'A trophy means more than top four!' - Paul Coyte & Clive Allen’s Premier League predictions

So, time for Premier League predictions and FA Cup final as well

which is coming up this weekend. Clive Allen is here as always. Clive, we've only got a couple more goes

Then we'll start cricket predictions, of course. Absolutely. Okay, now, this is going to be the interesting one

Friday night, both Manchester United and Spurs are playing because of the Europa League final

It started off that Manchester United had the game on the Friday and Villa and Spurs was going to be on the Sunday

and then Spurs asked for it to be changed and Villa weren't happy about it

which, can you understand that? Does it really make any difference to them

Because, I mean, they're playing a full Spurs team trying their best though, are they, Clive, surely

No, I think Villa's argument was that they maybe asked for some fixture adjustments

with their Champions League run. and that wasn't forthcoming from the Premier League

So they felt a little bit aggrieved that obviously Spurs in their Europa League final

have asked to move it back a couple of nights so that basically the two finalists have exactly the same amount of time to prepare

which I think is fair. I think I feel they have to accept that

Although I'm sure both of the sides on the Friday night, the European cup finalists will be understrength

let's put it that way. I cannot imagine that they're going to go

with their full strength sides even on Friday. So what you're saying is that they're both going to do well

to score nil in this game. It could be one of those

I think what you've got, you're going to have a set of players who, the ones who feel they've got a chance of making

maybe an appearance or playing some sort of part in that final

will turn in a performance. For others who probably feel they're not going to be involved

it really will be a little bit of a run out on Friday evening. See, personally, I've got to say, I don't get that

If you have the feeling that you're not going to be involved, I mean, would they know now whether they're playing next Wednesday or not

It's probably all the places up for grabs, aren't they? Yeah, I think obviously from Tottenham's point of view, we could have Zesky having an operation. I think he would have started had he been fit. So the midfield area for Spurs will be very interesting. Who plays Friday will give you a very, very good indication as to who will be playing Wednesday night

now Aston Villa it's not so Spurs it's not like Aston Villa

on the beach because they're sixth and they're going for that Champions League place and 63 points

they are going out to win this game without a doubt and they're going to give

everything to try and win it Bournemouth they've beaten Fulham Spurs have just been dreadful it's

is it a matter of how many because you don't want to

go out there and get embarrassed do you I mean even if you're thinking about the game

next week the last thing you'll want to do is is embarrass yourself

And I can't believe I'm even saying this. So what's your prediction

and what do you think is going to happen in this game? Paul, I think it'll be an incredible atmosphere

at Villa Park on Friday night. Villa, as you rightly say, 63 points alongside Chelsea are in fifth

They're going for day one Champions League football. So it's like a cup final for them

And I think that Villa will run out winners. I've got to say

I put Spurs was so poor against Crystal Palace last weekend. And I can't see it changing dramatically

So I'm going to go for a Villa 2-0 victory. OK. I was, I'm toying with a Villa 3-0 victory

but I don't think I've ever made that prediction against my team before. But if we just keep it between us, I'll say 3-0

And, you know, we'll see how we go. Oh, I'd say it in my..

Oh, please. Chelsea versus Manchester United. So this is the same thing

So Chelsea, this is the weird thing. You said that Chelsea are on the same points as Villa

They're fifth, though, on goal difference. So they're looking good. Lost to Newcastle and they beat Liverpool and Everton and Fulham

Manchester United then are also, let's face it, they're terrible. Back in 16th, one place above Spurs on 39

and they've got their eyes on Wednesday because the most important, interesting, Ruben Amorim, what he said

he said that the most important thing to him is Champions League football

I guess he's thinking of his career and thinking of possible signings

and money coming into the club, etc. Whereas fans, it's not, is it

It's always going to be the trophy, don't you think? Especially if you're a Spurs fan, you're going to want a trophy more

I mean, they come together, but it's the trophy which is the most important thing for them

It will be for the fans. Undoubtedly, both sets of fans want to lift the trophy

want to win something. I think for both clubs, the finance is just incredible qualifying for the Champions League

So I think this is a fascinating game because I just wonder how United are going to perform

for Ameren in this game, just solely this game. And I'm going to go Chelsea 1, Manchester United 1

Really? So you think United are going to... So why do you think United are going to do well against Chelsea there

Because I think there's so many players that probably think that they could play in that final come next Wednesday

Okay. Well, I'm just going to go 2-0. So I'm going to go 2-0 Chelsea on that

So these games are Friday night. So it's rare that it's too Friday night, but that's the reason

Now, Saturday, there's good and bad about the FA Cup final, I think, Clive, for me

