Premier League Predictions, Makeup Week

Welcome back to our predictions, Premier League fans! That's right, I'm back again. Yes, it has only been a few days. No, you do not usually see this piece in such quick succession. However, due to a rare week without European football and the need to reschedule games moved due to FA Cup fixtures or royal monarchs dying, we get some bonus Premier League football tomorrow and Wednesday!

In case you can't remember my predictions from a whopping three days ago, I pulled a Liverpool and followed up one of my better weeks all season with a bad week. My Brighton, Manchester United, and Tottenham victory predictions all failed to come to fruition, and while I did predict Arsenal and Manchester City's victories, the 4th goal by the latter not only added humiliation for my Reds, it cost me my only perfect scoreline prediction of the week. All in all, it was another 2/5 week, which puts me right back around the .500 mark, at 46/90.

But hey, the midweek games are less than 24 hours away from kicking off, so no time for wallowing in self-pity. Here are your 5 for Week Whatever!

Leeds United vs. Nottingham Forest

The first showdown of the midweek slate is a relegation battle royale. Leeds, on their third manager in the last 365 days, haven't managed to escape the danger zone all year, and are still sitting in 18th place. Their opponents Nottingham have had a much more up-and-down year, starting fast, then spending a good amount of time in dead last, then seeing an extended unbeaten streak take them all the way up to the Top 10, and now are back near the relegation zone, winless in their last 7. Their last victory, however, did come against Leeds, and although the Peacocks have them at home this time, their complete capitulation to Arsenal this weekend didn't exactly inspire confidence. Forest is a way off from the league leaders in terms of quality, of course, but still, I find it harder to trust Leeds.

The Pick: Nottingham, 1-0

Bournemouth vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Like Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth have just about seen it all this season. The Cherries started off the year in a distant last place, and sacked manager Scott Parker just four matches into the season after a 9-0 thrashing by Liverpool. An immediate 6-match unbeaten streak under new manager Gary O'Neil, however, soon saw them jump all the way up to the Top 10, leapfrogging the Liverpool side who embarrassed them. Then, 5 points from the first 27 available in 2023 saw them sink back to the relegation zone, only to crawl back above the cut line with 2 wins from their last 3, including one over....Liverpool, naturally. Brighton, meanwhile, continues to stay in striking distance, even after having to settle for a home draw with Brentford over the weekend with a thrilling 3-3 draw. This matchup has the potential to be another goalfest, but, even with home-field advantage, Bournemouth is no Brentford; I think the Gulls seal the deal this time.

The Pick: Brighton, 3-2

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Both these storied clubs have had a season to forget, and are coming off a big ol' weekend to forget. Liverpool returned from the international break with a total flop, collapsing at rivals Manchester City with a 4-1 loss despite opening the scoring, and slipping to 8th place with their second loss in a row. Chelsea, meanwhile, couldn't segue their Champions League success into domestic results; Saturday's shocking home loss to Aston Villa was their fourth out of their last six, and saw the second sacking of their manager this season, as Graham Potter was dismissed. Liverpool, for all their faults, are a better team than Chelsea at the moment, and still show glints of a Top 4 fight in them at times whereas the Blues seem to have accepted their Champions League-less fate for next year. However, those things were both true when these clubs first met at Anfield in January, and Liverpool couldn't even muster 3 points then. So between the home field advantage and potential for a new manager bounce, I can't possibly predict a Red victory tomorrow.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

West Ham United vs. Newcastle United

I wasn't fully sold on Newcastle as a Top 4 finisher for most of the year, and after their five-match winless slump that spanned the month of February, I really thought they were likely out of the race. Then, the Magpies abruptly turned things around, rattling off three consecutive wins while other Top 4 contenders dropped decisions. After Sunday's dominant display over Manchester United which saw them move up to 3rd place, consider me on board now, Toons. Or at least on board the train that believes you won't lose to lowly West Ham.

The Pick: Newcastle, 2-1

Manchester United vs. Brentford

A Manchester United season that in such a short time ago felt so promising, and one that many labeled their best in the post-Ferguson era. has all of a sudden threatened to unravel. Sunday's clunker at Newcastle marked three matches without a win, and dropped the Red Devils out of the Top 4 (albeit with two matches in hand over Tottenham). This short, but unexpected slump has caused fans and haters alike suddenly scrutinize certain dynamics, such as the fact that United have only three more points at this time in the season than they did in 2021-22, or their atrocious form on the road. Fortunately for the Manchester faithful, they get Brentford at home on Wednesday, and while the Bees are the furthest thing from a surefire win, you've gotta imagine the Top 4 race + the revenge factor for the 4-0 humiliation at Brentford to start the season makes this a must-win for United.

The Pick: Man United, 3-2