THE VERY BLUNT PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS (WEEK 22)
If you’re wondering why your favourite Premier League team didn’t feature last weekend, don’t worry, they will this time around!
Every week we’ll be giving you our blunt takes and predicting each Premier League match featured in our Pick 10 league along with any other big fixtures - will you take our advice?
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
If Mikel Arteta’s idea of a mid-season training camp is a Dubai getaway with margaritas on the beach, Arsenal are destined for another futile title challenge. There’s just one win to speak of in seven games, the Gunners are suffering from an almighty mid-season slump. Their top scorer Bukayo Saka has six league goals, the good news is that they’re next two fixtures are against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.
Palace navigated a busy December with a similar return to their opponents on Saturday, just one win from seven outings. In fact, Since beating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in September, Crystal Palace have won just two of their past 15 matches in all competitions. There is a sense that Roy Hodgson’s pragmatic approach does not allow the exciting attacking talents of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise to flourish.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace
Brentford vs Nottingham Forest
Coming off the back of (checks glasses) five top-flight defeats in a row, well things haven’t been very rosy for Brentford, have they? Thomas Frank saw his side dumped out of the FA Cup in the week to Wolves, but then again Ivan Toney is free to resume playing for the Bees following an 8-month ban and Sergio Reguilon has been brought in on loan. Will that provide enough of a spark to return to winning ways?
Forest face an anxious wait having charged by the Premier League with breaching financial rules. A potential points deduction wouldn’t be welcome by Nuno Espirito Santo, who only took up the reigns at the City Ground last month. Impressive victories over Newcastle and Manchester United at the back end of December will convince many that Forest should have enough to avoid the drop again, but how would a possible points deduction affect that?
Prediction: Brentford 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Sheffield United vs West Ham
Have The Blades been relegated yet? A return of just 9 points from 20 games and a managerial change? Congratulations Sheffield United, you’ve won yourselves a one-way ticket straight back down to the Championship. The loan signing of Ben Brereton Diaz is an intriguing one, a couple more will need to be added to mount some form of inspiration that Chris Wilder can somehow keep his team in the division.
West Ham may have bowed out of the FA Cup, but a victory over the Premier League's bottom club will put the Hammers just three points behind fifth-placed Spurs and five points ahead of United. If David Moyes’ side can achieve maximum points against Sheffield United and Bournemouth in their next two matches, European football can be a realistic goal, even with fixtures against Manchester United and Arsenal on the horizon.
Prediction: Sheffield United 0-2 West Ham
Bournemouth vs Liverpool
If nothing else, Bournemouth are exciting to watch under Andoni Iraola. Despite early season struggles, The Cherries have won four of of their last five Premier League outings, December was a profitable month and Dominic Solanke's six goals were enough to ensure the striker became the first Bournemouth player to be named Premier League player of the month.
League leaders Liverpool are not at their scintillating best, but they are finding ways to win football matches - and that’s all that really matters. There is reason to worry, Mo Salah and Wataru Endo are away with their countries at AFCON and the Asian Cup respectively, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dom Szoboszlai and every left-back at the club injured. Survive January and a title run-in is likely.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Liverpool
Brighton vs Wolves
The hype around Brighton may have cooled slightly, but when you lose your two best midfielders, and are tasked with competing in Europe, as much should be expected. With Evan Ferguson, João Pedro and Julio Enciso in situ, there’s no reason why The Seagulls can’t surge into some form, particularly when Kaoru Mitoma returns from the Asian Cup. The singing of Boca Juniors and Argentina Under-20 full-back Valentin Barco is definitely one to keep an eye on.
We had Wolves finishing 20th in our pre-season predictions, we’re now willing to admit that Gary O’Neil is well and truly a football genius. With three consecutive victories in the Premier League and a place in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, the atmosphere is getting better at Molineux and the connection between the fans and the squad is improving. Getting points on the board early, as they have done, should keep the club some distance away from any threat of relegation.
Prediction: Brighton 2-2 Wolves
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