England English Football 2025/26 - Premier League, Championship & lower leagues discussion

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Leeds vs Nottingham Forest Preview (Friday, 06.02.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Leeds:
Darlow; Bornauw, Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Gruev, Justin; Stach, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin

Nottingham Forest:
Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Jesus

Leeds will welcome Nottingham Forest to Eland Road on Friday night in the opening match of the 25th round of the Premier League. The two teams are currently sharing the 16th place with 26 points, meaning that both teams have six-point advantage to 18th-placed West Ham, the first club in the drop zone. At the same time it means the situation is complicated as both teams are involved into the relegation battle.

I think Leeds fans are satisfied with the actual situation, particularly because they are newcomers in the Premier League. They were excellent during the festive period when recorded a series of seven unbeaten league matches. Nevertheless, the Whites were heavily beaten by Arsenal last weekend. The leaders demolished Leeds winning 4:0, but I don't think the defeat will impact the players confidence. Manager Daniel Farke will be eager for his side to get back on track and start controlling the distance between themselves and the drop zone. Farke has additional issues as some players are struggling with injuries. He will be without Jaka Bijol, Daniel James and Lukas Nmecha for this match, although they should return soon. Despite the high defeat on the last match, Farke should continue with five defender system.

As I already wrote above, Nottingham Forest have 26 points and they are just outside the drop zone. This is in contrast with their European form. But Playing in Europe is sometime very complicate, particularly for the teams outside Top-6. The current manager Sean Dyche must rotate the players, or he is risking injuries. The fatigue is another problem, some players are desperate for rest. But Nottingham Forest are not Arsenal or Manchester City, they haven't two players for each position. To be worse, Dyche has some missing players. John Victor, Matz Sels, Nicolo Savona, Chris Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi are out injured, while Neco Williams is suspended after last round's sending off. It was a stupid decision, Crystal Palace converted the penalty, while Williams will serve suspension.

Leeds vs Nottingham Forest Prediction:

Despite the high defeat from Arsenal, I will say that Leeds are in solid form. They have just two defeats on the last 11 matches in the Premier League and the players confidence is high. On the other side Sean Dyche has some issues. I am sure he feels big pressure, club owner Marinakis expect Nottingham to be between the top teams. Like the previous season. But frequent managerial changes (Dyche is the third manager this season), the injury situation (best scorer Chris Wood missed the entire season due to knee problem) and limited roster are the reasons for the poor results. On top of that, Nottingham will be without two important players on Friday as Callum Hudson-Odoi is injured, while Neco Williams is suspended. In the time of VAR Technology, it was a stupid decision to save the goal with hand, hoping nobody will notice. Now he could serve a three-match ban. I think Leeds are closer to the victory.

Leeds vs Nottingham Forest Pick: Leeds to win @ 2.20 with Everygame

 

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Manchester United vs Tottenham Preview (Saturday, 07.02.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Manchester United:
Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo

Tottenham:
Vicario; Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Gallagher; Odobert, Simons, Kolo Muani; Solanke

Manchester United will welcome Tottenham to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime. The Red Devils are fourth on the table with 41 points, one more than fifth-placed Chelsea and two ahead of sixth Liverpool. According to UEFA, England are the most successful country and they will participate with five teams in the Champions League next season. It is an opportunity Michael Carrick should not miss. United are in excellent form under Carrick, three victories on the last three matches in the Premier League. Even more, the opponents were Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham. Mbeumo was excellent since the first match, but Benjamin Sesko also started with goals. Captain Bruno Fernandes should also be mentioned, he has registered 12 assists, more than any other Premier League player this season. I believe the players confidence is very high at the moment. Carrick has the majority of his players available, but Patrick Dorgu and Matthijs de Ligt remain sidelined with thigh and back injury respectively. In addition, Mason Mount is rated as doubtful after picked up a knock in training. According to the latest news, he will be ready in time for this derby.

