Premier League predictions this weekend – Matchweek 22
Our final predictions for Premier League Matchweek 22 – including our Upset of the Week.
The Premier League returns from an FA Cup break with a bang in Matchweek 22 including a huge derby battle to kick-start proceedings.
Manchester United host Manchester City at Old Trafford under the stewardship of Michael Carrick for the first time as caretaker boss.
Elsewhere, Arsenal continue their title push with a trip to face Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa take on Everton as they seek to keep pace at the summit.
Each week, RadioTimes.com Sport Editor Michael Potts presents his Premier League predictions, including a selection for Upset of the Week, because football isn't played on paper after all.
How many picks will he get right in Matchweek 22?
Premier League predictions this weekend – Matchweek 22
Saturday 17th January
Man Utd v Man City (12:30pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League
MP: Man City 3-1 win. We've all had bad first days at work, but not quite so bad as Michael Carrick may be about to endure. Manchester City arrive at Old Trafford with a patchwork defence that could leak, but with all the firepower required to blow United out of the water.
Chelsea v Brentford (3pm) Not televised
MP: Chelsea 2-1 win. Liam Rosenior feels like an oddly sensible choice for Chelsea, who tend to prefer box-office characters to lead the circus. The former Hull boss is a cool customer and will organise his rabble into shape. A victory over their high-flying west London rivals would be a strong start to his Premier League journey.
Leeds v Fulham (3pm) Not televised
MP: Leeds 2-1 win. Leeds are not going down – it's that simple. True, the table never lies, but it also doesn't tell the whole story. Leeds have massively improved since the start of December and if they can cut out lapses leading to goals, they can really dish out damage to teams around them.
Liverpool v Burnley (3pm) Not televised
MP: Liverpool 2-0 win. The Reds are not fixed, but they're healing. Liverpool are undefeated in 11 matches and a gutsy 0-0 draw with Arsenal last time out in the Premier League proved their resilience. They should have no trouble against a floundering Burnley side who are without a win in their last 12 top-flight matches.
Sunderland v Crystal Palace (3pm) Not televised
MP: Sunderland win 1-0. Don't let Sunderland's form fool you, their recent results have been far more impressive than meets the eye. The Black Cats faced a nightmare fixture pile-up: Liverpool (A), Newcastle (H), Brighton (A), Leeds (H), Tottenham (A), Brentford (A) and Man City (H+A). They only lost one of those matches despite losing six players to the Africa Cup of Nations and colossus Dan Ballard to injury. Expect them to pick up now their AFCON stars are returning.
Tottenham v West Ham (3pm) Not televised
MP: Tottenham 1-0 win. Thomas Frank, you have no excuses. It feels like win-or-bust for the beleaguered Danish coach, who has been reduced from the Premier League most fashionable leader to a laughing stock in record time. That's just what Spurs can do to a man. If he can't eke out a victory against the Hammers, who have all-but thrown in the towel, he may as well start packing his kuffert.
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (5:30pm) TNT Sports 1
MP: Arsenal win 2-0. Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest versus the logical endgame of what Sean Dyche would like football to become should be a fascinating watch. Arsenal are playing an elite version of Dyche-ball that has seen them soar to pole position in the Premier League title race. The Gunners have enough to secure a confident victory-to-nil – and perhaps a guard of honour from Sean himself.
Sunday 18th January
Wolves v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League
MP: Wolves win 1-0. UPSET OF THE WEEK. Wolves have finally shown their teeth. Undefeated in three with a victory sandwiched in the middle, Rob Edwards' men are still going down, but remarkably they're going down with more spirit than the others around them. Newcastle remain unconvincing in terms of performances despite late goals scraping out some solid results. With a cup semi-final behind them and the Champions League coming up, Eddie Howe may be tempted to rest some stars – and that could spell trouble.
Aston Villa v Everton (4:30pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League
MP: Aston Villa win 1-0. Villa remain a huge threat and the third best team in the Premier League right now despite a couple of hiccups in recent weeks. Everton have a real striker problem with Thierno Barry and Beto each struggling to contribute and are likely to suffer as a result.
Monday 19th January
Brighton v AFC Bournemouth (8pm) Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League
MP: Draw 2-2. It's futile trying to predict what you're going to get from either of these teams. Neither enjoys consistency, neither enjoys a quiet life of solid performances week-in, week-out. This is just a case of turn up and see what happens. We're going 2-2. Or maybe 4-0. Or how about 3-1. Hmm. Take your pick.
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Authors
Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
