Football News: Premier League Match Preview Tuesday 8th May 2018

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Injuries
Suspensions
Quick write up
Most important player
Battle that may define the match
Editors' predictions
Editors' Predictions League Table

Tuesday 8th May 2018

Swansea City v Southampton 1:30pm kick off

Naughton (illness) slight doubt
Bartley (knee injury) out
Fer (Achilles injury) out
Bony (ACL injury) out

This game will be fraught, with Swansea suffering through having no ability to create despite their initial bounce under Carvalhal, it is clear it was just a fresh start that caused it, rather than his tactical acumen. Now they are stuck with a formation that does nothing for them, playing in a way that creates little and concedes a lot. Being cheery and positive is not going to be enough to rescue them on its own, time for Carlos Carvalhal to show he actually can manage and produce a team capable of surviving. This is not quite a must win, but it is a must not lose. A win puts them in a very good position with it in their hands for the last day. A day gives them every chance and also keeps West Brom alive. A defeat leaves them needing snookers to escape relegation.
Most important player: Lukasz Fabianski. With their lack of creativity, a goal conceded would be extremely costly.

Lemina (hamstring injury) major doubt
Davis (Achilles injury expected return 13th May) out

With the prospect of Manchester City to come on the final day, Saints really need to win this one and then just avoid a heavy defeat against the newly crowned champions of England. They have given themselves a chance by suddenly showing desire and fight after spending months showing little of either. Now is time for the players to step up and prove that all the talk from pundits about them being too good to go down is true. Two games is all they have got left and they have to make them count.
Most important player: Dusan Tadic. This is a must win game and that means the flair players need to show exactly what they can do.

Defining Battle: the pressure on both teams will be immense, so it is unlikely to be a game of great skill and wonderful flair moments. This is going to be about who makes the least mistakes.

Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 1-1
Ed003 - 1-1
Ed004 - 1-2
Ed007 - 1-1
Ed018 - 0-1
Ed025 - 1-0
Ed033 - 1-1

Editor's Predictions Table
1. Ed002 - 246 points
2. Ed033 - 245 points
3. Ed018 - 241 points
4. Ed007 - 234 points
5. Ed004 - 223 points
6. Ed025 - 222 points
7. Ed003 - 208 points

*1 point is awarded for the correct result, 3 points for the correct score.
**updated 7th May 2018 (not including results for that day)

Written by Tris Burke May 08 2018 07:56:22