Tottenham were awful last season and finished just outside the drop zone. Nevertheless, the Spurs were fantastic in Europe League and won the competition, beating Manchester United in the final in Bilbao. As a result, they qualify directly to the Champions League, though Ange Postecoglou was sacked. Thomas Frank was announced as new manager and the fans were expecting better results. However, the inconsistency is their biggest problem, at the moment they are six matches without a win in the Premier League. The longest run is seven matches from the previous season. And just like the previous season, Tottenham are excellent in Europe. They finished fourth on the table and go directly to the knock-out stage of the Champions League. In other words, teams like Barcelona, Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG, Inter or Juventus ended behind the Spurs and that should be respected. The injury situation is still complicated as James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Pedro Porro, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall and Kevin Danso are sidelined with injuries. Nine players so far, but could be worse as Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence, Dominic Solanke and Cristian Romero are rated as doubtful.

Manchester United vs Tottenham Prediction:

According to UEFA, England will have five teams in the Champions League again. Three of these tickets are already reserved for Arsenal, Man City and Aston Villa, meaning that next three teams (Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool) will fight for the remaining two. Of course, some other teams could surprise as well, like 7th Brentford or 8th Sunderland, but generally that rarely happens. So, three points from this derby are extremely important for the Red Devils. And I think they are able to win. The home advantage is between the reasons for my pick, United fans will give a big support to their players. But more important, the current form is on Man United side. While Tottenham have no win on the last six Premier League matches, a win for Manchester United would also see them winning four consecutive games for the first time since February 2024. The last reason for my pick is connect with the injury situation. While Carrick has two injured players, Frank will be missing at least nine players due to injuries, maybe more. Tottenham are very handicapped and it is not easy for Frank, who feel huge pressure. Nobody would be surprised if the club officials decided to sack the Dane.

Manchester United vs Tottenham Pick: Manchester United to win @ 1.62 with 1xBet

 

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Liverpool vs Manchester City Preview (Sunday, 08.02.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Liverpool:
Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

Manchester City:
Trafford; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Ait-Nouri; Reijnders, Rodri; Cherki, Marmoush, Semenyo; Haaland

Liverpool will welcome Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday afternoon in the most interesting match of the weekend. The reigning champions are very inconsistent in the current season. They started fantastic, with five victories in the first five rounds, but were poor in the next period. The Reds will try to save the season in a way to secure a Champions League spot, but it won't be easy. I already explained the situation in my previous article, but shortly - three teams (Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool) fight for two tickets. The opponents are improving, while Liverpool are very inconsistent. The Reds have just one defeat on the last 12 league matches, but at the same time dropped 15 of the possible 36 points. For example, the draw against Burnley at Anfield is like a defeat. The players confidence is not at desired level The injury situation is another problem for Slot. Giovanni Leoni, Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley are long-term absentees. Slot has confirmed that Jeremie Fringpong remain sidelined, but Joe Gomez is in contention.

Manchester City are second with 47 points, six adrift of the leaders Arsenal. Considering the fact Arsenal will host Sunderland on Saturday, the difference could be even bigger. That means only one thing, Manchester City are in must win situation. Usually, a draw at Anfield is a desirable outcome, but not now. Guardiola is well aware they need three points from this derby. City bought two new players in January, centre-back Guehi from Crystal Palace and Semenyo from Bournemouth. Both players were in Arne Slot's notebook, but Guardiola outsmarted him and secured their signatures. I believe Guehi and Semenyo are excellent players and the Citizens are much stronger now. However, the Citizens let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2:2 with Tottenham last Sunday. Three days later Man City won 3:1 against Newcastle and secured the League Cup final next month on Wembley. Guardiola has several injury worries ahead of this match. He will be missing Jeremy Doku, Josko Guardiol, Savinho, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic,, while Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias are rated as doubtful.

