Premier Picks: The lowdown on this weekend in the English Premier League

Match to catch

Dutch coaches Louis van Gaal and Ronald Koeman go head-to-head for the second time this season on Sunday, when the former’s Manchester United host the latter’s Southampton side. Apparently there is bad blood between the pair from their time working together at Ajax, but neither is willing to discuss that in public, so it’s left to their teams to work out the feud on the pitch. It was Van Gaal who was celebrating last time, as United scored a fortuitous 2-1 win at St Mary’s last month. Both have been in good form since and only a single point and a single place separates them in the table — so this is likely to be a high-quality showdown at Old Trafford. Prediction: Man United 3 Southampton 2.

Keep an eye on

The Football Association’s decision to charge Jose Mourinho with misconduct over his anti-Chelsea ‘campaign’ comments is probably exactly what the Portuguese boss wanted. While it may cost him a small fine and a possible touchline ban, it will play perfectly into the ‘us vs them’ siege mentality that he loves to portray. Mourinho clearly learned his mind games from the very best — Alex Ferguson — and is now using those skills to good effect. While his baiting of referees and opposition managers may make him unpopular, it usually has the desired effect — it will take only a stone wall decision for referee Roger East to give Newcastle a penalty at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Prediction: Chelsea 3 Newcastle 1.

For the purists

Tony Pulis will take charge of his first league game at the West Brom helm on Saturday, at home to fellow strugglers Hull City. The former Stoke and Crystal Palace boss is the right man for the job as he will quickly get the team well organised and playing to their strengths — it may not be pretty, but it will surely be effective. Prediction: West Brom 1 Hull 0.

Showing form

Tottenham have been a curious team during Mauricio Pochettino’s first season in charge. An inconcistent autumn led to early murmurs of discontent about whether the Argentine was the right man for the job, but a series of late goals enabled the team to get on a winning run without playing particularly well. And then it all came together against Chelsea on New Year’s Day, as Harry Kane and Nacer Chadli tore apart the leaders’ usually reliable defence in a remarkable 5-3 victory. With big money flops Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor out of the side and the young, talented Englishman Kane leading the line, Spurs look a dangerous proposition and are capable of returning to the Champions League. But they will have to be wary of the Alan Pardew factor on Saturday as Crystal Palace have their former player in charge for the match at Selhurst Park. Prediction: Palace 2 Spurs 2.

Need a win

Everton are the surprise team at the bottom of the EPL form table going into this weekend’s fixtures and, while it’s not quite a crisis situation at Goodison Park, it’s not far off. The Toffees have lost the organisation and physicality that made them so hard to beat under David Moyes and during Roberto Martinez’s first season. Key players are out of form and some of their replacements just haven’t been good enough, and a run of four successive league defeats has left them just four points above the relegation zone. But if the fans get behind Martinez and the team during Saturday’s visit of Manchester City, they can lift the players and create an intimidating atmosphere that could upset the injury-hit champions. Prediction: Everton 1 Man City 2.

Get involved

Think I’m way off the mark? Tweet me your EPL predictions via @MartinDownerGN or email sportsdesk@gulfnews.com.