Predictions for the 27th round of the Premier League, February 21-23
Aston Villa vs Leeds
One of the first matches of the 27th round will take place in Birmingham, where Aston Villa will host Leeds. Unai Emery's team has lost 3 out of their last 5 matches at Villa Park, losing their invincibility at home. The "Peacocks," on the other hand, secured their last away victory in the Premier League back in September, but they consistently earn points through draws and have scored in 7 out of their last 8 away matches in the league. Therefore, a bet on both teams to score seems optimal, which has won in 9 out of the last 10 away matches for Daniel Farke's men across all competitions.
Match Prediction for Aston Villa vs Leeds: both teams to score (yes)
Brentford vs Brighton
The magnificent Brentford will play against a struggling Brighton. Since mid-December, the "Bees" are the second team in the Premier League in terms of points gained (20), trailing only Arsenal (22), who have played one more match. In the last round, Keith Andrews' protégés were close to defeating the "Gunners" in a head-to-head encounter (1:1). The "Seagulls" have only secured one victory in the last 13 rounds, and Fabian Hurzeler is understandably on the brink of dismissal. Considering that Brighton hasn't won at the Brentford Community Stadium since 2021, the favorite in this encounter is obvious to us.
Match Prediction for Brentford vs Brighton: Brentford to win with a handicap (0)
Chelsea vs Burnley
Chelsea missed out on a victory against Leeds in the last round, leading 2-0, while Burnley, on the contrary, secured a comeback victory over Crystal Palace (3-2), having been two goals down during the match. In the FA Cup, the "Blues" thrashed Hull City (4-0), whereas the "Clarets" unexpectedly lost to Mansfield (1-2) from League 1. Chelsea is decent under Liam Rosenior, but they have defensive issues, conceding in 9 out of the last 10 rounds. This is partly why 6 out of the last 7 matches involving the "Pensioners" have seen over 3.5 goals. We expect a high-scoring game.
Match Prediction for Chelsea vs Burnley: total over 2.5 goals
West Ham vs Bournemouth
A very intriguing match, as both teams are in excellent form. West Ham has only one loss in their last five rounds, while Bournemouth is on a six-match unbeaten streak. The outcome is unpredictable, but what seems likely is yellow cards. The "Hammers" have received more than 1.5 yellow cards in five consecutive matches against the "Cherries," while Andoni Iraola's team is known for their high pressing and frequent fouls, averaging 2.35 cautions per game in the current Premier League season. Based on this, a bet on over 3.5 yellow cards seems logical, having won in 12 out of Bournemouth's last 13 away matches.
Prediction for the match West Ham vs Bournemouth: total over 3.5 yellow cards
Manchester City vs Newcastle
The third meeting of the teams in 2026 is already on the horizon, and it hasn't even been two months since the start of the year. Man City confidently dealt with Newcastle (2:0; 3:1) in the League Cup and will try to do the same in the Premier League. The odds are high, as the “Citizens” have defeated the “Magpies” at home in 18 of the last 19 head-to-head encounters, with the last eight matches won by an aggregate score of 24:1! Additionally, Eddie Howe's team traveled to Azerbaijan this week, where they thrashed Qarabag (6:1), but nevertheless, expended a lot of energy. Newcastle might now be in for a thrashing themselves.
Prediction for the match Manchester City vs Newcastle: Manchester City to win
Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton
In terms of the tournament, Wolverhampton has nothing to hope for, but Rob Edwards' team has started picking up points again. Including the FA Cup, the “Wolves” are on a three-match unbeaten streak. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, suffered a crushing defeat to Burnley (2:3) in the last round, squandering a two-goal lead, and on Thursday, they also failed to handle Zrinjski Mostar (1:1) in an away Conference League match. We wouldn't count the visitors out, especially considering that in 4 of the last 5 head-to-head meetings, both teams have scored.
Prediction for the match Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton: both teams to score (yes)
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool
Nottingham has sacked Sean Dyche. The team is just three points away from the relegation zone, although they have been showing decent results. They have only one defeat in the last six Premier League rounds, and in their first match under Vitor Pereira, the “Foresters” thrashed Fenerbahce away (3:0). Liverpool, on the other hand, is struggling in the league, securing only a couple of wins in the last eight matches. Importantly, since Arne Slot's arrival, the “Reds” have not managed to beat Nottingham: the aggregate score of the three encounters is 1:5. Isn't this the perfect time to believe in the underdog?
Prediction for the match Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Nottingham Forest to win with a handicap (+1)
Sunderland vs Fulham
If Fulham wins, they will overtake Sunderland in the standings. Will they manage to secure it? Let's recall that in the last round, the “Black Cats” suffered their first home defeat of the season, losing to Liverpool (0:1). However, the “Cottagers” have lost three consecutive away matches: their last victory was almost two months ago against West Ham (1:0). We expect a cautious and, consequently, low-scoring match. Regis Le Bris' team is very strong at home, where they concede few goals. But Sunderland also scores sparingly – less than 1.5 goals in 13 of 15 recent matches.
Match Prediction for Sunderland vs Fulham: Total Under 2.5 Goals
Tottenham vs Arsenal
The "Tottenham Hotspur Stadium" will host the main match of the round. We are in for the North London derby! Igor Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank, has no time to waste. Tottenham urgently needs to improve their results, as they are only five points away from the relegation zone. The same goes for Arsenal, who have secured two wins in the last seven rounds and risk losing the championship again, allowing Manchester City to close in on them. As for the head-to-head meetings, in the first round, the "Gunners" thrashed the "Spurs" with a score of 4:1, extending their winning streak to four matches. We believe the fifth victory is not far off. Tottenham has half of their squad in the infirmary, and captain Cristian Romero is suspended. With such personnel losses, Igor Tudor can only hope for a miracle.
Match Prediction for Tottenham vs Arsenal: Arsenal to win
Everton vs Manchester United
The euphoria in Manchester related to Michael Carrick's arrival is gradually fading. The team started at a crazy pace but couldn't achieve the coveted mark of five consecutive wins, drawing with West Ham (1:1) in the last round. In games against mid-table teams, the "Red Devils" are not impressive. And Everton is just such a team. The "Toffees" are a paradoxical team. They play significantly better away than at home. They haven't won at home since the beginning of December. However, the "Blues" score consistently – in 8 out of the last 9 matches at "Hill Dickinson." So, we can expect both teams to score.
