Who will win each of the matches on schedule on Matchday 31 of the 2024/25 Premier League Season? The biggest match of the week will undoubtedly be the derby between Manchester United and Manchester City on Sunday, but don’t sleep on Liverpool vs. Fulham or Brentford vs. Chelsea either.
Everton vs. Arsenal
Everton’s only advantage lies in the fact that they are the home team, because even though Arsenal do have a bevy of injuries that they’ve been carrying over this season, the Gunners have Bukayo Saka back.
To be honest, there isn’t much that stands out about Arsenal as a team this season, and it wouldn’t be a shock if Nottingham Forest overtook them for second. There’s no title race, but Arsenal have a lot of pride on the line and are noticeably and significantly better whenever they have Saka in the lineup.
I think a 2-0 win for Arsenal is a fair prediction with Saka getting a goal and an assist.
Ipswich vs. Wolves
I hate to be such a downer, but I doubt there are very many people around the world who care about this game. Wolves stink and Ipswich, despite being just one spot below them in the Premier League table, are that much worse.
Let’s call it a 1-1 draw with some late heroics from Liam Delap.
Crystal Palace vs. Brighton
Honestly, Crystal Palace vs. Brighton should be one of the games of the week. Palace are better than a lot of people give them credit for being, even with Michael Olise now doing his world-class thing over at Bayern Munich.
Brighton are on the cusp of European football, and if Aston Villa crap their pants at least one more time, you wouldn’t bet against the Seagulls pulling off the feat. I think the key of this matchup will be Kaoru Mitoma. If Palace can’t contain him, they won’t be able to win.
Ultimately, I’m calling it a 2-2 draw, because, at home, Palace have just enough attacking talent to get the result they need here.
West Ham vs. Bournemouth
West Ham just can’t be trusted, 2-1 Bournemouth. While Bournemouth are a very good side and in the thick of European football contention, the Hammers are in full-blown rebuild mode and actually have to build a real project to the future under Graham Potter, unless they want a truly ridiculous coaching carousel in the post-David Moyes era.
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest might actually have the most compelling matchup of Matchday 31 in the Premier League on paper, because Forest are flying high with big wins over Manchester City, Brighton, and Manchester United in their last four while Aston Villa have won six straight in all competitions with their backs against the wall.
I think Villa will do just enough to draw 1-1 and get a point against arguably the best defense in the league. What we need to see from Villa going forward, though, is more consistent defending from a back line playing well below its talent level in the 2024/25 season.
Brentford vs. Chelsea
Sunday’s fixtures on Matchday 31 begin with a key battle for European places between Brighton and Chelsea, because the Blues are in a battle to secure Champions League football again while the Bees are quietly only seven points back of seventh place despite sitting in 11th currently.
Brentford remain one of the best attacking teams in the Premier League despite losing Ivan Tone to the Saudi Pro League, and their new main star, Bryan Mbeumo, will be the one to watch against Chelsea.
In fact, I don’t think Chelsea will be able to contain him. Mbeumo and Mikel Damsgaard will run rampant in a 4-3 win at home that steals the show of this Premier League weekend.
Fulham vs. Liverpool
Fulham and Liverpool will be another great matchup to watch, and while I doubt many people seriously think the Reds will fall to the Cottagers, with the legaue sown up and a tricky road trip against a European contender, this is a ripe matchup for Arne Slot’s men to falter.
However, I have Liverpool winning 2-1, just edging out the home side behind a rampant day in attack from not Mohamed Salah but the other elite winger in Liverpool, Luis Diaz. People seem to forget that he’s having a fantastic season, too.
Tottenham vs. Southampton
Tottenham are impossible to trust, and Ange Postecoglou keeps making a fool out of himself every week. So a home matchup against quite literally the worst team in the Premier League is the definition of a get-right game for Spurs.
I see Tottenham doing enough to get the win, but it’s going to be a 3-2 barnburner that ends up being a lot closer than it should have been. James Maddison and Dominic Solanke will bail out a bad Spurs side, again, but this is the calm before the storm when the likes of Nottingham Forest and Liverpool put Obtuse Ange in his place.
Manchester United vs. Manchester City
Manchester City have been poor by their standards this season, but they’ve started to play some decent football since acquiring Omar Marmoush, who has a case for being their most impressive attacking player since his purchase from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, I can’t really find any positives about Manchester United. Ruben Amorim has made things worse, if anything, and while I’m certainly not calling for the Red Devils to fire yet another coach, I am baffled by how poorly his ideas have come across and how little his players have progressed.
Manchester City are winning this one 2-1 with Marmoush grabbing a brace as Man City’s speedy front three tortures Amorim’s disorganized defense.
Leicester City vs. Newcastle
Leicester City are toast. 4-0 Newcastle, all four goals from Alexander Isak. I’m serious. Look at Leicester’s starting defenders and look at what the big Swede has done all season long. The Foxes are going to get absolutely blasted in their foxhole.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.