Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 16

SATURDAY:

CHELSEA V EVERTON

Chelsea were being talked about as potential title contenders a few weeks ago and I even asked if they could be Arsenal's closest challengers after giving them a good game two weekends ago.

But since that draw against Arsenal their form has dipped as they haven't won any of their last three games since including their defeat at Atalanta in midweek.

I had a feeling that this would happen to them at some point because the inconsistencies they've shown in the past and the fact that they're a young side.

Their inconsistency has come back to bite them once again with their recent run of results which prove that they're not ready to challenge for the title.

Everton will definitely make it difficult for them in this one as they're a competitive and well-drilled side defensively under David Moyes, who has done a remarkable job since returning nearly a year ago.

The Toffees are in some decent form at the moment following four wins from their last six games which have lifted them up to seventh in the table.

I don't see them winning this game because of their lack of a clinical striker up top, but I do think they'll come away with a result because of the blip Chelsea are in the middle of.

PREDICTION: 1-1

LIVERPOOL V BRIGHTON

There are two questions to be asked heading into this game and they both surround Mohamed Salah: 1. Will he be in the squad after being left out following his controversial interview last weekend and 2. Will this be his last game for Liverpool.

That interview he gave in my opinion was arrogant and selfish as he was talking about himself instead of his team which to me sounds like his ego talking.

It'll be interesting to see if he is brought back into the team for this game which could well be his final one for the club as well as his final game before he heads off to AFCON with Egypt.

Brighton have only won once at Anfield in the Premier League back in 2021 where there were no fans and although their record away from home this season isn't great, they might fancy themselves to win this game because of Liverpool not being in the best of form.

The Seagulls have taken points off Man City, Chelsea and Spurs this season and I fancy to take points off another so-called big team in this one.

I don't think they'll win because of their poor away record and Anfield being such a difficult place to go to, but I do think they'll get a draw.

Liverpool have drawn their last two league games against Sunderland and Leeds respectively and I think they'll do enough to earn a point here.

PREDICTION: 2-2

BURNLEY V FULHAM

Burnley are in a spot of bother at the moment following six straight defeats but they did look competitive in some of those games including their last one against Newcastle.

Goals have been their biggest problem this season just as I thought it would because they don't have a clinical enough striker to score goals at this level.

Fulham have shown a lot of fight in their games but haven't quite been able to match their performances with the results.

They've won just once on the road all season with that sole victory coming in their last away game against Spurs.

Burnley have been a competitive side when they've played at home this season and because of this I'm backing them to end their losing run and nick a draw.

PREDICTION: 1-1

ARSENAL V WOLVES

A number of people thought Arsenal were bottling the league again after their defeat at Villa which I thought was over the top because they're still top of the league and the defeat was the first in three months.

They put in the right response against Club Brugge in midweek with Noni Madueke in particular impressing and stepping up in the absence of Bukayo Saka.

This game should be a straight forward win for the Gunners not just because of the gap and difference in quality between the two sides, but because of Wolves being a side seriously low on confidence.

Rob Edwards' side were all over the place against Man United on Monday and I just can't see where they're going to get this first win from.

If their barren run continues they could potentially break Derby's lowest points tally record from the 2007/08 season and I asked that question in my key points of the weekend post.

I mentioned earlier that this should be a straightforward win for Arsenal and I think it will.

PREDICTION: 4-0

SUNDAY:

CRYSTAL PALACE V MAN CITY

This game will be a rematch of last season's FA Cup final which Palace of course went on to win and deservedly so.

Repeating that result in this game will be a tough ask for Palace because they come into this game off the back of playing in Europe and they're yet to win a game after playing in Europe.

They've struggled to manage the Thursday-Sunday schedule due to a lack of squad depth and they'll need to address it in January if they're to compete on both fronts and keep up the promising season they're having.

Man City responded well to going behind against Real Madrid in midweek and did well to close the game out after the pressure was put on them during the closing stages.

