Premier League Predictions, Week 24(ish)

Welcome back to your weekly predictions, Premier League fans! Yes, it's really me, back from a two week-plus hiatus, just like our favorite crazy domestic league! In our time away, we watched some international teams secure their dreams of reaching a World Cup or winning an African Cup of Nations, others saw that dream fizzle out, and some froze their butts off in Minneapolis and Columbus, Ohio. But after a week on the international scene and a weekend full of FA Cup action, it's time to return to the Premier League.

Since you probably don't even remember who I am any more, let alone what happened in the league when the last matches were played centuries ago, allow me to get you caught up. To put it mildly, it went....poorly for me. The good news is that I was spot-on in my prediction that Liverpool would beat Crystal Palace despite it being a competitive match. The bad news is, that would prove to be the only result I accurately predicted, as I whiffed on Burnley and Southampton's shock draws, and did not expect Manchester United nor Chelsea to get the crucial wins over West Ham and Tottenham that they did. My 1/5 week brought my season total to 45.5/87, which is above 50%, and that's about the nicest thing I can say about that.

But, the midweek matches are already back underway, so let's not waste time with self-flagellation. Here are your 8 for Week 23/24/25/20, depending on which team you cheer for!

Manchester City vs. Brentford

The last time we saw either of these teams, the unthinkable happened: Manchester City didn't win. The sluggish road draw at Southampton could not have been what Pep Guardiola wanted from his team entering the long international break. Fortunately, though City don't need any additional help, they'll return from the break with a team in freefall mode. Brentford, losers of four straight, are a shell of the team they were to start the season, and though the Bees might be inspired to be a nuisance for City the way they were for other top teams this season, ultimately quality wins out here.

The Pick: Man City, 3-2

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Arsenal

You can't blame Arsenal fans for pessimism, and to be fair, zero wins in the year 2022 is a cause for concern. But still, all is not lost for the Gunners; far from it, in fact. They sit just four points back from 4th-placed West Ham, with three matches in hand! Still, a road trip to the 8th-placed team, and one that has been notably stingy on defense this season, is not the matchup a team looking to regain form was hoping to return from a break to see.

The Pick: Draw, 0-0

Liverpool vs. Leicester City

Both these teams actually already returned from the international break with FA Cup matches this weekend. While Liverpool celebrated a sluggish-but-ultimately-convincing win over Cardiff, Leicester will be licking their wounds from a 4-1 thrashing by Championship side Nottingham Forest. Still, this is a different competition altogether, and when these two met in the Premier League in December, the Foxes were able to give Liverpool only their second loss of the season. Given that that Leciester side were decimated by COVID and injuries, and the Reds will still be lacking the services of Sadio Mané and perhaps Mo Salah due to the AFCON Final on Sunday, it stands to reason that Leicester could get the best of them again. But, nervous a Liverpool fan as I am, I just can't see this Leicester side taking points off the Reds twice, especially at Anfield.

The Pick: Liverpool, 2-1

Norwich City vs. Manchester City

Well, for a team looking to return to their winning ways and close out the title race, this week is going to be far from strenuous for Manchester City. After Brentford, they travel to relegation-bound Norwich City. The Canaries are winners of two straight, to be fair, and that uptick in form under new manager Dean Smith will encourage them in their fight for Premier League survival. But are they going to make like 2019 and stun Manchester City at home? I think not. Far too early for that.

The Pick: Man City, 3-0

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

What a week ahead for Wolverhampton: two matchups against North London sides in the heat of a Top 4 battle. Nobody is really paying attention to the fact that Wolves are not only in the Top 4 battle themselves, but are definitely capable of taking points off both teams. If they can somehow make out of this week with two victories, that would throw a serious wrench in the race and make a statement about Wolves' staying power. But I do think at least one of the London teams will get them, and the easy candidate here is Tottenham, who will get them at home and will be eager to get back to winning way after their disappointing loss to Chelsea last time out.

The Pick: Tottenham, 2-1

Burnley vs. Liverpool

Burnley might have taken a serious step forward in their long journey up from the relegation zone today, securing a precious point against heavily favored Manchester United. No matter how up or down the Clarets may be, they always seem game to pester the big dogs, and that has especially been true with Liverpool, who Sean Dyche seems to get a special rise out of taking points off of. Liverpool's obviously the superior team on paper, and very well have the services of both Mané and Salah back for this one, but it's still been about two months since we've seen these Reds look truly dominant, and anything less than a dominant Liverpool is in trouble of dropping points at Turf Moor.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Leicester City vs. West Ham United

If Leicester City is going to make any late run at a Top 4 push to match the last couple season, in which they've been in contention up through the final day of games, it's going to have to start this week. With Liverpool and West Ham on the docket, they've got two major opponents and Top 4 competitors that they could fell in a matter of days, which would thoroughly launch them back into the discussion. Unfortunately for the Foxes, I think chances are slim they win both, but if they are in fact to fall to Liverpool at Anfield as I predicted earlier, they might be set up nicely to catch the Hammers off guard, who will be coming in off a gritty win over Watford today.

The Pick: Leicester, 4-2

Manchester United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Manchester United went into the international break officially back in the Top 4, on the back of a vital, last-minute victory over West Ham. In retrospect, it now looks like it was the worst time for them to take a break, as they've lost any mojo they had. First came this weekend's elimination in the FA Cup at the hands of Championship team Middlesbrough, and then earlier today, multiple blown chances in a draw with last-placed Burnley which sees them falling back out of the Top 4. They have a chance to right the ship this weekend at home against Southampton, but even if they do, they'll need to avoid a letdown just 3 days later in a rescheduled match against tricky Brighton. The Gulls appear to be rediscovering their sure footing from the beginning of the season, currently on a six-match unbeaten streak which includes two contests against Chelsea and one at Leicester. It used to be silly to think Manchester United would drop points to Brighton at Old Trafford, but if the latter weren't scared of playing at Liverpool or at Chelsea, why should they be frightened by this United team?

The Pick: Draw, 2-2