Premier League Predictions, Week 29
© Micah Veldkamp, 2019
Welcome back to another Premier League midweek prediction! We now have just 5 or 6 matches remaining, depending on your team's level of domestic cup involvement.
It was another Champions League week, which of course you know if you're a. a fútbol fan, and b. a fan of The Couch. At this stage in the European competition the last several years, that fact hasn't been altogether relevant to the Premier League, but this year 4 of the 8 quarterfinalists happen to be in the Premier League Top 4, fighting it out for either a spot in next year's Champions League or the Premier League trophy itself. It also bears mentioning that the Europa League, soccer's answer to the NIT, features two other sides competing for the Top 4 in the Premier League, so there's tired legs to go around here.
Anyways, last week in my Premier League predictions, I again went 4 for 5, continuing a nice little 80% trend I've had going for the last several weeks. I mistakenly believed Arsenal would snag a point off of Everton, but got all the other matchups correct. That brings my season total to a mark of 74 for 115, which sounds a lot better than it actually is. Now, the other games are less than 12 hours away from kicking off, so let's not waste any more time. Here are your 4* for Week 29!
*Tottenham will beat already-relegated Huddersfield with or without Harry Kane. Here are the 4 matches that matter.
Manchester United vs. West Ham
United, for the first time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, find themselves in a bit of a slump at the moment. Ever since their dramatic Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain, the Red Devils have lost 4 matches in all competitions, and won just 1, including two Premier League losses, to Arsenal and Watford. Meanwhile, the race for Top 4 has tightened, and United absolutely need 3 points against pesky West Ham to remain in contention for next year's Champions League slots. The Hammers are often a tougher out than they should be, but with as much riding on this as there will be, particularly within the walls of Old Trafford, I just can't see ManU failing to win this one.
The Pick: Manchester United, 2-1
Watford vs. Arsenal
Speaking of Top 4 contenders taking on pesky opponents: Arsenal and Watford play Monday night! The Gunners were on fire (pun entirely intended) recently and had played themselves into a solid 3rd place, only to fluff their lines against Everton last week. Watford have been an up-and-down team in 2018-19, most recently clinching their place in the FA Cup Final in thrilling fashion. The Hornets are capable of snagging points off of just about anyone on a good day, which Arsenal will be well aware of. What makes this especially intriguing is Arsenal's well-documented road agony. It's been a while since I've made a bold upset prediction in this piece, and with the Gunners' notably poor performances away from home, this feels like a good candidate.
The Pick: Watford, 3-2
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City
The two teams vying for the Premier League crown play on Sunday morning. In the first leg of the doubleheader, Crystal Palace plays host to title holders Manchester City, in what is the beginning of a brutal stretch for the latter. Selhurst Park is rarely an easy place to make off with 3 points, and even if City do make off with a victory, they are then rewarded with matches against: Tottenham (in the Champions League), Tottenham, and at Manchester United. Fortunately for the league leaders, they're one of the few squads with the makeup to withstand such a test.
The Pick: Manchester City, 3-1
Liverpool vs. Chelsea
All due respect to the six aforementioned teams, but all English eyes will be on these two sides this weekend, in a clash with absolutely massive Premier League ramifications. Liverpool, as we've seen in 2019, are capable of dropping points to most everyone, but realistically, Chelsea present the last likely hurdle until the end of the season. Win this, and it's reasonable for Red fans to assume that one Manchester City slip-up might just deliver their beloved side the evasive Premier League trophy. But on the flip side, Chelsea, like Arsenal and Man United, are fighting to keep their heads above the Champions League cutoff line, and winning (or even drawing) this one would be a huge step forward in that race. There's a lot of history for the league contenders to overcome: Liverpool fans everywhere still have PTSD from Gerrard's slip in the title-costing 0-2 loss to Chelsea at home in 2014, but in reality, it goes further. The Reds haven't notched a home win against Chelsea in the League in 8 years. I predict this will not be a full-on calamitous affair for them as it was that fateful day 5 years ago, but it's difficult for me to feel good about a victory in this case.
The Pick: Draw, 1-1