After two rounds of cup fixtures, Premier League predictions return on a derby weekend that includes Manchester United v Manchester City & Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal. Meanwhile, plenty of clashes will take place where both sides need the points, just like Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United, making for yet another intriguing round of fixtures. The Last Word on Football staff make their predictions ahead of the action this weekend.
Premier League Predictions Matchweek 20
Aston Villa v Leeds United
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Joe Blackburn: 0-2
Jordan Hackett: 2-1
Joseph Howes: 0-1
Leeds United will be hoping to get their season back on track and face an Aston Villa side that will want to bounce back from FA Cup disappointment. With a strong side available, the Whites have enough to sneak a win in this one.
Joe Blackburn
Manchester United v Manchester City
Jamie Rooke: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 2-0
Joe Blackburn: 0-3
Jordan Hackett: 2-1
Joseph Howes: 2-1
Manchester United come into this Manchester derby on an excellent run of form. This will be a whole different ball game to the games they have been winning though, giving them an opportunity to prove exactly where they’re at. Manchester City’s form has been mixed recently, including a draw with Everton and a loss to Southampton in the League Cup. Home advantage and the benefit of having Casemiro in such form and playing from the start, which he didn’t in the reverse fixture, may help the Red Devils.
Jordan Hackett
Everton v Southampton
Jamie Rooke: 1-0
Dan Hepburn: 1-1
Joe Blackburn: 0-2
Jordan Hackett: 0-1
Joseph Howes: 0-1
Nathan Jones is under an immense amount of pressure at St Mary’s so that League Cup win over Manchester City is huge for him. Frank Lampard is hardly safe in a job with Everton at the moment and so this fixture could have a huge impact on both clubs. It probably won’t be pretty but Everton may well nick it against the run of play.
Jamie Rooke
Nottingham Forest v Leicester City
Jamie Rooke: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 2-1
Joe Blackburn: 2-2
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 1-1
A difficult game to predict with both teams on the same points in the Premier League table. Nottingham Forest look a stronger outfit in recent games and might just be the happier side with another vital point on the road to Premier League safety.
Jordan Hackett
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United
Jamie Rooke: 2-2
Dan Hepburn: 1-0
Joe Blackburn: 0-0
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 0-1
Both sides sit in the bottom four of the Premier League and could do with a win here. Wolves have looked stronger under Julen Lopetegui already, but have recorded three consecutive draws including the League Cup. West Ham may just be desperate enough not to lose this one and, once again in Wolves’ case, the spoils could be shared.
Jordan Hackett
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool
Jamie Rooke: 0-2
Dan Hepburn: 2-1
Joe Blackburn: 2-1
Jordan Hackett: 2-1
Joseph Howes: 1-1
Brighton go into this match on strong form, looking like one of the surprise packages of the season. Meanwhile, Liverpool are struggling to keep any meaningful results going. This could end with a narrow win for the Seagulls.
Joe Blackburn
Brentford v Bournemouth
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-0
Joe Blackburn: 2-1
Jordan Hackett: 2-1
Joseph Howes: 3-0
One of the easier looking Premier League predictions as Brentford can be fancied to take the three points at home against a struggling Bournemouth side with prolific striker Ivan Toney set to start the game after recovering from injury.
Jordan Hackett
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Jamie Rooke: 1-0
Dan Hepburn: 0-0
Joe Blackburn: 1-0
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 1-1
A large amount of Chelsea fans are calling for Graham Potter’s head already. A defeat to Fulham wouldn’t have helped his cause and now another London derby comes next. Wilfried Zaha loves a big game and he could rise to the occasion at Stamford Bridge.
Jamie Rooke
Newcastle United v Fulham
Jamie Rooke: 3-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-0
Joe Blackburn: 3-0
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 3-2
Newcastle United are having a fine season and may be the expected winners here – especially with home advantage. However, they have had a lot of draws and may be set for the same eventuality against an ambitious and confident Fulham side who looked good for their win over Chelsea on Thursday night.
Jordan Hackett
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Jamie Rooke: 0-2
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Joe Blackburn: 1-3
Jordan Hackett: 2-2
Joseph Howes: 1-1
League leaders Arsenal have a huge test of their credentials at the top of the tree coming up. Spurs may not be performing perfectly but as cliche it sounds, form goes out of the window when the North London derby comes around. Eddie Nketiah has a huge weight on his shoulders and may well continue his scoring form in a momentous win for the Arsenal.
Jamie Rooke
