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 With the FA Cup semifinals taking place this weekend, week 28 of the 2014-2015 English Premier League season has a streamlined look. The slate includes leaders Chelsea taking on Manchester United. A victory for Chelsea would emphasize their status as champions-elect, but a win for United might give the chasing pack a glimmer of hope. At the other end of the table, Leicester and Burnley have the opportunity to move out of the relegation zone when they clash with Swansea and Everton respectively. Remember to make your Premier League Pickem predictions before the deadline of each game. Week 28's schedule begins on Saturday with four 10 AM ET kickoffs. The day's final game is at 12:30 PM ET. The week ends with two Sunday fixtures, the first at 8:30 AM ET and the second at 11 AM ET. Note that the Yahoo! Fantasy Premier League game's deadline is on Saturday, 9 AM ET. Here we preview the seven games in the upcoming week of the English Premier League. The title of each game section is a link to pick the result of that game. West Bromwich Albion (14th) at Crystal Palace (11th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Tony Pulis had West Brom picking up positive results when he took over with the side in trouble but they're currently experiencing a poor run. The Baggies are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, easily their worst form under Pulis. In those three games, West Brom has leaked ten goals, losing to struggling QPR and Leicester in their last two. Crystal Palace can't be labeled as struggling, with the club heading into this week 28 encounter seeking to extend a four-match winning streak. The goals have been flowing during the Eagles' fine stretch, with 11 goals being bagged during this four-game run. From relegation candidates, Palace is now just one point off the top half of the standings. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Crystal Palace 2-2 West Brom Last 6 (all competitions): Crystal Palace lead 3-1-2 (includes 1 FA Cup game). Last 3 at Crystal Palace (all competitions): Crystal Palace lead 1-0-2. All-time (all competitions): West Brom lead 21-15-14. Team News West Brom (from): Myhill, Baird, Davidson, Dawson, Gamboa, Lescott, McAuley, Olsson, Pocognoli, Wisdom, Brunt, Fletcher, Gardner, McManaman, Morrison, Mulumbu, Sessegnon, Yacob, Anichebe, Berahino, Ideye, Nabi. Out (reason, expected return date): Foster (ACL, Oct). Suspended: Mulumbu (second game of three-match ban). Crystal Palace (from): Hennessey, Kettings, Speroni, Dann, Delaney, Hangeland, Kelly, Mariappa, Souare, Ward, Bolasie, Jedinak, Ledley, McArthur, Mutch, Puncheon, Thomas, Ameobi, Anderson, Campbell, Chamakh, Gayle, Sanogo, Zaha. Doubts: Mutch (thigh), Chamakh (hamstring), Ideye (knee). Out (reason, expected return date): Lee (ankle, May 3). Burnley (19th) at Everton (12th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Burnley has been stuck in the relegation zone for the majority of the season but if they take full advantage of this fixture they'll move above at least two clubs, who have no games this weekend. However, that'll mean bucking their current trend where they've won just once in their last 11 outings. That was a victory over Manchester City, though. Contrasting with their week 28 opponents, Everton has found some fine form in the last month, producing their best league run of the campaign. The Toffees are on a four-game unbeaten stretch for only the third time this season and they're on a good run of results at Goodison Park, going unbeaten in their last six games, conceding just three goals. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Everton 3-1 Burnley Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2. Last 3 at Everton (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1. All-time (all competitions): Everton lead 46-32-29. Team News Burnley (from): Gilks, Heaton, Duff, Keane, Mee, Reid, Shackell, Trippier, Ward, Arfield, Boyd, Jones, Kightly, Taylor, Ulvestad, Wallace, Barnes, Ings, Jutkiewicz, Sordell, Vokes. Out (reason, expected return date): Marney (ACL, Nov), Long (ACL, Oct). Everton (from): Griffiths, Howard, Joel, Stanek, Alcaraz, Baines, Browning, Coleman, Distin, Garbutt, Jagielka, Stones, Atsu, Barkley, Barry, Besic, Lennon, McCarthy, McGeady, Osman, Pienaar, Kone, Long, Lukaku, Mirallas, Naismith. Out (reason, expected return date): Gibson (Metatarsel, Jun), Oviedo (hamstring, May 2), Hibbert (knee, May 2). Swansea City (8th) at Leicester City (20th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Swansea is almost in no man's land in the table, with seventh place seven points above them and ninth position four points adrift. They should be in a positive frame of mind this weekend, though, with a three-match unbeaten stretch to back them up. It's the first time since the first three weeks of the campaign Swansea has notched such a streak. Leicester still props up the league standings but they head into this week 28 matchup trying to accumulate their first three-match winning streak of the season. The Foxes have displayed their tenacity in the past two weekends, scoring late winners on both occasions. They defeated West Ham late on and then scored a 91st winner against West Brom. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Leicester 0-2 Swansea Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 3-3-0 (incudes 1 FA Cup game). Last 3 at Leicester (all competitions): Leicester lead 3-0-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Leicester lead 14-9-8. Team News Swansea (from): Fabianski, Tremmel, Amat, Fernandez, Rangel, Williams, Britton, Carroll, Cork, Dyer, Fulton, Grimes, Ki, Montero, Routledge, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Emnes, Oliveira. Out (reason, expected return date): Naughton (ankle, Jun 1), Gomis (hamstring, May 11). Suspended: Taylor (first game of two-match ban). Leicester (from): Hamer, Schmeichel, Schwarzer, De Laet, Huth, Konchesky, Moore, Morgan, Simpson, Upson, Wasilewski, Albrighton, Cambiasso, Drinkwater, Hammond, James, King, Knockaert, Mahrez, Schlupp, Kramaric, Lawrence, Nugent, Ulloa, Vardy. Southampton (6th) at Stoke City (10th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) It looked as if Southampton was slipping out of European contention, but after notching just a solitary victory in five matches they're now on a better run of one defeat in their last five. During this current five-game span, the Saints have recorded wins against Crystal Palace, Burnley and Hull and their defense has remained the best in the division. When Stoke recorded victories over Aston Villa, Hull and Everton, it was the first time they had accumulated three successive wins. However, since that streak it's been tough going, with the Potters failing to notch a single victory in their last four games. Stoke lost three on the trot but they did halt the rot by tying 1-1 with West Ham last time out. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Stoke 0-1 Southampton Southampton 3-2 Stoke (League Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Southampton lead 2-0-4 (inlcudes 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Stoke (all competitions): Southampton lead 1-0-2 (includes 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Southampton lead 30-25-13. Team News Southampton (from): K. Davis, Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Gape, Gardos, Targett, Yoshida, S. Davis, Elia, Mane, McQueen, Reed, Schneiderlin, Tadic, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher, Long, Pelle, Seager. Out (reason, expected return date): Mayuka (groin, Jun 1), Rodriguez (May 24), Duricic (ankle, Apr 25), Forster (knee, no date). Suspended: Wanyama (first game of two-match ban). Stoke (from): Begovic, Butland, Sorensen, Bardsley, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters, Shawcross, Teixeira, Wilkinson, Wollscheid, Adam, Ireland, N'Zonzi, Palacios, Sidwell, Whelan, Arnautovic, Crouch, Diouf, Walters. Out (reason, expected return date): Bojan (ACL, Sep), Moses (hamstring, Jun 1), Odemwingie (ACL, May 16), Wilson (thigh, no date). Manchester United (3rd) at Chelsea (1st) (Sat, 12:30 PM ET) Last season, Manchester United was well and truly overshadowed by their city rivals but last weekend they turned the tables on the defending champions. Last time out, United comprehensively beat Manchester City 4-2 to continue the great run of form they've been displaying. United heads into this week on the back of a six-game winning streak. Chelsea is on a long unbeaten stretch as well, seemingly on their way to the league title. The leaders last lost on the first day of 2015 and have since racked up 11 league fixtures without defeat, a period that includes eight victories. However, it hasn't always been plain sailing for them, with Chelsea edging their last six wins by single-goal margins. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United Last 6 (all competitions): Chelsea lead 3-0-3 (includes 2 FA Cup games). Last 3 at Chelsea (all competitions): Chelsea lead 3-0-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game and 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Manchester United lead 72-48-51. Team News Manchester United (from): De Gea, Valdes, Lindegaard, Blackett, Evans, McNair, Rafael, Shaw, Smalling, Di Maria, Fellaini, Herrera, Januzaj, Mata, Pereira, Powell, Valencia, Young, Falcao, Rooney, Van Persie, Wilson. Out (reason, expected return date): Carrick (calf, Apr 26), Rojo (groin, no date), Jones (ankle, no date), Blind (ankle, no date). Suspended: Evans (fifth game of six-match ban). Chelsea (from): Blackman, Cech, Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Cuadrado, Fabregas, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Drogba, Remy. Doubts: Remy (calf). Out (reason, expected return date): Costa (hamstring, May 3). West Ham United (9th) at Manchester City (4th) (Sun, 8:30 AM ET) West Ham was dreaming of European qualification when they were flying high in the top 4 during the first half of the campaign but since then they've displayed form that would have them struggling at the other end of the table. The Hammers have won twice in the second half of the season and one of those wins have come in their last ten outings. Manchester City is still clinging on to a top 4 position, but while this stage of the campaign is normally when title challengers come to the fore, City has been one of the worst teams in the last six games. The champions can forget successfully defending their crown, with four defeats coming in their last six outings, including their last two games. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Manchester City 1-2 West Ham Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester City lead 5-1-0 (includes 2 League Cup games). Last 3 at Manchester City (all competitions): Manchester City lead 3-0-0 (includes 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Manchester City lead 47-36-16. Team News West Ham (from): Adrian, Jaaskelainen, Spiegel, Collins, Cresswell, Demel, Jenkinson, O'Brien, Potts, Reid, Amalfitano, Downing, Jarvis, Kouyate, Lletget, Noble, Nolan, Poyet, Song, Cole, Nene, Valencia. Out (reason, expected return date): Tomkins (dislocated shoulder, Jun 1), Sakho (thigh, no date), Carroll (MCL, no date). Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Demichelis, Kolarov, Mangala, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko. Out (reason, expected return date): Clichy (muscular injury, no date), Milner (knee, no date), Kompany (thigh, no date), Jovetic (muscular injury, no date), Bony (ankle, no date). Tottenham Hotspur (7th) at Newcastle United (13th) (Sun, 11 AM ET) Tottenham's push for a Champions League place has gone flat in recent weeks but they're still in with a shout for another crack at the Europa League. Spurs have been rather inconsistent in their recent outings, however, and bar their 4-3 win over Leicester, the goals have begun to dry up. Spurs have failed to score in three of their last four. Newcastle has recently been toothless in front of goal, too, not helped by the continued absence of their top striker Papiss Cissé through suspension. The Magpies are currently mired in a five-game losing streak and the discontent at the club continues to grow. During their current five-match slump, Newcastle has scored just once, conceding nine. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham Newcastle 0-4 Tottenham (League Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 3-3-0 (includes 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Newcastle (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1. All-time (all competitions): Tottenham lead 65-56-32. Team News Tottenham (from): Friedel, Lloris, Vorm, Chiriches, Davies, Dier, Fazio, Kaboul, Rose, Vertonghen, Yedlin, Bentaleb, Capoue, Ceballos, Chadli, Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela, Mason, Paulinho, Stambouli, Townsend, Adebayor, Kane, Soldado. Out (reason, expected return date): Walker (ankle, no date). Newcastle (from): Elliot, Krul, Coloccini, Janmaat, R. Taylor, Williamson, Abeid, Anita, Cabella, Colback, Gutierrez, Obertan, Ameobi, Armstrong, Ferreyra, Gouffran, Perez, Riviere. Out (reason, expected return date): S. Taylor (calf, Oct), Alnwick (thumb, Jun 1), Haidara (knee, Jun 1), Tiote (knee, Jun 1), Dummett (knee, May 2), De Jong (collapsed lung, May 2), Aarons (hamstring, no date). Suspended: Cissé (fifth game of seven-match ban), Sissoko (first game of two-match ban). |
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