Premier League Predictions, Week 25
© Micah Veldkamp, 2025
Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans, and Happy Valentine's Day! What could be more romantic than reading through some predictions for the league weekend for the first time in two weeks?
Yes, after a weekend devoted to the FA Cup, and two weeks devoted to League Cup and Champions League action, we're back to league action this weekend. In fact, we've already gotten back to league action. That's right, if you thought the days of fixture pileup were over, you're mistaken; rescheduled matches, and fixtures moved due to conflicts from other competitions, mean two matches have already been played in the last couple days before this writing, which will also predict matches out into next week.
Anyways, in case you can't remember, last time out, my slowly improving form hit a downturn. It was not a horrendous week, as I did correctly Nottingham's and Chelsea's victories, though the former's 7-0 demolition of Brighton was thoroughly unexpected. That was not the only scoreline I missed badly: all 3 of my draw predictions failed to transpire, as Southampton got a huge 3 points at fellow relegation contender Ipswich, Darwin Núñez delivered a stoppage time victory for Liverpool over Bournemouth, and in the biggest match of the weekend, Arsenal blew the doors off Manchester City. That's a 2/5 week, if you're keeping track, dropping my season mark back down to 48.5/97, .500 on the dot.
But! The matches are less than 12 hours away from kicking back off, so let's not waste any more time wallowing in forecasts of downturn. Here are your 5 for Week 25!
Leicester City vs. Arsenal
It's unlikely anybody celebrated Everton's last-second equalizer against Liverpool on Wednesday at Goodison Park harder than the Toffees themselves, but Arsenal fans had to be at least a close second. Now level on games played with league leaders Liverpool, a 7-point lead for some reason feels a lot less insurmountable than a 9-point one. The Gunners have problems of their own, with an ever-growing significant injury list, but given that their last Premier League outing was a shockingly easy romp over the four-time reigning champions, it's clear there's a good amount of fight left in this squad yet. I still believe this Leicester team, often tricky to beat at home, is better than their dismal record shows, but they're running short on time to prove it, and I'm skeptical that a good run starts with a title contender coming to town.
The Pick: Arsenal, 3-1
Manchester City vs. Newcastle United
Chelsea's capitulation at Brighton just this afternoon means 4th place is fully up for grabs in this match between the two teams directly behind the Blues in the standings. It's not the prize Newcastle or certainly Manchester City would want in general, but at this point in a season that's held so many rocky stages for them, either team would welcome a spot in the Top 4 as a sign of real progress. However, Chelsea being leapfrogged for 4th place would require one of these teams to win this match, and I'm not sure that's going to happen. City's ceiling is certainly higher at this point, and they do get the home-field advantage in this one, but just when I thought I could trust their form, they fell apart at Arsenal and in the midweek, collapsed late vs. Real Madrid. It's tough for me to see them losing at home to a side like Newcastle, but the Magpies are good at often being a thorn in the champions' sides.
The Pick: Draw, 2-2
Fulham vs. Nottingham Forest
Most in the media seem to have declared this title race a two-horse competition, but Nottingham Forest's stunning 7-goal demolition of a good Brighton team served notice that they are very much in the thick of things, still, thank you. Their 10-point deficit from leaders Liverpool isn't insignificant, though, and Forest is about to enter a very difficult-- and arguably defining --stretch of their schedule, one that will test their mettle and their title credentials. Starting that stretch with 3 points in London against a tricky Fulham side would be the perfect way to get off on the right foot, but I think Fulham matches up well enough to cause their visitors the same types of problems they've caused the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle.
The Pick: Draw, 1-1
Liverpool vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Given the dramatic, last-gasp nature of the draw at Everton, it's natural to view the rivalry result as 2 points lost, but given that this was Liverpool's "game in hand," the reality is that it literally was a point gained on the field. Furthermore, they still have just the one loss in every competition they've played, and three of those have serious asterisks by them (a first leg loss in the League Cup semifinal they eventually won, a Champions League loss with a B-team only after they had already clinched top spot in the "league phase," and the recent FA Cup upset with a de facto C-team). So, it is far too early for real fear to creep in for the oft-steady league leaders; that said, it's true that the Reds' form has been less than sterling in the new year. And now they enter a tough, condensed stretch of matches missing perhaps both a crucial midfielder and their manager due to red cards in the postmatch fracas at Goodison Park, and fresh injury concerns regarding the red-hot Cody Gakpo. Given the 'snowball effect' potential Wednesday's result and everything that came after it holds, it's perhaps a relief for Liverpool that their very next outing is to host one of the worst teams in the league. It may not necessarily be a comfortable win, but anything other than a win spells real trouble for their previously secure title hopes.
The Pick: Liverpool, 2-1
Aston Villa vs. Liverpool
While most of the attention in the middle of the week will be on the 2nd legs of Champions League playoff fixtures, a significant Premier League match will kick off next Wednesday. After Liverpool qualified for the League Cup Final, the Premier League booted this 'Week 29' match up to this week as the only mutual availability for the two sides, even going so far as to ignore Aston Villa's request to postpone this updated kickoff time. My (admittedly slanted) view: this request from Villa was a little silly, given the "3 matches in 1 week" slate has become commonplace for the best Champions League-faring teams in recent year, and in this case, none of the 3 matches will require them to leave Birmingham. Still, whether it's feeling jilted by the league, the home comfort, or the fact that their opponents are likely to be without their manager on the touchline, I have a feeling the Villains are going to give the league leaders hell in this midweek clash.
The Pick: Draw, 2-2
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