Premier League Predictions, Week 32
© Micah Veldkamp, 2021
Welcome back to our predictions, Premier League fans! We're fresh off some exciting European football action, but it's already time to turn our eyes back to England, as the league leaders kick our big weekend off tomorrow. And for the second time in as many months, FA Cup fixtures are taking some of the biggest names in the league out of commission this weekend. But not to worry! This game "week" will bleed right into the next one, with Week 33 matches kicking off on Tuesday, so we'll be back again in just a few days.
Last time out, I endured a second consecutive week of hitting only 2/5. Sure, I foresaw the Manchester teams' victories over the likes of Leicester City and Nottingham Forest (not exactly stretches, those), but Aston Villa's surprising rout, West Ham's shock draw, and Bournemouth's stunning upset of Tottenham? Nowhere to be seen on my predictions. My two weeks of mediocrity have yielded a suddenly bleak season total of 54/105. But, the games are less than 24 hours away from kicking off, so no time for getting caught up in the backslide. Here are your 4 for Week 32!
Arsenal vs. Southampton
If Arsenal's Easter Sunday collapse at Liverpool made things nervy for their fans, a near-identical collapse at West Ham last week likely instilled downright panic. The Gunners are now positively clinging to that Premier League lead, by just a solitary point; most of the attention will be centered on their remaining matchups at Manchester City and Newcastle (who derailed Arsenal's Top 4 hopes late last season), but lose to any other teams before or after, and those matches will be a moot point. I got in trouble for underestimating Arsenal's opponents last week, too, but at the risk of making the same mistake twice: the good news is, I have to imagine a home fixture against a relegation-bound opponent is ideal 'recovery fuel.' If the Gunners manage to not win this, you can go ahead and etch Man City's name on the trophy.
The Pick: Arsenal, 4-1
Liverpool vs. Nottingham Forest
Liverpool have had so many false starts all season, and fooled many into thinking (including yours truly) they were "back" multiple times this year, so everyone would be wise to practice caution in the wake of their 6-1 demolition of Leeds a few days ago. That said, this particular win did feel a little different; for starters, it built off a 2nd half vs. league leaders Arsenal that was nothing short of dominant, they looked their old, flui,d high-pressing selves again (albeit over a hapless opponent), and this win came on the road, which has been the place of horrors all season for the Reds. Of course, it would be very par for the course ot turn around and lose to Nottingham Forest (which is exactly what they infamously did after their huge win vs. Manchester City last October), especially with Forest trying to fight off relegation. Literally nothing would surprise me, not after the season Liverpool have gone through. But, with the last three halves they've played and their still-tangible home advantage at Anfield, I have a hard time picturing them not winning this one.
The Pick: Liverpool, 2-0
Brentford vs. Aston Villa
Brentford played the part of charming underdogs all season, playing scintillating football, and scoring big upsets to launch them into the midst of European contention. However, the Bees have hit a major slump at the worst possible time, careening down the stretch winless in 6 of their last 7, including in their last 5 in a row. This weekend's opponents, Aston Villa, have been the complete opposite; the Villains were faffing about in the relegation zone all the way until Christmas, but under Unai Emery, have drastically turned things around. With last weekend's dismantling of 3rd-place Newcastle, they are now riding 8-match unbeaten streak and.... I can't believe this is the case, but firmly in the Top 4 race?!?
I still believe in Thomas Frank's Brentford as a 'top half of the table' side with staying power into future season, but until they right the ship and Villa fall off the ship, I have a hard time picking either to buck their trend that has been set in the last couple months.
The Pick: Aston Villa, 3-2
Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Thanks in part to the Manchester teams being occupied on FA Cup duty, this Top 4 battle royale is unquestionably the biggest game of this weekend. The Top 4 race is a tight enough one, with enough games left in the season that it's hard to call this a must-win for either, but it certainly would be a massive 3 points for whoever is able to take it, Adding to intrigue is the fact that both teams are coming off absolute stinkers from last week: Newcastle ran into the buzzsaw that is Aston Villa at the moment, while Tottenham capitulated at home to relegation-threatened Bournemouth. It's a battle between two 'good but somewhat unreliable' teams, which on the surface makes it hard to project. Look a little closer, though, and you'll see that while the huge loss at Villa was an aberration for Newcastle this year (the Villains are only the 3rd team they've lost to all season), the Bournemouth result was more of the same for Tottenham, who have not once been able to formulate any sort of Premier League momentum this season. Throw in Spurs' manager turmoil and the Toons' home-field advantage, and I have a pretty hard time seeing the North London crew winning this one.
The Pick: Newcastle, 3-1
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