And that's the, the bad is the fact that the season is not over but the good thing is at least the cup final is on its own There no Premier League games at the same time don you think Absolutely A magical competition always will be

And I think that, yeah, it stands alone. It is one of the biggest games in world football, not just, obviously, domestically

Prestigious, everything that's good about the FA Cup, for me, will never change

and I think it's two teams. I saw both teams last weekend

So I saw City draw at Southampton, struggle to break down Southampton

and then I saw a very impressive Crystal Palace, a very strong Crystal Palace side

Probably, apart from Wharton, that Crystal Palace side will start against Manchester City

in the cup final. And I honestly believe that Crystal Palace are going to give Man City a run for their money

Yeah, me too. Yeah, me too. 745 teams start the FA Cup. So these are the final

two. And we should make a point that you play for both of them as well. Yep

Third time in history, Crystal Palace, 1919-2016. Other times finalists, so they've never

won it. Manchester City, well, we know that they go to Wembley a fair bit. So

it was Stockport, Doncaster, Millwall and of course there was the Mateta

injury, remember that, from Crystal Palace. Full in the beat 3-0, Villa 3-0, so they've done really well in the Cup

Man City, Salford, Lake Norient, where there was a little worry, and same with Plymouth

Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest. It should be, let's hope it's an occasion

I don't think there's enough made of this over the past week

I don't know whether it's just me looking back with rose-tinted spectacles

but there hasn't been a lot, has there, Clive, in the past week

No, no, not like, as you said, in years gone by, The FA Cup was always the last game of the season

the one after the league campaign had finished. And it was a weak build-up, a weak build-up to the Cup final

You knew everything about every player, what they'd been doing, what they'd been eating. And, you know, it was always so, so very special

And then the day of the game, from 8 o'clock in the morning, the TV cameras were there following every move of every player

that was participating. So, always, always very, very special. um i don't know i don't know whether it was for paul or where it was for you i think it might have

been for you clive back in 82 and i kind of remember something on grandstand or one of those

things with the whole family there is that is that right yeah yeah actually paul that was um

i have to say i had no idea that that was going to happen and as we came on to the

yeah to have a look around take the atmosphere in tv pulled me to one side and linked me to my

father who was in the stand in the BBC studio and then they linked to the bus the family bus that

was on its way to Wembley and I had no no idea that that was going to happen it was um I remember

I got I got a little bit emotional and I came into the dressing room Terry Vendel said to me

are you okay yeah I said yeah yeah I'm fine I'm absolutely fine but it was just such a

momentous occasion um I'd just turned 21 on the Thursday and obviously this was my first FA Cup

final appearance. So yeah, I'll never forget it, but I do remember that it was just a little bit off point because

it was so unusual. I'd never been in that situation before. See, these days, can you imagine that you'd get a TV company would do that

They'd have to go through hoops. They'd have to speak to people. Is this going to be okay? Is this going to be allowed

So you think that affected your performance then? not my performance because I was once we, you know

once you walked out Wembley, up the tunnel at Wembley, out onto the, you were in the zone

There was no doubt about it. But just for, I would have said for five, 10 minutes before I'm going back into the dressing room

I was just a little bit, you know, basically what's going on here

It's just incredible. Absolutely incredible. And what was it like walking through the old tunnel

at the old Wembley? Because it always. me you're in there in the dressing room it's quiet and then you hit this wall of noise is it

like nothing you've experienced or have seen yeah because because it's a long walk up Paul it was

probably at least a hundred yards from coming out the dressing room doors at the bottom of the

tunnel lining up in the tunnel um a concrete tunnel so I always remember that the noise of

the studs on the concrete as well as you marched as you marched up you can hear the ball on the tv

as well yes you can hear yeah that's right yeah and then you get three quarters of the way up and

obviously the other end of the stadium see that you're emerging and then the whole place lights

up we see it's very very special see that's the difference i think with the new wemberly i don't

think they took those little things into account because they were just part of those things that

made fa cup special that walkthrough is much shorter than it used to be the steps everything

I don't know whether it was just because I was a kid and it seems magical. And again, when we look back, always things seem better than they actually were

But it did seem almost more special than now, do you think

Yeah, it was just so unique. It was iconic. You never did that in, obviously, your domestic games

