Welcome to week 19 of The Athletic’s Premier League predictions challenge, where I’ll keep things unusually brief today before returning to Christmas turkey leftovers.
For full disclosure, I’m writing this before Matchday 18 has concluded, so I’m not able to bring a full overview of where we all stand after week 18.
What I do know, based on Saturday’s results, is that the algorithm seems to have whirred back into form, and our guest subscriber, Fulham fan Adam, had a tough Saturday — though his bold prediction of a draw between Liverpool and Wolves looked a distinct possibility during the closing stages at Anfield.
Each week, four of us — a guest subscriber, the algorithm, six-year-old Wilfred and I — are predicting the Premier League results.
We’re awarding three points for a correct scoreline and one point for a correct result. There’s also a bonus point for any correct “unique” prediction, so, for example, my prediction of a 2-1 win for Manchester City at Nottingham Forest earned me four points because nobody else matched it.
In fact, it was bonus points galore this week. As well as that one for Forest vs Manchester City, I got one for predicting Fulham’s 1-0 win at West Ham, and Wilfred got one (therefore another precious four-pointer) for tipping Aston Villa to win 2-1 at Chelsea.
And the dreaded algorithm earned bonus points from wins for Manchester United and Brentford, and that draw between Burnley and Everton, as well as getting Liverpool 2-1 Wolves spot on. Perhaps (my) reports of its demise had been exaggerated.
At the time of writing — before Sunday’s games — I’m still clear of Wilfred at the top, but his four-point haul from Stamford Bridge left me looking over my shoulder nervously once more. It also looked like the algorithm was going to wrestle its way off the bottom, ahead of the subscribers. Below is an up-to-date table.
This week’s guest subscriber is James, a 24-year-old Everton supporter from Manchester. (I really want to believe this is Everton’s 24-year-old former Manchester United midfielder James Garner, even though he is from Birkenhead, Merseyside.)
James has unsurprisingly picked Nottingham Forest vs Everton for his match of the week, so I’ll join him with a short preview of that before sharing very brief thoughts on the other nine games. Normal service to be resumed next time.
Our subscriber’s match of the week
Nottingham Forest vs Everton, Tuesday, 7.30pm UK/2.30pm ET
James says: “I’m making these predictions before Matchday 18, but Everton have won their last two at the City Ground and beat Forest quite comfortably in the reverse fixtures a few weeks ago. It’s a tough ask with lots of injuries and AFCON absentees (hurry back, Iliman Ndiaye), but I’ll follow my heart.”
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Everton
Oli says: “It’s been a tough fortnight for Everton. The absences of Idrissa Gueye and Ndiaye, on AFCON duty for Senegal, have hit them hard, exposing the shortcomings of a squad that could do with reinforcement in the January transfer window. They beat Forest 3-0 just three weeks ago, but I can’t see a repeat of that. Revenge for Forest.”
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Everton
Because it’s Christmas and because I’m not really supposed to be working today, I’m not going to do my usual game-by-game previews, but in brief…
- Wins for Manchester United and Newcastle against struggling Wolves and Burnley, respectively. An extra day’s recovery should help both Uniteds.
- Chelsea’s downturn hasn’t surprised me one bit; they’re so streaky. But so are Bournemouth. Home win.
- I predicted West Ham’s defeat at home to Fulham on Saturday, but I think they might just rouse themselves for Brighton’s visit. If they don’t, they’re in huge trouble.
- Arsenal vs Aston Villa should be a real cracker. After much deliberation, I think a hard-earned, emotionally draining home win. Villa’s suspensions won’t help them.
- Crystal Palace to beat Fulham narrowly.
- Leeds to get a draw at Anfield. Liverpool have won their last three, but Leeds should actually provide a stiffer test.
- Manchester City to emerge with three points after another serious examination at Sunderland.
- Defeat at his former club Brentford would be a really bad look for Tottenham coach Thomas Frank. He might just be spared that fate.
Normal service — i.e., waffling predictions which betray my subconscious biases, perhaps while harking back to something that happened 40 years ago — will be resumed next week. In the meantime, best wishes to everyone for a happy, healthy 2026.
