The CS Premier League Predictions - Week 13

Brentford v Burnley, prediction: Brentford 2-1 Burnley
Brentford come in on the back of a narrow loss at Brighton where Igor Thiago scored one penalty and missed another, which underlines both their threat and their frustration. Burnley have just been turned over 2-0 at home by Chelsea and still look like a side that buckles under pressure. Brentford will look to bombard Burnley’s box with crosses and long throws into the box.

Manchester City v Leeds United, prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Leeds

City were stung by that 2-1 defeat at Newcastle and usually answer this kind of setback at the Etihad by suffocating whoever comes next. Leeds slip into this round in the bottom three after losing at home to Villa. Haaland is likely to extend the gap at the top of the Premier League scoring charts and we expect him to score two or three.

Sunderland v AFC Bournemouth, prediction: Sunderland 2-2 Bournemouth

Bournemouth have turned the Vitality into a fortress with 13 points from 15 at home but have struggled away, only winning once this season. Sunderland are stubborn and hard to beat, having lost only two league games all season. Between Sunderland’s habit of staying in matches and Bournemouth’s refusal to shut games down, this feels nailed on for goals at both ends.

Everton v Newcastle United, prediction: Everton 2-2 Newcastle

Everton’s win at Old Trafford, with all the chaos around Gueye, saw them easily dispatch an in-form United side and has reset the mood at Goodison. Newcastle just produced their own high point by beating City, yet their season as a whole has still swung sharply between big performances and flat ones. Recent games have been pretty close, with two draws and a one-goal victory in the past three league meetings.

Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham, prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Fulham

Spurs lost 5-3 in Paris but that game looked very different to the 4-1 collapse at Arsenal. They led twice, scored three away at the Champions League holders and posted some of their best pressing and chance creation numbers of the season. However, their defending remains a problem and so we expect Fulham to score. Spurs fans should be buoyant about the fact that Fulham have been woeful away from home, with 13 of their 14 points coming at Craven Cottage and just one point from six away games.

Crystal Palace v Manchester United, prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Manchester United

Palace come in from a controlled win at Wolves, with Munoz excellent down the right and giving them real drive in wide areas. United are fresh off a dire home defeat to Everton where they were outfought, created almost nothing, and looked short of ideas once behind. Amorim and his players are once again under pressure whilst Glasner and his team somehow keep performing despite losing star players like Eze and Olise to bigger clubs.

Aston Villa v Wolves, prediction: Aston Villa 3-0 Wolves

Villa’s comeback win at Leeds confirmed again that they now manage awkward games with the composure of a top four contender. Wolves sit bottom, with no wins and the worst goal difference in the division, and just lost at home to Palace while looking short of belief. With Morgan Rogers coming off a big display and Villa Park buzzing, we expect a comfortable three-goal margin.

Nottingham Forest v Brighton, prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Brighton

Forest’s 3-0 win at Anfield has completely changed how opponents view them and perfectly suited their strengths of compact defending, set pieces and direct breaks. Brighton travel as a top six side after a comeback win over Brentford that featured another goal from Welbeck and a stoppage time penalty save from Verbruggen. Brighton will see more of the ball, Forest will carry a threat from set pieces and counters, so it is a tough one to call.

West Ham United v Liverpool, prediction: West Ham 2-2 Liverpool

Liverpool reach this round with 9 defeats in 12 in all competitions and a 3-0 home loss to Forest. Salah and Van Dijk look like a shell of their former selves and Slot will definitely feel his job is on the line. West Ham just let a 2-0 lead slip at home to Bournemouth and their own goal difference tells you they leak chances as well. Both will be desperate to win this one but both may have to settle for a point.

Game of the week
Chelsea v Arsenal, prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal

This is first v second, with Arsenal six points clear and Chelsea knowing a win drags the gap back to three. Both come in off big European nights, Chelsea hammering Barcelona and Arsenal beating Bayern Munich 3-1. Arsenal are really in form, with league wins at Burnley and at home to Spurs wrapped around those Bayern and Slavia Prague results, and only one league defeat all season. Chelsea have quietly stacked three league wins in a row, including a controlled 2-0 at Burnley, but their home return is still only ten points from six games compared to Arsenal’s far stronger away record. Recent history leans Arsenal’s way too, with the Gunners unbeaten at Stamford Bridge since 2018 and having put five past Chelsea at the Emirates in April last year.