Premier League Predictions, Week 31

© Micah Veldkamp, 2026

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Welcome back to the weekly predictions, my chickadees! Yes, I'm still alive. Yes, we're still here. I know it's been a great long while-- 3 weeks to be exact -- since you last heard my alternatively brilliant and outlandish predictions, but at long last, Premier League action is back.

A lot has happened, in the soccer world and the real world, since our last piece. Six more nations booked their spot in this summer's World Cup, and all groups were at long last finalized, and when we returned from the last international break of the season, we launched right into FA Cup action last weekend. Then, if that wasn't enough, those English teams still alive in European competitions played their Champions and Europa League matches the last few days.

So in case you can't remember past all that...well, I've tried to forget, too. I started off strong last time out with an accurate (and bold!) prediction that Bournemouth would draw with Manchester United. But it was all downhill from there, as I whiffed on each of my remaining 4 draw predictions. I will say, I think I deserve partial credit for predicting both Brighton and Everton taking points off Top 5 competitors Liverpool and Chelsea, even if I failed to predict they'd go on and WIN those matches. But even with my number-fudging, a 1.5/5 week drops my season rate back down to a noticeably uglier 58% clip, at 78.5/135.

But, the matches are kicking back off today, so let's not waste any more time bemoaning about just how over it is. Here are your 5 for Week 31!

Arsenal vs. Bournemouth

It's a strange old season for the team that appears to be the champions-elect; given their style of play and their occasionally baffling results, just about nobody else in England has been convinced that this Arsenal team is all that great save for Arsenal fans. And now, in the wake of their League Cup Final defeat by Manchester City and surprising exit from the FA Cup last weekend at the hands of Championship side Southampton, even many an Arsenal fan is joining the skeptics. And yet, the Gunners have one foot in the Champions League semifinals for the 2nd straight year, and still have a clear path to the Premier League title, thanks as much to City's consecutive stumbles as their own wins. If there's a silver lining to the English cup losses, it's that it may help streamline the focus for Mikel Arteta and his crew: it's all about the league now, at least save for the intermittent Champions League fixtures, and they can take a big step forward with a win at home against tricky Bournemouth. Andoni Iraola's side still hasn't lost since New Year's Day, and will be up for giving this the big 'un; but 7 of their last 8 in their unbeaten streak-- including their last 5 --have been draws, and the team that beat them in that New Year's Day clash? Arsenal. Don't be shocked if the Cherries come away with something here, but smart money is still on the league leaders.

The Pick: Arsenal, 2-1

Liverpool vs. Fulham

Liverpool hasn't played a Premier League match since that disappointment at Brighton, and yet, the prospects for their difficult season look considerably dimmer than they even did at full-time of that match. Since returning from the international break, the Reds have added to their despair (and Arne Slot's red-hot seat) by crashing out of the FA Cup with a capitulation at Manchester City, and dropping the first leg of their quarterfinal clash with reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. They still have the return leg at Anfield on Tuesday, and maybe the home crowd plus the fact that it's their last chance at hardware this season will buoy them to a famous win. But more than likely, the end is nigh for them in that competition, too, which means the only saving grace from this brutal season for the reigning champs will be if they can manage to salvage Champions League qualification for next season by finishing in the Top 5. The quest to do so begins with a visit from Fulham, a team they haven't once beaten under Slot. I don't know that I'm brave enough to predict a full-on loss at Anfield, to a team they're clearly better than, so I'll tepidly predict the Reds coming away with a point at least. But I feel even less confident in declaring that this side can go out and secure a crucial win.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Nottingham Forest vs. Aston Villa

Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa both played a significant European quarterfinal yesterday, the former getting a crucial 1-1 draw at Porto in the first leg and Villa all but booking a spot in the Europa League semis with a 3-1 road win at Bologna. Domestically, though, the two sides' fates could not be more different, as Villa fight to stay in the top 4 and Sunday's hosts find themselves in the thick of a relegation battle. In the logjam that is 15th to 18th place (just 3 points separate Leeds, in the former spot, and West Ham in the relegation zone), even a draw this weekend could go a very long way for Forest, and you can bet that Sean Dyches will do his damndest Brexit Ball impression to get it. But a win would be equally massive for Unai Emery's men, taking one big step towards safety in the 26-27 Champions League sweepstakes, and as inconsistent as they can be, they're simply the better team this year.

The Pick: Aston Villa, 2-0

Manchester United vs. Leeds United

Technically the last match of the weekend, Monday night at Old Trafford should be rocking with another edition of a classic rivalry. Just as with the matchup above, the two teams are in very different positions, with Leeds fighting to stay above the drop zone, and Manchester Untied comfortably above the cut line for Champions League football. Yet, oddly enough, it's Leeds who remain in the FA Cup, winning last weekend to advance to their first semifinal round in 40 years, while United has been out since their shock loss to Grimsby Town before the holidays. United will be playing their first match in nearly a month, meanwhile, and that rustiness could have an effect on the game; I think a fresher, motivated Leeds side will cause this side plenty of problems and allow them to steal a crucial point on the road.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Chelsea vs. Manchester City

It hasn't been the season Chelsea fans were hoping for after such a promising summer, as the Blues are out of Champions League contention and all but officially out of Premier League contention, too. Still, there's reason for optimism, as they still are very much alive in the hunt for Champions League football next season (they sit just one point behind 5th pace Liverpool, who they face in May), and still have a good shot at hardware as they sit in the FA Cup semifinals and appear on a crash course to meet this weekend's opponent in the Final. Yes, Manchester City is out of the Champions League as well and have a lot of ground to make up in the Premier League, but the newly crowned League Cup winners booked their place in the FA Cup semis and face second-tier Southampton there, meaning a domestic cup double is very much in the cards. And don't count them out of the title race just yet! Back-to-back draws before the international break made their job a whole lot harder, but 9 points back from Arsenal with a game in hand AND a head-to-head match at the Etihad still to come is not insurmountable for this team by any means. Still, City's form in the league has, for the second straight year, been unreliable, and they have the considerably harder run-in than Arsenal, beginning with this match. Chelsea aren't a tough out anyway, but especially when they'll be tails up in search of a result to vault them into Champions League positioning. No result would shock me in this one, but I'll go honors shared.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2