Michael Owen’s Premier League Week 15 Preview

What a game to start the Premier League weekend! David Moyes must have been gutted to have conceded such a late equaliser to Brighton and West Ham are on a poor run of form at the minute. The good news is that they remain firmly in the top four race, but they need to start picking up more points.

It wasn’t a dominating victory, but Wednesday’s win over Watford was vital for Chelsea. My only concern at the minute for them is the number of goals they are scoring. Lukaku is still working his way back to full fitness, so they need him back fit and firing.

This will be a very even game, but I can see Chelsea narrowly edging it, 2-1.

Newcastle showed some spirit in that draw against Norwich. To go down to ten men so early in the game is never easy. Eddie Howe will be disappointed to not claim the win though and this game now becomes massive.

No team in the league has drawn more games than Burnley. It was a good point away to Wolves, but they need to turn some of these performances into wins. They’ve only lost once in the league since September, and that was to Man City, so they are proving hard to beat.

This is a huge one. A defeat for Newcastle here and the pressure is really on them. Given it’s such a big game, I think both teams will be too desperate to not lose, and we could see a draw

Newcastle showed some spirit in that draw against Norwich. To go down to ten men so early in the game is never easy. Eddie Howe will be disappointed to not claim the win though and this game now becomes massive.

No team in the league has drawn more games than Burnley. It was a good point away to Wolves, but they need to turn some of these performances into wins. They’ve only lost once in the league since September, and that was to Man City, so they are proving hard to beat.

This is a huge one. A defeat for Newcastle here and the pressure is really on them. Given it’s such a big game, I think both teams will be too desperate to not lose, and we could see a draw

It was an entertaining 2-2 draw for Southampton against Leicester and both sides probably felt they could have won it. Southampton always compete well, but they don’t convert enough into wins.

What a finish that was from Neal Maupay against West Ham. I thought Brighton deserved at least a point, but they haven’t won in the league since September.

This has a draw written all over it, 1-1.

Watford can probably count themselves a little unlucky against Chelsea on Wednesday. They created some chances but if you don’t take them, the top sides make you pay. Watford always pose a threat though and King and Dennis continue to score regularly.

I thought that was a performance of champions by City against Villa. It’s never easy to go away from home in mid-week but those two goals were superb, particularly Bernardo Silva’s.

City are beginning to look ominous in this title race. They get better and better each week, and I can only see a comfortable win here.

What a dramatic win that was for Leeds against Palace on Tuesday.  Palace did have chances, but I thought Leeds’ energy levels were superb and Raphinha took his penalty superbly.

Brentford didn’t play badly against Spurs on Thursday, but they didn’t really lay a glove on them.  Last weekend’s win over Everton was vital though and keeps them in a decent position.

One point separates these two in the league and I don’t see much between these two on current form.  I’m going for 1-1 here.

The main man, Cristiano Ronaldo, again stole the headlines with his 800^th and 801^st career goals in the win against Arsenal. It will be very interesting to see how Ralf Rangnick gets on as the United boss and how he manages Ronaldo.

That’s now two defeats in a row for Palace. They had a few chances against Leeds on Tuesday but to concede in the last minute must be a tough one to take.

Palace have given the top sides some problems this season, and I don’t think this will be easy for United. I think they will have just too much though, 2-1.

The performances haven’t been emphatic, but things are beginning to click for Antonio Conte at Spurs. You knew he would improve the defence and that’s now just one goal conceded in his three games in charge.

Dean Smith must have been disappointed to not claim all three points against ten-man Newcastle. Still, he remains unbeaten at the helm, and it looks like Pukki is finding some form. He took his goal superbly against Newcastle and what a difference it will make if he can keep scoring.

Spurs aren’t exactly scoring at will, but they are beginning to look more solid. I’m going for 1-0 Spurs here.

After starting his tenure with two wins, Steven Gerrard will have been encouraged by the performance against City on Wednesday. They competed well for most of the game, and they look a side transformed.

There’s no consistency with Leicester this season. A draw away to Southampton isn’t a disastrous result but they must have been targeting more. A bright spot is the form of James Maddison, who has scored in his last three in all competitions

This is a hard one to call, but I fancy Villa to add to their good form.

The pressure is well and truly on Rafa Benitez now. Everton’s form is poor but the performance against Liverpool was alarming. They do have a lot of injuries and the sooner they get Calvert-Lewin back the better.

Mikel Arteta will have been disappointed to leave Old Trafford with nothing. Arsenal were a bit too passive after taking the lead and it will feel like a missed opportunity.

This feels like a make-or-break game for Rafa Benitez.  I don’t think Everton will lose this; I’m going for a 1-1 draw.