Matchweek 24 is upon us, with the lunchtime kickoff making its return on Saturday afternoon as Brighton travel to Nottingham Forest. Later on Saturday, Arne Slot’s Reds make the trip to the South Coast to take on red-hot Bournemouth in a match that could greatly bolster Liverpool’s title charge. Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday evening in what is the headliner of the weekend. I’m sure this match will bring no drama, or massive overreactions from the side clad in red—after all, they’ve proved themselves to be completely rational over the course of this season. You’ve made it to the weekend, so kick your feet up, grab a pint, and get stuck into some matchweek 24 predictions.
Nottingham Forest vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
12:30, Saturday, February 1st, The City Ground
The lunchtime kickoff sees an interesting clash, particularly when considering each side’s results last weekend. Then second-placed Forest went to Bournemouth only to be battered 5-0, while the Seagulls laid an egg at home in a 1-0 defeat to Everton. While losing at the fortress that has become the Vitality Stadium in recent months is no real cause for concern, the manner in which Nuno’s side withered in the closing stages of the game just may be. Brighton, on the other hand, conceded an early penalty and were never able to find the back of the net at home against an Evertonian side that has struggled massively at times this season. Both sides will be eager to relieve themselves of last week’s disappointment, although I believe the points will be shared.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: Chris Wood
Anytime Goal Scorer: Simon Adingra
Bournemouth vs. Liverpool
15:00, Saturday, February 1st, Vitality Stadium
Arne Slot’s men travel to the Vitality Stadium to take on a Bournemouth side whose current form is out of this world. The Reds remain 6 points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand over second-place Arsenal, who will have their hands full with a rejuvenated City side on Sunday evening. If—and that’s a big if—Liverpool are able to kick on and win the league, this may very well be the weekend that we remember if we are able to give ourselves some more breathing room at the top. Quite simply, it is a massive game of football. It will be anything but simple. Bournemouth have been incredible at home, particularly against top sides, underlined by the 5-0 thrashing that Iraola’s side laid on Forest last weekend. I don’t care if it’s pretty, I don’t care how it happens, just win, Liverpool.
Prediction: 2-1 Liverpool
First Goal Scorer: Antoine Semenyo
Anytime Goal Scorers: Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz
Ipswich Town vs. Southampton
15:00, Saturday, February 1st, Portman Road
I’ll be brutally honest, this one isn’t likely to be breaking any viewership records abroad. Given Ipswich’s recent form and the fact that Southampton is well, Southampton, this match has all the makings of one of the worst of the year—and for that reason, I think there will be fireworks. Southampton have all but changed the shoulder patches on their kits to that of the Championship, as they desperately claw toward 2007-08 Derby County’s Premier League low of 11 points in a season. Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich have displayed damning symptoms of a side destined for the drop in their last two league games, losing by an aggregate of 10-1. This will either be the worst nil-nil that a human has ever been subjected to watching, or a 7-goal thriller that you can’t take your eyes off—no in-between. Why not be optimistic?
Prediction: 4-3 Ipswich
First Goal Scorer: Liam Delap (x2)
Anytime Goal Scorers: Paul Onuachu, Adam Armstrong, Joe Aribo, Omari Hutchinson, Leif Davis
Everton vs. Leicester City
15:00, Saturday, February 1st, Goodison Park
David Moyes and the Toffees return to Goodison Park to take on a rejuvenated Leicester side. Everton were able to hang on to a 1-0 at the Amex last weekend to put further distance between themselves and the drop zone, and at the moment find themselves in a state of relative safety—7 points clear with a game in hand. Leicester’s first league victory in 8 games, away at Spurs, saw them go clear of Wolves and the bottom three by one point. If the Foxes are going to find a way to remain in the division this season, they’ve got to begin scraping points from games like the one on Saturday—although I’m not confident of either outcome.
Prediction: 1-0 Everton
Only Goal Scorer: Iliman Ndiaye
Newcastle United vs. Fulham
15:00, Saturday, February 1st, Saint James’ Park
The Toon welcome Fulham to Saint James’ Park on Saturday afternoon, after getting back on track last weekend on the South Coast. Eddie Howe’s side seemed back to their best in the 3-1 defeat of Southampton, following their shocking 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Tyneside two weekends ago. Marco Silva’s Fulham were defeated at the Cottage last weekend, thanks to a massive deflection that saw Amorim’s United actually win a game. Fulham have shown themselves to be no pushover this season, but the power of SJP should be just enough to get Jason Tindall in front of a camera at full time.
