Premier League Predictions, Week 34

Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans! Between a late finish to last week's Premier League matches, an early start to this Premier League weekend, and Champions League and Europa League football in between, we've had football every day this week. Why stop now? Let's keep the party rolling.

It would be a stretch to say I had a "bounceback" week in my predictions. I missed on my Arsenal, Newcastle, and Manchester United victory picks. That said, I did predict Newcastle taking points off Liverpool and if you count the goal VAR chalked off, I did get the Newcastle-Liverpool scoreline absolutely correct! Plus, I accurately forecasted the Chelsea and Leicester City victories. So, all in all, 2.5/5 week which is a slight uptick after my steady decline the last several weeks, and which brings my season total to a marginally improved 73.5/145.

But, the matches are less than 24 hours away from kicking back up, so let's not waste any more time celebrating moral victories. Here are your 5 for Week 34!

Southampton vs. Leicester City

It was in October of 2019 (which despite being last season, feels like an absolute eternity ago) that this very fixture saw a Premier League record scoreline set, Leicester winning by a stunning 9-0 margin. I don't know which fact in the wake of that match is more stunning, that Southampton turned around and beat Leicester in the return fixture mere months later, or that Manchester United equalled the exact same scoreline this season, against....you guessed it, Southampton. Regardless, this represents a big trap game for the Foxes; they're coming off two straight victories, but their Top 4 standing is not quite secure, and though Southampton is a shell of their early-season selves, they still possess a wealth of attacking talent that can capitalize on counterattacks. Leicester should win this match, which is exactly why I think the Saints will spring a surprise at the worst possible time for their opponents.

The Pick: Southampton, 3-2

Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City

Despite an unimpressive recent domestic stretch-- two losses followed by a red-card laden close win over Aston Villa --Manchester City could potentially clinch the title this weekend. They would need help from defending champions from Liverpool against Manchester United, but first they also need to secure a victory on Saturday morning. Fortunately for them, this Crystal Palace is nothing like the one that tripped them up the last couple seasons, and the Eagles' turnaround is barely any longer than Leicester's. Hard to see any result but a Man City romp here.

The Pick: Manchester City, 3-0

Chelsea vs. Fulham

Between their shock loss to West Brom and an ugly draw with Brighton, Chelsea has had a brush with Top 4 precariousness. But even before their solid midweek draw at Real Madrid in the Champions League, they notched a massive road win at fellow Top 4 contender West Ham last weekend, so it’s been a good week for Blues fans. It’s likely to get better; fellow West Londoners Fulham have been a tricky out for some teams this season, but the relegation-bound side simply don’t have enough quality to trip up Chelsea at this vital point in the season.

The Pick: Chelsea, 2-1

Burnley vs. West Ham

They have been one of the best clubs in the league in the year 2021, but West Ham’s Cinderella Top 4 bid is in trouble after the Hammers picked the worst possible time to drop 2 straight matches. They were not able to bounce back from the Newcastle upset, and ceded a crucial 3 points to Chelsea on their home field. Now in 5th place, they’ll have to beat plucky Burnley to keep pace in their hopes for a Champions League bid. Burnley has proven time and time again to be a thorn in better teams’ sides, but they’re also basically beyond relegation concern at this point, and I can’t see West Ham dropping a 3rd consecutive match.

The Pick: West Ham, 2-1

Manchester United vs. Liverpool

The latest edition of the Northwest Derby sees archrivals Manchester United and Liverpool again playing a high-stakes match, as is seemingly always the case. What is not always the case, or at least, hasn't been the case the last few seasons, is that the stakes involve Manchester United trying to keep their slim title hopes alive while Liverpool tries to keep their slim Top 4 hopes alive. A Liverpool win, or even draw, would for all intents and purposes end United's Premier League bid, and in fact if it followed a City victory, would officially end it. Meanwhile, a Manchester United win would not only keep them afloat, it would dole out likely the death blow to their rivals' hopes of Champions League football next season. It's pretty crazy that we're at this point, considering the last time these two met, it was as the top 2 teams in the league. On that day, it was a dreary 0-0 draw that saw United rue their missed opportunities to be the team to end Liverpool's 4-year unbeaten run at Anfield. Liverpool are a better side now than they were at the turn of the new year, but if injuries are to relegate Fabinho to CB again, they simply won't be good enough, and I can't see ManU missing another opportunity, this one to crush Liverpool hearts and win their first league match in this rivalry since March 2018.

The Pick: Manchester United, 2-1