Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 30

TUESDAY:

ARSENAL V FULHAM

Arsenal welcomed Bukayo Saka back to first team training last week which is of course a massive boost for them. But he won't be back on the pitch in this one with his scheduled return being next week.

The Gunners picked up a crucial win before the international break against Chelsea with makeshift centre forward Mikel Merino again stepping up with the goal.

He hasn't done too badly in that position despite it not being his preferred one as he's scored 4 times when playing up there. But Arsenal still should've brought in a centre forward in January.

Fulham should be disappointed with their FA Cup exit at the hands of Crystal Palace on Saturday and they'll surely see it as an opportunity missed.

Their attention will now turn to the league and securing a European spot for next season and that spot could well be a Champions League spot as they're only four points off the top four.

Marco Silva's side have competed well when taking on the big teams this season and I can see them give Arsenal another good game in this one.

They do arguably have more goals in their team than Arsenal do, but I think they'll fall short of victory again as I can see the Gunners find a way to nick a draw.

PREDICTION: 1-1

WOLVES V WEST HAM

Wolves are doing better than a lot of people thought they would without Matheus Cunha in their side as they've collected four points from the two games they've had without him.

Jorgen Strand Larsen showed that he can fill his boots with his double against Southampton before the international break, but he'll need another good performance in this one and the next one to fully show that he can step up in Cunha's absence.

West Ham come into this game just a place above Wolves in the table but with a comfortable eight point margin over their opponents.

The Hammers are yet to get going under Graham Potter which is understandable as the players are adjusting to his style of play, and Potter is still trying to work out what his best team is.

I think this game could be a close one but I'm not sure who will be the side that take the points. I think I'll sit on the fence and go for a draw.

PREDICTION: 1-1

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V MAN UNITED

Nottingham Forest will be without their two main men for this one in Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood who are both injured.

Wood was a miss for them in their FA Cup game against Brighton on Saturday as they lacked that focal point up top and player to get on the end of crosses.

Gibbs-White is arguably a bigger miss as he's the player makes everything tick for Forest and I can see his influence on the pitch being missed here.

Man United do have the Europa League to play for but in terms of the league, their priority should be a strong end to the season as they have nothing else to play for.

Unlike Forest, Ruben Amorim's side will have their most influential player on the pitch available in Bruno Fernandes and his influence could be the difference for them here.

But I don't see it turning out that way as United have struggled to score goals all season, and they're up against a Forest side who have had a strong defence all season.

Because of this and Forest missing their two best players in Gibbs-White and Wood, I think this one will be a draw.

PREDICTION: 1-1

WEDNESDAY:

BOURNEMOUTH V IPSWICH

Bournemouth's league form has dried up recently following just one win from their last five league games.

Going out of the FA Cup could benefit them as they can put their sole focus on getting themselves back in the mix for European football without that distraction.

Ipswich are the only side yet to win in the Premier League since the turn of the year and I don't know where the next one is coming from.

It's looking very bleak for Kieran McKenna's side and when I look at the fixtures they have coming up, I don't see them getting many more points.

They have fared better on the road than they have at home this season, but I think Bournemouth will be the side that claim the points to secure a return to winning ways.

PREDICTION: 2-1

BRIGHTON V ASTON VILLA

Brighton were disappointing against Forest in the FA Cup on Saturday in a game where I expected them to give it more of a go.

Aston Villa put in a professional performance to beat Preston in their FA Cup tie on Sunday and them completing that tie in 90 minutes could give them the advantage here as Brighton saw their tie go to penalties.

But Unai Emery's side have struggled away from home this season whereas Brighton have been pretty strong at home.

Because of this and the form Brighton have been in recently, I'm backing the Seagulls here to take the points.

PREDICTION: 3-1

MAN CITY V LEICESTER

Man City showed their quality in the second half against Bournemouth with the substitution of Nico O'Reilly making a big difference.

They did however lose Erling Haaland to an injury and it looks like he could be out for a few weeks after leaving the stadium with a foot cast on.

Haaland's injury will give Omar Marmoush the opportunity to lead City's attack and he'll definitely want to show that he can step up in Haaland's absence.

It's been 10 years since Leicester's great escape under Nigel Pearson and it started around this stage of the season.

Any chance of them pulling off another one looks ice thin as their confidence is pretty much rock bottom following six straight defeats.

I've said for a while that they're good as gone and so have a number of other people. I can only see another defeat for them here to send them closer to the Championship, and a heavy one too.

PREDICTION: 5-0

NEWCASTLE V BRENTFORD

Newcastle have been celebrating for the last two weeks and they now have to switch from party mode to competitive mode.

Some teams see their form tail off after winning a trophy mid-season and I fear that may happen with Newcastle as they're not used to winning things.

Brentford have been in incredible form away from home since the turn of the year as they've won every game on their travels since.

I can see their good away form continuing here as I think Newcastle may be a bit hungover from their Carabao Cup celebrations.

PREDICTION: 1-3

SOUTHAMPTON V CRYSTAL PALACE

It's only a matter of time till Southampton's relegation is confirmed and with their relegation being inevitable, they should at least focus on getting more points than Derby did in the 2007-08 season.

Crystal Palace were very good against Fulham in the FA Cup on Saturday and it was good to see Jean-Philippe Mateta back on the pitch following his ear injury.

The Eagles ended last season very strongly to finish in the top 10 and they appear to be on a similar path this season with both the form they've been in recently and since the turn of the year.

They come into this game off the back of four straight wins in all competitions and I can see them making if five in this one.

PREDICTION: 0-3

LIVERPOOL V EVERTON

Liverpool looked surprisingly off it in the Carabao Cup final and the fallout from it from the majority of football fans has been over the top.

Losing that final and going out of the Champions League a few days before the former will feel like a missed opportunity as they were arguably the favourites to win both.

But they're still on course to win the Premier League and are having a better season than most people expected them to. They've in some ways overperformed.

Everton nicked a late draw in the reverse fixture back in February in what was the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park.

I don't see that happening here though because both they and David Moyes have a terrible record at Anfield. The Toffees haven't picked up anything at Anfield since their win in 2021.

Liverpool have had the last two weeks to get the cup final defeat out of their system and their mindset will be fully focused on winning the title.

Everton won't make it easy for them as they're tough to beat. but the reds should still have enough quality to win this game.

PREDICTION: 2-0

THURSDAY:

CHELSEA V TOTTENHAM

Chelsea should have Cole Palmer back for this one after missing their defeat to Arsenal and both of England's World Cup qualifiers due to illness.

His time on the side-lines could be what he needed as he was in a rough patch of form, and his spell out of the team could've given him the break he needed to help him recapture his best form.

The blues have fared better at home than they have away since the turn of the year and it's what's keeping them in the top four race.

Spurs blew a two-goal lead in the reverse fixture back in December and their record in this fixture alone is just terrible. They've won just once at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era.

Their recent record against Chelsea in general is also poor as they've won just one of their last 12 games against them.

I don't see that changing here because of their poor record in this fixture and Chelsea being in good form at home.

PREDICTION: 3-1