Premier League Predictions, Week 7

Welcome back to your Premier League predictions! Once again we've had some fun midweek action in the Champions League to bridge the gap from last weekend in English football to this one. But once again, it's domestic madness that we crave the most, right?

And we did have our fair share of madness last week, continuing the theme of the season. Manchester City again dropped points, solidifying their worst start to a season under Pep Guardiola. Liverpool needed a late goal to earn a home win over the last-placed team in the league. And most significantly, the last two unbeaten teams in the league were both beaten, setting off champagne pops from all members of Arsenal's Invincibles squad. Of course, all the chaos meant that once again, I was unprepared with my predictions. I did correctly forecast not only Liverpool's win, but Southampton's upset of Everton, and I'll give myself partial credit for forecasting Leicester City taking points off of Arsenal. But my misses on the two Manchester teams meant it was a 2.5/5 week all in all, which takes me to a continually ugly season total of 15/25 on the year.

Now, the matches start in less than 12 hours, so let's not waste any more time reflecting on personal demise. Here are your 5 for Week 7!

Liverpool vs. West Ham

After a 7-2 humiliation by Aston Villa, a 2-2 diVARster against EVARton, and losing Virgil Van Dijk for the season to injury, Liverpool's season looked dead in its tracks. Yet, just a couple weeks later, here they are, tied for the Premier League lead. You'd be forgiven for missing that development, because not only has there been so much going on in this wild season, but Liverpool's form still hasn't been particularly good: as crucial as both Champions League wins and last week's victory over Sheffield were, their performance in each were, on the whole, unconvincing. That's a real problem with a West Ham team coming to town that hasn't lost in 5 matches; two dominant wins were followed by two exciting (and unexpected) draws against Tottenham and Manchester City. Just one month ago, any result in this one besides a comfortable Liverpool win would have seemed inconceivable, but a lot can change in an instant in 2020.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Aston Villa vs. Southampton

As mentioned above, the last two unbeaten teams in the Premier League fell last weekend, one when Aston Villa were shocked by a second-half spree by Leeds, and the other when Everton were blitzed out the gates by Southampton. This week Southampton will attempt to claim another highly-ranked victim; despite the loss last week, Villa still are 3rd place in the league and have a crucial game in hand over the co-leaders. Up until last Friday, they'd been remarkable this season, but I have to go with the 'hot hand' here; Southampton's win against Everton was comprehensive and deserved, and it came on the back of a huge rally against Chelsea. The Saints are on the march.

The Pick: Southampton, 3-2

Newcastle vs. Everton

Everton's brilliant season was bound to see a loss at some point. For all their good play, there were noticeable weaknesses and anyone who's being honest will agree they were lucky to make it out of the Merseyside Derby with a point. Thus, the fact that they lost to Southampton (and the inglorious manner in which they did) won't make Toffee fans happy, but it wasn't altogether unexpected. Plus, the good news is they still sit atop the Premier League table and now have a chance to rebound against a team in the bottom half of the league. Newcastle will likely be good enough to stay in the league this season, but not by a whole lot. Their ceiling this season has been snagging draws against decent teams (Tottenham, Wolves). I doubt that happens against Everton.

The Pick: Everton, 3-1

Manchester United vs. Arsenal

We said something similar last week when United played Chelsea, but you know we're in the midst of a strange season when Manchester United vs. Arsenal barely registers on the scale as a big game this weekend. It's hard to know whether to view this as a matchup of two of the most historic clubs in the Premier League, or a matchup of the 11th and 15th-placed teams. Regardless of place on the table, though, this will be a fascinating match between two teams who believe they have the capability to be a Champions League-qualifying side but are really in need of a win. United did well to earn a point in an ugly draw vs. Chelsea, and their Champions League form is undeniable. But I'm still a believer in Arsenal, losses to Cities Manchester and Leicester. United might still have the advantage on talent and depth, but the Gunners have more of a legitimate identity under Mikel Arteta, and more noticeable improvement in the area both these sides struggle with-- defense.

The Pick: Arsenal, 2-1

Leeds United vs. Leicester City

I don't think it's a stretch to say that Leicester City set the modern-day blueprint for teams coming up from the Championship punching above their weight in the Premier League, and it's a blueprint Leeds is following to a T this season. The new kids on the block have crashed the Top 6, testing (and sometimes beating!) Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa along the way thanks to freewheeling, clinical counterattacking football. Now they get a fascinating matchup against the OGs, who still find themselves in the Top 4 after a crucial victory at Arsenal last weekend. I hesitate to get too excited about anything in the year we've had, but this really has the potential to be can't-miss football. I wouldn't be surprised by any result, but I expect it to be high on action and evenly-matched.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2