Tottenham title chances to evaporate

Tottenham 1 Man Utd 1

Record champions Manchester United and Chelsea are the two teams that have most tormented Spurs in the Premier League era. Jose Mourinho rested players at Arsenal and lost his long unbeaten run. He will want to make amends on his team’s second trip to North London. Expect an archetypal Mourinho bus at White Hart Lane.

Man City 2 Leicester 1

After flirting with relegation, outgoing champions Leicester City have recovered well under Craig Shakespeare to rank among the six most on-form sides of the Division. They are poised to give Pep Guardiola’s moneybags a stern examination of their Champions League credentials. City should edge this humdinger because they want it more.

Stoke City 2 Arsenal 2

Do not be fooled by Arsenal’s mammoth 2-0 victory over rivals Manchester United last Sunday. The Gunners are struggling for form. One away win in their last seven away outings points to a torrid afternoon for Arsene Wenger’s fickle Gunners. I’m calling a drama-filled stalemate.

West Brom 0 Chelsea 1

Assist master Cesc Fabregas has conjured up 11 this season despite playing a bit-part role in Chelsea’s chase for a double. His vision and special understanding of Diego Costa’s movement will be crucial to breaking down a West Brom side hellbent on delaying the Blues’ title celebrations. I am going for a narrow away win.

Bournemouth 2 Burnley 1

Sean Dyche’s hard runners may have taken the monkey off their backs a fortnight ago by winning away from their Turf Moor fortress, but I can’t see them thriving at Vitality Stadium. It is a measure of how well the Cherries are playing that they are more than coping without ‘Top Six’ stars Jordan Ibe and Jack Wilshere. A narrow home win.

Sunderland 1 Swansea 1

I was well and truly shocked by how well Sunderland played away to Hull City. What were they waiting for? Players like Jordan Pickford, Jermaine Defoe and Lamine Kone are keen to put themselves in the reckoning for transfers. So I am backing the Black Cats to throw yet another spanner in the works. I can see tears in Wales.

West Ham 0 Liverpool 0
As has been the case all season, without Sadio Mane, Liverpool are struggling for goals. As I penned in these very lines last weekend, West Ham’s 3-6-1 formation has liberated their players. Hammers will pick a point.

Everton 2 Watford 0

Ronald Koeman must be finding it hard to motivate his players. His Toffees have wrapped up Europa League qualification but there isn’t much more to play for. However, top scorer, Romelu Lukaku will want to make sure of winning the Golden Boot. Home win is my verdict.

Boro 0 Southampton 1
Saints supremo Claude Puel is a tremendous organiser. Few teams could have coped with the loss of defensive lynchpins Virgil van Dirk and Jose Fonte. Southampton have done more than that. They’ve also reached a Cup final. I think they will be too clever for a side reeling under the relegation blow.

Cry. Palace 1 Hull City 0

Sam Allardyce made a serious error of judgement when he announced that he felt 38 points are enough to secure top flight safety. That said, they have an excellent chance to get over the line when they face poor travellers Hull City. I foresee a tight, cagey encounter, settled by individual brilliance. Hull City missed their opportunity last weekend.