Prediction: 2-1 Newcastle
First Goal Scorer: Alexander Isak
Anytime Goal Scorers: Anthony Gordon, Rodrigo Muniz
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Aston Villa
17:30, Saturday, February 1st, Molineux
Wolves find themselves back in the drop zone following an admirable 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal last weekend. While I still believe Wolves may have just enough to survive relegation this season, they really need to begin showing reasons as to why. They’ve now conceded 52 league goals—just one shy of a historically poor Southampton side—and they’re not exactly banging them in down the other end either. Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury last weekend, further compounding Wolves’ offensive woes. Villa drew 1-1 with a new-look West Ham last weekend at Villa Park—a result that Emery’s men were surely disappointed with. However, they bounced back to beat a solid Celtic side 4-2 on Wednesday evening in the Champions League, and for all intents and purposes, should win this game on Saturday.
Prediction: 2-0 Villa
First Goal Scorer: Ollie Watkins
Anytime Goal Scorer: Morgan Rodgers
Brentford vs. Tottenham Hotspur
14:00, Sunday, February 2nd, Gtech Community Stadium
The Bees play host to Spurs on Sunday afternoon in yet another game that may be critical to Big Ange’s future at the club. After last weekend’s shock home defeat to Leicester City, the camera panning to Daniel Levy at full time, where he presided over the Director’s Box with the look of an executioner, did not fill me with confidence for the jovial Australian’s future. While Spurs’ form in the league has been dire, they still remain in all three cup competitions—perhaps Ange’s saving grace at the moment. The Gtech is a ground in which Spurs have historically enjoyed, and they really need to continue this trend on Sunday. Thomas Frank’s side seemed to finally discover that they were allowed to win football games away from home, as they defeated Palace at Selhurst Park. Given Brentford’s form, and Ange’s growing desperation, I think this one has a draw written all over it.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: Bryan Mbuemo
Anytime Goal Scorer: Dejan Kulusevski
Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace
14:00, Sunday, February 2nd, Old Trafford
Lisandro Martinez celebrated his deflected shot that ended up in the back of the Craven Cottage net on Sunday like he had just won the Champions League, when in reality, it took United from 13th to 12th—keeping hopes of a finish in the top half of the table alive. You would think that the game against Palace should be straightforward for a side who have spent upwards of 1 billion pounds on transfers in recent years. However, we all know that it will most likely be anything but. United’s form at Old Trafford this season has been diabolical, regardless of opponent, and I expect this weekend to be no different. Although Palace lost last week, they’ve proven themselves capable of earning points away from Selhurst Park, and I think they grab one more on Sunday afternoon.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: Jean-Philippe Mateta
Anytime Goal Scorer: Bruno Fernandes
Arsenal vs. Manchester City
16:30, Sunday, February 2nd, The Emirates
After accosting match officials for a full week after the rightful sending off of Miles Lewis-Skelly in the first half of the match against Wolves last Saturday, Arsenal return to action to take on City at the Emirates. The outcry following the reasonable decision to send off the 18-year-old for a reckless challenge only continues to further hammer home my point about what a truly embarrassing collection of people embody all that is Arsenal Football Club. From top to bottom, it may truly be the most self-righteous and entitled collective that the world has ever had the misfortune to observe. Let’s wait to see what insane explanations, excuses, conspiracy theories, and sob stories follow this match Sunday after City batter them on their own patch. I’m sure it’ll be enlightening.
Prediction: 3-1 City
First Goal Scorer: Haaland (x2)
Anytime Goal Scorers: Marmoush, Saliba (corner)
Chelsea vs. West Ham United
20:00, Monday, February 3rd, Stamford Bridge
The Blues return to the Bridge for the Monday night game to take on Graham Potter’s new-look Hammers. Chelsea’s showing at the Etihad last weekend was respectable until Robert Sanchez decided to go walkabout and ruin 75 minutes’ worth of running and graft that the team in royal blue had put into the game. After leading in the match and having a golden opportunity squandered to go 2-0 to the good, Sanchez ensured that no points would be taken back to West London. West Ham were unlucky not to find a late winner at Villa Park after Tomas Soucek was adjudged to be offside in the game’s dying embers—disappointing, but I think Potter’s side would have been happy with a draw prior to kickoff. While Graham Potter has seemed to breathe some life back into the Irons, I think Chelsea at the Bridge will simply offer too much to deal with come Monday night.
Prediction: 2-0 Chelsea
First Goal Scorer: Noni Madueke
Anytime Goal Scorer: Cole Palmer
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