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David Silva is hoping to inspire Man City to League Cup glory on Sunday. Martin Rickett
Predictions

Premier League and League Cup preview: how to fill out your football accumulator this weekend

Can Sunderland upset Manchester City? Will Liverpool overcome Southampton?

All games kick-off Saturday 3pm unless stated otherwise

Everton v West Ham

The Toffees suffered a serious blow to their top-four chances last week, when they suffered a demoralising loss to Chelsea, owing to a John Terry goal in the dying seconds.

Not for the first time this season, Roberto Martinez’s team played well and looked the better team for large spells of the game, but their lack of threat up front ultimately scuppered their chances.

They face a West Ham team who are on a fine run of form, winning their last four consecutive league matches, and thus pulling away from the relegation battle having looked in big trouble at one point.

The Hammers’ impressive 3-1 defeat against Southampton last week suggests this could be a close game, but expect Everton’s class to enable them to edge it.

Bet: Everton @ 8/15

Fulham v Chelsea

Chelsea are likely to be somewhat weary going into this game, having experienced an energy-draining 1-1 Champions League draw with Galatasaray during the week.

They’re currently just one point ahead of second place Arsenal, so they can’t afford to take it easy against Felix Magath’s Fulham this weekend.

The hosts, however, are also in desperate need of a win, given that they now sit four points away from safety at the bottom of the table, after conceding a late goal to draw with West Brom last week.

Logic suggests Mourinho’s men should win this contest easily, and we’re not going to go against the consensus.

Bet: Chelsea @ 1/2

Hull City v Newcastle

Newcastle became one of the minority of teams who are more or less guaranteed safety from relegation after narrowly defeating Aston Villa last week, reaching the all-important 40-point mark in the process.

Meanwhile, Hull are 10 points below them, and therefore, less assured of their place in the top flight next season.

Having undergone a troublesome period that saw them win just once in seven league games, Steve Bruce’s side finally seemed to click last week, as they won 4-0 at Cardiff.

Their improvement in form means they should be good enough to pick up at least a point against the Magpies.

Bet: Draw @ 9/4

Stoke City v Arsenal

Arsenal must win this encounter to maintain pressure at the top, as they currently lie just one point behind leaders Chelsea.

They face formidable enough opposition this weekend in the form of Stoke, who have consistently posed problems for the big teams at the Britannia Stadium this year.

They beat United and Chelsea there, in addition to drawing with City, while they certainly made life difficult for Liverpool despite losing 5-3.

Consequently, Arsene Wenger’s side will have to be at their best if they are to overcome this potential banana skin.

Bet: Arsenal @ 8/11

Southampton v Liverpool (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Just under a year ago, Southampton beat Liverpool 3-1 to all but end the Reds’ hopes of Champions League qualification that season.

And a similar result would put a serious dent in their title ambitions, if not their European aspirations.

Nevertheless, that outcome does not seem so likely this time around, even if the Saints are the last team to beat Brendan Rodgers’ side in the league at Anfield (back in September).

Mauricio Pochettino’s team come into this game on the back of a dispiriting loss against West Ham, while Liverpool, by contrast, are in great form.

The Reds have overtaken Man City as the league’s top scorers, however problems at the other end of the pitch are conspicuous — only four teams have kept fewer clean sheets than the Reds this season.

Bet: Liverpool @ 11/10

Aston Villa v Norwich (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Norwich secured an unexpected morale-boosting win over Tottenham last week, sending them four points clear of the relegation zone.

The Canaries went level on points with Villa as a result, emphasising how tight this game is likely to be.

They haven’t beaten the Villains since 1992, and have failed to win in their previous five away matches, though Paul Lambert’s team have the joint-fewest home wins of any side in the league.

Therefore, expect there to be little between the sides when they meet on Sunday, with a draw appearing to be the most likely outcome.

Bet: Draw @ 23/20

Swansea v Crystal Palace (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Swansea are likely to be suffering from a European hangover, after being dumped out of the Europa League by Napoli on Thursday.

They come up against a Crystal Palace side who have improved immeasurably since Tony Pulis took over, while the same can hardly be said of Swansea following Garry Monk’s arrival.

Yet they will have taken some confidence from the manner in which they played — at least, in an attacking sense — against Liverpool last weekend.

Thus, if they play to their capabilities and cut down on the needless defensive errors, they should have enough talent to overcome Pulis’ side.

Bet: Swansea @ 17/20

Tottenham v Cardiff (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Their 1-0 loss to Norwich last weekend left Tottenham with a mountain to climb in their bid to secure Champions League football, as they now trail Liverpool by six points with 11 games to play.

Despite their setback at Carrow Road though, they should be good enough to beat a struggling Cardiff side at home, especially after showing the type of resilience they’re sometimes accused of lacking amid their Europa League victory against Dnipro during the week.

The Welsh side have, if anything, gotten worse since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment as manager, with the 4-0 loss at home to Hull last week epitomising their woe.

So anything other than a Spurs victory at White Hart Lane on Sunday would be a major shock.

Bet: Tottenham @ 4/11

Capital One Cup final: Man City v Sunderland (Sunday 2pm)

Normally, City would be unequivocal favourites in this game, given their vastly superior players and league form.

Nevertheless, the Blues have form in losing big cup finals, as anyone who watched last year’s FA Cup will know.

Sunderland have already beaten Manuel Pellegrini’s side in the league this year, and have caused a few similar upsets on their way to Wembley.

Yet with City’s hopes of an always-improbable quadruple fading following their comprehensive first-leg Champions League loss to Barca, they will be especially eager to get their hands on some silverware here, with Premier League and FA Cup success also looking far from certain.

Bet: Man City @ 1/3

Accumulator:

A tenner on the following would earn you €1960.83

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