Premier League Predictions, Week 25

Week 25 again sees some teams coming off a short week, thanks to Champions League and Europa League action. It also sees some fixture reworking: due to the League Cup final on Sunday morning, Aston Villa’s matchup against Sheffield United and Manchester City’s showdown with Arsenal have both been postponed. It’s unfortunate, as both would have had really interesting Champions League and relegation ramifications. But the good news is, there are still some mighty fun games to tune into this weekend.

Speaking of tuning in, if you've been tuning in to my running prediction tally, you'll notice I once again had a mediocre 3/5 week. I nailed the Chelsea-Tottenham result (complete with the scoreline), and correctly projected Liverpool and Manchester United victories. However, I misjudged the Leicester-Man City match, and entrusted Sheffield United with too much. That week brought me to a 57/90 on the season, which is just scratching above "Bad."

Now, the matches are less than 24 hours away from kicking back off, so let's not waste any more time mired in mediocrity. Here are your 5 for Week 25!

Norwich City vs. Leicester City

There haven’t been too many Friday night games this season, but I swear either Norwich or Leicester has played in every one of them (don’t fact check me). So it seems fitting that these two would play on Friday. This has nothing to do with unbiased analysis, but subjectively, these are my two favorite sides not named Liverpool this season. They both play such positive football, and have managers and fanbases that are easy to cheer for. Despite drawing 1-1 in their first matchup, however, the two sides’ seasons couldn’t be more different from each other. Leicester is massively overachieving, sitting pretty in 3rd place even after their loss to Manchester City last week. Norwich, however, hasn’t been able to translate their blistering 2018-19 form to the Premier League, and is in last place, in imminent danger of relegation. Norwich need to start winning now, and I do think this is one of those matches that they could snag some surprise points if their finishing is on. But unfortunately, it feels like the die is cast for them.

The Pick: Leicester City, 3-2

Bournemouth vs. Chelsea

Did someone say relegation zone? Thanks largely to manager Eddie Howe, Bournemouth has been a mainstay in the Top 10/15 of the Premier League since their promotion in 2015(?), but for the first time since that year, are in real danger of rejoining the Championship ranks. Their quest for survival sees them hosting Chelsea this weekend, a club clinging on to 4th place by a thread after holding off Tottenham last weekend. The midweek match didn’t help the Blues, who got obliterated on their home field by Bayern Munich in the Champions League. This match is a fascinating one to predict; based on the talent at hand, Chelsea should win going away, but they’re a young team whose form is really down at the moment. Bournemouth should lose, but they’re a scrappy team in real need of a win. Then again, Chelsea needs a result too, with 4 clubs breathing down their neck. My best guess at what happens is that Bournemouth plays the exact game they’re wanting to play, but in the waning minutes of stoppage time, Chelsea (probably from Giroud) snag an equalizer and salvage a precious point.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2

Watford vs. Liverpool

In terms of the final result, this should be the easiest one to pick. And true, there’s no way I’m picking the 19th-placed team in the Premier League to beat the champions-elect, even at home. But in terms of how the match plays out, I don’t know that it will be at all what people expect. Liverpool have been far from their high-flying selves of late, their ugly Champions League loss to Atlético sandwiched between struggling to put away two relegation-bound teams in Norwich and West Ham. West Ham’s performance in particular, in which they gashed Liverpool’s defense twice and held a lead for 15 minutes in the 2nd half at Anfield, will give Watford some hope this weekend. But as Peter Drury roared after Liverpool’s comeback on Monday, “it’s red-blooded mentality...they simply HAVE to win!”

The Pick: Liverpool, 1-0

Everton vs. Manchester United

Everton lost a crucial match this past weekend to Arsenal, which dropped them to 11th place in the Premier League. Yet, such is the chaotic nature of the league post-Man City-ban that a win on Sunday could bring the Toffees to within 2 points of Champions League eligibility. They’d need some help from other teams, of course (more on that in a minute), but they also need to be able to beat a Manchester United side that might finally be playing up to their potential. One week after embarrassing Chelsea, United beat down Watford and are suddenly primed to snag a Champions League bid. The turnaround is real for United...but, loss to Arsenal notwithstanding, its real for Everton, too, under Carlo Ancelotti. I predict a raucous Goodison Park sees the two share points.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

The last match of the weekend is quite possibly its most intriguing. Tottenham and Wolverhampton both came into this season with high hopes, the former looking to build on their thrilling Champions League run, the latter looking to build on their stunning Top 7 finish in 2019. After fairly disastrous starts for both clubs, they’ve turned things around and have some semblance of sure footing in the Top 10. Never mind Top 10, they’re within breathing distance of Champions League qualification! Sitting 1 and 2 points, respectively, out of 5th place, this match could be a vital step forward for the winning team, especially with Manchester United facing a tough away fixture. It’s difficult to project what will happen, as Tottenham clearly are more gifted, but Wolves have a habit of earning points in matchups like these. Spurs have had a week to forget, following a home loss in the Champions League with their crucial league loss to Chelsea last weekend. Their opponents have had a week to remember, following a shellacking of Norwich with qualification to the Europa League Round of 16. But will form win out, or will urgency? At the end of the day, injuries and all, it’s just hard for me to see Tottenham dropping points in consecutive key matches.

The Pick: Tottenham, 2-1

Premier League Predictions, Week 25

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