They still have questions over them defensively despite them looking better in that department in their last two games against Sunderland and Real Madrid.

Palace will definitely cause them problems as they have the players to do so and I can see them put in a good shift here.

But I do see them tiring as the game progresses and I think City will take advantage of that. But I don't see City coming away with the win as I think the Eagles will do enough to earn a draw.

PREDICTION: 2-2

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V TOTTENHAM

Forest were well beaten by Everton last weekend which was arguably their worst result and performance since Sean Dyche took over.

He'll demand a response from his team in this one but it won't be easy as they come into this game off the back of playing in Europe and may feel a bit tired as a result of it.

Spurs also played in Europe during the week but they know the European schedule better having played in European competition for many years.

They got two much needed wins this week against Brentford and Slavia Prague which will have eased the pressure on Thomas Frank and given them some much needed confidence.

I can see them carry that confidence into this game as I'm backing them to come away with the win here.

PREDICTION: 0-2

SUNDERLAND V NEWCASTLE

Both teams and sets of supporters have been waiting for this day to come for a long time. The first Tyne Wear Derby in the Premier League for nearly ten years.

Sunderland had a very good record in this fixture prior to Newcastle's relegation in 2016 as they won 7 of their previous 8 Premier League games against the Magpies with all seven wins coming back-to-back.

Regis Le Bris' side will more than fancy their chances of keeping up that record in this one because of the record they have at home and the way they've taken the game to the opposition in a lot of their games this season.

Newcastle will have been disappointed not to have come away with the win against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek as they had a number of good chances on the night.

They did show character to come from behind and go ahead but they'll be disappointed not to take the chances they had when they were ahead.

The Magpies may feel a bit fatigued coming into this game after playing in Europe during the week and they also have a poor record away from home, despite winning their last game on the road against Everton two weekends ago.

Because of this and Sunderland's incredible home form, I'm backing the Black Cats to emerge victorious.

PREDICTION: 2-1

WEST HAM V ASTON VILLA

West Ham have been an improved side in recent weeks under Nuno Espirito Santo in that their performances are much better than what they were earlier in the season.

But they need to start turning these good performances into wins because they're in the bottom three and when you're in the bottom three, you need to start winning games of football.

Villa are on fire at the moment and after beating Arsenal last weekend to move within two points of them, people are asking if they're title contenders.

Their fans will certainly believe that they can be and rightly so because they have the right to dream and get carried away.

But Unai Emery and his players won't be thinking about them being title contenders as they'll be taking one game at a time and keeping both feet on the ground.

They're the form team in the league right now and I can see them keep up that run of form with another win in this one.

But I do think West Ham will give them a tough games because of how organised they've become under Nuno.

PREDICTION: 1-2

BRENTFORD V LEEDS

Brentford have again been strong at home this season just like they have been ever since they've been in the Premier League.

Leeds on the other hand don't have the best of away records with their only win on the road coming away at Wolves back in September.

They did however give Man City a good game the last time they played on the road before beating Chelsea and showing incredible resilience to come from behind and nick a draw against Liverpool.

Their performances in those games will definitely give them confidence heading into this game as they'll believe that they can get a result against anyone on their day.

But because of Brentford having such a good home record, I've got to back them here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

MONDAY:

MAN UNITED V BOURNEMOUTH

Man United beat Wolves rather convincingly on Monday night but will they follow it up with another win here.

Consistency has been one of United's main problems this season and especially recently with the indifferent results they've had.

Bournemouth have won this fixture 3-0 in each of the last two seasons and they could certainly do with another result like that in this one as they're without a win in their last six games.

Injuries have definitely played a part in their downturn in form and Andoni Iraola needs to get those players back so his side can start climbing the table again.

Because of United's inconsistency, I'm going to back Bournemouth to return to winning ways and end their terrible run of form to record yet another win at Old Trafford.

PREDICTION: 1-2