Premier League Predictions, Week 27

© Micah Veldkamp, 2026

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Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans! I'm back slightly sooner than usual, because well, the games are beginning slightly sooner than usual! Despite another week of European Cup action-- and some thrilling European Cup action, at that --the Premier League kicks off their weekend with a not-insignificant Friday match this time, so let's get into it, shall we?

In case you can't remember alllll the way back from 5 days ago...well, maybe it's better that you don't. I had some bold predictions last week that did not pan out, and some seemingly chalk predictions that somehow also burned me. For instance, my hot take that both Manchester teams were headed for dropped points was a whiff, with City edging Newcastle and United winning at Everton. Whereas Top 4 teams Aston Villa and Chelsea beating their newly-promoted opponents seemed like a given to me, but instead both sides settled for 1-1 draws. Fortunately, my last slate ended with ol' reliable: Tottenham! Yes, picking Tottenham to lose big just never seems to be the wrong move these days, and sure enough, Arsenal stomped them and mercifully saved me from a winless weekend in the process. Still, my 1/5 week drops me to 67.5/115 on the season. Not bad, but trending back down :(

But, the matches are less than 24 hours away from kicking back off, so let's not waste any more time with foreboding prognostications! Here are your 5 for Week 27!

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Aston Villa

Tammy Abraham's late goal was enough to at least salvage a draw last weekend, but the dropped points at home vs. Leeds have to sting for Aston Villa, who keep refusing to walk through the doors of opportunity that Arsenal keep opening for them to get back into the title race. Still, even if their title hopes are on life support, there's plenty for 3rd-place Villa to play for at this point, namely securing the Champions League berth that eluded them last season. The same can't really be said for their Friday night opponents, whose relegation fate is all but sealed at this point. Still, despite their grim future, Wolves have been playing better of late, and have the chance to score a big win in front of a home crowd, which makes me think this might be a tougher match than Aston Villa would like. But it's hard for me to see Unai Emery's team following up a disappointing result with a second successive.

The Pick: Aston Villa, 2-1

Liverpool vs. West Ham United

Eagle-eyed observers will have noticed that my predictions haven't included my beloved Liverpool lately; it's not, as you might expect, a protest from a dejected fan, rather than an objective recognition that a team outside the Champions League places isn't usually going to be involved in one of the 5 biggest matches of the weekend. But the Reds have responded well to that demoralizing collapse against Manchester City a few weeks ago, with 3 successive wins in all competitions, and working themselves back into a tie for 5th place with Chelsea, who face the league leaders this weekend. With difficult matches on the docket for both the Blues and 4th-place Manchester United, a 3rd straight league win for Arne Slot's men could theoretically see them jump all the way back up into the Top 4 after Sunday. I'm still not ready to declare Liverpool "back," nor 100% sold on them turning it around entirely this season, but I am ready to at least feel confident about beating West Ham at Anfield.

The Pick: Liverpool, 3-1

Leeds United vs. Manchester City

Manchester City scored a big win against an oft-bogey team on Saturday, beating Newcastle to (briefly) move within 2 points of Arsenal. Their narrow escape, though, in which City spent much of the 2nd half on the back foot as has often been the case this season, showed everyone that the vulnerabilities have not been exorcised, even as their form has improved. They can't afford another 2nd half dud in this tricky matchup; Leeds' record and standing may not suggest it, but the Peacocks have been a tough out for most this season. Elland Road will be bouncing on Saturday, and Daniel Farke's side has pumped in enough goals lately to make me think they might just be able to throw yet another wrench in the title race this weekend.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2

Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace

Manchester United's amazing run under interim manager Michael Carrick continued last week; not only did the Red Devils remain unbeaten since Carrick took the reigns, they became just the second team to knock off Everton in their new stadium this season, and did so on a blustery Monday night under the lights. They still control their own destiny for Champions League football next year, a fact that sounded like a pipe dream at the turn of the year. This Sunday matchup won't be an easy one, and I'm tempted to predict a Crystal Palace upset, given how consistently they've shown up against tougher competition this year. But for one, I underestimated Man United last week and don't want to make the same mistake, and what's more, the wheels have come off a bit for Palace of late, as Oliver Glasner's farewell tour has won just 9 of 36 points since the holidays.

The Pick: Man United, 2-1

Arsenal vs. Chelsea

Let's call it like it is: Tottenham are a sorry side at the moment, the second consecutive year that that's been the case within the Premier League. Still, not only will Arsenal happily accept a win over their North London rivals any day, their second 4-1 romp over Spurs this season was also a significant mental victory for the beleaguered title favorites, who are so often dogged with the pressure of not "bottling" their chances. The Gunners will again have the benefit of playing in the last match of the weekend and knowing how title chasers Manchester City fare before them...but the same is true of their opponents, Chelsea. Yet another major London rival of Arsenal, the Blues are in the thick of their own heated race for Champions League positioning, and will be eager to see how Manchester United and Liverpool fare in their matches. Back-to-back draws have seen Chelsea slip to 3 points behind United and level with Liverpool, and should one or both of those teams . While other results could very well dictate how this match is played, in the absence of knowledge on how those matches will play out, I have to predict based on the head-to-head quality of the teams, and the truth is, Arsenal are not only playing at home but are also just a much better team right now.

The Pick: Arsenal, 3-1