'Every game still matters!' - Paul Coyte & Clive Allen make their Premier League predictions
Apr 25, 2025
The season’s end is in sight - but there's no shortage of drama. As Premier League sides chase Europe, survival, and respect, Paul Coyte and Clive Allen sat down to share their predictions for a massive weekend of football - plus two tasty FA Cup semi-finals.Here’s how they see it playing out.
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0:00
So quite the weekend of sport and as far as football's concerned, well as always we've got Clive Allen. How are you Clive
0:07
I'm good Paul, looking forward to the next week. Oh absolutely, it's a huge week isn't it with European games coming up but also we should mention start with the FA Cup semi-finals
0:18
So I thought we'd begin with that today. Crystal Palace against Aston Villa. Crystal Palace have never won it. 2016 final against Manchester United they lost
0:27
Villa, yeah, they got relegated, wasn't it? I remember them playing in the final
0:32
It was 10 years ago. Yeah, under Tim Sherwood. Yeah. Under Tim Sherwood, that's right
0:37
I'm going to go straight in and I'm going to say Villa 2-0 at Wembley Saturday
0:42
What do you reckon? Well, I do agree that Villa have been in good form
0:46
I think they've shown their strength. But I just think this might be a semi-final, a little surprise
0:53
And I'm going to go for my old club, Crystal Palace. to win 2-1
0:58
Interesting. What about the other one, Forrest versus Manchester City? Now, you have predicted Man City all along, haven't you
1:06
Right the way back from the third round, you had that funny Alan feeling there
1:10
I know you did, so I know you're going to stick with it. And Forrest last won it back in 1959
1:16
so they're well overdue. Man City aren't. So what do you reckon
1:20
Yeah, I'm going to stick with Man City. I did see Man City beat Notts Forest last month, and that was an impressive performance
1:29
a virtuoso performance from Kevin De Bruyne. I just think City, I'm not saying they've turned the corner, Paul
1:37
but I think they've found that way to win games, as they always do at the end of the season
1:41
So I'm going to go a close run thing, but I'm going to go Notts Forest 1, Man City 2
1:47
Okay, well, I'm going to go 2-0, Man City. Let's look at the Premier League, shall we
1:53
Things not looking so good for Spurs, so I'm not looking forward to talking about Liverpool away
1:57
but we'll get to it. Right, first one then is the 12-30 kick-off. Chelsea against Everton
2:01
They've beaten Fulham. Last win, though, for Chelsea was against Tottenham, April 3rd
2:06
Everton, though, lost to Man City, beat Forest, and they've only won one in six
2:11
So although it seemed like Everton are looking good, I mean, they've drawn three of those games
2:16
It's not quite as great, but Chelsea are in sixth, Everton in 13th, completely safe, going to the new stadium
2:24
So they'll be in the Premier League next year. I'm going to leave it to you first. What do you reckon
2:29
Yeah, I think this is a fascinating game because I think it's an Everton team
2:33
that have done well under David Moyes. I'm saying it every week
2:37
Since he's a rival, an upturn in form, they're now safe. Their season's probably coming to a close
2:45
So much to play for for Chelsea. They sixth at the moment going into this game it a must win game for Chelsea I think it going to be a really close tight game but I going to go for Chelsea to edge it 1 Right I got 2 I can believe we disagreeing on everything today but we not far off
3:00
2-1. I think Chelsea, you reckon Chelsea 1-0. Let me ask you this
3:05
When you get to the phrase about players being on the beach, you know, if there's nothing to play for
3:09
if you're in the middle of the table, you know you're just going to see the season out. There's nothing actually that you can win
3:14
Is there such a thing? Do players actually think, well, it's all over
3:18
or is it just a myth? I think it's subconsciously that the players feel it
3:24
I'm not sure you approach the game in any different way to do week in, week out
3:29
As professionals, you're looking to, and as a professional, you want to win every game
3:34
But the pressure's off in respect of having to get a result
3:38
because you know the position you're in, certainly for a lot of clubs
3:42
