Premier League 21/22: Matchday twenty three 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 (For the games that still stand this weekend)

Watford v Norwich - Friday 21st January (8pm)

Chris Coughlin

This is a simply massive game at the bottom of the table. After Norwich has been all but written off by many, back to back wins would be a huge boost for Dean Smith's side after last week's victory over Everton. Watford, meanwhile, claiming a crucial point at Newcastle with a late equaliser from Joao Pedro and face two games including the match against Burnley. I'll go for Claudio Ranieri's men to win this one.

Prediction: 2-0

Ryan Kirk: 1-1

Harry Reynolds: 2-0

Joe Richardson: 1-1

Chris Stott: 1-1

Everton v Aston Villa - Saturday 22nd January (12:30pm)

Harry Reynolds

Rafa Benitez has finally gone, but he has left Everton in a complete mess. The Spaniard forced the departure of multiple key backroom staff before he was sacked, alongside Lucas Digne who makes a swift return to Goodison with his new club. Aston Villa have been really good under Steven Gerrard and I think that impact may be able to negate the new manager bounce that Duncan Ferguson brings to the home side. Everton have failed to beat Villa in five meetings since the latter returned to the Premier League in 2019 too.

Prediction: 1-2

Ryan Kirk: 1-2

Joe Richardson: 2-1

Chris Stott: 1-2

Chris Coughlin: 2-2

Brentford v Wolves - Saturday 22nd January (3pm)

Chris Stott

How long can a team go under the radar until we start to realise just how well they're doing? Because Wolves just continue to tick along nicely this year. Yes, they don't score a lot of goals but defensively they have been brilliant and are six points behind fourth place with two games in hand. Brentford on the other hand are having a tough time of it at the moment. They've conceded ten goals in their last three games after starting the season really well at the back. I think Wolves with edge it.

Prediction:

Ryan Kirk: 1-2

Harry Reynolds: 0-1

Joe Richardson: 0-1

Chris Coughlin: 0-1

Leeds v Newcastle - Saturday 22nd January (3pm)

Harry Reynolds

Newcastle can sign as many big names as they like, but Eddie Howe clearly isn’t improving the team. They’re still throwing away leads like in the Watford game a week ago, and still only have a single victory to their name in the whole season. Conversely, Leeds were excellent in their thrilling 3-2 win at West Ham. They’ve got on with things despite what seems like dozens of injuries, giving chances to their youth players to impress, where other teams have requested games to be postponed, or in one particular case paid for false positives to be produced to get a game off. I think this is a great chance for Leeds to build some momentum.

Prediction: 3-1

Ryan Kirk: 2-1

Joe Richardson: 2-1

Chris Stott: 2-2

Chris Coughlin: 2-1

Man Utd v West Ham - Saturday 22nd January (3pm)

Harry Reynolds

If it wasn’t for Brentford wasting a whole host of chances in the first half on Wednesday night, there could be a very different feel about Ralf Rangnick at Man United now. They were atrocious in the first half, following their collapse from 2-0 up at Aston Villa last week, and I’m still yet to see them perform for 90 minutes under their interim manager. This will be a very difficult game against a West Ham side who need to bounce back from a poor result against Leeds, but we all know David Moyes’ record away from home against Man United in the league, so I’ll just take United to edge it.

Prediction: 1-0

Joe Richardson

I successfully predicted a United defeat in their last home league game against Wolves, one of my best this season without a doubt. But this time, I may not be going against the grain too much. Simply, West Ham are a much better 'team' than United at the moment and have in form attackers to trouble a back four not to be trusted.

Prediction: 1-2

Ryan Kirk: 2-2

Chris Stott: 2-1

Chris Coughlin: 2-1

Southampton v Man City - Saturday 22nd January

(5:30pm)

Ryan Kirk

City haven't been their usual selves in the last few weeks. They were fortunate against Arsenal and just about edged back Chelsea but it would take a very brave man to back against them in any game wouldn't it? Pep Guardiola called James Ward-Prowse the best free-kick taker in the world and the Saints skipper has been superb since his red card at Chelsea earlier in the season. Regardless of JWP's form, however, that won't be enough to stop City taking another step to the title.

Prediction: 0-3

Harry Reynolds: 0-2

Joe Richardson: 0-3

Chris Stott: 0-3

Chris Coughlin: 0-3

Arsenal v Burnley - Sunday 23rd January (2pm)

Ryan Kirk

It's been a really tough month for Arsenal. Cruelly beaten by Manchester City, dumped out of the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest and then connivingly and decisively beaten by Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-finals makes this game against Burnley pretty much a must-win for the Gunners. Fortunately for them, they face a Burnley side who were already struggling to score goals before they sold Chris Wood to Burnley. I think they'll really struggle to stay up now and Arteta's side will get to winning ways here.

Prediction: 2-0

Harry Reynolds: 2-0

Joe Richardson: 2-0

Chris Stott: 2-0

Chris Coughlin: 2-0

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Sunday 23rd January (2pm)

Chris Coughlin

Liverpool are off to the capital for the second time in four days as they travel to face a rejuvenated Crystal Palace side who've been a breath of fresh air under Patrick Vieira this season. Jurgen Klopp spoke highly of the Eagles in his pre-match press conference, adding that the team have been "unlucky" at times this season with five wins from 21 games perhaps not reflecting the progress that's been made at Selhurst Park this campaign. The Reds, however, have coped very well without their star men Mo Salah and Sadio Mane this January with three wins from four games in all competitions since they headed to AFCON, scoring nine times and conceding just once in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury. Whenever this fixture comes about that historic 3-3 draw in 2014 will of course be referenced but Liverpool's record at the home of the Eagles has been good since then, winning seven of their last eight games at Palace including a 7-0 rout last year. Whilst a similar scoreline is unlikely on Sunday, Klopp and co will be confident of the same result.

Prediction: 1-2

Ryan Kirk: 1-2

Harry Reynolds: 1-3

Joe Richardson: 1-2

Chris Stott: 1-2

Leicester v Brighton - Sunday 23rd January (2pm)

Joe Richardson

This could be a really tight one. Brighton have picked up again in recent weeks, whilst Leicester will still be in shock following the inexplicable last gasp defeat to Tottenham. However, I'm going to edge the home side and back James Maddison to continue his dazzling form.

Prediction: 2-1

Ryan Kirk: 1-1

Harry Reynolds: 1-1

Chris Stott: 1-1

Chris Coughlin: 1-1

Chelsea v Spurs - Sunday 23rd January (4:30pm)

Joe Richardson

Chelsea's league form is rather alarming for Thomas Tuchel. Just 1 win in 7 has completely dashed any hopes of a tilt at the title and if it continues, they may well be looking over their shoulder in terms of Champions League qualification. Tottenham will be bouyed by their dramatic win at Leicester and with four games in hand over their opponents, a top 4 challenge looks a reality. A win here would be big, but I think the draw is more likely.

Prediction: 1-1

Ryan Kirk: 2-1

Harry Reynolds: 2-1

Chris Stott: 2-3

Chris Coughlin: 2-0