Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 15

SATURDAY:

ASTON VILLA V ARSENAL

Villa showed character to come from behind to win at Brighton during the week and it was good to see Ollie Watkins back on the scoresheet following his recent drought.

A win for them here could put them in the title race as they're only six points behind Arsenal and are also one of the in-form teams in the league.

Arsenal made changes against Brentford during the week and it was the right decision to do so as we're approaching the busiest stage of the season and Arteta wanted to protect his main assets.

The Gunners could be without Declan Rice for this game after he went off with a suspected calf injury against Brentford which they'll be hoping isn't serious.

They have adapted without certain key players this season due to their strong squad depth and it'll be interesting to see how they cope without Rice.

Villa did stop Arsenal winning the league a couple of seasons ago when they beat them at the Emirates and will back themselves to do the same in this one because of the from they're in at the moment.

They'll definitely rattle the Gunners like Sunderland and Chelsea, but I think Arsenal will have enough character in their side to hold on for at least a draw.

PREDICTION: 2-2

BOURNEMOUTH V CHELSEA

Bournemouth are in a sticky patch at the moment following four defeats from their last five games which have seen them slip down to 14th.

But I don't think they should be concerned just yet as all teams go through a rough patch during a season and they have in all fairness had a number of players out injured during this run.

Just as people started talking about Chelsea being title contenders, they go on and lose to a struggling Leeds side.

That defeat surely proves that they're not title contenders because they're not consistent enough and they lack experienced players and leaders on the pitch.

Enzo Maresca's side remind me a bit of Liverpool during their early days under Jurgen Klopp in that they appear to have a better record against the so-called bigger teams than they do against lesser opposition.

Bournemouth are another one of those lesser teams but as they're not in great form at the moment, I'm backing the blues to bounce back here.

PREDICTION: 1-2

EVERTON V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

There is a better mood around Everton these days and it's all down to David Moyes because he has transformed the club ever since he returned.

The Toffees have been a team battling relegation for the last few seasons and Moyes this season has kept them more than a good distance away from the bottom three.

In this game he'll be up against the he succeeded in Sean Dyche who returns to Everton for the first time since the club sacked him nearly a year ago.

I don't think Dyche has a point to prove ahead of his return to his former club because he did all he could there with the limited resources at his disposal.

Him getting the sack last season was down to the new Everton owners wanting to move on from battling relegation to pushing competing higher up the league.

I can see this being a close game as both teams will be competitive and very difficult to break down because of the kind of manager both teams have.

But I think Everton will just edge it because of them being at home and the record they've had at home since moving to their new stadium.

PREDICTION: 1-0

MAN CITY V SUNDERLAND

Man City may be second in the league heading into this game, but they're not serious title contenders and that is because there is still a vulnerability about them defensively.

Their defensive holes were exposed in each of their last two games against Leeds and Fulham conceding six goals across both games.

They've got plenty of firepower in attack and especially with a striker like Erling Haaland up top but when you look at them defensively, they do not look like a side who are capable of challenging for the title.

Sunderland were unlucky not to beat Liverpool during the week and their performance in that game will give them plenty of encouragement heading into this one.

Regis Le Bris' side have proven that they're a match for anyone on their day and they showed that especially against Arsenal last month.

They'll definitely look to make it a difficult game for City and will believe that they an hurt them knowing their vulnerabilities defensively.

But I think City will have the quality to win the game by finding a way to win it.

PREDICTION: 3-2

NEWCASTLE V BURNLEY

Newcastle were fortunate to come away with a point against Spurs during the week as the penalty they were awarded should never have been given as it looked soft.

But they will feel disappointed that they weren't able to see the game out after scoring what seemed to be the winner just a few minutes from the end.

Consistency continues to be a problem for the Magpies following that draw and it's an issue Eddie Howe needs to address.

Burnley come into this game off the back of five straight defeats and another loss for them here could put the pressure on Scott Parker.

