Premier League Predictions, Week 30

© Micah Veldkamp, 2026

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Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans! We've had another round of European action this week, and March Madness is officially underway, so you'd be forgiven if you forgot we had another weekend of Premier League action on the horizon. But we do!

And you better enjoy it too, because this will be the last Premier League weekend for a long while! The last dreaded international break is upon us at the end of this month, and for some reason, once we return from the break, the first matches on the docket are FA Cup and European fixtures. So let's make the most of this one!

Speaking of making the most of it, that's what I did in my last predictions piece, at long last. Sure, I failed to see the West Ham draw with Manchester City coming, as most everyone did. I also was incorrect in my guess that Chelsea would beat Newcastle. But I was able to salvage my first good result in weeks by correctly predicting that my beloved Liverpool would suffer an embarrassing draw with Tottenham. Hooray! Okay okay, and the bigger deal is that not only were my Arsenal and Manchester United picks correct, both won by the exact scoreline I predicted. That was enough to land me a 4/5 week, which takes me to 77/130 on the year.

But, the matches are kicking back off today, so let's not waste any more time crowing about how back we are. Here are your 5 for Week 30!

Bournemouth vs. Manchester United

Arsenal and Manchester City have the weekend off from league play as they meet in the League Cup final tomorrow, which means in this piece we get to focus almost entirely on the Top 4 race, starting with this afternoon's match. Manchester United's dip in their previously torrid form under interim manager Michael Carrick was short-lived, as the alumnus led his team to a vital 3-1 victory over Top 4 competitors Aston Villa last Sunday. They now travel to the south coast to face a tricky Bournemouth, who have worked their way back into the top half of the table on the back of a quiet 10-match unbeaten streak (quiet, perhaps, because 7 of those 10 have been draws, but still). The Cherries' improved form is for real, and I think they will be a tough out at home, but the goals have also started to dry up-- 3 of their last 4 matches have been scoreless draws --which makes me a little skeptical of their ability to claim all 3 points over their visitors.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Liverpool

The most damning part of Liverpool's disastrous draw with Tottenham was that it almost felt inevitable, coming off the loss at Wolves. Every single time this season that it's seemed like Liverpool might be turning the corner, an ensuing stretch of games shows that no, they very much are not. Their stop-start play this season has long knocked them out of title contention, and it very well might cost them Champions League football next season if it's not corrected soon. Speaking of Champions League, though, their big win (and dominant performance) at Galatasaray the other day booked the Reds' spot in the quarterfinals, at least, and renewed hope that maybe there's something left for them this season. Can they get back to winning ways in the league this weekend? I want to believe they can, and certainly Brighton's style of play certainly does render another Galatasary-esque performance possible. But I've long lost confidence in this team being able to win when it's needed most, and injuries to multiple veteran players + an early kickoff on the road usually spells trouble for an inconsistent team.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2

Everton vs. Chelsea

Somehow, though, despite Aston Villa's freefall in form and Liverpool's inability to sustain momentum, both teams are still currently poised to qualify for the Champions League next season, and the reason for that is Chelsea. The Blues also enjoyed a bright start under a new manager, but unlike rivals Manchester United, the shine quickly faded, as Liam Rosenior's crew has only been able to manage 5 points from their last 15, and slipped back down to 6th place in a narrow race. It won't get easier for them tomorrow, as they head up north to face a quietly rejuvenated Everton. David Moyes' Toffees lost a tough one last time out at Arsenal, but their 3-match winning streak before then has seen them climb up to a not-so-distant 8th place, and with a win at home against struggling Chelsea, they could even start to dream about European football next season. I think it's certainly possible they win it, and I suspect it will be a very high-octane match in Liverpool, but Chelsea needs a result too much for me to think they'll walk out of there without a single point.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Aston Villa vs. West Ham United

It's hard to overstate just how calamitous Aston Villa's last month and a half has been. Entering February, they were in the thick of the title race. 5 points from their next 21 later, Unai Emery's men are now barely clinging on to a Champions League spot for next season, sitting in 4th place just 2 points ahead of Liverpool. The good news is, with a berth in the Europa League quarterfinals clinched this week, Villa still have multiple avenues open to play in the more prestigious European tournament next season. The bad news is, unless things turn around soon, the 'league standing' avenue is going to start closing. The further bad news is, they're hosting a West Ham team fighting to survive relegation. The Hammers looked dead and gone not all that long ago, but just 1 loss in their last 6 suddenly has them tied on points with the 16th and 17th-placed teams, who are playing each other this weekend. Momentum from the midweek win and a home crowd make me think we'll see an improved Villa performance, but I still think they'll be outworked by a desperate West Ham side sensing renewed life and fail to get all 3 points.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Nottingham Forest

Most of the eyes will be on the battles for 3rd-6th place this weekend, it's true, but with the two title contenders off this weekend, the final and arguably highest-stakes match is instead a relegation battle royale. Yes, Tottenham Hotspur, reigning Europa League champions and recent Champions League Round of 16 qualifiers, are in real danger of slipping into the relegation zone with a loss on Sunday. So too are their visitors, though, especially if West Ham does indeed steal at least a point at Aston Villa. Nottingham Forest have been miles off their Top 4-spoiling selves of last season, and have spent the season flirting with the drop line, even as they continue to compete in the Europa Conference League, also clinching a quarterfinal spot in that tournament. Forest has had the slightly better form between the two of late, stealing more than one surprise draw recently, most notably at Manchester City earlier this month. There was an argument to be made that based on the last couple months, Tottenham was genuinely the worst team in the league, but then in the last week, they snapped their 6-game losing streak with a late draw at Liverpool, and then notched a Champions League win against Atletico Madrid, even if it was in a losing effort on aggregate. The improved form is enough to make me think Spurs will, for the third time in 7 days, NOT lose. But I'm hesitant to declare confidence in them for two wins over a team that's been giving away points to bottom-dwellers like candy this season and a team that already had one foot in the quarterfinals. Forest have been good enough over the last month for me to... that's right, predict yet another draw. All draws this weekend, folks!!

The Pick: Draw, 2-2