Alan Shearer’s Premier League predictions including Newcastle vs Sunderland

Shearer looks ahead to the derby and the rest of the weekend action (Picture: Getty)

While the Carabao Cup final takes centre stage this weekend, a stacked weekend of Premier League action lies ahead before the international break.

Manchester United and Bournemouth get the weekend started early on Friday night with Michael Carrick ’s side looking to tighten their grip on third place.

After an abysmal week, Chelsea must pick up the pieces away to Everton while Liverpool also face a tricky test on the road away to Brighton .

Sunday brings the Tyne-Wear derby with Newcastle United hosting Sunderland with the Black Cats drawing first blood in the reverse fixture back in December.

And in a huge scrap at the bottom, Tottenham host Nottingham Forest with both sides dangling just above the relegation zone.

As ever, England legend and Betfair ambassador Alan Shearer has revealed his Premier League predictions to Metro .

This is a really good game and a tough one to predict. Man United could keep their run going after they bounced back really well from their defeat at Newcastle.

Casemiro was on target again last weekend (Picture: Getty)

I guess because of the situation that Michael Carrick has put Man United in, then they should go there with full belief and confidence. Away from home, they were really poor at Newcastle, but we’ll have to wait and see whether that’s something they need to look at. Michael Carrick has put them in a brilliant position for Champions League football, and I don’t expect them to get beaten against Bournemouth. I’m going to say a draw.

Prediction – Draw

Liverpool’s league form has gone flat. Their performances are flat in the league. You don’t know what you’re going to get. It all goes on to the international break after this weekend as well, so it’s important that you don’t sit on a poor result for two weeks.

It’s a difficult one to predict. What Liverpool are going to turn up? Is it the one that you saw in midweek or is it the one that you saw against Spurs?

It is a huge game for Liverpool. Every game that they play now is huge because you can’t spend that amount of money, win the league and then finish outside the Champions League places It’s not acceptable and the manager will know what that means.

I think again I’m going to say a draw between Brighton and Liverpool.

Prediction – Draw

Liverpool put on a fine display midweek in the Champions League (Picture: Getty)

I’ve not had any confidence in Burnley all season. It’s been a really tough season for them despite spending a few quid. So, I’ll go for a home win.

Prediction – Fulham win

I’ve got no confidence in Chelsea. They got battered in midweek and Newcastle beat them last weekend. I guess they’re playing for the manager because you know what the noise will be if they get beaten again. But I’m going to go for a home win for Everton.

I think Everton will somehow scrape something from Chelsea. David Moyes has done a brilliant job and I’m a huge fan of his and what he’s done, what he’s achieved and what he’s doing at Everton.

Prediction – Everton win

Chelsea have endured a dreadful week (Picture: Getty)

This is a massive game. Leeds needs the support of the fans for this one and a lot more against Brentford who are tricky opposition. They were brilliant in the first half on Monday night but then were terrible in the second half defensively. They’ll be looking to bounce back. I’m going to go for a home win because the crowd will get them going.

It’s crazy we are talking about Brentford for European football next season.It’s been such a strange season in many ways, but there are one or two clubs that can take advantage of that. We’ve mentioned Everton and Brentford are another one of those clubs. Keith Andrews is doing a fantastic job this season. Even us talking about Brentford with a chance to get into Europe tells you how well they’ve done, but I think Leeds need the win more and will take the three points on Saturday.

Prediction – Leeds win

The bragging rights are massively on the line. It has to be a home win. Sunderland got the better of Newcastle in the reverse fixture. I always say you can get away with a little bit more in these games and you can, but something tells me that this one might spill over for the wrong reasons. I hope I’m not correct in saying that.

Newcastle somehow have to get the three points. They can’t not take the three points for obvious reasons.

Newcastle capitulated in the second-half against Barcelona (Picture: Getty)

The Champions League is gone. It was great to play against Barcelona, but for 45 minutes they sort of put Newcastle in their place. But then you get back to the Premier League, and you need a good game to bounce back in and there’s no better game than this. As I keep saying, it has to be three points. There’s no other way to put it.

They’re great games. The atmosphere is amazing, but you have to play the match, not the occasion.

Prediction – Newcastle win

Aston Villa’s form has gone flat, and their season’s gone flat but they’ve still got a great opportunity to get something really special out of the season. And if they’re going to get it, it has to start this weekend.

But I’ve been so impressed with the way West Ham have bounced back. I’ve said it many times that result against Wolves must have been a turning point. A few things must have been said.

West Ham look a different team now and they got a great point last weekend. I think they’ll get another point here against Aston Villa.

We’ve always said that confidence in football is huge and Villa look as if they’re devoid of any confidence. They’re all over the place defensively, which wasn’t the case. And somehow, they’ve got to try and rescue it. That has to happen this weekend.

Prediction – Draw

Emery’s side falling away in the league (Picture: Getty)

It’s a huge game for all sorts of reasons; this is a gigantic game for both teams. You can imagine the reaction if Tottenham were to be beaten at home by Nottingham Forest.

I guess whoever takes the three points should be more than confident they would have enough to stay up. But on the other hand, whoever is beaten, then there’s a real live chance that that team will be relegated. That’s how big this game is this weekend.