Liverpool vs Manchester City Prediction:

After five games without a victory, Liverpool finally won a Premier League match. Last Saturday they beat 4:1 Newcastle. High victory, but shouldn't be overrated. After all, even the bottom-placed Wolverhampton have one win on the last seven matches. Of course, the Reds can't be compared with the Wolves, but the fact is they are in poor form. Newcastle were really good in the first 30 minutes against Liverpool. If Manchester City can play like Newcastle did there, it will be a different story. And I think they are able. Guardiola will try to quiet the game early, with possession on their side. I think they will win. Guardiola has lot of players able to make a difference. Haaland, Doku and Nico Gonzalez were enough City to destroy Liverpool 3:0 in the reverse fixture played in November. Now they are much stronger with Cherki and Semenyo. At the end I will mention Guehi. His decision to join Manchester City instead of Liverpool says a lot. Now he has to stop Ekitike. Considering the fact Salah is out of form, Gakpo is miles away from the last season's form, Szoboszlai will play as right-back etc, the duel between Ekitike and Guehi will determine the outcome.

Liverpool vs Manchester City Pick: Manchester City to win @ 2.80 with Everygame

 

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West Ham vs Manchester United Preview: (Tuesday, 10.02.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

West Ham:
Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Soucek, Potts; Bowen, M. Fernandes, Summerville; Castellanos

Manchester United:
Lammens; Dalot, Martinez, Maguire, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Diallo, B. Fernandes, Mbeumo; Cunha

West Ham will welcome Manchester United to the London Stadium on Tuesday night. The Irons are in very complicated situation, they are in the drop zone, deeply involved into the relegation battle. Nevertheless, they are in solid form at the moment. West Ham have four victories on the last five matches across all competitions. They managed to beat QPR in the FA Cup, plus three victories in the Premier League - Tottenham, Sunderland and Burnley last weekend. The only defeat came at Stamford Bridge where they had a 2:0 lead after the first half, but conceded three in the second half. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo could be satisfy with the team performances, particularly because the key creative Luis Paqueta decided to return to Brasil. Nuno has additional worries as Jean-Clair Todibo is serving suspension after being sent off against Chelsea two weeks ago. Veteran goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski remain out injured. Young Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi make his debut against Burnley and could play again.

Manchester United are fourth with 44 points, just three less than third-placed Aston Villa. A victory here would see the Red Devils third on the table, at least for 24 hours as Aston Villa play with Brighton on Wednesday. The Red Devils are in fantastic form at the moment. They are in series of four victories in the Premier League for the first time since February 2024. Initially I wasn't happy with Ruben Amorim's departure, but now I changed my mind. New manager Michael Carrick is doing a fantastic job and the fans are enjoying in their performances. It is not easy to record four victories, but even more knowing the opponents were leaders Arsenal, second placed Manchester City, Champions League participants Tottenham and high flying Fulham. The atmosphere in the squad is good, while the players confidence is very high. Carrick has the majority of his players ready, but Patrick Dorgu, Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt remain out. Carrick could consider some changes, with Benjamin Sesko first in line to play.

West Ham vs Manchester United Prediction:

As hosts, West Ham have an advantage in duels against Manchester United: 35 wins and 19 defeats in 75 games. However, that's history and every new game is a new challenge. Manchester United are in fantastic form at the moment, they won the last four matches in the Premier League. The players confidence is very high. West Ham are in the drop zone and the points from this match are extremely important for them. However, the quality is on Man United side. They have players able to make a difference here, like Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko. And don't forget captain Bruno Fernandes with his 200 goal involvements for Manchester United. It is true West Ham have Boven, but I think he's not enough. The guests are closer to the victory.

