Welcome back. Match week 12 showcased everything that is exciting about the Premier League. From City being ripped apart on their own patch by Big Ange’s Spurs to West Ham waltzing into Saint James’ Park and ripping Jason Tindall limb from limb, you truly never know what you’re in for. Arne Slot’s Reds sit 8 points clear at the top of the league with the opportunity to go 11 clear in this week’s headliner against the Blue side of Manchester, but let’s not get carried away—there are 6 months to go. Sit back, grab a pint, and enjoy some match week 13 predictions.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Southampton
20:00, Friday, November 29th, The Amex
Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls take on another side from the South Coast after dispatching Bournemouth at the Vitality last Saturday. Brighton currently sit in 5th place due to goal difference; however, they are level on points with Arsenal and Chelsea, and just one point behind 2nd-placed City. The football showcased by Hurzeler’s side has proven to be just as effective as it has been entertaining to watch, and I suspect this weekend will be no different. Southampton lost at home to leaders Liverpool on Sunday, as they continue to find themselves further adrift of 19th place. Tyler Dibbling and Paul Onuachu were two bright spots in the game against the Reds, in a team that, apart from those two, wouldn’t look out of place in League One.
Prediction: 3-1 Brighton
First Goal Scorer: Danny Welbeck
Anytime Goal Scorers: Paul Onuachu, Kaoru Mitoma, Joao Pedro
Brentford vs. Leicester City
15:00, Saturday, November 30th, GTech Community Stadium
Thomas Frank’s Bees made the journey up to Merseyside last weekend to take on the Toffees at Goodison Park. Despite seeing Christian Norgaard given his marching orders on 40 minutes for a high boot on Jordan Pickford, the side was able to keep a clean sheet and ultimately grind out a point on the road. While the manager will undoubtedly take this as a positive, it must be said that the game could have gone for another 250 minutes, and Everton may still have never scored. Leicester sacked Steve Cooper following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea, and while the Foxes’ start to the year has not been abhorrent, players celebrating at a bottle service hours after the defeat with a sign reading “We miss Enzo” is not a good omen—I believe the wheels are spectacularly falling off.
Prediction: 2-0 Brentford
First Goal Scorer: Bryan Mbuemo
Anytime Goal Scorer: Kevin Schade
Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle United
15:00, Saturday, November 30th, Selhurst Park
Palace continue to show signs of turning a corner following their nightmarish start to the season. A draw on the road at Villa Park last weekend will provide another boost of much-needed confidence, despite the fact that the Eagles twice found themselves ahead over the course of the 2-2 draw. Few results have shocked me as much this season as Newcastle and West Ham on Monday evening. After a sluggish start to the year, Newcastle seemed to have completely turned it around after victories over Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. West Ham appeared to be trending in the opposite direction, playing some absolutely atrocious football on the way—so the only logical thing to do was rip Newcastle apart at SJP to completely torpedo any bets that I had placed on the Toon. They’re another side that you truly don’t know what to expect—so who knows in this one? I sure as hell don’t.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: JP Mateta
Anytime Goal Scorer: Alexander Isak
Nottingham Forest vs. Ipswich Town
15:00, Saturday, November 30th, The City Ground
Has the magic deserted Forest? It really looked that way on Saturday. Granted, the Emirates is certainly not an easy place to play, but the Forest that took the pitch’s performance was closer to what I would have expected from the side 2 months ago compared to how they’ve actually been. They’ll have a chance to stop the bleeding and get back on track this weekend against Ipswich, but watching Forest the past two matches, I think there is certainly a cause for caution. Ipswich played United and Ruben Amorim off the park for 85 minutes in their match on Sunday after going behind early. While many newly promoted sides are often content to sit and defend—particularly against the historical big names of English football—Kieran McKenna and the Tractor Boys seem to always be looking for a way forward. While I’m still unsure if the side will have enough to remain in the Division come May, I certainly hope that they do.
Prediction: 2-2
First Goal Scorer: Anthony Elanga
Anytime Goal Scorers: Sammie Szmodics, George Hirst, Chris Wood
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Bournemouth
15:00, Saturday, November 30th, Molineux
I have a bad feeling that this prediction will bite me squarely in the ass, possibly within 15 minutes of this match kicking off. I really feel as though Wolves are a lot better than they have shown themselves to be thus far this season. Let’s be honest, before last weekend’s 4-1 thrashing of Fulham, I don’t think it could have gotten any worse. I think that Gary O’Neil is a decent manager and is beginning to turn this around—especially given the pockets of quality that he has within his squad. Bournemouth didn’t look great in last weekend’s loss at home to Brighton, and their form away from the Vitality has been inconsistent at best. The Molineux will be rocking—they know that they absolutely must win games such as these to survive, and I think that they just might this Saturday.
