescue acts of all time. There is little sign of it happening, which makes this game vital.
Most important player: Alex McCarthy. A clean sheet would be a big help to their hopes of survival.

Defining Battle: Saints will have to take the game to Leicester, nothing other than a win will make any difference to their plight, so they will have to go for it. They could end up playing right into Leicester's hands but what choice does Hughes have? This game will be decided by how well Southampton deal with the Foxes on the break.

Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 2-0
Ed003 - 2-1
Ed004 - 2-1
Ed007 - 2-1
Ed018 - 2-2
Ed025 - 2-1
Ed033 - 2-1

Editor's Predictions Table
1. Ed002 - 214 points
2. Ed018 - 209 points
3. Ed025 - 208 points
4. Ed007 - 207 points
5. Ed033 - 204 points
6. Ed004 - 202 points
7. Ed003 - 186 points

*1 point is awarded for the correct result, 3 points for the correct score.
**updated 13th April 2018 (not including results for that day)

Written by Tris Burke April 19 2018 07:13:02