Premier League Predictions, Week 2

Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans! It's always hard to believe yet another season underway every time a new one kicks off, and this one felt particularly hard to believe, as a summer without a World Cup made way for an earlier-than-usual start in order to allow for the unprecedented winter World Cup.

One matchweek of play is already in the books, but I had to allow for a buffer week before I came in hot with my predictions, after the mediocre season I had in 2021-22. Much like my favored Liverpool, I improved on my brutal previous year, notching a 52% success rate on a 78/150 season total, but still ended up short of the level which I wanted to be at...namely, UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF GLORY. Here's to a 2022-23 glowup! Now, the matches are less than 24 hours from kicking off, so let's not waste any more time with sunny optimism. Here are your 5 for Week 2!

Arsenal vs. Leicester City

Arsenal's entering this season with the most optimism they've had in a very, very long time. A plucky Leicester side, who has often been the Gunners' bogey team, could very well test that optimism early on. But I think Arsenal will dig deep in front of the Emirates crowd and build on their season-opening win over Palace with a thrilling win in their home opener.

The Pick: Arsenal, 3-2

Brentford vs. Manchester United

Manchester United fans, on the other hand, may already have taken the mantle from Arsenal as the most miserable in the league. Any hopes of a fresh start under their new manager and washing out the bad taste of last season were quickly dashed with a stunningly listless home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in their opener. It's almost unfathomable that United would lose their first two matches of the season, especially with Liverpool on the docket for next week. But Brentford at home is likely to be even more difficult an opponent than Brighton was.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2

Manchester City vs. Bournemouth

Bournemouth marked their welcome return to the league with an impressive 2-0 win over Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa. Their reward? A visit to the Etihad to play the two-time defending champions, whose shiny new striker just scored a brace in his first ever Premier League appearance. Welcome back, Cherries!

The Pick: Man City, 5-2

Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace

For a team that came oh-so-close to winning it all last season and enters this one with real title aspirations, Liverpool's opener could not have gone much worse. Late heroics from big Summer signing Darwin Núñez and (who else?) Mo Salah at least salvaged a point, but a draw against Fulham, in which they looked downright apathetic for about 70 minutes of game time and lost star midfielder Thiago to the already growing pile of injuries, could not have been the start Jürgen Klopp wanted from his side. I expect the Reds to be sharper in their home opener, but they're going to have to be, because just as Fulham evidently isn't, Crystal Palace are no pushovers.

The Pick: Liverpool, 2-0

Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur

The prime showdown this weekend will be an all-London battle between two heavyweights on different trajectories: Chelsea stumbled across the finish line last season, and under their new ownership loudly missed on most of their desired signings this Summer. Tottenham, meanwhile, ended last season on a tear, snagging a Champions League spot on the last matchweek, and dealing eyebrow-raisingly good business in the offseason. Either one of these sides could make a real statement about their title credentials with a win this weekend, but I expect spoils to be shared in what could be a somewhat tight affair.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1