Welcome back to the most accurate predictions on the internet, if the internet was only this site.
Prem teams by and large kicked some ass in their European games, looking at you Spurs, but now it’s back to the real business. Let’s take a look at how wrong I was and how wrong I’m going to be!
Match One: Fulham vs Arsenal
Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal
Reality: 1-0
Had this one just about right. Fulham had a whiff of a chance or two but the new normal held firm. Arsenal have a world class defense and they knocked in a corner. Never has a title match been quite this boring. But kudos to the Gunners because titles don’t get graded on style.
Match Two: Burnley vs Leeds
Prediction: 3-3
Reality: 2-0 Burnley
So just move this prediction over to the Palace vs Bournemouth game and I’m looking Nostradamus like. It wasn’t a stilted affair but certainly not the barn burner I was looking for.
Match Three: Liverpool vs Man United
Prediction: 2-0 Liverpool
Reality: 2-1 United
Welp, had this one wrong 2 minutes in. It’s one concern to see Salah walk off the age cliff but if VVD is going to go with him Liverpool is going to have huge problems.
The most important part of the United win is that Frank may finally be able to break out the clippers.
Enough of past failings on to future mistakes!
Match 1
Manchester United v Brighton
Old Trafford sees a suddenly resurgent team take the field. Rueben has the backing of ownership. They won at Anfield. It’s all roses. Perfect time for a pesky foe to come in and pop the balloon. Brighton have no fear going up north. They’ll come to play. Sorry Frank, put the shears down and buy some leave in conditioner.
Prediction: 3-1 Brighton
Match 2
Arsenal v Palace
I’ve made a decision to always have a look at the title leaders. Even if it usually bores me to tears. At this point we know what we’re getting from Arsenal. Where as Pep has a chameleon squad capable of changing pace and style, Arteta has a gorilla. You know what you’re getting but it doesn’t matter because what they do best is better than what you do best.
Recent results aside Palace is a tough team to play but that just feeds into what Arsenal wants. A closed off game and they’ll lean on set pieces to see it over the line.
Prediction: 1-0 to The Arsenal
Match 3
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Speaking of resurgence, Villa seem to be finding a little run of form. My inside source is cautiously optimistic. They have a good test this weekend against a less than full strength City squad. City need this one if they want to stay within shouting distance of Arsenal if they spring a patented new year collapse.
I think Villa make things tough and both teams sneak one home.
Prediction: 1-1
Match 4
Bournemouth v Forest
A bonus prediction! Anytime a manager gets sacked while players are still showering we have to take a look in.
Smart move to sack Big Ange before a winnable European game. But their Prem schedule will be rough on the interim manager. Bournemouth love to attack and will do just that. New manager bounce only goes so far this weekend
Prediction: 2-0 Bournemouth
Enjoy the games and remember, anything I get wrong I’ll just blame on writing at 5:30am on the way to work!