West Ham vs Manchester United Pick: Manchester United to win @ 1.81 with 1xBet

 

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Sunderland vs Liverpool Preview: (Wednesday, 11.02.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Sunderland:
Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Sadiki, Diarra; Hume, Le Fee, Talbi; Brobbey

Liverpool:
Alisson; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

Sunderland will welcome the reigning champions Liverpool at Stadium of Light on Wednesday night. The Black Horses currently sit on the ninth place with 36 points. The fans are satisfied with the current situation as their club are not involved into the relegation battle. On contrary, Sunderland are just three points away from the sixth place that guarantees European football. Most of the points are obtained at home (26). Furthermore, Sunderland are the only club still unbeaten at home. Seven wins and five draws is their home record that includes matches against Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa, three top sides in the Premier League. Only three teams - Arsenal, Man City and Man United - have picked up more points on home soil. Manager Regis Le Bris is doing a fantastic job and the fans are afraid he could attract attention from the bigger clubs across Europe. Key midfielder Granit Xhaka and January signing Jocelin Ta Bi are out injured, while Bertrand Traore is rated as doubtful due to a knee injury.

Liverpool are the reigning Premier League champions, but at the same time the biggest disappointment. The Reds are out of the title race and they are four points away from Top-5. Some fans are hoping for successful finish of the campaign, but the ex-Reds Jamie Carragher doesn’t believe that his former club will qualify for the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League through a top five-finish. And I agree. Manchester United and Chelsea look better at the moment and they are much closer to 4th and 5th place. Liverpool have two defeats on the last three matches. Both defeats came in the finish. Bournemouth scored the winning goal in the fifth minute of the stoppage time, while Haaland secured the victory for Man City in the 93rd minute. Arne Slot is under enormous pressure, but his job is safe. Should Liverpool finish outside the top five, they would need to win the 2026 Champions League final to qualify for next year’s competition. However, it's easier to say. For this match Slot has no option for the right-back position. Jeremie Frimpong is sidelined with a thigh injury, Conor Bradley is out with a knee injury, while this match comes too soon for Joe Gomez. As a result, Domenic Szoboszlai was transformed into a defender and he was solid. The problem is his suspension as he was send off in the closing stages at Anfield.

Sunderland vs Liverpool Prediction:

Sunderland are relaxed in the middle of the table with 36 points, 13 more than the first team in the drop zone. The home form is fantastic, they are the only club still unbeaten at home. Seven wins and five draws is their home record. Arsenal and Manchester City were two strongest opponents that try to beat Sunderland at Stadium of Light, but without success. The Black Cats are physical team based on strong defense and fast counter-attacks. The whole pressure is on Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his players. The main problem is they reacted wrong when face such opposition. Liverpool had no problem against Frankfurt and Marseille in the Champions League, but weren't able to handle the pressure and set-pieces chaos against teams like Crystal Palace, Brentford, Fulham or Bournemouth. In addition, they lost to Manchester City on Sunday and the players confidence is low. The Reds are well aware of the inconsistency, but it can't be fixed overnight. Slot has no option for the right-back position. Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are out injured, while the back-up solution in the name of Domenic Szoboszlai isn't available due to suspension. The fact that Mohamed Salah rarely help his defensive colleagues is just another reason for my pick. Regis Le Bris knows that and he will focus attacks on the left side. I see big issues for the actual champions.

Sunderland vs Liverpool Pick: Sunderland +0.5 AH @ 2.08 with Bet365

 

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Brentford vs Arsenal Preview (Wednesday, 121.02.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Brentford:
Kelleher; Kayode, Van den Berg, Ajer, Henry; Janelt, Henderson; Ouattara, Jensen, Lewis-Potter; Thiago

Arsenal:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Havertz, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Brentford will welcome the leaders Arsenal on Thursday night in the last match of 25th round. Brentford are seventh with 39 points and they are out of the relegation battle. Usually 40 points means safety, so it is clear they will play in the Premier League next season. I believe the fans are satisfied, though Brentford will not "shutdown the engines". Manager Keith Andrews and his players will try to secure an European spot. A victory here would see them just two points away from the fifth-placed Chelsea. The Bees are in good form at the moment, they won the last two matches in the Premier League. The opponents were not easy at all - Aston Villa and Newcastle. Furthermore, both victories were obtained away from home. Brentford somehow left Villa Park with a narrow 1:0 win before stunning the Magpies 3:2 in the last round after Dango Ouattara scored a late winner. Five players are not available - Kevin Schade is suspended, Reiss Nelson cannot face his parent club, while Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo and Josh Dasilva are injured.

