It’s your weekend form guide and top flight predictions with SunSport’s Jim Munro – always a safe bet
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SUNDERLAND are going to need more than 11 lucky Black Cats on the pitch against Manchester United on Sunday if they are going to turn their fortunes around.
David Moyes’s team sit bottom of the table, 10 points from safety, with just one win from their last 13 League games.
Managers talk of a magical 40-point mark to avoid relegation from the Premier League. In many seasons 38 would do the job for you. But the stark reality for Sunderland is that they would need five wins and two draws from their remaining eight matches just to equal the 37 points achieved by northeast rivals Newcastle last season – and we all know how that ended up.
To win matches though you need to score a few goals and Sunderland haven’t managed to net one in the six games since they beat Crystal Palace 4-0 away on February 4.
Jermain Defoe has played in every one of those six goal-shy matches but he did net on his international return for England in the 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania. Any hope that Sunderland have of a victory on Sunday rest at his feet.
Sunderland may have avoided the embarrassment of faring even worse than 2005-06, when Mick McCarthy’s side were relegated with 15 points, the second lowest total in Premier League history. But that will be scant consolation for the regulars at the Stadium of Light who have witnessed just three home wins all season.
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Saturday, April 8
Tottenham v Watford (12:30pm)
Spurs have impressive momentum with five straight wins including tough workouts at Burnley and Swansea in the past week. With Harry Kane absent nursing an ankle injury, Heung-min Son has grabbed his opportunity to shine. He’s scored five goals in his last four games for Tottenham including a hat-trick against Millwall in the FA Cup. Two wins on the bounce have steered Watford to the relative safety of 10th place but with 37 points there’s still a little work to be done. Jim’s prediction: Tottenham’s drive to carry them through to another three points.
Manchester City v Hull (3pm)
Pep Guardiola’s men have fallen short against quality opposition recently, failing to win any of the last four games against Monaco, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. Sergio Aguero has at least looked as sharp as ever, scoring in each of his last three Premier League games. Hull’s transformation under Marco Silva is one of the stories of the season. They pulled themselves out of the drop zone with a midweek win over Middlesbrough but they still don’t travel well and have conceded nine goals on their last three away trips. Jim’s prediction: A tight return to winning ways for Man City.
Middlesbrough v Burnley (3pm)
Boro are sinking fast and haven’t won a league game since December. Burnley have the worst away record in the Premier League with no wins and just three draws from 15 games. This has the whiff of a stalemate all over it. Burnley will be lifted by a midweek win over Stoke thanks to George Boyd’s solitary goal and will not have a better chance to chalk up a first victory on the road. Jim’s prediction: A feisty draw.
Stoke v Liverpool (3pm)
Stoke have had a pretty ropey few months. Since beating Burnley 2-0 at the start of December, they’ve won just four of their subsequent 17 Premier League games, have lost the last three on the bounce and their only goal in the last four matches has been a Jonathan Walters penalty. Liverpool are likely to be without winger-cum-striker Sadio Mane for the rest of the season as he’s wearing a knee brace to aid his recovery from injury. Their lack of bite up front – and inept defending – was in evidence in the midweek 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Liverpool have a decent star in the making in Divock Origi but If Daniel Sturridge’s future is uncertain, maybe now is the right time to let him show what he can do. Jim’s prediction: All square in a tight encounter.
West Brom v Southampton (3pm)
The Baggies have won five of their last six home games in the league but have failed to score in four of the past five matches, the exception being the 3-1 victory over Arsenal last time out at the Hawthorns. Southampton are targeting a Europa League place after stunning Crystal Palace in midweek with two late goals in a 3-1 win. James Ward-Prowse scored in that game to complete a sparkling few weeks in which he was also called up to the senior England squad for the first time. Jim’s prediction: The Saints to steal an unexpected away win.
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West Ham v Swansea (3pm)
A season defining game for West Ham. With no wins in seven and five straight defeats, losing to Swansea would pitch the Irons deep into the relegation dog fight with the Swans just two points behind them. Victory, however, would haul them eight points clear. Swansea were within a few minutes of beating Tottenham in midweek but a late collapse saw them leak three quick goals. If striker Fernando Llorente has recovered from his recent ankle injury he could wreak havoc on the timid West Ham defence. Jim’s prediction: Llorente to sound the death knell for the Hammers, away win.
Bournemouth v Chelsea (5.30pm)
Josh King’s late leveller at Anfield in midweek was his sixth goal in his last six games for Bournemouth who are now unbeaten in five. The Cherries are not completely clear of relegation yet but can see some daylight with Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Burnley still on their fixture list. Chelsea striker Diego Costa has picked up three yellow cards but no goals in his last four games. A strike here would he his first ever against Bournemouth. Jim’s prediction: Chelsea too good for a brave Bournemouth, away win.
