EPL: Predictions For Matchday 21

Get ready for an intense Premier League weekend! Here’s a breakdown of the key fixtures, player insights, and bold score predictions.

Brentford vs. Manchester City

brentford has always provided a scare to Manchester City ever since they promoted. Brentford has scored first in four out of the last five encounters against City. And these matches were against an in-form city side. If we can bank on anything it is the fact that this match means a lot to Manchester City’s resurgence this season.

Brentford have lost more Premier League games having scored the first goal than any other side this season (five)
Key Players: Doku will play a very vital role in attack for Manchester City
Brentford Pair of Wissa and Mbuemo are the only attacking duo with double digits goals this season and they will be key to this fixture.

Scoreline: 1-2

West Ham United vs. Fulham

West Ham have already welcomed new manager Graham Potter with a 2-1 FA CUP defeat to Aston Villa and even more damning is the hamstring injury to Fulkru which saw him subbed off. He joins an illustrious injury list that has Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio. All hopes now fall to Danny Ings who has started only four league games since 2023.
Fulham on the other hand are on a 9 game unbeaten streak in all competitions and they have shown they can score goals this season scoring in 20 out of their last 21 matches. They will look to spoil Potter’s record of never losing his first home league game in charge of a club.

Key Players: Lucas Paquetá scored West Ham’s goal against Villa with his fourth strike in all competitions this term, three of which were his side’s opening goal of the game. In-form Raúl Jiménez has scored four goals across Fulham’s last three games, the last three of which arrived after half-time.

scoreline: 0-2

Chelsea vs. Bournemouth

Chelsea had a miserable December that they’ll like to forget and while that hunts them, they have started in similar fashion with their draw against Crystal Palace last match day. Only three points separate Chelsea and Bournemouth and a win for Andoni Iraola’s side could see them leapfrog Chelsea. Chelsea have two stats going for them though, first off 4 wins in the last 5 meetings against Bournemouth and the fact that Chelsea are unbeaten in the league when they play on a Tuesday since January 2002 with 10 wins and 4 draws.

Bournemouth on the other hand are on an impressive 9 game unbeaten run which includes ins against Man Utd and Tottenham.
Key Players: Cole Palmer has really been at the heart of Chelsea’s creativity and he’ll be key if they’re to turn things around.
Antione Semenyo has been a nightmare for defenders and if they catch Chelsea napping on a Fastbreak then expect Semenyo to be on hand to nail Chelsea’s coffin.
Scoreline: 2-2

Nottingham vs Liverpool

When Arne Slot’s Liverpool side lost to Forrest last September we all thought that was a shock result but from the way they have gone about their business this season it sure isn’t a shocker anymore, something even Slot himself admitted to on Monday.
Forest have won each of their last six Premier League games, while a win over Liverpool would equal their longest ever winning run. They are currently equal on points with hotly-tipped Arsenal. And they have registered more wins than any other team except leaders Liverpool. They now return to the City Ground, which they’ve turned into one of the most difficult places to visit recently, winning six of their last seven home games (L1), five of which came ‘to nil’.

If Liverpool play like they did against united, they may end up getting real punishment. Prior to winning this fixture 1-0 last season, Liverpool hadn’t won any of their previous 13 league matches away to Forest (D7, L6).

Key Player: Chris Wood’s stellar performance in attack this season saw him make the mid-season EPL XI. He will be crucial to Forrests hopes for a league double over Liverpool.
Mo Salah will undoubtedly be a deciding factor for the reds. His form this season has him sitting pretty atop the race for Golden boot.
Scoreline: 1-3

Everton Vs Aston Villa

David Moyes is back in the dugout for Everton for his second spell as club manager. His first spell was remarkable as he led Everton to 2009 FA Cup Final and also four European Campaigns. The new manager bounce is the only thing going for Everton right now and we can only hope it comes in handy against an Aston Villa side who are finding their form again, with just one loss in their last 5 games (W3, D1). They have also dominated the H2Hs between these two of late, avoiding defeat in each of the past 11 league meetings between the pair (W8, D3) and keeping a clean sheet on their last three visits to Goodison Park. Though Villa come into this game at the back of five successive away league defeats and without a league clean sheet on the road in 11 outings.

Key Players: Everton will look to Beto to step up with forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti all potentially unavailable due to injury. His goal against Peterborough meant he’s scored in two of his past three starts for club and country.
Former Toffee Ross Barkley has lost just one of his nine H2Hs (W4, D4) against his former club, while he assisted Villa’s winning goal in September’s reverse H2H (3-2).

Scoreline: 1-2

LEICESTER VS CRYSTAL PALACE

Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will hope that a 6-2 FA Cup win over second-tier QPR injects some confidence into his dressing room as the Foxes look to stave off an immediate return to the Championship. That victory came on the back of a five-match losing streak in the Premier League to leave them two points adrift of safety. Crystal Palace also enjoyed a winning outing in the FA Cup third round, though they were made to work much harder for their victory as they squeezed past third-tier Stockport 1-0 at Selhurst Park. That result at least extended their unbeaten run to four matches across all competitions (W2, D2) as manager Oliver Glasner looks to move his side further away from the relegation zone.

Key Players: Buonanotte will be key to the midfield battle in this game which will go a long way to determine who gets the lion share of possession and hopefully convert that spell into goals.
Jean-Philippe Mateta for Crystal is starting to find consistency to his form and he enjoys playing against Leicester and scoring against them with 3 career goals against leceister being his second most against any club.

scoreline: 1-1

Newcastle vs Wolves

Newcastle return to league action looking to continue their scintillating run of form. Five of their current run of eight straight wins came in the league and represent as many victories as they had put together across the opening 15 rounds (W5, D5, L5), meaning that the top-four hopefuls can now post a sixth straight league win for the first time since 2022.
Alexander Isak won the player of the month for December and he has been backing all that up with scintillating performances. He didn’t feature in Newcastle FA cup tie to ive him enough time to rest for Wolves.
Wolves on the other hand just completed the signing of Emmanuel Agbadou to bolster their defence line. While the return of Matheus Cunha will be very much welcomed by new boss Vitor Pereira whos racing against time to save Wolverhampton Wanderers from relegation.

Key Player: Isak for obvious reason, will be very key to Eddie Howe side’s success.
Matheus Cunha on the other hand will be cementing his claim as the creative spark in attack for Wolves if they’re to win this one considering their recent results.

Scoreline: 4-2

Arsenal vs Tottenham

The 211th installment of the North London derby is another vital opportunity to remain within striking distance of league leaders Liverpool whilst also heaping more misery on fierce rivals Tottenham. The 16-point gap between the two sides is just as compelling as recent head-to-head history, which has seen Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta win six of his last eight clashes with Spurs (D1, L1). Arsenal remain the only Premier League club yet to lose at home this season (W6, D3). Arsenal well placed to continue an unbeaten run at home to Spurs in this competition that spans more than one decade (W8, D5), especially as they already have the psychological advantage of winning the reverse fixture 1-0.

Tottenham continue to at least attempt to pursue success in every competition, illustrated by their wins in both the EFL and FA Cups since losing 2-1 at home to Newcastle in their last Premier League outing. Things are beginning to look a little more positive for manager Ange Postecoglou, who is hopeful that Richarlison will make his long awaited return here despite the boss’ intent to “be really careful” with his recovery.

Key Players: Odegaard is the sole source of creativity for Arsenal and this fixture will rely on him largely if Arsenal’s set piece routine fails to bail them out.
Kulusevski has been the standout Spurs player for me this season and he will be largely called upon to inject his infectious energy into the team in the hopes of saving Ange’s job.

Scoreline: 1-1