Premier League Predictions, Week 6

© Micah Veldkamp, 2025

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Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans! We took a break from the European matches this week, but still got our fill of midweek matches with the Carabao Cup...well, unless you're a fan of Manchester United, who couldn't even make it to September in that tournament. But enough bantering, it's back to Premier League action we go!

Two weeks ago, I had my first truly brilliant prediction performance, and one match into last weekend, it seemed like the good trend was going to continue, as Liverpool did in fact win a narrow, hotly-contested battle with rivals Everton, as I predicted. Then...it all fell apart, as I whiffed on each of my next 4 predictions. The one grace I will give myself was that I did predict Brighton and Manchester United getting 4 points combined against Tottenham and Chelsea, respectively; I didn't get either individual result exactly right, but those were two gutsy calls that were not totally wrong. I think that warrants a half point. Before you protest too much, keep in mind that's still just a 1.5/5 week, which drops me back down to 9/20 (45%) on the season.

But, the matches are less than 12 hours from kicking back off, so let's not waste any more time barely keeping our heads above water. Here are your 5 for Week 6!

Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Chelsea entered this season as title contenders, and Brighton as Top 4 spoiler hopefuls, and suffice to say, things are not going to plan for either side. We're not even 20% of the way into the season, so it's of course far too early to panic, but 3 combined wins between them and no wins yet in the month of September could not have been what either of these clubs wanted, and thus, both will be out for all 3 points tomorrow. There's levels to this, though: Chelsea have shown the same inconsistency, such as last weekend's capitulation at Manchester United, that dogged them last season, and that's a concern for their title viability, but they have at least shown themselves capable of reaching a level that Brighton still haven't proven they can reach.

The Pick: Chelsea, 3-1

Leeds United vs. Bournemouth

Bournemouth, the surprise success (for the second year running), might have been disappointed to not come away with what would have been a huge 3 points against Newcastle at home last week, but the amazing fact remains that, despite a very difficult early schedule the Cherries remain unbeaten by all comers since Liverpool's stoppage-time winner on opening day. Leeds has not had quite as smooth a reintroduction to Premier League life in their second promotion this half-decade, but did at least find out their scoring woes in last week's big win over fellow relegation candidates Wolverhampton. I expect the Peacocks' scoring to continue against Bournemouth's well-drilled but sometimes suspect defense, but Andoni Iraola's side simply have too much of their own attacking firepower to not come away with all 3 points here.

The Pick: Bournemouth, 4-2

Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool

Crystal Palace and Liverpool have become inextricably linked in the calendar year 2025. The two faced off in the season finale in May, immediately after which Liverpool lifted their Premier League trophy as champions. They then played again last month in the Community Shield as reigning FA Cup and Premier League winners, respectively. Not long after, one of the most shocking developments of the transfer window involved them when Palace reneged on their agreed-upon deal to send captain and star defender Marc Guehi to Liverpool at the 11th hour on Deadline Day. Then this week, right before the two prepared to face each other, it was announced they would be foes again next month in the 4th round of the Carabao Cup. The new-look reigning champs have made a habit of Houdini acts this season, spending large swaths of each match looking inept in attack and/or completely out to sea on defense, only to pop up and clutch victory from the jaws of draw-dom with a late late winner. And yet? If any team can stop Liverpool's trend of "surely not AGAIN?!" wins, weird as it may sound, it might be Crystal Palace. After all, only Nottingham Forest can claim to hold a longer streak of not losing to the Reds: it was almost exactly a calendar year ago that Liverpool last beat Palace, a tight 1-0 in Selhurst Park with the game's only goal scored by the late Diogo Jota. I think Oliver Glasner is good enough (and will be motivated enough) to get the effort out of his players required to actually confound Liverpool for all 90+ minutes.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

I think just about everyone thought Thomas Frank was a great hire for Tottenham Hotspur. I'm not sure just about anyone thought the turnaround for Tottenham (last year's 17th-placed team) would be quite so instant: Spurs have just one loss in any competition thus far, and are currently tied for 2nd place in the league, with only one more goal conceded from otherwise directly mirroring archrivals and title favorites Arsenal's season thus far. On the flip side, I think I think just about everyone thought Wolverhampton could be in for a rough season. I'm not sure just about anyone thought things would be this dire: they're the only side to have lost all 5 of their matches, and have managed just 3 goals ont he year to their opponents' 12. I don't expect tomorrow to be the day these two sides' fortunes swap.

The Pick: Tottenham, 3-0

Newcastle United vs. Arsenal

My Twitter feed was filled with angry Arsenal fans (when is it not?) miffed by a Sky Sports segment from this week debating whether this match was "a must-win for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal?" On the one hand, I get it- it's FAR too early to be making any such bold proclamation. On the other hand... you do get the sense that Arsenal, good as they have been at times this season, aren't exactly comfortable already being 5 points behind title rivals Liverpool, nor with risking that number going up to 8 after this weekend. What makes this tricky for the Gunners is that their opponent is definitely in a similar position as well. Clocking in with just 6 points from 15 thus far, Newcastle will be desperate for a huge win to start the season turnaround needed to compete for Europe again. The stakes for Newcastle and their surely raucous home fans are tempting me with a Toon upset, but I just think this is the kind of match an Arsenal side that's so much mentally tougher than Arsenal teams of years past will dig deep and find a way to take control of.

The Pick: Arsenal, 2-1