The midweek fixtures were successful in making the work week less shit, so that’s always a glaring positive. Arne Slot’s Reds were held to a draw at the City Ground, while Tony Pulis and Stoke City were able to claw a result against Spurs thanks to Simon Hooper’s blind incompetence. Without berating the point—if the corner decision had been given the other way, and Arsenal would have conceded as a result, we would be subjected to enduring meandering exposés and think pieces on why the league is corrupt—but I’ll leave it there before I begin ranting. You’ve made it to the weekend, kick your feet up, grab a pint, and enjoy some matchweek 22 predictions.
Newcastle vs. Bournemouth
12:30, Saturday, January 18th, St James’ Park
The most in-form team in the league return to SJP to take on the Cherries in the half-noon kickoff. The Geordies battered Wolves on Wednesday behind another shining performance from Alexander Isak, making it six wins on the spin for Eddie Howe’s men. Bournemouth came within seconds of defeating a floundering Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before Reece James (he still plays?) scored a late free-kick to equalize at the death. Newcastle’s run of form has seen them pierce the top four for the first time this season, and if the last several weeks are any evidence to go off, they don’t look like slowing down anytime soon. The Cherries are no pushover, but the power of a Jason Tindall selfie in final form may be too much for Iraola and co. to cope with.
Prediction: 3-1 Newcastle
First Goal Scorer: Anthony Gordon (x2)
Anytime Goal Scorers: Alexander Isak, Antoine Semenyo
Brentford vs. Liverpool
15:00, Saturday, January 18th, GTech Community Stadium
I think this game represents a crossroads in Liverpool’s season. While it would be incredibly entitled to complain about our form in recent weeks, we really need to win this match, simple as. Two consecutive draws in the league have seen the gap narrow to four points with a game in hand, and a win over a solid Brentford side away from home would do the confidence a world of good. Apart from the result on Tuesday, I was actually quite pleased with how we played after going behind early doors, and on another day, I think we win that game 3 or 4-1. Brentford showcased their powers of recovery as well, coming from 2 down in the final 10 minutes to stun Manchester City. It’s rarely pretty when we play at the GTech, and I expect Saturday to be no different, but I think (hope) we find that extra gear we’ve lacked since the New Year.
Prediction: 2-1 Liverpool
First Goal Scorer: Mohammed Salah
Anytime Goal Scorers: Bryan Mbuemo, Diogo Jota
Leicester City vs. Fulham
15:00, Saturday, January 18th, King Power Stadium
Leicester was dreadful in a 2-nil defeat at home to Palace on Wednesday evening, as the Foxes continue their tailspin toward what looks like an exit from the league. Fulham, more surprisingly, went to the London Stadium and suffered a 3-2 defeat to West Ham in Graham Potter’s first game in charge for the Irons. In all honesty, I can’t see this game producing many fireworks—mainly due to Leicester’s presence. Van Nistelrooy’s side has lost six straight in the league, and none of them have been by particularly fine margins. I think the Cottagers are able to recover their footing after last week’s stumble in a game that has potential to become an excruciating watch.
Prediction: 2-1 Fulham
First Goal Scorer: Rodrigo Muniz
Anytime Goal Scorers: Jamie Vardy, Harry Wilson
West Ham United vs. Crystal Palace
15:00, Saturday, January 18th, London Stadium
Both West Ham and Palace are coming off relatively surprising positive midweek results. The mood within the Irons camp must be one of refreshment and hope, with Graham Potter able to coax 90 minutes of tolerable football out of the side—something that Julen Lopetegui failed to do in his five months in charge. Palace are finally beginning to show glimpses of the side that we saw end last season on a tear, as they’ve now begun to put some distance between themselves and the drop zone. Given both sides’ recent performances, and Graham Potter’s arrival, I actually think that this may prove to be an interesting watch. I don’t see much to separate the sides, but I do think that there will be goals, and who doesn’t love that?
Prediction: 2-2
First Goal Scorer: Mohammed Kudus
Anytime Goal Scorers: Tomas Soucek, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze
Arsenal vs. Aston Villa
17:30, Saturday, January 18th, The Emirates
We all remember Arsenal’s implosion at home to Villa last season—a match which all but killed off their title aspirations, and I’d commit various misdemeanors for this to again be the case on Saturday. Arsenal once again proved midweek that they’re incapable of scoring goals that do not come from set pieces, and if Villa can limit these opportunities, I think that they may have a real shot. Unai Emery seems to have a vendetta against his former side—and I hope he rocks up to the Emirates with all the bitterness and contempt as an ex who’s had the house taken in court. One positive for Arteta is that the football (probably) won’t be used as an excuse if they drop points this weekend.