Arsenal are leaders in the Premier League and main candidates for the title. After years of disappointments and frustrations, the fans hope this is the season for celebration. It will be catastrophe if they miss the opportunity. Mikel Arteta did a fantastic job, they are six points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. But Pep Guardiola's clubs are well known for their strong finish. The players need time to understand and adopt his tactical ideas, but once they did their homework, nobody could stop them. The Gunners are in fine form at the moment, they recorded two victories in the Premier League, but also secured a Carabao Cup final after beating Chelsea in the semi-finals. Arsenal dominated and won both games, 3:2 at Stamford Bridge and 1:0 at Emirates. They were also fantastic in the Champions League, ending the group stage with maximal effect. The injury situation is a problem for Arteta, but nowhere near the last few seasons. The Spaniard now have long roster and two good players for each position. That is why Arsenal easily beat Leeds and Sunderland without two key players Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. They are rated as doubtful, as well as Leandro Trossard. Two player are definitely sidelined - Max Dowman and Mikel Merino.

Brentford vs Arsenal Prediction:

Both teams will go for the victory. Arsenal are fighting for the their first Premier League title since 2003-04 season. They can't drop any point as Manchester City are waiting their mistake. The Gunners won the last two matches, scoring seven goals and keeping two clean sheets. But Brentford are also in good form, they managed to beat Aston Villa and Newcastle. Manager Keith Andrews is doing a fantastic job and his players will try to secure an European spot. A victory here would see them just two points away from the fifth-placed Chelsea. However, I think Arsenal are closer to the victory. Simply, they are class above Brentford. In addition, the Bees will be missing the suspended Schade, club's second best scorer with 6 league goals. As You probably know, Andrews' roster isn't long and the absence of Schade is definitely a problem. On contrary, Arteta will find adequate replacement for Saka and Odegaard.

Brentford vs Arsenal Pick: Arsenal to win @ 1.74 with 1xBet

 

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Manchester City vs Newcastle Preview (Saturday, 21.02.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Manchester City:
Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, O'Reilly; Bernardo, Cherki; Semenyo, Haaland

Newcastle:
Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Joelinton, Tonali; Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes; Gordon

Manchester City will welcome Newcastle to Etihad on Saturday evening. The hosts are back in the title race, they are five points behind the leaders Arsenal, with a match in hand. City looked lost as they were one goal down in the finish of the match against Liverpool at Anfield. However, the Citizens turned down the outcome of the match by scoring two late goals. In the meantime Arsenal dropped two points against Brentford and two more against the bottom-placed Wolverhampton. Now everything is in Man City hands, they will become new champions if win every match til the end of the season, including the derby with Arsenal at home. Guardiola created new "monster" that are definitely able to do that. City were strong, but now even more after Guehi and Semenyo joined the team. Pep has the majority of his players available, but Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic remain sidelined with injuries. Two more players - Jeremy Doku and Savinho are rated as doubtful. Erling Haaland missed the FA Cup win over Salford with minor "niggles", but he should be fit to start here.

Newcastle took part in the Champions League playoffs and they had a long trip to Azerbaijan. The journey of 2529 miles to Baku is the longest-ever distance traveled by an English team for a Champions League match. Players, surely tired from the long flight, did their job in great style. Anthony Gordon was the key name, scoring four goals in first half. Malick Thiaw scored a header and substitute Jacob Murphy scores with deflected long-range effort as visitors won 6:1 and virtually secured a progress. Edie Howe could now put the focus completely on this match. He has huge injury issues. Captain and key creative Bruno Guimaraes remain out with a hamstring injury and his absence is a big issue. He is simply irreplaceable. Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth are also sidelined with injuries, while Lewis Miley, Sven Botman and Yoane Wissa are rated as doubtful. Joelinton, who missed six games due to injury, returned as a substitute in midweek and the Brazilian could start here.

