Premier League Predictions, Week 17

Happy New Year, all! Welcome to 2021, and welcome back to your Premier League predictions. We've had the typical holiday smorgasbord of fixtures in a year that has otherwise anything but typical, but after this weekend, the clubs will finally get a brief respite before getting back to business in mid-January.

Something I think you all can probably relate to is that I am entering this year optimistic and hopeful for a better year, personally and globally. When it comes to these Premier League predictions, inarguably the most important thing in my life, optimism is what I'll need. It's no secret that I am off to a positively horrid start this season, and that continued last week. I nailed the Chelsea and Aston Villa score, and also correctly picked the surprise Newcastle draw with Liverpool. Other than that, I totally missed out, being bailed out only by a COVID-forced postponement of Everton vs. Manchester City, so I went 2.5/6 as opposed to out of 7. That drops my season total to an even worse 32/69, which is....well, yikes.

But, the matches are already underway, so let's not waste any more time with auld lang syne-ing. Here are your 5 for Week 17!

Everton vs. West Ham

Everton’s scrapped match against Manchester City was a disappointment for the Toffees’ opportunities of bolstering their title— or at least Top 4 —credentials, but at least it confirmed they would enter this particular fixture with their four-match winning streak intact. West Ham, meanwhile, have the opposite problem, coming into today with a nasty four-match winless slide. To be fair, their sole loss of late has been to Chelsea, and they also got a draw against a solid Southampton team. Still, you have to imagine the Hammers will be gunning for some points this weekend to re-establish their footing, and against a team who’s had a longer than anticipated layoff, I think they might actually get some. Or one, to be precise.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Manchester United vs. Aston Villa

Marcus Rashford’s deflected, stoppage time winner against Wolves on Tuesday was emblematic of the sort of fortunate breaks Manchester United got throughout the year of 2020, but sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, and right now the Red Devils are both lucky and good. That goal not only delivered 3 points against a solid team, it also gave United a win in a week that saw just about every other top team drop points. They now have a game in hand against arch rivals and league leaders Liverpool, and with a win today could draw level on points with the defending champions. But lest you think today will be all about them, Aston Villa would like a word. The refurbished Villa side have been a thrill to watch this season and sit just outside the Top 4 currently. What’s more, they have two games in hand, and as such could theoretically be within 1 point of Liverpool, provided they win both. As has so often been the case this crazy season, there is plenty at stake. But, again as has so often been the case this season, I expect United will find a way to get the points they need.

The Pick: Manchester United, 2-1

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leeds United

Tottenham started off December with a win in the North London Derby to take them top of the league. After that, it was a month from hell for them. Roman Saïss' late equalizer for Wolves last weekend made it four straight matches without a win for the Spurs, as they've slipped to 8th place in the league. Leeds, on the other hand, has continued to be the up-and-down club they've been all year, following up a 6-2 demolition by United with a 5-0 destruction of West Brom. We all know by now that Bielsa's Boys have enough quality to cause the likes of Tottenham real problems. But we also know they're seemingly incapable of stringing together successive high-quality performances, and with Spurs desperate for a win, that's a tough recipe for success.

The Pick: Tottenham, 4-1

Southampton vs. Liverpool

Mere weeks ago, this would have unexpectedly been the top billed matchup of the weekend. But, in what's clearly becoming a theme, since reaching 2nd place in the league, Southampton has had a rough go of it, winning just 2 of their last 8, including just 3 points from their last 4 matches. They'll be looking to right the ship, but that will be no small task against Liverpool; the champions are the current league leaders, but also are starved for a win. Their 7-0 shellacking of Crystal Palace seemed to signal to the rest of the league that the Reds of yesteryear had finally arrived, but that match feels like an eternity ago, in the wake of two less-than-impressive draws against bottom of the table teams West Brom and Newcastle. It seems incomprehensible that a Klopp-led Liverpool side would drop points in 3 straight matches; I'm not sure it's ever happened in this regime. But a whole lot that would seem incomprehensible has already happened this season, and Southampton is the exact type of smaller club that gives Liverpool fits.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Chelsea vs. Manchester City

This Sunday morning showdown would be a delectable matchup, regardless of the circumstances. These are the two richest clubs in the league, so unsurprisingly, there's a wealth of talent on the field. These two have also spent the better part of the decade near the top of the table, combining to win 7 of the last 11 Premier League titles. That said, this particular showdown now has the added context of two title contenders trying to re-establish themselves as contenders. 7th-place Manchester City have yet to really hit top gear this season, winless against any side currently ahead of them. 6th-place Chelsea briefly looked the part as they hovered around the top of the table, but have slipped severely with just one win from their last five. I think City are the better team (and manager) on paper, but Chelsea have been better this season and have them on their home ground. If there is a winner, I think it may very well be the London side, but I'll go with them sharing points this time around.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2