And Wembley was Wembley. There was no other stadium and there was no other environment like that

and obviously with the FA Cup final being the pinnacle, it really was

Wasn't there sand behind the goal? I sort of remember like a semicircle of sand

that you'd walk across before you got to the pitch. You walked across the dog track and then the sand

and then out onto the pitch and across to the side of the goal

right the way across one half of the pitch before and on that occasion before we met Princess Diana Yeah well can you imagine Oven racing greyhounds at Wembley Stays a couple of weeks from the Cup final They can go for it Anyways Crystal Palace Manchester City

the NFA Cup final is Saturday afternoon. I am going to go straight in, Clive

and I'm going to go 2-1 Manchester City because I think Crystal Palace are going to score

but I think City will win it. And I'm going to go 2-1 Crystal Palace

Are you? I am I think I think the City fans will love that

yeah they won't love me but I have to squish a property

but God I do have to say I was very impressed with them

I think they're in form they're very very confident I saw them play

Manchester City a month ago and take a 2-0 lead at the Etihad yeah

before Kevin De Bruyne had an incredible game I think it's going to be

a cracking cup final but I just feel that Crystal Palace athleticism

physicality and the speed in which they break is going to cause City's defence all sorts of

problems. You know, you predicted Man City from the third round right the way through to the final

It's only at the final you've changed your mind. Yeah, yeah. I thought City, obviously, they were

sort of in their own way, were getting things right. Things were coming together. But just on

their performance last weekend against Southampton and Palace's performance against Spurs, it's just

tipped me in favour of Palace. Amazing. Well, let's hope it's a good cup final anyway, Saturday. So once

that's out of the way, Premier League is back on Sunday. We'll rattle through some of these because

there's a lot of games that don't really resonate that much with many people, but we should mention

certainly Everton versus Southampton. And this is the final game at Goodison before they move to the

new stadium, it's the perfect opponent for them to play, isn't it? Because you want to get a really

good win. Yeah, I can't see Southampton spoiling the party. I really can't. Although they defended

resolutely against City last weekend. I saw something, Paul, that I've never seen in a football

match in the start of that game against Man City. Kick-off was taken, the ball went backwards

City took kick-off. The ball went backward to Edison and Southampton went backwards to their 18-yard box

And they said, right, can you beat us? City completely dominated the ball

but couldn't break them down. I expect them to play exactly the same way against Everton

but I expect Everton to score a goal. So I'm going to go Everton 1, Southampton 0

Well, look, Southampton have got their 12 points, so they've beaten Derby, so they're OK there

It was almost a celebration when they got that with that draw at Man City. It's funny, they found their groove with two games to go now

So maybe that will go over. So you're going to say, what, 2-0, did you say, Everton

1-0, 1-0 Everton. I think Southampton will have been... I'm going to go two

Now, the last day, we don't know what's planned for the last day of Goodison

but we have, between the two of us, experience of the closing of a ground

don't we, with White Hart Lane, which was eight years ago now

almost to the day, which was almost the perfect goodbye. goodbye. I mean, where does that rate in your career? Because obviously you weren't playing

but it was something you were certainly involved in. In the first name, you were the first person

to walk out on the pitch. And I remember calling you out and off you went. And then your dad and

your cousin were the second and third. What was it like for you? It was extremely emotional. It

really was to think that, you know, I probably played the best part of my career on that ground

held so many memories for me. My dad followed me out. And obviously, I always remember standing there alongside him, Paul

I didn't know what to say to him. It was really weird. And in the end, I said, Dad, I bet you'd have loved to have played on this pitch

Obviously, the pitch was absolutely perfect. And he just looked at me

I think we were both welling up. And he just went, yeah, definitely

It was like you just didn't know what to say. It was incredible. and then when you turned, there's a rainbow over the East Stand

which was quite something. It really was. And as you say, it was the perfect send-off

It was amazing. It was an incredible emotional day and I'm sure you won't be annoyed at me

It's the only time I've seen you in tears. I remember seeing you walk off the pitch with those tears in your eyes

I'll never forget that. And the rain ever. And it was raining that day and people think

oh, this is awful, the fact that it's raining and it's going to really put literally a dampener on the whole celebrations

But when the sun came out and then that rainbow appeared, which was almost on cue, it was perfect

So I hope it goes well for Everton. I hope they've got... I'm sure that they'll do the same with ex-players, don't you think

Yeah, but, Paul, we must also remind people and Spurs supporters, we went unbeaten that season quite incredibly

Last season at White Hart Lane and we went unbeaten at home, which was just unreal

That's going to have me in tears. Out those days. Right, next one, West Ham

I have a turn, so you're going to say 1-0, I'll say 2. One day. Right, this one then

And this is a really important game as well. Not so much for West Ham, but certainly for Nottingham Forest

because they drew with Leicester, they drew with Palace, they've lost to Man City and Brentford

We talked about Forest all the way through the season, how they've managed to keep it going

and finally the blip is coming at absolutely the wrong time. So they're in seventh, they're playing West Ham away

that win at Old Trafford, do we count that? I mean, it's just that Man United are so bad at the moment

And I don't know whether they were thinking about Europe, but West Ham well they turned them over anyway 2 How do you see this going here I going to say that the Old Trafford result for West Ham they finish the season strong

I did say last week on the show, Paul, that Nottingham Forest had to win this game against Leicester

Even the draw wasn't good enough. Obviously, there was the drama at the end

Thankfully, Owen Innes is OK. It looks as if he's recovering. And it's just gone wrong for Notts Forest

at the wrong time of the season. So I'm going to go West Ham 2, not Forrest 1

West Ham 2, Forrest 1. I'm going to go 1-2. I think Forrest will win

I do think they'll manage to do something there. I'll go 2-1

I was talking to insiders and people I know around Forrest that were saying that Maranakis

there's a very good chance that he, I mean, as crazy as this will sound, will get rid of Nuno at the end of the season

Now, what do you think? It seems ridiculous, but it's almost like this man with this power

and there was the, you know, what happened? And then, OK, now this is not good enough

The way we're ending the season, we can do better. And I think it would be the biggest mistake, though

And do you think it is a possibility that it may happen? Yeah, I would say purely because of his history

the way that he has hired and fired managers. Obviously, if they were to make European football

there is a conflict with his main team, which is Olympiacos, who are in the Champions League

So if Forrest were to be in the Champions League, he has to relinquish some sort of power at Forrest

I think he's done that already. I think he's already relinquished a certain amount of share or ownership

which means that it will be okay. Yeah, but I think he will still be making the decisions

And I've got to say, what Nuno's done this season has been nothing short of miraculous

I would say that, you know, could almost be considered one of the coaches of the season

Magnificent job. And it would be very, very unjust if he was to lose his position

Yeah, and it wouldn't go down well with the fans, would it? I mean, it would be crazy. But anyway, stranger things have happened

Right, next game is Brentford versus Fulham. Eighth against 11th. So Brentford have had a good season

55 points. Fulham, four points behind them. Won the last four, though, Brentford

whereas Fulham have lost the last team. Yeah, I think that the home form has not been..

They've been better away from home, I should say, Brentford, than they have been at home. West London, Derby

I see Brentford continuing their good form, finishing strong. I think the manager there has done a magnificent job once again

They've established themselves as a constant Premier League side, I think, Brentford

so I'm going to go Brentford 2-1 Right, I'm going to go 2-0

so I think Brentford will win it as well but I think 2-0 Right, last two we've got Leicester City versus Ipswich

Oh dear, so it's the battle of who comes 18th I suppose

is what we're looking at here so 19th Leicester on 22 points

Ipswich on the same points it's just a goal difference thing Leicester versus Ipswich

so it's at the King Power Are they going to be going out

to, is there anything they've got to prove? I suppose it's just proving as players that

they're worthy to play in the Premier League and I hope someone else picks them up. I don't know. What do you think? Yeah, I think they've still got things to play for. I think Jamie Vardy's the story

you know, his last game at home for Leicester. 199 goals, which is absolutely unbelievable

He's been, you know, he's been the talisman for the football club for so many years. And

And you just know with Jamie Vardy, you wouldn't put it past him scoring his 200th goal

I just think it would be fitted. It would be right. But I can't see anything between the two teams

I'm going to go Leicester 1, Ipswich 1. OK, I'm going to go Leicester 1, Ipswich 0

Listen, have we agreed on one today? We usually... No, I don't think we have

I don't think we have. I'm going to go Leicester 1, Ipswich 0

Final game then. Arsenal against Newcastle. What a game this is. And this is still, it's still important because Arsenal will be desperate, I would think, to finish second

They haven't been first at all throughout the whole season because, of course, Liverpool have won that, we know

But being knocked out of Europe, the last thing they want is anybody throwing the, you know, third in a two-horse race and all that stuff

But Newcastle are breathing down their neck. If Newcastle win this game at the Emirates, they will leapfrog Arsenal

They go into second. So Arsenal 68, Newcastle 66. It should be quite a ding-dong

Definitely. Neither. I think it's going to be a draw. I think Newcastle are in form

They are chasing down Arsenal. Arsenal will be desperate not to get beaten

That has to be the priority. Arteta will want them finishing second. They'll want them winning the game, obviously

But I just think it's going to be a really, really tough Premier League encounter

are both teams going for it I'm going to go 2-0 Arsenal 2

not Newcastle 2 I'm with you we actually agree on the last one I was going to say the same

I think 2-2 is out I think there's going to be goals and I think it will be a good game

and I think that would just keep Arsenal ahead with one game to go Clive

we've got a big week ahead of us so if we can have a chat

when we're in Bilbao and then we'll do a preview of that in the week definitely

fingers crossed fingers crossed Thank you, have a good weekend Thank you, cheers Paul