Predictions for the 24th round of the Premier League, January 31 – February 2
Brighton vs Everton
If Brighton wins, they will catch up with Everton in points, but there's a problem – the "Seagulls" have not won any of their last five home matches against the "Toffees". Therefore, the outcome here is very unpredictable. In such a situation, we'll focus on yellow cards. Chris Kavanagh is a referee who tends to show a lot of cards (averaging 3.9 per game), and the "Seagulls" are the roughest team in the league alongside Tottenham (2.52 cautions per match). We expect the teams to engage in a heated battle for important points, with more than 3.5 yellow cards shown. This threshold has been exceeded in 6 of Brighton's last 7 Premier League matches.
Match Prediction for Brighton vs Everton: Total Over 3.5 Yellow Cards
Leeds vs Arsenal
Three consecutive matches without a win is too much for the main title contender. Therefore, no matter how good Leeds is (and they are indeed good, especially at home), we expect three points from Arsenal. Besides the current circumstances, it's worth noting that the "Peacocks" are a very favorable opponent for the "Gunners". Mikel Arteta's team has won the last seven head-to-head encounters.
Match Prediction for Leeds vs Arsenal: Arsenal to Win
Wolverhampton vs Bournemouth
Another heated encounter awaits. It's not particularly principled, but there has been a sending-off in 5 of the last 6 head-to-head matches. Wolverhampton ended their unbeaten run last round, losing to Man City (0:2), while Bournemouth secured a spectacular victory over Liverpool (3:2). However, there's another side to the coin: the "Wolves" are unbeaten at home in three consecutive matches, and the "Cherries" haven't won away in ten! We expect a balanced fight and both teams to score at "Molineux". By the way, this bet has won in nine consecutive matches involving Bournemouth – Andoni Iraola's team plays entertaining football.
Match Prediction for Wolverhampton vs Bournemouth: Both Teams to Score (Yes)
Chelsea vs West Ham
An extremely intriguing London derby awaits us. It's clear that the teams have completely different objectives. However, in terms of potential, West Ham certainly shouldn't be fighting for survival, and the "Hammers" have found excellent form, winning three matches in a row. Whether this will help them take points from "Stamford Bridge" is a big question, but Nuno Espírito Santo's side can count on scoring a goal, although their defense remains far from the most reliable. Therefore, we believe that together the teams will surpass the total goals line, as they have done in the last five head-to-head meetings.
Match Prediction for Chelsea vs West Ham: Total Over 2.5 Goals
Liverpool vs Newcastle
Two representatives of the Champions League from England will face off in a head-to-head match. Liverpool advanced directly to the Round of 16, thrashing Qarabag (6:0), while Newcastle remained outside the top 8, although they managed to secure points in the...PSG's away game (1:1). Meanwhile, both teams are experiencing a winless streak in the Premier League. In head-to-head encounters, Liverpool has been dominating, but the "Reds" have significant defensive issues, making it unlikely for Alisson to keep a clean sheet. After two consecutive goalless matches, the "Magpies" are due to find the net.
Match Prediction for Liverpool vs Newcastle: Both Teams to Score (Yes)
Aston Villa vs Brentford
At the time of writing this preview, it is still unknown if Aston Villa will finish first in the overall stage of the Europa League, but that is not crucial. Even considering squad rotation, Unai Emery's team will expend energy on Thursday. Meanwhile, Brentford is calmly preparing for the Premier League round. They lost their last two matches without scoring, but created a decent number of chances against Chelsea (0:2) and Nottingham (0:2). Keith Andrews' team was simply unlucky in the final stages. The trip to "Villa Park" promises to be challenging, but in 5 of the last 6 matches, the "Bees" have scored, often resulting in both teams finding the net.
Match Prediction for Aston Villa vs Brentford: Both Teams to Score (Yes)
Manchester United vs Fulham
Michael Carrick is performing wonders since taking over as head coach of Manchester United. They have impressively defeated the main title contenders: Man City (2:0) and Arsenal (3:2). In the 24th round, the coach faces a different challenge – a match against a mid-table team. Fulham is typically resilient and in good form, but historically struggles against the "Red Devils," having lost 12 of their last 17 encounters. The hosts at "Old Trafford" are on such an emotional high that we can expect a third consecutive victory from them.
Match Prediction for Manchester United vs Fulham: Manchester United to Win
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace
This is a crucial match for both teams, especially considering the previous story about the Europa League spot. Interestingly, in 5 of the last 6 encounters, the teams have drawn, and none of the last seven matches have gone over the total. We believe this trend is likely to continue, as both the "Foresters" and the "Glaziers" have significant attacking difficulties. Expect a tense and low-scoring battle for important points.
Match Prediction for Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace: Total Under 2.5 Goals
Tottenham vs Manchester City
One of the key matches of the round will take place at "Tottenham Hotspur Stadium," where Pep Guardiola's squad will visit. Interestingly, it is the "Spurs" who have directly advanced to the Champions League Round of 16, while the "Citizens" will have to play in the playoffs. However, the Premier League situation is quite different. Thomas Frank's team is struggling: half of the squad is in the infirmary, and they are only eight points away from the relegation zone.relegation. However, City, despite their position in the table, are far from being in top form. A shortage of personnel and Erling Haaland's slump are affecting their results. Let's not forget that Tottenham is generally an uncomfortable opponent for the "Sky Blues." We believe the bookmakers are overestimating the visitors.
Prediction for the Tottenham vs Manchester City match: Tottenham to win with a handicap (+1)
Sunderland vs Burnley
Sunderland has been stumbling more frequently and has already dropped to the lower half of the table. However, they only lose away games, while their unbeaten home streak has been ongoing since the start of the season. As for Burnley, the team has caught a wave, consistently picking up points, but they look very weak on the road. Recent draws with Bournemouth (1:1) and Liverpool (1:1) were largely due to luck, as their opponents collectively had more than five expected goals. We believe Régis Le Bris' protégés will take revenge on the "Clarets" for the defeat in the first round.