They have been in a lot of their games this season but haven't been able to get the results some of their performances have deserved.

They'll look to contain Newcastle in this one knowing the attacking threat they pose and the fact they're a front footed team.

But I still think Newcastle will win this one fairly comfortably and especially with the home crowd on their side.

PREDICTION: 3-0

TOTTENHAM V BRENTFORD

Spurs boss Thomas Frank will face off against his former club for the first time since he left them in the summer and I'm hoping that the away fans will give him a good reception because of the memories he gave them for so many years.

His successor at Brentford in Keith Andrews has carried on the good work Frank did ever since he replaced him and he deserves a lot of credit for the job he's done so far.

Both teams have poor home and away record respectively with Spurs winning just once at home and Brentford winning just once away all season.

But with Spurs in the worse form overall, I'm going to give Brentford a rare win away from home.

PREDICTION: 1-2

LEEDS V LIVERPOOL

Leeds got a much needed win against Chelsea during the week where they were excellent from start to finish.

Both the result and performance will give Daniel Farke's side a lot of confidence heading into this one and especially as they'll again be at home which is where their best performances have come.

Liverpool were lucky to come away with a point against Sunderland during the week and I'm not sure if they're ever going to turn a corner.

Their performances this season have been far from convincing and I don't think Arne Slot knows his best team as a lot of people have said recently.

I can see Leeds go for it here knowing that Liverpool have a vulnerability about them defensively and they have players who can hurt them.

Because of this I can see them carry their performance from the Chelsea game into this one.

PREDICTION: 3-1

SUNDAY:

BRIGHTON V WEST HAM

Brighton have a good record against West Ham as they've won 7 and lost just one of their 16 league games against them.

This good record will certainly give them confidence heading into this game as they'll believe that they can get another good result against the Hammers.

But they'll need to see the game out better if they're to win the game after throwing away a two-lead against Villa in midweek.

West Ham got a deserved draw against Man United last night but it wasn't enough to take them out of the bottom three.

They have improved since Nuno took over in that they're tighter at the back and more workmanlike than they were earlier in the season under Graham Potter.

But because of the poor record they have in this fixture and Brighton's decent home record, I think the Seagulls ill deal the Hammers another set back.

PREDICTION: 2-1

FULHAM V CRYSTAL PALACE

Fulham really went for it during the closing stages against Man City and they deserve credit for getting themselves back in the game.

They've been a resilient side ever since they've been in the Premier League and they showed it once again against City during the week.

Palace have a tough run of games coming up in all competitions and they all come within a space of just a few days.

Their squad depth will definitely be tested over the next few weeks as three of those games will be midweek fixtures including two Europe Conference League games.

Fulham have fared better at home than they have away this season and because of this I can see them getting a point here.

Palace may arguably be in the better form and the favourites to win this game, but as they've struggled in games after playing during the week and Fulham being a resilient side, I can see the points being shared here.

PREDICTION: 1-1

MONDAY:

WOLVES V MAN UNITED

Wolves had their moments against Forest during the week like they did against Villa last weekend. But it was the same outcome in no goals and another defeat.

Rob Edwards' side are still without a win and on two points for the season and I'm starting to think that they could be worse than the Derby side got got 11 points in the 2007-08 season as I don't see where they're they're going to get this first win from.

They can't score goals and they can't keep clean sheets and the longer that wait for a first win goes on, they could well break that record set by Derby.

A lot of people were saying that Man United were turning a corner around this time last month following the five game unbeaten run they were on.

They were far from their best against West Ham last night and I'm not sure what their best is because it's been a long time since they put in a convincing performance.

That five-game unbeaten run was very much papering over the cracks as they're still a long way off challenging for titles and still a very inconsistent team.

They should win this game because they're a better team than Wolves on paper and Wolves are a side seriously low on confidence.

They might not play well, but they should still have enough quality to get the job done.

PREDICTION: 0-2