3 bold Premier League predictions: Aston Villa win at Bournemouth and more

1. Jack Grealish scores as Aston Villa win at Bournemouth

Another crucial relegation battle takes place at The Vitality Stadium this weekend when Bournemouth host Aston Villa in what should be a tense affair. Villa have started 2020 well and got an extra shot in the arm in midweek when they overcame Leicester to reach the League Cup final.

The Villans netted a late goal to win 2-1 and set up a final with Manchester City on March 1st. Dean Smith’s side were impressive on Tuesday night and will need to be just as good this weekend when they travel south to face fellow strugglers, Bournemouth.

The Cherries had lost four in a row in the league before their win over Brighton on the last matchday. Now Eddie Howe will look to build on this as he hopes to steer his club away from the drop zone.

Howe is the league’s longest serving manager and it’s clear that the club trust him even though their recent form hasn’t been good enough for survival. That kind of backing should give the English manager confidence though and if he can bring that to his players then they can definitely turn it around.

A win for Bournemouth here would see them leapfrog their opponents and potentially escape the relegation zone for a week if results go their way. Aston Villa are a team full of confidence though and they’ll be difficult to overcome, especially considering the form of Jack Grealish.

Grealish has been brilliant for Dean Smith’s side this season and not just as a talented playmaker and goalscorer but also as a captain. Although his position is attack-focused, Grealish leads the whole team very well and brings belief to the rest of the squad with his undeniable talent.

That talent will shine again this weekend as Grealish finds the net himself and sets up another goal in a 2-1 victory for the Birmingham side.