Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 23

SATURDAY:

WEST HAM V SUNDERLAND

West Ham picked up a much needed win against Spurs last weekend which was their best performance in a long time.

Nuno will want his side to repeat that performance on a more consistent basis so they can get themselves out of the relegation zone and up the table.

They definitely need to start repeating it at home because their home form this season season has been poor and very poor.

Sunderland blew the Hammers away on the opening day of the season and it set the tone for both teams' seasons.

I rarely back Sunderland on the road because I'm more likely to back them at home due to how strong they've been at the Stadium Light this season.

But I'm backing them to win this one because of West Ham's poor home form and I can see them put in a similar kind of performance they put in against the Hammers on the opening day of the season.

PREDICTION: 0-2

BURNLEY V TOTTENHAM

Burnley got a deserved point at Liverpool last weekend by showing fight and resilience to stay in the game and keep the reds at bay.

Scott Parker's side have showed fight in a lot of their games this season and especially at home but haven't always got the results their performances have necessarily deserved.

Spurs put in a much improved performance against Dortmund in midweek but only for one half and there will still be questions over Thomas Frank's position heading into this one.

The result was definitely one he needed because of the amount of pressure that was on him and he'll need to side to follow it up with another one here.

But I don't see that happening because I think Burnley will make it difficult for them and do enough to earn a point.

Especially as they're at home where they usually make it difficult for teams.

PREDICTION: 1-1

FULHAM V BRIGHTON

Fulham saw their good run of form come to an end last weekend following their defeat at Leeds and Marco Silva will want his side to bounce back here and especially as they're at home.

The Cottagers have been strong at home this season like they have been in recent campaigns whereas Brighton haven't been as good away.

Fabian Hurzeler's side have won just twice on the road all season including their last visit to South London when they beat Chelsea back in September, and have been a team who create a lot of chances but don't always take them.

I can see that being the case here and with Fulham being strong at home, I think the Cottagers will come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-1

MAN CITY V WOLVES

Man City have had a far from ideal start to 2026 as they haven't won any of their four league games since the turn of the year.

They were cut open by Bodo/Glimt in midweek where they were badly let down by defensive errors with two of the goals they conceded coming from defensive mistakes.

I know they're missing key players in their defence and are having to play inexperienced players there as a result of it, but they can't afford to make mistakes like the ones they made in midweek.

Wolves had a miserable end to 2025 but have made a steady start to 2026 by winning 2 and drawing 3 of their 5 games in all competition since the turn of the year.

They're showing more fight than they did about a month ago and it's probably because they know that they're going down and will want to go down with a fight.

I think they'll show some of that fight in this game as Rob Edwards will want his side to keep up the decent performances they've put in.

But I think City will find a way to win the game because of the quality they possess and I'm backing Erling Haaland to return to the scoresheet.

PREDICTION: 2-0

BOURNEMOUTH V LIVERPOOL

Bournemouth gave the reds a good game on the opening day of the season and were unlucky not to come away with a point.

I'm not sure they'll repeat that performance in this one though because the man who got both their goals and inspired their brief comeback that day in Antoine Semenyo is no longer at the club.

They still have other players who cap step up in Semenyo's absence and cause Liverpool problems, but they're not as influential as Semenyo was.

Liverpool looked very good in their win over Marseille in midweek with their performance being much improved from the recent ones they've put in.

Despite being unbeaten in 12 games, the reds' recent league performances have been far from convincing and must improve if they're to win more games and finish in the top four.

I can see them come out on top here and repeat their performance from midweek as they'll have a lot of confidence on board as a result of it.

PREDICTION: 0-2

SUNDAY:

BRENTFORD V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Brentford were outplayed by Forest when they lost 3-1 to them during the opening weekend of the season and how the tables have turned since.

The Bees are now 7th and just three points off the top four whereas Forest are now 17th and have changed manager twice.

Nuno was in charge when Forest convincingly won the reverse fixture which was his final win in charge before being sacked just a few weeks later not long after he spoke about his relationship with owner Angelos Marinakis.

I can see Brentford do what Forest did to them in the reverse fixture and especially as they're at home where their record has once again been incredible this season.

I'm also bagging Igor Thiago to bag one or two more goals given the form he's in at the moment.

PREDICTION: 3-1

CRYSTAL PALACE V CHELSEA

Palace are in a rut at the moment following no wins from their last seven league games and it appears that their season is falling apart.

Marc Guehi has gone to Man City, Olivier Glasner spoke out against the club hierarchy following his side's defeat at Sunderland by saying that him and his team feel 'abandoned', and now star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta wants to leave.

There was a lot of optimism around the place only a few months ago and how things have changed since those early months of the season.

Chelsea results wise have made a good start under Liam Rosenior after winning three of his opening four games since taking over from Enzo Maresca.

But their performances haven't been perfect including their game in midweek against Pafos where they just got over the line.

Palace will be glad that they had no European commitments in midweek which will have given them plenty of time to prepare for this game and their stretched squad a rest.

They might be on a miserable run of form, but with Chelsea not being exactly convincing at the moment, I think the Eagles could nick a point here and start to rebuild some confidence.

PREDICTION: 1-1

NEWCASTLE V ASTON VILLA

Newcastle were excellent against PSV in midweek but lost captain Bruno Guimaraes to injury which is one massive blow because of how influential and important he is for them.

Villa are also missing key players including John McGinn after he limped off against Everton last weekend and like Guimaraes for Newcastle, he's going to be a massive miss for them.

Both teams will score as they both have players in their respective side's who can score goals.

But as they're both missing a player who makes such a difference to them, I think the points will be shared here.

PREDICTION: 1-1

ARSENAL V MAN UNITED

Arsenal will have been disappointed that they weren't able to capitalise on Man City's defeat in the Manchester Derby last weekend after drawing at Forest which might come back to bite them later in the season.

But they'll be glad that Villa didn't beat Everton to capitalise on their draw at Forest and close the gap at the top of the league.

Both City and Villa could put the pressure on them with City playing on Saturday and Villa playing a couple of hours earlier.

Man United were very good in their win over City in the Manchester Derby in Michael Carrick's first game in charge and it was arguably their best performance in a long time.

Both the performance and the result will give them a lot of confidence heading into this game but they will be expecting a much tougher game because Arsenal won't be as open as City were.

I think they'll make it a close game as they have players in their attack who are dangerous.

But I think Arsenal will have enough to win the game and see the re3sult over the line.

PREDICTION: 2-1

MONDAY:

EVERTON V LEEDS

Everton are still without a number of players through injury including Jack Grealish after he went off with a knock against Villa last weekend.

But they do have a striker in form in Thierno Barry who now has 3 goals in his last 4 games following a tough start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He took his goal very well against Villa and if he can keep up the good form he's in, he could prove his doubters wrong as I'm sure he had some during his first few months at the club.

Leeds also have a striker in good form in Dominic Calvert-Lewin who returns to Everton for the first time since leaving the club in the summer and with a point to prove.

His time at Everton was disrupted by injuries which prevented him from getting a regular run in the team and he'll want to prove that they should've given him a chance to prove his fitness.

The Toffees have not been in good form of late at home after a promising start at their new stadium whereas Leeds have not been as strong away as they have been at home.

Both teams will will be competitive here, but I don't see a winner from either team.

PREDICTION: 1-1