Premier League Predictions, Week 37

© Micah Veldkamp, 2026

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Welcome back to the weekly predictions, everyone! I'm back a little earlier than usual, as the second-to-last match weekend begins a little earlier than usual. Yes, you read that correctly: second-to-last matchweek! We're almost at the finish line. I find it as hard to believe as you do. In fact, this may be the last piece I write from the United States, as this time next week I'll be in route to Budapest to watch Liverpoo-- no sorry, Barca-- no sorry, Bayer-- no that's right, PSG and Arsenal in the Final 🥴

Last time out, I failed to match my lofty 5/5 from the week prior. I still had a decent week, sticking to the sure things of predicting Arsenal and Manchester City victories (though the former was made to sweat it out significantly, relying on a late winner exactly as I predicted). Those got me back up to a nice 3.5, but I stumbled in the other two matches, where I instead made the mistake of reverting to the dangerous trend of placing confidence in Liverpool and Tottenham.

That's enough to get me at 87/160 on the year, still a little on the up and up from the dire mediocrity I was stuck at recently. But, the matches are kicking off in less than 24 hours, so no time for fighting to keep my job. Here are your 5 for Week 37!

Aston Villa vs. Liverpool

What was originally an early Sunday morning match got bumped up to a Friday kickoff between these Top 5 teams, thanks to Aston Villa's upcoming appearance in next Wednesday's Europa League Final (and truly, my sleepyhead self is thankful for it). For a match between two teams that have been among the best in the league the last 3 seasons, are level on points, and in 4th and 5th place having not yet clinched Champions League football, there's a surprisingly muted air around this match. I think that's probably down to the sense of inevitability around each one's Top 5 finish; even if there's a loser in this match, the only team that could supplant them in the standings is Bournemouth, who would need to win out in a schedule that still includes Manchester City (see below). Aston Villa are in the slightly trickier position, trying to figure out how to balance wanting to go ahead and clinch a Top 5 finish-- especially in front of a home crowd --while also wanting to preserve energy and health for Wednesday's Final, which would also secure Champions League football while simultaneously giving them a European trophy. I can't imagine the hosts will be going at their 120% intensity level, but Liverpool seem far too downtrodden and tired-- perhaps even downright sad and fed up with their season --for me to feel confident that this is the team and the fixture for the Reds to get their first win at Villa Park in 4 years.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2

Newcastle United vs. West Ham United

After Aston Villa and Liverpool's Top 5 battle tomorrow, there's a long break for the rest of the Premier League "weekend," but Sunday through Tuesday could be a pivotal stretch in each of the title race, the Champions League race, and the relegation battle. Of those 3, I have to imagine everyone at Newcastle is disappointed to be playing a part in the latter, but such is the state of the Magpies' disappointing '25-'26 campaign: destined to finish in the bottom half of the table, the most significant result they can have on the Premier League this season is whether a win in their home finale will send West Ham down to the Championship. West Ham fought valiantly last Sunday and were perhaps unlucky to not nick at least a point off Arsenal, but there did seem to be an air of finality at full time, both for them and for Arsenal. I think Newcastle will simply show up the better, if not more motivated team in front of their home fans for the last time. Even in the event of another loss, that's not officially curtains for West Ham, although they will be made to sweat out...

The Pick: Newcastle, 3-2

Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur

...Chelsea's clash with Spurs at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. This clash of London rivals has often been a fractious, contentious affair-- blessing us with the infamous "Battle of the Bridge," along with this all-time viral moment -- and that will surely be the same in this one, as Tottenham desperately fight to survive and Chelsea fight to salvage something, anything from this miserable season. The Blues are arguably in the midst of their first "good" week in two months, as they brought an end to their 6-match losing streak with a well-earned point at Anfield, and prepare to meet Manchester City in Wembley on Saturday for the FA Cup trophy. But, we've seen this Liverpool team give struggling sides "false dawns" before (including Tottenham, just a couple months ago), and with Europa League football being only the dangling carrot in the league for this Chelsea team, I have to imagine they'll be far more motivated for the trophy on Saturday than they will for this game. Tottenham's season has been about as bleak as imaginable-- with the added pain of likely having to see their hated rivals hoist the trophy --but I think they'll bring a merciful end to it with a safety-sealing victory on Tuesday.

The Pick: Tottenham, 2-1

Arsenal vs. Burnley

Manchester City's comprehensive win over Crystal Palace yesterday means that Arsenal won't get the opportunity to officially clinch the title in front of a home crowd. But a win over already-relegated Burnley gets them one huge step closer to ending their 20-year drought, and depending on Manchester City's match the day after, could prove to be the decisive win. Any chance of an Arsenal stumble, plead the legions of footy fans desperately hoping to avoid the loud crowing from Gunners faithful? Nah. Not this close to the finish line, not at home, not against a team with literally nothing to play for.

The Pick: Arsenal, 4-0

Bournemouth vs. Manchester City

And, in the likely event of an Arsenal win on Monday night, the ball will be in Manchester City's court once more to respond, and officially take the title race to the final day. A win for them as well keeps things very much in the balance for the final day, but a loss officially wraps it up. And, though it seems shocking to say, any potential outcome in this one feels just about equally feasible. It would be hard enough for City to show up at full speed for this match with the heaps of pressure they'll be under, but to do so in a road match just a few days after playing in a Cup final only makes it trickier. There's also the small matter of their opponents: not only is Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth a tricky out for everyone this year, undefeated since January 3rd, they remain in the hunt for Champions League football next season. Yes, regardless of the outcome of the Liverpool-Villa match tomorrow, Bournemouth could jump at least one of them in the Top 5 if they were to win out, and in fact, may even be able to sneak into the competition if they can hold ground at 6th place. So, there is plenty an already-dangerous Cherries team will be motivated to play for on Tuesday. I'm tempted to go all the way and predict a Bournemouth win, but this is Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland we're talking about, and City haven't lost to an English side since January themselves. In the end, I think they'll battle to a pulsating draw, which would be a deeply unsatisfying result for both sides: all but officially wrapping up the title for Arsenal, and making Bournemouth's Champions League quest highly unlikely.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1