Premier League predictions: Arsenal surge, United’s revenge and Anfield battle | OneFootball

February kicked off in style last weekend as Arsenal strengthened their lead at the top of the Premier League standings with a 4-0 rout of Leeds United at Elland Road.

Manchester City dropped two vital points in a 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur and are now trailing the table-topping Gunners by six points heading into the latest round of matches.

Manchester United maintained their uptick in form under interim manager Michael Carrick, snatching a last-gasp 3-2 home victory over Fulham.

Sitting fourth in the table, the Red Devils are now the fourth-likeliest candidates to secure a coveted UEFA Champions League qualification despite a dreadful start to the season.

Priced at 9/10, they’re only behind Arsenal, Aston Villa and Man City in the pecking order, sharing the same odds as defending champions Liverpool, who snapped a five-game winless league run last weekend.

Arne Slot’s charges came from behind to beat out-of-sorts Newcastle United 4-1 at Anfield. They enter this round two points adrift of Man Utd, who face Tottenham Hotspur in this weekend’s standout fixture.

Without further ado, let’s look at the Premier League fixtures for Matchday 25.

Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest

The action gets underway at Elland Road as Leeds and Nottingham Forest go head-to-head in a high-stakes bottom-half clash, with both teams stuck only six points clear of the relegation zone.

Despite Arsenal’s dominant victory here, another game in Yorkshire feels like a perfect opportunity for the Whites to get back on track, having lost just one home league match against teams outside of the top three this term.

Buoyed by a four-game unbeaten run in the top flight, Forest will be out to buck that trend and complete their first league double over Leeds since 2013/14, following a 3-1 win in November’s reverse fixture.

Prediction: Draw

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Fresh off being nominated for the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award, Carrick will be looking to address Man Utd’s recent woes in this match-up.

The Red Devils are enduring their longest-ever winless run against Tottenham in all competitions, having failed to beat them in their last eight competitive meetings.

However, the Old Trafford giants can draw confidence from their longest eight-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League since February 2022 as they seek their first home win over Spurs in almost four years.

Prediction: Both teams to score

Arsenal vs Sunderland

After bouncing back from a three-game winless league run last weekend, Arsenal received another confidence boost in midweek League Cup action, overcoming Chelsea to reach the final.

Manager Mikel Arteta has every reason for optimism, as the Gunners have not lost any of their last 43 home league encounters against newly promoted sides, racking up a jaw-dropping 38 wins in that sequence.

That paints a bleak picture for visiting Sunderland, whose last away victory against the London powerhouse dates back to 1983, underscoring the magnitude of the task ahead.

Prediction: Arsenal to win

Bournemouth vs Aston Villa

Aston Villa’s title hopes are fizzling out on the back of a poor run of just one win from their last four league outings, including a gut-wrenching 1-0 home loss to 10-man Brentford a week ago.

Failure is not an option for Unai Emery’s charges here if they’re to remain in the title picture, even though they face an in-form Bournemouth, who won their last two league matches.

A first set of consecutive league triumphs since September should set the Cherries up perfectly for this contest, as they hope to halt a six-game winless streak against Villa in the Premier League.

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals

Burnley vs West Ham United

Turf Moor sets the stage for a ‘make or break’ bottom-three six-pointer between Burnley and West Ham United, with the hosts seeking their first top-flight win since October.

Under-fire boss Scott Parker has come under heavy scrutiny after going winless in 15 successive league games, a sequence he must break this weekend to avoid further pressure.

That could prove easier said than done, with West Ham rolling into town desperate to redeem themselves for a frustrating 3-2 defeat at Chelsea last weekend.

Prediction: Draw

Fulham vs Everton

Man Utd staved off a spirited Fulham comeback at the Theatre of Dreams last Sunday, inflicting a major blow on the visitors’ top-six hopes, as they now trail Liverpool by five points.

With that in mind, this fixture has all the makings of a must-win affair for the hosts but their visitors as well, with Everton sitting level on points with Fulham after a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.

Ominously for Marco Silva’s side, they’ve emerged victorious from just one of their last nine Premier League clashes against the Toffees at Craven Cottage.

Prediction: Under 2.5 goals

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Chelsea

Fighting to avoid the ignominy of becoming the Premier League’s worst-ever side, Wolverhampton Wanderers head into proceedings as the only team yet to hit double digits this season.

Nailed to the bottom of the table with a mere eight points, Wolves are already preparing for life in the Championship, but they could still spoil Chelsea’s pursuit of a top-four finish here.

Liam Rosenior has steadied the ship since taking over from Enzo Maresca, winning his first three league matches in charge, and will aim to become the second English manager to win his first four games in the competition.

Prediction: Chelsea to win by two or more goals

Newcastle United vs Brentford

Eddie Howe must be feeling the heat after his underperforming Newcastle side bowed out of the League Cup at Man City, extending their winless run in all competitions to four matches.

Perhaps the impending return to St James’ Park could restore a feel-good factor, even though the Magpies followed a 13-game unbeaten home league streak with a pair of losses across their last three outings here.

Brentford could deepen Newcastle’s crisis and bolster their top-eight aspirations at the same time after claiming three wins across their last four Premier League road trips.

Prediction: Both teams to score

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace

Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace are set to trade tackles at the Amex Stadium in a clash of the two out-of-form Premier League sides.

Winless across their last four league fixtures, Fabian Hurzeler’s men have already lost significant ground on the top six, and another slip-up could put the final nail in the coffin of their European ambitions.

Facing Palace doesn’t bode well, given that the Seagulls have picked up only two wins from their last 13 top-flight showdowns against them.

Prediction: Draw

Liverpool vs Manchester City

Slot’s recent statement that Liverpool are ‘adjusting’ to the Premier League style shift (via Sky Sports) will face a real test when they host Man City at Anfield on Sunday evening.

Revenge will be at the forefront of the Dutchman’s mind following an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in November’s reverse fixture, which put the Cityzens on the brink of a historic milestone.

Despite their perennial dominance in England’s top flight, Man City’s last league double over the Merseyside heavyweights dates back to the 1936/37 season.

It will be intriguing to see whether Pep Guardiola can make history once again.

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals