Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 26

SATURDAY:

MAN CITY V NEWCASTLE

It was more or less job done from Man City against Bristol City in midweek which was a win they had to work for as the Championship side made it difficult for them at times. But Pep will have still been happy to see his side get the job done and with the performance of Phil Foden who is looking back to his best.

They simply need to win this one to put the pressure on Arsenal who are now 5 points clear after their 4-0 win over Everton in midweek. They're playing first and as they're playing first they have the opportunity to remind Arsenal that they're not giving up on the title.

Newcastle have had a week to recover from their Carabao Cup final defeat and it will be interesting to see how they react in this one. The defeat will obviously hurt with it being in a cup final but at the same time they will feel that it's something to build on moving forward.

Their league form hasn't been great recently as they're winless in their last four games where they've scored just 3 goals. Some may argue that the pressure has got to them as they've never been in this position before but their recent games do suggest that the goals are drying up.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I think Man City will win this one but I don't think they'll be at their brilliant best. Newcastle will make it tough or them defensively because of how well organised they are but with the quality that City have in the final third, they should have enough to come away with the points here.

ARSENAL V BOURNEMOUTH

Arsenal have responded well since losing to Man City with 3 wins from their 3 games since. They would've capitulated in the past after a result like that and it was important that they responded with the results they've had since. Their character and mentality is very strong.

They were clinical in their win over Everton in midweek where their performances levels went up another level after scoring the first goal. They had to be patient but once that patience paid off they showed their class and quality.

Bournemouth were punished for some sloppy defensive errors against Man City last time out by trying to play out from the back when City were pressing them high. You can't afford to do that against those kind of teams and they're up against another one here in Arsenal.

The Cherries have the worst defence in the league this season which not many people have noticed. They have had trouble with defending from set pieces which is clearly evident but they have also had trouble with defending from open play. Their defeat to City showed that with the way they conceded the goals.

PREDICTION: 3-0

I'm going for an Arsenal win here because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. They're full of confidence with the recent results they've had and with the attacking quality they have, I can see them win this one reasonably comfortably.

ASTON VILLA V CRYSTAL PALACE

Aston Villa ended a run of three straight defeats with victory at Everton last weekend which moved them level with Chelsea in 10th. They probably won't be looking at the league table but a win here will them above Chelsea and into the top 10 which still remains their season objective like it was at the start of the season.

Ollie Watkins is without a doubt their man in form after scoring in each of his last five Premier League games. Danny Ings leaving for West Ham in January has possibly played a part in that as Watkins knows he's going to have more chances to impress and he's certainly taken those chances with the form he's in.

Crystal Palace could do with a striker in form as their main problem this season has been goals. They play some good football but they just don't have that no.9 to finish teams off. In all honesty it's been a while since they had that kind of player.

The Eagles are still searching for their first win of 2023 and they'll need to get it in this one as they have some tough games coming up. They're only six points above the relegation zone and could soon find themselves getting sucked into a dogfight if they don't get that first win of the year any time soon.

PREDICTION: 1-0

I'm backing Villa to win this game because I think they'll be more clinical in front of goal. With Watkins in good form and Palace looking anything but clinical in the final third, I can see Villa edge this one.

BRIGHTON V WEST HAM

Brighton have never lost to West Ham in the Premier League and they'll believe that they can get another win against them here. They go into every game believing that they can win and that mentality has been drilled into the players by the manager who has got them playing some excellent football since he's been in charge.

There were positives to take for West Ham from their FA Cup exit to Man United in midweek in terms of their first half performance and the chances they created. But they weren't clinical enough in the final third for which they'll be kicking themselves for.

The Hammers have won just once on the road all season with that win coming back in August against Aston Villa. They've collected just three points on the road since then and I'm not sure they'll add to that tally in this one.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I'm backing Brighton to win this one because they have a good record in this fixture and West Ham have been so poor away from home. Because of this I think the Seagulls will win this one and especially with the form they're in.

CHELSEA V LEEDS

I just don't know where Chelsea are getting their next win from. They never look like scoring goals whenever they enter the oppositions half and I can't see that changing any time soon. The board are still behind Graham Potter. But for how much longer?

They were dealt a major blow defensively during the week with Thiago Silva set to be out for six weeks with a knee injury. The experienced defender has arguably been Chelsea's best player this season and his leadership at the back will be sorely missed for sure.

Leeds did everything but score against Fulham in their FA Cup tie during the week as they had a number of chances but couldn't take them. The story of their season so far. Javi Gracia will have been encouraged by the performance but he needs his players to be more clinical in front of goal.

Their 3-0 win over Chelsea in the reverse fixture was arguably their best performance of the season and I thought back then they would be ok. But it clearly didn't turn out that way as they've won just 3 games since that brilliant result and have had to change manager.

PREDICTION: 0-1

I fancy Leeds to win here because I have a sneaky feeling that they might nick it. Both sides have struggled for goals this season but I think Leeds will be the more convincing the final third for this one.

WOLVES V TOTTENHAM

The last time Julen Lopetegui and Antonio Conte faced each other was the Europa League final in 2020 when Lopetegui was at Sevilla and Conte was at Inter Milan. I never saw both managers managing their respective clubs and they probably didn't expect to face other in the Premier League.

