Premier League Predictions, Week 31

Welcome back to our predictions, Premier League fans! Here are your 5 for Week 31!

Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United

It's surreal that this is even the case given the clubs in question, but yet again perhaps the best matchup of the weekend gets the early kickoff slot. Newcastle's Top 4 contention is well and truly on, as a five-match winning streak in response to their brief slide has taken them back up to 3rd place in the league. Their run is bested only by one Aston Villa, who are in the midst of seven matches unbeaten. The Lions' form since Unai Emery took over has been incredible; 31 points out of a possible 42 in the year 2023 has seen them climb all the way from the cusp of relegation to 6th place, with a real chance at European football. The Magpies seem too locked in to fully fumble the bag at this point, but I'm a believer in Villa's form, especially in front of a home crowd.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Bournemouth

If Newcastle do slip up, one team that will be licking their chops is Tottenham, who sit 3 points back in 5th place and would relish the opportunity to make up ground in the Top 4 race. Spurs ended a rough stretch of 1 win out of their previous 6 matches with a thrilling, crucial victory over fellow Top 10 side Brighton last weekend, and now play host to relegation candidate Bournemouth. The Cherries may pose a risk only as they are desperately fighting for their Premier League survival, but I can't imagine they trip up Tottenham in North London.

The Pick: Tottenham, 3-1

Manchester City vs. Leicester City

No club had a better week last week than Manchester City, who demolished Southampton on the road, watched title competitors Arsenal drop points at Liverpool, and then placed one foot in the Champions League semifinals with a dominant win over Bayern Munich. That's 9 straight wins now for City in all competitions, and by an aggregate scoreline of 34-3 (for those doing the math, that's an average scoreline of 4-0). There's no doubt a sense of inevitability with their surge to end the season, and for anyone hoping for the reigning champions stumble any time soon, tomorrow's match comes at home against the second-worst team in the league. Soooo....yeah. Leicester City could have done worse with a caretaker manager appointment than the proven Dean Smith, but come on now.

The Pick: Man City, 3-0

Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester United

Manchester United's wild Europa League draw against Sevilla yesterday was in many ways a microcosm of their season. So much promise, so much quality that United fans haven't seen for quite some time, and yet, they just can't seem to seal the deal. What was only recently a bona fide title push from the Red Devils quickly turned into a scramble just to stay in the Top 4, thanks to a three-match slide that was sparked by the 7-0 humiliation at Liverpool. That said, United has turned it around in recent weeks, following a crucial win over Brentford with a more comfortable one over Everton last weekend. A road trip to a relegation-threatened side is never an easy fixture, and I do think Nottingham will put up an almighty fight, but I expect United to come in with more sharpness and dedication in the wake of their rapid collapse yesterday.

The Pick: Man United, 2-1

West Ham United vs. Arsenal

With Manchester City playing first, and very likely to briefly pull within 3 points of Arsenal, the league leaders will have the opportunity to return fire Sunday morning. The Gunners undoubtedly need a result in the wake of their semi-collapse at Liverpool last Sunday, and with trips to City and Newcastle still on the agenda. The good news for the North Londoners? While nothing, including a road trip to West Ham, will come easy for them, this next opponent provides a perfect bounceback opportunity: out of the relegation zone for now, so less of a 'desperation motivation,' but still a bad team on the whole.

The Pick: Arsenal, 2-1