their season, as I say, is coming to a close and players are looking forward to the break
3:47
So, yeah, I think just the edge of your game comes off slightly
3:52
So there is such a thing. OK, well, Brighton versus West Ham. I guess we can say it's one of those
3:58
But West Ham, I guess it's like they're very close to Tottenham
4:04
They're fourth bottom at the moment, West Ham. So it looks, you know, they're fine because we know who's going to go down
4:10
We know it's Southampton. We know Leicester. And it looks like Ipswich as well, which is just a matter of time
4:14
and West Ham are going to be okay, but it's been bad for them
4:18
But although they are technically safe, you still really do want to put in a performance
4:25
because Nicholas Falkrupp, now what did you think about that? Now, he was having a go at other players
4:30
German wearing his heart on his sleeve, and having a go at players, and they weren't listening to the manager
4:36
and then Graham Potter saying, well, I kind of get some of what he says, but also disagree
4:40
so he's trying to keep the peace. It doesn't sound like he's very happy over there
4:44
No, and to be honest, I think it was quite refreshing that Fulgroove had the voice to come out and say what he did
4:51
Yeah, big deal. And he was making it perfectly clear to his teammates
4:55
that they need to do better, and they do. The position they find themselves in
5:01
You know, their run of results in the league has been lost, drawn, lost, drawn, lost, drawn
5:06
So, you know, no wins. The manager's saying they're not playing too badly
5:11
but I just think it's been a very poor end to the season
5:16
for West Ham and Graham Potter. So I'm going to go Brighton just to win this 2-1
5:21
Brighton still have a hope of European football. They're still alive. They're still playing for prizes
5:27
So I'm going to go Brighton 2, West Ham 1. See, Brighton haven't won since the 8th of March
5:32
but the way West Ham are, and I'm going to use this for 80-user cliche
5:36
but Clive is a results business, isn't it? That's what it's all about
5:40
So, Riewel saying, you know, people playing well, but it a results business I going to go with the draw I going to go 1 What we mustn forget Paul as well is every place is prize money in the Premier League Does it matter I mean does that mean anything
5:53
No, but from a club's point of view, it certainly does. You know, you win a game, you jump one or two places
5:59
that's millions of pounds. So, you know, it is important to, still important to every club to finish as high as they can
6:07
See, it sounds funny, doesn't it? I'm saying, you know, does it really matter? But even just a million quid
6:12
in football terms, a million pounds. It's like, you know, it's when you talk about players
6:17
100 million pounds, it's a 100 million pound player. And any other walk of life
6:21
it's just the most ridiculous amount of money, isn't it? Absolutely, yeah
6:25
But I think we clearly know now that so many clubs are running
6:30
you know, on such fine margins that it's, you know, a place or two jumping at the end of the season with a victory
6:36
or a couple of victories going into the end of the season can be very valuable
6:41
Yeah, of course. Okay, well, we'll go for Newcastle. So they lost a 4-1 to Villa, but before that, you know
6:48
they were looking terrific. Eddie Howe, which is going to be a boost for them
6:52
The fact that Eddie, you know, and he was unwell with pneumonia and he's going to be, he's back now in the fold, which is great
6:58
Ipswich, though, they're playing. Ipswich are done. They're fifth, Newcastle. They've got to get that fifth because it's five places
7:05
for the Champions League. They're desperate for that. What a great, well, it's going to be an amazing season
7:11
win trophy and also to go into the Champions League as well. Ipswich down in 21st
7:16
So I'm going to go straight in and I think they're going to cruise it and they're going to score four
7:20
And I'm going to say Newcastle 4-0 Ipswich. Yeah, I go along with you, but I see it as a 3-0 victory Newcastle
7:26
So Eddie Howe back on the touchline after his illness, which is good to see
7:30
I think that will boost everybody at the club. They'll be looking for a big finish
7:34
They're playing for a big prize Champions League football. So yeah, Ipswich, I think
7:39
