Premier League 21/22: Matchday twelve predictions

This season, the team's predictions will be available in weekly articles and they'll be in competition with a league too!

Read our pundits predictions below...

Leicester v Chelsea - Saturday, 20th November (12:30pm)

Joe Richardson

On paper, this is a tricky fixture for Chelsea. The early kick-off after the international break. Leicester seem to thrive up against the bigger teams and will match up Chelsea’s three at the back formation. It sounds obvious but when both teams match systems, the team with the better individuals generally come out on top so I will lean towards a narrow away win. The loss of Youri Tielemans to injury also tips the balance towards Chelsea, in my view Leicester’s most influential player.

Prediction: 1-2

Harry Reynolds: 1-2

Ryan Kirk: 1-1

Chris Stott: 1-1

Chris Coughlin: 0-2

Aston Villa v Brighton - Saturday, 20th November (3pm)

Harry Reynolds

This will be a difficult start for Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, even though their opponents were disappointing when last seen. Brighton almost stopped playing in the second half of their draw with Newcastle, but Villa have lost five on the spin and that won’t be an easy thing to solve. I think they’ll stop the rot, but I find it hard to split these two

Prediction: 1-1

Joe Richardson: 1-1

Ryan Kirk: 2-1

Chris Stott: 2-0

Chris Coughlin: 2-1

Burnley v Crystal Palace - Saturday, 20th November (3pm)

Joe Richardson

Palace have been getting all the plaudits recently in particular Conor Gallagher, who is proving himself as a proper Premier League player. But I think this game sets up well for Burnley to win. They will make this game into a battle and Palace will need to prove they still have the qualities that served them under Roy Hodgson to get a result here.

Prediction: 2-1

Harry Reynolds: 0-2

Ryan Kirk: 0-1

Chris Stott: 0-1

Chris Coughlin: 0-2

Newcastle v Brentford - Saturday, 20th November (3pm)

Joe Richardson

The reaction to Eddie Howe’s appointment at Newcastle was a little mixed, with legitimate doubts over his transfer record at Bournemouth and the fact he has been out of the game for over a year. But I can’t help but root for the former Cherries boss. The job he did on the south coast was nothing short of remarkable and I rate his coaching and tactical brain amongst the best British managers. I don’t think he could ask for a nicer game to start against a Brentford side either, who have lost four in a row.

Prediction: 2-0

Harry Reynolds: 2-1

Ryan Kirk: 2-1

Chris Stott: 2-1

Chris Coughlin: 2-1

Norwich v Southampton - Saturday, 20th November (3pm)

Chris Coughlin

The final team Dean Smith faced in charge of Aston Villa is the first team he takes on in charge of Norwich City. Smith will know he has work to do at Carrow Road regardless of the Canaries earning their first win of the Premier League season against Brentford - it was the first time Norwich had even taken the lead in a top-flight game for 15 matches. Southampton meanwhile have hit form at the back and in attack with Che Adams and Adam Armstrong finding the net in recent matches. I'll go for Saints to make it a difficult start for Smith.

Prediction: 0-2

Harry Reynolds: 0-1

Joe Richardson: 1-2

Ryan Kirk: 1-1

Chris Stott: 1-1

Watford v Man Utd - Saturday, 20th November (3pm)

Harry Reynolds

I thought United’s defeat against City was worse than their 5-0 hammering by Liverpool, sheerly because United barely got a kick of the ball all game. Solskjaer is still on borrowed time, and this is a nice fixture against a Watford team who will almost certainly be heading straight back to the Championship - before probably returning again in 2023.

Prediction: 0-3

Joe Richardson: 1-2

Ryan Kirk: 3-2

Chris Stott: 1-3

Chris Coughlin: 1-3

Wolves v West Ham - Saturday, 20th November (3pm)

Harry Reynolds

West Ham will fancy their chances of yet another victory in the PL, and this would be their fifth on the bounce. They are hurtling towards Champions League football at this rate, while Wolves are probably going to have another season of mediocrity. Their defeat at Crystal Palace was a little disappointing, especially as they were on a nice little run before then.

Prediction: 0-2

Joe Richardson: 0-2

Ryan Kirk: 1-2

Chris Stott: 0-2

Chris Coughlin: 1-2

Liverpool v Arsenal - Saturday, 20th November (5:30pm)

Joe Richardson

This is a good test to see where Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are at in their development with confidence high and their young England stars flying. Liverpool are the benchmark team, but the international break certainly hasn’t been kind to them. Andy Robertson, Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane are all doubts so the Gunners will feel this will be as good a time as any to play them. I think this could be a cracking game and Arsenal will run the home side very close.

Prediction: 3-2

Harry Reynolds: 3-1

Ryan Kirk: 3-1

Chris Stott: 2-1

Chris Coughlin: 3-1

Man City v Everton - Sunday, 21th November (2pm)

Harry Reynolds

This won’t be much of a contest. Everton are still without the spine of their team, while City can afford to lose Kevin de Bruyne and no one bats an eyelid. The two squads are light years apart anyway, and Everton have lost eight consecutive games against City, with no win at the Etihad since 2010.

Prediction: 4-0

Joe Richardson: 2-0

Ryan Kirk: 2-0

Chris Stott: 3-1

Chris Coughlin: 3-0

Tottenham v Leeds - Sunday, 21th November (4:30pm)

Chris Coughlin

We've see two very different sides of Antonio Conte's Spurs in league and cup so far - an open, end-to-end 3-2 win over Vitesse followed by a cagey 0-0 draw against Everton. Leeds, meanwhile, have improved somewhat in recent weeks but the uncertainty remains defensively. Spurs have struggled for shows on target in recent weeks never mind goals but I expect them to gain a valuable three points here.

Prediction: 3-1

Harry Reynolds: 3-1

Joe Richardson: 2-1

Ryan Kirk: 3-1

Chris Stott: 2-0