Premier League Predictions: Manchester United and Chelsea frustrated but Arsenal, City and Liverpool march on

We are on the eve of another Premier League weekend with great games to come.

Can arsenal keep the first place ahead Manchester City? Will Brighton keep up their blistering home form and can they surprise Chelsea, Sunderland at the bottom?

Here, we list this weekend’s fixtures and give our Premier League predictions!

FRIDAY

Everton – Coventry (8pm)
Everton looked strong at Newcastle on Monday night and the decision to ostracize Jack Grealish from the squad may have galvanized the rest of the players. With Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall shining in midfield and Thierno Barry continuing to defy criticism and score goals, the Toffees are moving in the right direction. The same can be said for Coventry, who have won three of their last five league games to climb out of the bottom three. It’s a tough ask for them tonight though, and we fancy David Moyes to mark his record-equalling 592nd game in charge of Everton with a win.
Prediction: Everton 2-0 Coventry

SATURDAY

Leeds v Tottenham (12.30pm)
The mood at Tottenham has completely changed after three consecutive wins and they will head to Elland Road with confidence. This is a good test for the ‘new Spurs’ with Roberto De Zerbi against the strong hosts at home. Leeds are on a bad run after taking three points from their last five games. Interestingly, Leeds have not won a Premier League game that kicked off before 3pm since August 2022 – a run of 21 games.
Prediction: Leeds 1-1 Tottenham

Arsenal – Hull (3pm)
Arsenal can move six points clear of City at the summit of the Premier League, at least for a few hours, with a win against Hull. The Gunners have bounced back nicely from their defeat at Brighton with four straight league wins and look set to retain the title they claimed last season. Hull are in freefall without a win since August. This is a banker at home.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Hull

Fulham – Newcastle (3pm)
The pressure on Matthias Jaissle intensified after Newcastle’s display against Everton at MNF. The home side were booed by the St James’ Park faithful and another defeat at Craven Cottage would mean Jaissle will be looking over his shoulder during the international break. If you need inspiration, you can take it from Alvaro Arbeloa. The Spaniard was in a similar situation a month ago, but seven points from a potential nine has seen the Cottagers climb to 15th.
Prediction: Fulham 2-0 Newcastle

Nottingham Forest – Manchester City (5.30pm)
The situation is also bleak for Oliver Glasner. His move to the City Ground has not inspired Nottingham Forest and club boss Evangelos Marinakis is not known for his patience. Forest have performed better than their results suggest, but there’s no doubt that Glasner needs to start winning games, and fast. He therefore has the misfortune of facing Manchester City this weekend. City have lost their last two Premier League games and haven’t lost three in a row since 2016. It’s unlikely to happen here…
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester City

SUNDAY

Brighton – Brentford (2pm)
Brighton’s win at Manchester City last Saturday has sparked talk of a title challenge for Fabian Hurzeler’s men. While this may be a little unrealistic, there is no doubt that the Seagulls are willing to hang on to the top end of the table for a while. Brentford’s win over Forest last weekend was much needed after a run of four games without a win in all competitions. Both of these teams play good football, but Brighton’s form means they go in as favourites.
Prediction: Brighton 3-1 Brentford

Crystal Palace – Liverpool (2pm)
Liverpool head to Selhurst Park having suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season – against Arsenal in the league and Fenerbahce in the Champions League. Andoni Iraola is apparently still trying to work with his best XI and the Merseysiders have yet to get it right. They will never have a better chance of achieving that than against a Palace team that seems to have disappeared. Pierre Sage has proven to be an underwhelming replacement for Glasner and looks like a dead man walking.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-2 Liverpool

Ipswich – Bournemouth (14:00)
Thursday’s Europa League win at Sparta Prague means Bournemouth have now won their last seven games in all competitions. It’s a remarkable turnaround after a slow start and they will head to Suffolk full of confidence. Ipswich will be pleased with their start after promotion and sit 14th after back-to-back draws with Forest and Hull. Portman Road is not an easy place to win, but it’s impossible to go against the Cherries at the moment.
Prediction: Ipswich 1-3 Bournemouth

Sunderland – Chelsea (14:00)
Sunderland have been on a tough watch in recent weeks. Regis Le Bris’ team have developed a bad habit of missing chances at one end and giving away sloppy goals at the other. This is not a combination that works and the Frenchman needs to recover the physical approach that worked so well last season. Sunderland beat Chelsea in May, but this is a different Blues team with Xabi Alonso. They still go from the sublime to the ridiculous, but they will have their chances to add to Sunderland’s misery.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Chelsea

Manchester United – Aston Villa (4.30pm)
Did United’s win over Roma offer Michael Carrick a stay of execution or will the Villa game be his last appearance in the Old Trafford dugout? Only time will tell, but there is no doubt that the former England midfielder needs a win in this one to have any chance of keeping his job. Unai Emery has no such worries and appears to be building another strong side at Villa despite a turbulent summer. The visitors look in a well-oiled outfit and may be too much for United.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Aston Villa