Wilfried Bony opens up his Man City account; Arsenal settle for a point – The National’s EPL predictions

Crystal Palace v Queens Park Rangers: Everything points to a Palace victory to kick off the weekend. Games won in their last eight matches: Palace 4, QPR 1. Defeats in their last eight: Palace 3, QPR 7. Add that to QPR’s awful away record of just one win and 12 defeats. Home win. PREDICTION: Crystal Palace, 2-0. (Photo: Tony O'Brien / Reuters)

Leicester City v Hull City: It’s getting close to the point of no return Leicester. They are eight points from safety, with a game in hand, with just 11 games of the season left. They badly need a win and, at home against another struggling team, they will give themselves some hope. PREDICTION: Leicester, 1-0. (Photo: Michael Regan / Getty Images)

Arsenal v West Ham United: The concern for Arsenal here is that this league match comes between their two biggest games of the season – Monday’s 2-1 FA Cup win at Manchester United and their Champions League last-16 second-leg tie in Monaco. Arsene Wenger will likely rest a few of his players and West Ham – who already had one excellent away performance in North London in the 2-2 draw at Spurs this season – could grab a point. PREDICTION: Draw, 0-0. (Photo: Nigel Roddis / EPA)

Sunderland v Aston Villa: The winner here can put some major daylight between themselves and the bottom three but with so much on the line, it is likely to be a tight game with few chances. Sunderland, at home with a goalscorer like Jermain Defoe in the ranks, have the best chance of nicking a win. PREDICTION: Sunderland, 1-0. (Photo: Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images)

West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City: Stoke come into this match on a high, with three straight wins, and West Brom will have a tough job breaking them down. Tony Pulis’s side have scored just 26 goals this season, the third worst total outside the bottom three. PREDICTION: Draw, 0-0. (Photo: Paul Thomas / Getty Images)

Chelsea v Southampton: With Manchester City likely to close the gap at the top to two points on the Saturday, Chelsea will be feeling the pressure. This is where their big-match players – Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas – need to step up and they will, although Chelsea’s recent low-scoring run is likely to continue. PREDICTION: Chelsea, 1-0. (Photo: Paul Gilham / Getty Images)

Everton v Newcastle United: Last season, Everton’s 13 wins and just three defeats was the best home record outside the top four. Their playing personnel is largely the same as last season, so their record of just three wins from 13 games this time is baffling. They will make that four victories with the visit of erratic Newcastle. PREDICTION: Everton, 1-0. (Photo: Gareth Copley / Getty Images)

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur: Speaking of home records, United have been strong at Old Trafford this season, with only Chelsea holding a better record. If they defend like they did in the cup tie against Arsenal, though, Tottenham will have a field day. Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen are key as always for Spurs, who should earn at least a point. PREDICTION: Draw, 1-1. (Photo: Nigel Roddis / EPA)

Swansea City v Liverpool: Sunday’s 0-0 FA Cup draw at home to Blackburn put an end to Liverpool’s recent run of incredible performances. Swansea away is one of the toughest trips outside of the big teams and Liverpool have struggled at times to break teams down. Brendan Rodgers may be forced to settle for a point. PREDICTION: Draw, 0-0. (Photo: Georgi Licovski / EPA)

The National Deputy Sports Editor Thomas Woods makes his picks for Gameweek 29 in the Premier League, including Wilfried Bony scoring en route to a comfortable Manchester City win over Burnley and Arsenal shuffling through a scoreless draw with West Ham. Click the arrows above to scroll through the predictions.

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