Prediction: 2-1 Villa
First Goal Scorer: Ollie Watkins
Anytime Goal Scorer: Amadou Onana, William Saliba
Everton vs. Tottenham Hotspur
14:00, Sunday, January 19th, Goodison Park
David Moyes’ first match back in charge as Everton boss went about as well as expected, given the position the club currently finds themselves in. A frustrating 1-nil defeat at the hands of Villa saw the Toffees’ winless streak in the league extend to six, as the side continues the slide toward the relegation places. Spurs took an early lead at the Emirates, only to be robbed blind by Simon Hooper arbitrarily awarding corner kicks to the home side. Spurs found themselves behind going into the break, and in all honesty, the second half did not inspire a great deal of confidence for me in Big Ange’s side. Spurs looked void of ideas for long stretches and were probably lucky not to concede more in the second half. Goodison is never an easy place to go, even when the home side finds themselves in such poor form—and given Spurs’ second half performance on Wednesday evening, I don’t see a great deal separating the sides.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: Dejan Kulusevski
Anytime Goal Scorer: James Tarkowski
Manchester United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
14:00, Sunday, January 19th, Old Trafford
United’s display against Southampton on Thursday was utterly shambolic for 80 minutes. A late Amad hat trick may be enough to paper over the cracks for the time being, but the home side genuinely could have found themselves 3 down if Southampton employed footballers that were above League One level. United has been atrocious at Old Trafford this season, and I don’t think that this match will be close. Brighton put on a professional display away to Ipswich on Thursday evening, and if they can bring the standard that they displayed at Portman Road to Greater Manchester on Sunday, Hurzeler’s side will be going back to the South Coast with 3 points earned.
Prediction: 3-0 Brighton
First Goal Scorer: João Pedro (x2)
Anytime Goal Scorer: Kaoru Mitoma
Nottingham Forest vs. Southampton
14:00, Sunday, January 19th, The City Ground
Forest went ahead of Liverpool with their first chance of the match through Chris Wood on Tuesday evening, before battling to a 1-1 draw. There’s no way around the fact that Forest’s defending is amongst the best in the league, and I really do fancy them to secure a Champions League place for next season—thus far, they’ve genuinely deserved it. The City Ground was electric on Tuesday night, and I expect it to be the same come Sunday afternoon. I’m making an effort not to kick Southampton while they’re down here, so the less said about the side, the better. This won’t be pleasant if you’re not a fan of Forest and may invoke feelings of sadness and pity from the neutral.
Prediction: 3-0 Forest
First Goal Scorer: Chris Wood
Anytime Goal Scorer: Anthony Elanga (x2)
Ipswich Town vs. Manchester City
16:30, Sunday, January 19th, Portman Road
City’s late capitulation at the GTech really just summarizes how the year has gone for Pep’s side to this point. Watching City at times this season has given a truly dystopian feel—and I’ve dreamt of watching such a meltdown for years. That being said, we know the quality that this team possesses, and while it may be too late for them to mount a charge for the league title, they’re still capable of being amongst the best in the world on their day. Ipswich have proved themselves to be tough at Portman Road over the course of the season—Thursday excluded—but I just can’t see Pep failing to take all three points, particularly after the manner in which they threw them away midweek.
Prediction: 2-0 City
First Goal Scorer: Erling Haaland (x2)
Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:00, Monday, January 20th, Stamford Bridge
Maresca’s Blues are now winless in their last five in the league and have seen themselves fall from the Champions League places following a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday evening. Cole Palmer continues to score, but he seems to be the only one clad in blue who has retained his form from earlier in the year. Apart from Southampton, there is perhaps not a better opponent in the division to get back on track against, and I fully expect that Chelsea will leave Monday night with three points. That being said, Wolves have shown that they have players capable of hurting opponents, it just doesn’t happen on a regular basis. Wolves found a lot of joy in this fixture last year, hammering 4 past the Blues at the Bridge—but I don’t expect this to be the case come Monday.
Prediction: 2-1 Chelsea
First Goal Scorer: Cole Palmer
Anytime Goal Scorers: Noni Madueke, Mattheus Cunha
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