Ipswich have been in all their games they've played in. And I think that Gerrard has done a great job
7:44
They've given their best, but it's just not been quite good enough for the Premier League
7:48
So Newcastle 3, Ixwich 0. OK, next one is Southampton against Fulham
7:55
I mean, how do you feel if you're a Southampton player? What are you doing? Are you just there? You're just playing for maybe your future
8:01
Is it the future that maybe someone in the Premier League is going to pick you up? Are you playing for your future at Southampton
8:06
I suppose it's different players, horses for courses, but they're playing Fulham, who are ninth, lost to Chelsea
8:13
Then they beat Bournemouth. They've lost to Liverpool. They've drawn with Arsenal Palace. It's a mixed bag with Fulham
8:18
I mean, they're a good side. You don't really know what you're going to get, do you? No, exactly
8:22
I think Southampton players playing for their professional pride, no doubt about that
8:25
It's been a dreadful, dreadful season. Fulham, I think, just going to miss out now
8:32
And I just see it being, I think, just a bit of a stalemate
8:36
So I going to go Southampton one Fulham one OK let go for the final one for Saturday Wolves against Leicester City Vardy you know we don know whether he going to stick around
8:46
I mean, he's knocking on a bit. Is he going to play in the Premier League again
8:51
I mean, I know he's probably interested and wants to do that. Leicester's gone. Or do you reckon this is going to be off to the States
8:57
off to Saudi or something? Yeah, quite possibly a move abroad for Vardy
9:02
He's been unbelievable in the 13 years he's been at Leicester. to think they've won the Premier League
9:08
He's won the FA Cup. Obviously, he's put himself into it or moved himself into the England squad
9:14
on a number of occasions. It's been an incredible career. Yeah. And difficult to replace for Leicester
9:20
going into the Championship next year. But I just see this. Wolves, five straight Premier League injuries
9:28
Great form. I think there's just a real good feeling around the football club
9:33
as they finish their season. so I'm going to go Wolves 2, Leicester 0
9:37
Not how you start, how you finish and that's really it for Wolves. So you're saying 2-0, I'm going to go 3-1
9:42
So 15th Wolves with 38 points, Leicester are gone so I'm going to say 3-1
9:47
Right, let's look at Sunday. So Clive Bournemouth against Manchester United I'm going to go straight in with 2-0 to Bournemouth
9:53
They've beaten Phil and Drew to Palace and we know what Manchester United are like. Apart from that crazy win against Lyon
9:59
I don't see anything there so I'm going to say Bournemouth 2, Man United 0. What about yourself
10:02
Yeah, so much to play for for Bournemouth. I think they've come out of that little dip
10:06
I'm going to go Bournemouth 2, Manchester United 1. Another defeat for Manchester United in what has been a dreadful season
10:13
And we could say that about Spurs. Man United going for the Europa League
10:17
Spurs going for the Europa League. Finding themselves in a terrible league position
10:22
But there's still things to play for. But I think Man U's attentions will be on the Europa League
10:28
And the same thing is for Spurs. So playing Bodo Glimt at the Tottenham Oldspur Stadium
10:34
on Thursday, but a trip to Anfield is not what you want at any time when you're playing badly
10:40
Not when Liverpool need a point. Are they going to be fighting for a point then, Liverpool
10:44
That's what they're going to do. They're just going to play defensive. They're going to try and go for a nil-nil to try and get the trophy
10:50
So, Liverpool, you know what I hate? You know what I hate
10:54
Going against Spurs, but I think there'll be changes for Tottenham. I don't think they're going to be going full out
11:00
Why would they? Liverpool have got to put on a show for their fans and I'm going to see 3-0, I reckon
11:07
Clive, thank you. Well, I was going to go for a dramatic 3-0
11:11
which I know Spurs are capable of. I just can't see it happening
11:16
I'm going to go Liverpool 3-0 Spurs 1. OK. You're going to give us a goal
11:20
That's all right. We'll take the goal. Clive, have a great weekend. Thanks so much. See you next week
11:24
And you, Paul
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