Premier League Predictions, Week 7

© Micah Veldkamp, 2025

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Welcome back to the weekly predictions! We got some Champions League action this week, but I think we all agreed it didn't matter, right? Because the results of this week are null and void? Good. I'm glad we're all in alignment on that and ready to get back to Premier League action.

Speaking of results I wish I could null and void-- that could go for just about that whole last weekend. Not only was it bad on a rooting interest level, it was bad on a professional level, too. Between Brighton's, Leeds's and Wolverhampton's shock draws, and Crystal Palace's stunning win, I was headed for a goose egg. Fortunately for my reputation, two late Arsenal goals not only saw the Gunners make out with a crucial victory, it gave me my only correct prediction of the weekend, and a spot-on one at that.

I will say, I am tempted to give myself some credit for the Crystal Palace result. I did predict Palace getting some points off of league leaders Liverpool, and not only that I predicted a 1-1 draw. If just one correct whistle on one of the Eagles' two goals had gone (their first goal came off a corner that should have been a goal kick, and their winner off a throw-in given a full 70 seconds after stoppage time was up), I would have gotten that prediction exactly right. But I align so much with the Reds that I feel I must share their pain in this one. Liverpool gets no points or any moral victory, so neither do I. That 1.5/5 week (my second straight), gets me to an incredibly meager 10.5/25 on the year thus far.

But, the matches are less than 12 hours from kicking back off, so let's not waste any more time asking "Please sir, can we have some more?" Here are your 5 for Week 7!

Leeds United vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Leeds and Tottenham come into their matchup in an interesting place: they’re both coming off of surprise draws, but have completely opposite feelings about said draws. Leeds may have been disappointed by conceding a late equalizer, but nevertheless their exciting 2-2 draw against overachievers Bournemouth felt like a win, whereas Spurs’ frustrating 1-1 decision at home against listless Wolverhampton definitely will have felt like a loss. So while both teams in Saturday’s early matchup will be eager to build on their last result, only Tottenham will be particularly desperate for a win. I think this will be a tough early road test for Thomas Frank’s men, but they will ultimately wake up and take care of business in the 2nd half. 

The Pick: Tottenham, 2-1

Manchester United vs. Sunderland

Even with how poor Manchester United’s last season was, I don't think anybody expected before the season that this matchup would be 14th place vs. 5th place and Sunderland would be the Top 5 team between them. But yes, while it’s still very early days, so far it's been as good a return to the Premier League for the Black Cats as it has been another disappointing start for United. It may seem like the boy crying “we’re back!!!”, though, the signs really have been there for Man United team early on for the first time in a long time, and I think this weekend— right when everyone is just about bailing on them again —might be when it clicks a little more for them in front of home fans. 

The Pick: Man United, 3-1

Arsenal vs. West Ham United

Arsenal’s win at Newcastle-- and especially the late, comeback nature of it --might mark a real turning point for the North Londoners. They have been highly involved in each of the last 3 title races, of course, but the mental strength to come from behind late in a frustrating match like that has been lacking in seasons past. That result, and the fact that it came the same weekend as Liverpool's weaknesses finally cost them 3 points, offers a resurgence of hope and belief in Gunners fans. And the good news continues for them: they have what should be a complete cake walk this weekend as they host one of the league’s worst teams with a new manager in his 1st match.

The Pick: Arsenal, 4-0

Everton vs. Crystal Palace

Just as everyone expected all along, Crystal Palace is officially the Premier League's last unbeaten team. Okay, yes, absolutely nobody (not even this author who sang their praises preseason) would have expected it, especially given their loss of star attacker Eberechi Eze and the near-loss of stalwart captain Marc Guehi, but it’s tremendous credit to the program Oliver Glasner has built in South London. Guehi proved the consummate professional in his first clash with Liverpool since the Deadline Day fiasco that killed his move there, though, providing the assist for opener and generally turning in a Man of the Match performance. Palace will need more of that energy as they, oddly enough, now travel to Liverpool, to take on the Reds’ crosstown rivals Everton. The blue team in Liverpool play in a brand new stadium on the docks , and even if the fancy new digs have sacrificed some of the intimate intimidating atmosphere of Goodison Park, Hill Dickinson has proven tricky for all comers thus far this season. I expect that added lift (plus a likely emotional hangover for the visitors) to be enough for the Toffees to snag a surprise point in this one.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

I took a large amount of glee from Liverpool's repeated Houdini acts to start the season, but even I knew deep down that their unreliable form and mental lapses would cost them soon if not addressed, and last weekend it finally did. Questionable officiating on both Crystal Palace goals aside, there’s no question Liverpool were second best on Saturday, which is a hard pill to swallow. To follow that up with a Champions League loss to underdogs Galatasaray (who became the first team in any competition to shut them out since Paris Saint-Germain back in March)…well, it’s understandable that it feels like there are bad vibes all around right now. I personally think a good amount of the reaction has been extremely dramatic and overblown, but my opinion matters little to the proceedings of tomorrow’s match, and the truth is it will be a tough one. The “bounceback" angle isn't even exclusively to Liverpool’s benefit, given that Chelsea also had a disappointing result last weekend and actually need points even more desperately than Liverpool if they’re going to have the title-contending season most Blues expected they would have this year. I expect that sense of urgency and a raucous home crowd to be good enough to frustrate Liverpool more than any opponent thus far this year, and prolong the Reds’ winless streak in Stamford Bridge to 6 years.

The Pick: Chelsea, 3-1