Full disclosure: I’ve been horrifically lazy this week, so this will most likely be released after the Brentford-Leicester game on Friday evening, but I highly doubt that anyone will be seriously disturbed. Matchweek 26 plays host to a variety of intriguing fixtures—excluding the one I’ve already mentioned—headlined by Liverpool’s journey to the Etihad to take on City on Sunday afternoon. There’s a full slate on Saturday, with 7 matches and the return of the lunchtime kickoff as Everton hosts relegation-threatened Manchester United—happy days. If you’re reading this, or in my case, writing it, congratulations, you’ve made it to the weekend—kick your feet up, grab a pint, and get stuck into some Matchweek 26 predictions.
Leicester City vs. Brentford
20:00, Friday, February 21st, King Power Stadium
Let’s be honest, unless you’re a supporter of either of these sides, I can’t imagine that you’re ticking off the minutes until kickoff. Leicester, while they remain dreadful, still surprisingly find themselves just 2 points from safety. This season has doubtlessly been one to forget thus far for the Foxes, but they really do still have a genuine chance of just staying up come May. If that is to be the case, these are the types of games that Van Nistelrooy’s side must begin winning. Brentford’s away form this season has been inconsistent to say the least, and with only a handful of home games remaining, sides such as Leicester must start maximizing their opportunities. That being said, I just don’t know where the goals are going to come from, and after watching a defensive midfielder be made to look like prime Andy Cole a week ago, I don’t have much confidence in their ability to keep a clean sheet.
Prediction: 1-0 Brentford
Only Goal Scorer: Yoanne Wissa
Everton vs. Manchester United
12:30, Saturday, February 22nd, Goodison Park
The Toffees have been relatively flying since the appointment of David Moyes, and I genuinely can’t think of a worse ground for United to have to go to this week given their form. Everton now sits above Amorim’s side in the table, a sentence that would have triggered an eruption of laughter from me in August, and trust me, it’s no less funny in February. Amorim has won a staggering 4 of his first 16 games in the league, and I think it will be difficult for him to find his 5th on Saturday afternoon. United’s horrific finishing was on full display yet again last weekend, in yet another dumpster fire of a performance at Tottenham. How many would Amorim have to lose before Sir Jim the Cruel just decides to get rid of him as well, or will he choose to continue taking out his frustration on the cooks and stewards of the club? Hopefully, we find out.
Prediction: 2-0 Everton
Only Goal Scorer: Belé (x2)
Bournemouth vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
15:00, Saturday, February 22nd, Vitality Stadium
The Cherries enter this match in 5th place, one point behind Manchester City—and probably good enough for the final Champions League spot if the season ended today. What Andoni Iraola has done this season is remarkable, and I anticipate that the run will continue come Saturday. Wolves currently sit 17th, just 2 points above the drop zone, and while they put in a valiant shift at Anfield in the second half last weekend, they again showed that if the team remains in the division, it will be thanks to one man. Mattheus Cunha is the only threat that the side carries going forward, and if Bournemouth can find a way to keep him quiet, it should be a pretty straightforward afternoon.
Prediction: 3-1 Bournemouth
First Goal Scorer: Antoine Semenyo
Anytime Goal Scorers: Justin Kluivert, Dango Ouattara, Mattheus Cunha
Arsenal vs. West Ham United
15:00, Saturday, February 22nd, The Emirates
West Ham travels to Arsenal in a game that I’ll likely be turning off 20 minutes after tuning in. Even without essentially every attacker through injury, I can’t see Arsenal dropping points to Graham Potter and West Ham, especially at home. I believe that the larger test for Arteta’s side will come midweek at Forest, and again in two weeks’ time at Old Trafford. Given Arsenal’s lack of attacking options, it may be interesting viewing until the first goal goes in, and beyond that, I’m not going to force myself to watch the gaudy over-celebration that will surely follow. God forbid they drop points; however, we know what will be to come.
Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal
First Goal Scorer: Gabriel
Anytime Goal Scorer: Ethan Nwaneri
Fulham vs. Crystal Palace
15:00, Saturday, February 22nd, Craven Cottage
Fulham comes into Saturday in fine form, as they continue their sneaky climb up the table and into the European places. To kick off February, Fulham went to St. James’ Park and fought to a shock 2-1 win over Newcastle, before defeating 3rd-place Forest at the Cottage last weekend. Palace will be disappointed following their 2-1 defeat at home to Everton last weekend, particularly after pulling themselves level after going behind early on. After a torrid start to the campaign, Palace supporters would have been relieved to find themselves where they currently are in February—12th in the table and 13 points clear of safety—and I anticipate that this will be just about where they remain come May. They’ve proven themselves able to be a thorn in anyone’s side on their day, and I think they just may prove this once again on Saturday.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: JP Mateta
Anytime Goal Scorer: Rodrigo Muniz
Ipswich Town vs. Tottenham Hotspur
15:00, Saturday, February 22nd, Portman Road
One of Ipswich’s three victories on the year came at Spurs back in November. Although Spurs seem to have begun righting the ship last weekend against United, this fixture will prove to be anything but easy. Portman Road will be lively, and Ipswich will be further encouraged by last weekend’s draw at Villa Park. The Tractor Boys sit just two points from safety, and while I think it unlikely that they find a way to remain in the division, the possibility of such a feat certainly still has life. I could see Ipswich going up early doors, but key returners such as James Maddison will be just enough to get Spurs over the line come full-time.
Prediction: 2-1 Spurs
First Goal Scorer: Liam Delap
Anytime Goal Scorers: Mathys Tel, James Maddison
Southampton vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
15:00, Saturday, February 22nd, St. Mary’s
8 points from safety may not seem that bad, provided that you’re unaware of the context that you’ve gathered just 9 points from the first 25 played. While I think that Saints will just about eclipse Derby County’s 11-point benchmark, I think it may be very tight. Brighton put in a very impressive performance against Chelsea last weekend, featuring an absolutely stunning goal from Kaoru Mitoma in a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Blues at the Amex. This one’s pretty straightforward—Brighton are much better than Southampton, so let’s not overcomplicate it.
Prediction: 3-0 Brighton
First Goal Scorer: Kaoru Mitoma
Anytime Goal Scorers: Joao Pedro, Georginio Rutter
Aston Villa vs. Chelsea
17:30, Saturday, February 22nd, Villa Park
Villa put in a solid performance against Liverpool at Villa Park on Wednesday. Emery’s side responded well after going 1-0 down early on, reclaiming a 2-1 advantage through Ollie Watkins in first-half stoppage time. Liverpool would equalize early in the second half through Trent Alexander-Arnold, before Darwin Nunez sent a left-footed tap-in into low Earth orbit, ensuring a share of the points. Chelsea, on the other hand, looked absolutely atrocious in their 3-0 loss at Brighton last weekend. Maresca’s side has been rather disappointing from the Christmas period onward, and now find themselves 6th in the table, after sitting comfortably in the top 3 for the majority of the first 4 months of the season. If the Blues have serious ambition of competing in the Champions League next season, they need to recover their form—and quickly.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: Morgan Rodgers
Anytime Goal Scorer: Cole Palmer
Newcastle United vs. Nottingham Forest
14:00, Sunday, February 23rd, St. James’ Park
Newcastle currently find themselves in 7th place after dropping two consecutive league games to Fulham and Manchester City. The Toon were absolutely drubbed 4-0 last weekend at the Etihad, a performance that really surprised me given how good Newcastle have looked at times this season. Nuno’s Forest fell to Fulham at Craven Cottage last weekend, and truthfully, it was the first time this season that I’ve watched Forest and thought that they simply looked exhausted. What the Tricky Trees have managed thus far is beyond commendable, and a UCL spot come May would be a dream come true—but to achieve that dream, it’s going to be essential to nick points in matches such as these. Given Newcastle’s recent dip in form, I think it’s entirely possible.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: Chris Wood
Anytime Goal Scorer: Alexander Isak
Manchester City vs. Liverpool
16:30, Sunday, February 23rd, The Etihad
Both teams will be coming into this game experiencing similar levels of fatigue. City will be dealing with the emotion of bowing out of the Champions League at the hands of Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid on Wednesday, while Liverpool will be playing their 4th game in 10 days. I believed that to keep breathing space between Liverpool and Arsenal, we needed to take at least 4 points from Villa and City this week, and of course, to make this inkling fact, we’re going to have to do it the hard way—why not? It seems like forever since we’ve beaten City there- because it has been; but I’m encouraged by the performance at Villa on Wednesday, and I certainly don’t think that taking all three points on Sunday is out of the realm of possibility. I think if we find a way, it would be a massive step towards the title. I don’t care how it happens, I just care that we find a way. Please, God, just win Liverpool.
Prediction: 2-1 Liverpool
First Goal Scorer: Erling Haaland
Anytime Goal Scorers: Mohammed Salah, Diogo Jota
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