Premier League Predictions, Week 36

Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans! That's right, we back at it again! Even though it's been mere days since you heard from me last, the league season rolls on. Screw Champions League and Europa League, Week 36 in the Premier League is all about English football action on every. day. of. the. week!

The jampacked week gives me a good opportunity to rectify my frankly horrid outing from my last slate of picks. Why is it that I can't sustain any good thing this season? Right after my unexpected 4/4 week, I positively capitulated, going 1/5 out of the last group of matches. My accurate prediction of a Manchester United win over Aston Villa was my only saving grace, even that was bittersweet, as Edinson Cavani's late goal prevented me from bonus credit for an accurate score prediction. All in all, my dreadful performance brought me to 78.5/154 on the year, throwing a real wrench in my late-season upward trajectory.

But, the matches are just hours away from kicking back up, so let's not waste any more time taking our eye off the ball. Here are your 6 for Week 36!

Manchester United vs. Leicester City

It's a shame that a fixture with such massive Premier League race implications-- and one that promises to be a great game --got pushed to a Tuesday afternoon kickoff. But such are the times of fixture congestion, and I suppose you can blame Leicester for being successful in the FA Cup, as their qualification for that tournament's final booted this match. Anyways, a loss here by Leicester would be their 3rd consecutive match dropping points, and with Liverpool bearing down on them for 4th place and Chelsea and Tottenham still on their fixture list, it might suggest legitimate panic time for fans of the Foxes. Conversely, a win for Leicester officially ends the Premier League race, and even a draw essentially ends Manchester United's contest, as they are, shall we say, unlikely to overturn a 15-goal differential on rivals Manchester City. It's a matchup of two sides with similar ceilings (on their day) and desperate motivation, so it's really difficult to see either one dropping points at this crucial time. But one club has an unfortunate recent history of doing just that, and the other has a knack this season for showing up in the biggest games. I'm going to expect that trend to continue today.

The Pick: Man United, 3-1

Chelsea vs. Arsenal

London derbies, particularly the one between two clubs of this stature, are always intriguing. But despite neither side having the season they envisioned last summer, this one has a particular amount of juicy storylines. It was Arsenal's surprise upset victory in December that spelled the beginning of the end for Frank Lampard at Chelsea. This led to the Thomas Tuchel hire, and we all know what has happened since Tuchel took over: a grand total of 2 losses in all competitions (1 of them a meaningless loss to Porto, who they beat on aggregate in the Champions League), a rapid rise into the Top 4, and a berth in the 2021 Champions League Final. It's been sunnier days for the Blues than the Gunners since that last match, but Chelsea should be wary of overconfidence heading into this one. Arsenal still have a shot, albeit a slim one, at the consolation prize of Europa League qualification, and Chelsea need to finish in the Top 4 or beat Manchester City in the Final to clinch a Champions League spot for next year, both of which are far from sure things. Still, as the soccer crew at FiveThirtyEight recently discussed, it is not a stretch to say that Chelsea has legitimately been the 2nd-best team in the World the last few months, and the 2nd-best team in the World doesn't lose to Arsenal.

The Pick: Chelsea, 1-0

Manchester United vs. Liverpool

If Manchester United drops points to Leicester today, and hands Manchester City the title in the process, obviously Thursday's 'rivalry replay' takes on a new complexion. Assuming a Red Devils win, though, which I've done, I'm sticking with what I originally predicted for this match: "A Liverpool win, or even draw, would officially end [United's Premier League title bid]. 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: Man United, 2-1

Newcastle United vs. Manchester City

The good news for Manchester City fans? The wait will finally be over this week. After the continuous delay on a title coronation that has seemed inevitable for weeks, I just don't see how City ends this week without being champions. Even if their archrivals make it through Leicester City and Liverpool completely unscathed, a statistical unlikelihood, all the Citizens need to do is win this match to claim their crown. And win it they will; I've made the mistake of writing Newcastle off a couple times this season (and Arsenal loanee Joe Willock has been a revelation of late), but not even perpetual enigma Steve Bruce can bewitch a loaded Man City squad with their eyes on the prize.

The Pick: Man City, 2-0

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. West Ham United

With Fulham officially becoming the 3rd relegated team yesterday, and City likely becoming champions this weekend, all eyes will turn exclusively to the Top 4 race as the Premier League season hurdles to an end. West Ham, off the back of 3 losses from their last 4 matches are clinging on for dear life to their upset bid for a Champions League spot. Needless to say, the Hammers cannot afford anything but a win against Brighton this weekend. The good news for them is, I think they'll get it. Yes, Brighton are better than what their standing might show, and I've been confident in their attacking ability pretty much all season. But the Gulls also have little to play for, being far out of contention for European spots but officially safe from relegation. I expect motivation will be a key advantage for David Moyes' men in what would otherwise be a very dicey affair.

The Pick: West Ham, 2-1

West Bromwich Albion vs. Liverpool

I've identified several teams that have played significant roles in the shocking and precipitous downfall of Liverpool, post-Christmas 2020. But really, West Brom is the team that started it all. The 1-1 draw at Anfield was a perfect encapsulation of Big Sam Allardyce's acumen vs. Jürgen Klopp: conceding nearly all the possession, nearly all the quality shots, but only one actual goal, and nicking a late equalizer off a set piece. How related Liverpool's ensuing form was to that frustrating draw is unclear, but the fact is, the champions' form never fully recovered, and we're coming on 5 months removed from that match. All of this to say, despite the vast gap in talent and standing, it feels risky to predict a Liverpool victory in this fixture. But I would have to think the combination of slightly better improved play from the Reds over the last couple months, them being in the thick of a Top 4 race, and West Brom being officially relegated from the Premier League would mean the favorites can actually get a win at The Hawthorns. Surely. Right?

The Pick: Liverpool, 2-0