Prediction: 2-1 Wolves
First Goal Scorer: Mattheus Cunha (x2)
Anytime Goal Scorer: Antoine Semenyo
West Ham United vs. Arsenal
17:30, Saturday, November 30th, London Stadium
If West Ham are able to transform that soulless bowl of concrete into an atmosphere good enough to take points off of Arsenal this weekend, I will not say anything negative about it until the New Year. When the Irons made the journey to Tyneside last Monday, I genuinely thought that they may lose 5-nil. They played the Toon off the park and won 2-nil—anything is possible. Arsenal absolutely demolished them at the London Stadium last season, and that will surely be fresh in the memories of many of the players who were on the receiving end of that chastening. Lopetegui, do us all a favor and save your job for at least another week, I’m begging you.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: William Saliba
Anytime Goal Scorer: Jarrod Bowen
Chelsea vs. Aston Villa
13:30, Sunday, December 1st, Stamford Bridge
Chelsea continued rolling last weekend in the Midlands, promptly dispatching Leicester and sending Steve Cooper on his way permanently. The side seems to be clicking under Maresca, and there is certainly much to be excited about if you are a Blue. A late concession of a goal will be the only blemish, and at the moment, the defense leaking preventable goals can really be the only complaint thus far. Villa find themselves in the polar opposite position. After a strong start to the campaign, Emery’s men have now found themselves winless in their last 7 in all competitions, and Stamford Bridge is certainly not the place that you want to be trying your luck to break that streak at the moment. I think the Blues continue rolling, and I don’t necessarily believe that it will be all that close.
Prediction: 3-1 Chelsea
First Goal Scorer: Cole Palmer (x2)
Anytime Goal Scorers: Nicolas Jackson, Ollie Watkins
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Fulham
13:30, Sunday, December 1st, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
After Tottenham’s absolute demolition of the Champions at the Etihad last weekend, and Fulham’s implosion at home against Wolves, it would be no surprise to see the Cottagers turn up and find a way to beat Spurs. While I wouldn’t be surprised by it, I don’t think that it will happen. Spurs do have a serious injury concern at goalkeeper, with Vicario now sidelined for an extended period after breaking his leg and proceeding to play on it for 60 minutes at the weekend. We know Spurs—we truly never know what to expect, so everything is always on the table; however, given some of the exquisite football that they showcased last weekend, the quality and potential of this side is clearly evident. If Big Ange can control the already mounting injury concerns and find a modicum of consistency, Spurs (should) cruise this weekend.
Prediction: 3-0 Spurs
First Goal Scorer: Brennan Johnson
Anytime Goal Scorers: Dominic Solanke, Yves Bissouma
Manchester United vs. Everton
13:30, Sunday, December 1st, Old Trafford
What better way to welcome Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford than laying an egg and getting booed off on his home debut? I can’t think of many. After watching Ipswich play this United side off the park for 85 minutes last weekend, I am full of false confidence that the Toffees can go and do a job on Sunday. Don’t get me wrong, the last two Everton games have been some of the most painful watches of my existence; but fueled by my pure disdain for anything Mancunian, I believe that Sean Dyche has a plan. It may be the most painful 90 minutes yet on the eyes, but if the Ev can do the unthinkable, I’ll be forever reluctantly grateful.
Prediction: 1-0 Everton
Only Goal Scorer: Beto, assisted by Sean Dyche
Liverpool vs. Manchester City
16:00, Sunday, December 1st, Anfield
City is in a historic run of terrible form. Pep is literally ripping the skin off of his scalp because he has no hair to pull out. Please God, Liverpool, just fucking win. It’s going to be horrible, it always is. It’s going to be ulcer-inducing, it always is. No cocktail of anxiety medication and gin will make a difference. For 2 hours on Sunday, I’m going to be in utter fucking unhinged, maddening agony. I trust the lads. I trust Arne Slot, I trust the kit men, I trust the groundskeepers—and most of all, I trust Anfield. I trust those that live and breathe this football club to get those in Red through the difficult moments in the match—and they will come. I trust those in the ground to make the atmosphere fucking FERAL. This is a massive opportunity. Make us dream.
Prediction: 3-1 Liverpool
First Goal Scorer: Erling Haaland
Anytime Goal Scorers: Mohammed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil Van Dijk
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