Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 20

SATURDAY:

ASTON VILLA V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Villa saw their 11-game winning streak come to a crashing end against Arsenal on Tuesday and they’ll be looking to bounce back in this one.

They were in the game in the first half and had some good chances to go ahead which they weren’t able to take and were later punished for.

Forest were in a similar position to where Villa are now at this stage of last season but weren’t really talked about as title contenders like Villa have been recently.

This season they find themselves battling relegation and the main reason why is because they haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal.

Chris Wood has been a massive miss as they’ve missed that focal point and finisher up top and they’ll be glad that he’s close to returning from injury.

Both teams will be looking to bounce back after losing in midweek, but I’m backing Villa to be the team that does because they’re at home and in better form.

PREDICTION: 3-0

BRIGHTON V BURNLEY

Brighton didn’t win at all during December and will want to put that run behind them and kick off the new year with a win.

They’re still unbeaten at home this season and their record at home will certainly give them confidence heading into this game.

Burnley had some good chances against Newcastle in midweek which they weren’t able to take as has often been the case for them all season.

They’ve put in a lot of competitive performances as I have said for most of the season but haven’t been able to turn them into results.

Both teams could do with a win here with the form they’re in and with Brighton having a decent record at home, I’m backing them to be the side that comes out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

WOLVES V WEST HAM

Wolves beat West Ham in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season just to remind everyone that Wolves have actually won a game this season.

They got a deserved point against Man United in midweek which was their first point since Rob Edwards took over and now he’ll want to get that first win so he can instil some much needed confidence into his players.

West Ham just can’t hold onto leads after letting another one slip against Brighton on Tuesday not just once, but twice.

They’ve dropped more point from winning positions than any other team this season and they’ll need to stamp it out if they’re to stay up.

Both teams definitely need a win with the form they’re both in and this game represents their best chance of getting some much needed points on board.

With Wolves still low on confidence, I’ve got to back West Ham here because they have a bit more in quality.

PREDICITION: 0-2

BOURNEMOUTH V ARSENAL

Bournemouth looked back to their old selves against Chelsea on Tuesday where they showed resilience to stay in the game and nick a draw.

My guess is that Antoine Semenyo won’t play in this game as the Chelsea game might’ve been his final game for the club judging by the scenes we saw at full time.

He also might’ve signed for or may be close to joining Man City by the time this game comes around.

Arsenal were brilliant against Villa in midweek and I’d like to see them play like that more as they have got a bit of stick for not being positive enough.

Having Saliba and Gabriel back made a massive difference as they gave the team the defensive security they usually give when they play together.

The Gunners will expect a tough game here as Bournemouth will look to start on the front foot and play with a lot of energy as they did against Chelsea.

But I still think they’ll find a way to win the game as they have done a lot of times this season.

PREDICTION: 0-2

SUNDAY:

LEEDS V MAN UNITED

Leeds come into this game on a six game unbeaten run during which they’ve been tough to beat and more clinical.

Daniel Farke deserves a lot of credit for turning his team’s form around as it wasn’t that long ago where he was a man under pressure.

They were tough to beat against Liverpool in midweek as they forced them out wide and limited them to very few chances and I can see them do something similar in this one.

Man United had arguably the worst calendar year in their history in 2025 and will no doubt be hoping for a more positive year in 2026.

I wonder what formation Ruben Amorim will pick for this game after going back to his favoured 3-4-3 against Wolves in midweek instead of sticking with the back four he played against Newcastle.

Whatever formation he picks, I don’t see it making any difference as I’m backing Leeds to come out on top here by being tough to beat, like they were against Liverpool, and hitting United on the counter as United do not look great defensively.

PREDICTION: 1-0

EVERTON V BRENTFORD

Everton could have Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall back for this one which would be massive plus for them as he has been a miss for them since he’s been out injured.

But James Garner did step up in his absence and especially against Forest where he put in an all-round good display as he ran all game and was involved with both goals.

Brentford’s away form this season as everyone knows has been poor, but they did win the last time they played on the road against Wolves.

But I don’t see them following it up with another away win in this one as Everton have been pretty strong at home this season and I can see them keep up their strong home record with another good result in this one.

PREDICTION: 2-0

FULHAM V LIVERPOOL

Fulham are usually competitive when they take on the so-called big teams and they even beat Liverpool in this fixture 3-1 last season.

They gave Man City a good game last month when they lost 5-4 to them and they even could’ve salvaged a point from that game.

Marco Silva’s side have been in good form recently and I can see them make it uncomfortable for Liverpool in this game.

Liverpool have definitely improved in recent weeks in that they’re not as easy to play against as they were earlier in the season.

But they were disappointing against Leeds in midweek as they were forced out wide and struggled to get in behind a stubborn Leeds defence.

I can see their old problems resurfacing in this one because Fulham are strong at home and I can see them cause the reds a number of problems and win the game.

PREDICTION: 2-1

NEWCASTLE V CRYSTAL PALACE

Both teams have had frustrating seasons so far with Newcastle arguably having the more frustrating season of the two.

The Magpies have been inconsistent all season as they’ve had one good result one week followed by a poor result the next.

Palace’s frustrations have come from the manager who hasn’t been happy with his squad due to it’s lack of depth which has been exposed in recent games.

But despite that, they’ve still had a pretty good season as they’re still in the top 10 which represents a very good season so far.

Their haven’t been many wins between these two sides in recent seasons and because of this and the recent form both sides have been in, I’m going for another draw.

PREDICTION: 0-0

TOTTENHAM V SUNDERLAND

Spurs will surely be looking to bring in a striker during the January transfer window if there is one player they’ve been crying out for this season, it’s a clinical centre forward.

They’ve been quite solid defensively compared to last season but going forward they haven’t been clinical enough because they haven’t had a striker to put the ball in the net.

Sunderland got a well deserved point against Man City last night by being tough to beat and getting in the way of everything City threw at them.

The Black Cats haven’t quite been as good away as they have been at home and they are missing a lot of players due to AFCON, but I can still see them giving Spurs a game here.

Spurs’ poor home form will certainly give them confidence of getting a result here and I think they will.

But I only see them getting a point as I do think Spurs will do enough to get a result.

PREDICTION: 1-1

MAN CITY V CHELSEA

This game is a must-win for Man City after dropping points against Sunderland in midweek which left them four points behind Arsenal.

They could be seven points behind Arsenal if they win their game against Bournemouth which will make this more of a must win game but if there is one team capable of responding to a title rival winning, it is Man City.

Chelsea saw Enzo Maresca depart during the week and his departure must’ve been down to his relationship with the club hierarchy.

He stated a few weeks back that he and the team weren’t supported and those words were no doubt directed at the board and suggested that he didn’t get certain players he wanted in the summer.

He did pretty good job during his time at Stamford Bridge by guiding them to a top four finish and winning the Conference League in his first season before winning the Club World Cup in the summer.

The fans may not have liked his style of play and the decisions he made during games, but he still did a decent enough job during his time at the club.

In terms of who will replace him, I have no idea who will come in because there aren’t many outstanding candidates for the job.

The blues weren’t in great form during Maresca’s final few weeks at the club and I can se that continuing in this one as I think City will come out on top and comfortably.

I can see them teach manager less Chelsea a lesson here by dominating the game from start to finish.

PREDICTION: 3-0