Lopetegui was arguably made a bigger impact at Wolves than Conte has at Spurs even though he's only been at Wolves for just three months. Wolves were rock bottom when Lopetegui arrived and since then he's got them out of the relegation zone and playing some good football.

Conte on the other hand hasn't really got the best out of this Spurs side. They were meant to kick on this season after a decent summer but their form right throughout the season has been inconsistent. They might be in the top four which is their main aim but it's still been a rather spursy season.

Their main focus has to be on securing a top four finish after going out of the FA Cup in midweek to Sheffield United which ended their chances of silverware this season. They are still in the Champions League for the time being but I don't see them winning that competition. If they don't get top four I can see Conte walk at the end of the season.

PREDICTION: 1-1

Wolves don't score many whilst Spurs tend to start games slowly before playing better towards the end of the game. Wolves are however a decent side defensively and I think they'll have enough in that department to hold on for a draw.

SOUTHAMPTON V LEICESTER

Southampton's sole focus will now be Premier League survival after going out of the FA Cup to Grimsby in midweek. The two penalty decisions were what did it for them that night and both were avoidable. Especially the second one where Caleta Car swung his arm at the Grimsby player.

I shouldn't be surprised that Southampton lost that game as their home form this season has been dreadful. Their home record is the worst in England's top four divisions and I don't see it changing between now and the end of the season.

Defensive mistakes were what cost Leicester in midweek against Blackburn where they were second best for most of the contest. They offer more of a threat towards the end of the game but overall they didn't do enough to get the result they wanted.

The Foxes could have James Maddison back for this one which would be a huge boost because of how important he's been for them this season. He's been their talisman this season and without him the Foxes look limp in attack and short on creativity in midfield.

PREDICTION: 0-3

It's been a while since I last predicted a Leicester win and it's about time I did so. I'm baking them to win this one because they could have James Maddison and Southampton have such a terrible home record. If Maddison plays they should win this one reasonably comfortably. But not as comfortably as the 9-0 they dished out on the saints in 2019.

SUNDAY:

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V EVERTON

Nottingham Forest have had some sticky results recently including their 4-0 drubbing at West Ham where they were simply not in the game. Their recent result will be seen more as a reality check as they were on a good run before those results and they need to get that momentum back if they're to pull clear of danger. They're not safe yet.

They'll be glad to be back at home for this one where they haven't lost since late-September. They've looked organised and tough to beat since then and it's played a huge role in their rise off the foot of the table. They'll need to keep it up for the rest of the season if they're to survive.

Everton are looking like a side who are heading for relegation and I'm starting to think that they could go down. They haven't scored enough goals and they never look like scoring goals whenever they step out onto the pitch. I don't see that changing at all.

Dominic Calvert Lewin has obviously been a miss but I don't see him making much of an impact when he returns as he hasn't played much football this season. They can't rely on him to be fit because they need results and quickly.

PREDICTION: 1-0

I'm going for a Forest win here because of the good record they have at home. Because of how strong they are at home and how poor Everton are away, they should edge this one.

LIVERPOOL V MAN UNITED

These two sides were so far apart from each other when they last met in August and now it appears that they've taken each others place. Man United were a team with many problems back then and now Liverpool are the team with many problems.

Liverpool have struggled for consistency for much of the season but they have put themselves back into the mix for the top four recently. Their win over Wolves in midweek moved them to within six points of 4th and all they need to do now is win their other game in hand and hope that other results go in their favour.

Erik Ten Hag earned his first win as United boss in the reverse fixture and the progress his side have made since then has been incredible. He's brought an identity back to the club and has got his players playing with a confidence and a smile of their face.

They looked like a side who celebrated their Carabao Cup win too much in the first half against West Ham in midweek as they looked sloppy in possession. But things did improve after half time as they moved the ball a lot quicker and were helped massively by the substitutions of Casemiro and Rashford.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm backing United to win this one because they're in better form and are looking a much better side than Liverpool are at the moment. They have struggled at Anfield in recent seasons but with the quality they have in their side and the form they've been in, they should come out on top here.

MONDAY:

BRENTFORD V FULHAM

Brentford have had a lot of time to prepare for this game having not played for a couple of weeks which could give them the advantage here. The players will feel refreshed and raring to go ahead of this one because of them not playing for a couple of weeks.

The Bees have been very strong at home this season where they've only lost once which was back in September to Arsenal. This will also give them an advantage alongside them having a couple of weeks to prepare for this game.

Fulham like Brentford have been one of the surprise stories this season with both sides pushing for a place Europe next season. Fulham being in this position is more surprising as they're a newly promoted team and Marco Silva has done one magnificent job since he's been in charge.

It was good to see Aleksandar Mitrovic back from injury in midweek against Leeds and he's come back at a good time. If Fulham are to finish in those European spots this season, they need to keep their talisman fit and in form because of how crucial he is to them.

PREDICTION: 2-1

Fulham have got the better of Brentford in recent times but I think the Bees will be the team that take the points here. They've got an excellent home record and will be the more energetic side having not played for a couple of weeks. Fulham did make a number of changes in midweek but Brentford will still feel the more re-energised team.