The Premier League’s matchweek 16 will be it’s last until after Christmas thanks to the World Cup break, and that adds greater importance to this weekend’s set of fixtures. Struggling sides’ respective hierarchies will see this month-and-a-half-long hiatus as a perfect time for a change of management, and thus it could be now or never for a few Premier League bosses. Equally, heading into the break on a high note could be crucial for building morale within players and the fanbase alike, although there is an argument to suggest that the effects of any momentum gained from a positive result this weekend will be negligible by December 26th. Five members of Last Word on Football staff have been providing their Premier League predictions throughout the season so far, and will do so again this week with some fascinating fixtures before turning their attention to the World Cup.
Premier League Predictions Matchweek 16
Manchester City vs Brentford
Jamie Rooke: 2-0
Dan Hepburn: 3-1
Joe Blackburn: 4-0
Jordan Hackett: 3-1
Joseph Howes: 3-0
Manchester City have been formidable this season, particularly at home – winning every game in all competitions – and whilst Brentford have shown they can compete with the bigger teams in this league, they’ll struggle to get anything from Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad. The Citizens should win this comfortably.
Jordan Hackett
Also read our in-depth articles:
Manchester City vs Brentford Predictions and Best Odds for November 12
Manchester City Predicted Lineup vs Brentford
Bournemouth vs Everton
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-2
Joe Blackburn: 1-0
Jordan Hackett: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 3-1
After their first good performance in some time, Bournemouth will be raring to go when they face Everton on Saturday, and it will doubtless help that the team against whom they were comfortably victorious in midweek was indeed Frank Lampard’s side. The Toffees, on the other hand, are in a bit of a rough patch, and have won just once in almost six weeks. It could be key for Gary O’Neil’s men that they were finally able to survive—and even score after—a comeback scare when they faced Everton on Tuesday, and this could provide the mental boost they need to turn a strong lead into a win, something they’ve desperately struggled to do in recent games. Considering as well that this is likely to be O’Neil’s last game in charge—although it could be Lampard’s as well—a Bournemouth win doesn’t seem at all out of the question. 3-1.
Joseph Howes
Liverpool vs Southampton
Jamie Rooke: 3-2
Dan Hepburn: 2-0
Joe Blackburn: 2-1
Jordan Hackett: 3-0
Joseph Howes: 1-1
A poor run of games meant change was imminent on the South Coast and after an unconvincing performance against third-placed Newcastle, Ralph Hasenhuttl was relieved of all duties. It took Southampton a penalty shoot-out to progress in the cup against Sheffield Wednesday in a dismal performance in front of a home crowd. In their first game without the German manager in the Premier League, they will be looking to show signs of change against Liverpool. The latter have shown weakness this term and Jurgen Klopp’s side will be looking to iron out these problems against a bottom half side in Southampton. With three wins on the bounce and ending Napoli’s phenomenal winning streak, it may seem as things are looking up for the team from Merseyside. Mohamed Salah has also found his shooting boots and may prove too much for Southampton’s permeable defence.
Dan Hepburn
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace
Jamie Rooke: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 1-0
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Jordan Hackett: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 0-2
Despite beating Liverpool in shock fashion a few weeks ago, Nottingham Forest’s form of late has been poor, the win against Jurgen Klopp’s side being their only league victory since mid-August. That said, they were able to emerge surprise winners from another game on Wednesday, beating Tottenham 2-0 despite going down to ten men with 15 minutes left. Crystal Palace, by contrast, have just one league loss to their name in nearly six weeks. They may have been knocked out of the EFL cup in midweek, but with Newcastle United in such amazing form, taking them to a penalty shootout is no mean feat. Palace, then, seem the logical choice as this match’s winners, and they should be pretty comfortable. 2-0.
Joseph Howes
Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United
Jamie Rooke: 2-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-1
Joe Blackburn: 1-3
Jordan Hackett: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 2-2
Antonio Conte’s side are on a shocking run of form, winning only one of their last seven matches. They find themselves in a clash with Leeds United, who are on a strong run of form having beaten Liverpool and Bournemouth in their last two league matches, only losing against Wolves in midweek after fielding an extremely diminished side. With Tottenham tending towards poor starts, the Yorkshire side could sneak ahead and damage Spurs’ Champions League hopes. 2-1 to Leeds.
Joe Blackburn
West Ham United vs Leicester City
Jamie Rooke: 0-1
Dan Hepburn: 1-1
Joe Blackburn: 2-1
Jordan Hackett: 0-1
Joseph Howes: 1-1
West Ham United and Leicester City endured very different fates in the midweek EFL Cup games. Jamie Vardy scored a brace for the Foxes as they eased last Newport County whilst the Hammers lost on penalties to Blackburn Rovers. With 14 points a-piece in the league currently, this one could go either way but a Qatar-bound James Maddison and his magic could well be the deciding factor.
Jamie Rooke
Newcastle United vs Chelsea
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-0
Joe Blackburn: 2-0
Jordan Hackett: 2-1
Joseph Howes: 3-2
Chelsea take a trip to the north east this weekend, looking to pick up a first win in six matches. Graham Potter’s side have struggled domestically of late, and Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United will look to crank up the pressure on the Blues. The Magpies are an incredible side at home and that could show in a match where the majority of the Chelsea side are thinking about the World Cup ahead. 2-0 to Newcastle.
Joe Blackburn
Also read our in-depth articles:
Injury-Ravaged Chelsea Lineup Prediction vs Newcastle United for November 12
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Arsenal
Jamie Rooke: 0-2
Dan Hepburn: 2-3
Joe Blackburn: 0-3
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 1-2
Wolves games are often low-scoring and even when there is plenty of action, as we saw last weekend, they tend to come out on the wrong end. It is top of the table versus 19th and Arsenal will be hoping to keep it that way going into the World Cup. Wolves may well frustrate Arteta’s men but they will surely still get the job done.
Jamie Rooke
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Joe Blackburn: 2-0
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 1-2
Unai Emery’s men got off to a great start under their new boss in the Premier League last week, beating Manchester United 3-1, however, on Saturday, they face a Brighton & Hove Albion side who have just begun getting results under their own new boss in Roberto De Zerbi. It’s hard to split these two. Score draw.
Jordan Hackett
Fulham vs Manchester United
Jamie Rooke: 2-2
Dan Hepburn: 0-3
Joe Blackburn: 2-1
Jordan Hackett: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 1-2
Thirty minutes played at Villa Park.#MUFC || #AVLMUN pic.twitter.com/aUkBKq6OAC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 6, 2022
Fulham are without their main focal point in Aleskandar Mitrovic as they lock horns with Manchester United this Sunday. Marco Silva will reflect on last week’s defeat against a 10 men Manchester City with promise as it took an Erling Haaland injury time penalty to seal the deal. A rollercoaster of a season has presented five wins, four draws and five losses accumulating a negative goal difference. Despite this, they still sit in the top half of the league in what can only be described as a one-of-a-kind campaign. The side from Manchester have lost one in their last 12 outings and even with a shift in defensive personnel in recent weeks have looked composed and defensively sound – Fulham’s striker woes will likely play a big part in this week’s fixture. Erik ten Hag’s reds should ease through with a win on their day out.
Dan Hepburn
