Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 31

SATURDAY:

EVERTON V ARSENAL

Everton have a good recent record in this fixture in winning four of their last six meetings against Arsenal at Goodison Park.

David Moyes said that the goal shouldn't have stood in his side's defeat in the Merseyside Derby in midweek and he's wrong. Diaz was in an offside position before the goal was scored, but the pass was intercepted by an Everton defender and when Diaz received the ball before setting up Jota, he was onside.

Arsenal welcomed back Bukayo Saka against Fulham in midweek which is a big boost and marking his return with a goal made it even better.

But they did lose Gabriel who is set to miss the rest of the season and his injury has left the Gunners short of options in central defence with White, Timber and Calafiori also out.

Everton will be competitive and tough to beat here just like they were against Liverpool in midweek. But unlike midweek, I think they'll get something here due to Arsenal lacking a recognised striker.

The Gunners will score as they have players who can chip in, but I think the Toffees will frustrate them here.

PREDICTION: 1-1

CRYSTAL PALACE V BRIGHTON

This fixture has ended in a 1-1 draw for the last five seasons and the neutrals will be hoping for something different this time round.

Crystal Palace are unbeaten in four games heading into this one and have won their last two at home against Aston Villa and Ipswich.

Brighton were well beaten by Aston Villa at the weekend to round off a week to forget for them after going out of the FA Cup at the weekend.

Their fans booed their team at full time of their game against Villa which I found very surprising as they're having a pretty good season. They were comfortably beaten, but their fans still had no need to boo their team off the pitch.

Both teams will definitely go for it here as they're both front footed teams with some exciting attacking players in their squads.

But I think both teams will cancel each other out here and play out another draw like they have done the last few seasons.

PREDICTION: 1-1

IPSWICH V WOLVES

Ipswich picked up a much needed win against Bournemouth in midweek which reduced the gap between themselves to nine points. Another win for them here could bring the relegation battle back to life.

It could also lead to Wolves potentially looking over their shoulders as it will reduced the gap between the two sides to six points.

But I don't see that happening as I think Wolves will increase the distance between the two sides further with another win in this one.

Ipswich will make a good go of it like they have done in a lot of games this season, but Wolves should have just enough to win the game.

PREDICTION: 1-2

WEST HAM V BOURNEMOUTH

West Ham haven't got going results wise under Graham Potter but they have shown a few encouraging signs in some of the games they've had under him.

Consistency has been one of their main issues this season alongside their goal scoring problems and they'll both need to be addressed heading into next season.

Bournemouth are in a sticky patch of form at the moment but they're still in contention for European football next season.

They were one of the in-form teams in the league not that long ago and now they appear to be one of the out of form teams in the league as they've not won any of their last five.

West Ham may not be having the most ideal of seasons but with Bournemouth being out of form, I fancy the Hammers to come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-1

ASTON VILLA V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Aston Villa have had a challenging season this season with the Champions League arguably being the main reason.

But they are in contention to finish in the European places and have been for much of the season and they deserve credit for that.

Nottingham Forest are having the kind of season that Villa had last season but better as they've managed to stay within the top three for most of the season.

A lot of people including myself have been waiting for Forest to slip up and it doesn't look like they will. They've been excellent all season and they have games coming up that they're more than capable of winning.

But they also have some tricky games alongside them including this one.

I can see Villa deal a blow to their Champions League hopes here because of the form Villa have been in recently.

PREDICTION: 2-0

SUNDAY:

BRENTFORD V CHELSEA

Brentford had some good chances in their defeat at Newcastle in midweek and were unlucky not to come away with something as they should've had a penalty for the second foul on Damsgaard.

The Bees haven't won at home since early December with their away form being the better of the two since then. But that barren run could end here as Chelsea have been poor on the road since the turn of the year.

Enzo Maresca's side have lost all but one game away from home in 2025 and haven't won on the road since the middle of December.

The blues don't have the best of records against Brentford in the Premier League and I can see that poor record continuing here.

Both teams will score here as I can see them both going for it, but I think they'll cancel each other out like they have done in this fixture for the last two seasons.

PREDICTION: 2-2

FULHAM V LIVERPOOL

Fulham gave Liverpool a good game in the reverse fixture at Anfield where they were very close to coming away with the win.

Marco Silva's side have played well against the big boys in general this season and although they're not as strong at home as they were last season, I think they'll give the reds another good game here.

Liverpool were far from their best against Everton in midweek, but they still found a way to win the game and it was a big result for them considering what happened before the international break.

I don't see them being much better in this one as I think Fulham will make it difficult for them. The reds should have enough to get a result, but not the one they want.

PREDICTION: 2-2

TOTTENHAM V SOUTHAMPTON

Spurs offered barely anything in the first half against Chelsea last night but they did improve somehwat in the second half.

Their fans turned on Ange Postecoglou during the game and the next couple of weeks are set to be big for him as his side have both legs of their Europa League Quarter Final against Eintracht Frankfurt coming up.

His future could well be decided within the next two weeks depending on how they got on against Frankfurt.

Southampton will be relegated if they lose this game and if Wolves win their game against Ipswich the day before.

The Saints were a matter of seconds away from overtaking Derby's points total from the 2007-08 season against Crystal Palace in midweek, only for them to concede an equaliser in stoppage time.

They need just a point to equal Derby's record from that season and it doesn't look like they'll go above it as they have some tricky games to end the season with.

Spurs aren't in particularly great form at the moment, but I still think they'll win this one fairly comfortably and send the saints back to the Championship.

PREDICTION: 5-0

MAN UNITED V MAN CITY

Man United weren't actually that bad against Nottingham Forest in midweek as they had some decent chances. But they weren't able to take them as has often been the case this season.

They've picked up some good results against the big teams this season including in the reverse fixture back in December which they won 2-1.

But in this one they'll be without their match winner Amad Diallo who is set to miss the rest of the season due to injury.

Man City put in a controlled and dominant display against Leicester in midweek and it was good to see Jack Grealish on the scoresheet for the first time in over a year.

He played as a no.10 in that game and he looked very comfortable in that position as his overall performance was very good. Maybe City should play him there more as it's arguably his best position.

Omar Marmoush also impressed and he showed that he can step up in Haaland's absence with the goal he scored.

City are arguably more free flowing with Marmoush up top as he's more dynamic and better out of possession than Haaland.

United do play well when facing the big teams, but with Marmoush's dynamism up top I think City will come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 0-2

MONDAY:

LEICESTER V NEWCASTLE

Leicester offered very little attacking intent against Man City in midweek as they had just two shots in the entire match with none of target.

They haven't scored in any of their last seven league games and if you don't score goals, you don't win football matches. This along with their leaky defence is why they're going down.

I thought Newcastle would be a bit hungover from their Carabao Cup celebrations against Brentford in midweek, but showed no signs of of it.

The Magpies could be without Alexander Isak for this one after going off with a knock against Brentford. But they should be fine without him as Callum Wilson is more than capable of stepping up, despite his lack of fitness.

Whether they have Isak available or not, the Magpies should still win this one fairly comfortably as they're facing a Leicester side who are out of form and whose confidence is shot to pieces.

PREDICTION: 0-2