Manchester City vs Newcastle Prediction:

Newcastle won 2:1 the reverse fixture played in November at St James Park. Barnes scored both goals and he will be looking to become the first Magpies player since Alan Shearer in 2004-05 season to score home and away against the Citizens in the same top-flight campaign. Newcastle won 6:1 against Qarabag in the Champions League and the players confidence is very high. However, it won't be easy as Manchester City are class above Qarabag. Guardiola stabilized the form and City now look very strong. The arrival of Guehi and Semenyo was a perfect move, they bring additional quality. I think City will win the match, although it won't be easy. .

Manchester City vs Newcastle Pick: Manchester City to win @ 1.51 with 1xBet

 

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Tottenham vs Arsenal Preview (Sunday, 22.02.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Tottenham:
Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Spence; Gallagher, Palhinha, Sarr; Kolo Muani, Solanke, Simons

Arsenal:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

The leaders Arsenal will visit their biggest rivals Tottenham on Sunday in yet another North London derby. Fans of both clubs consider the other to be their main rivals, and the derby is one of the most watched derbies in Europe. But there is something exclusive for the fans of these two clubs only. Arsenal fans have a celebration day related to the North London rivalry called St. Totteringham's Day, which is the day in the season when Tottenham cannot mathematically finish above Arsenal on the league table. Tottenham fans had long before declared 14 April to be St. Hotspur day in honour of Tottenham's 3:1 win over Arsenal in the 1991 FA Cup semi-final. St. Hotspur Day was also celebrated on 14 April 2010, when Tottenham beat Arsenal 2:1 thanks to goals scored by Rose and Bale.

Now about the match. Tottenham were really poor last season, but they were good in Europe and won UEFA Europe League. As a result, they were awarded with a Champions League ticket, though manager Ange Postecoglou paid the price and was replaced by Thomas Frank. But it was the similar this season, the Spurs were poor domestically and solid in Europe. Frank was also sacked, while Croatian coach Igor Tudor is now in charge. All three coaches had a big problem - the injury list is long and some important players are not available. Tudor wll be missing Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Kevin Danso, Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur. That's not all as Cristian Romero will serve the second of a four-match ban.

Arsenal looked very good during the first part of the season. Strong defense and Raya usually did their job defensively, while set-pieces were tool for completing the job. Nevertheless, this scenario look to come to their end. The defense looked like a "swiss cheese" now. Already relegated Wolverhampton upset the leaders on Wednesday in a way nobody expects. The Gunners had 2:0 lead in the finish, but conceded two late goals and dropped two points. A week before, Arsenal dropped another two points when played an 1:1 draw with Brentford. The away form is far from good, they have just one win on the last four away games. Arteta must make some changes before it's too late. He has almost all players available, only Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz are doubtful with knee and muscle injury respectively.

Tottenham vs Arsenal Prediction:

Arsenal are in poor form, particularly away from home. The Gunners won just one of the last four Premier League matches on road. The goalless draw with Nottingham Forest looked like a bad day for Arteta's men, but two consecutive draws at Brentford and Wolverhampton exposed the weaknesses in the team. However, I think Arsenal will win the derby. Tottenham are bad this season, but they can't play like Wolverhampton or Brentford. It is simply not possible, the fans will ask for victory, this is the most important game for them. But the quality is on Arsenal side, no doubt about that. In addition, Tudor will be missing nine players due to injury, while Romero is suspended. Finally, I don't trust Tudor. The 47-year-old Croat is working in England for the first time in his career and this fact should not be underestimated.

Tottenham vs Arsenal Pick: Arsenal to win @ 1.63 with 1xBet

 

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Arsenal vs Chelsea Preview (Sunday, 01.03.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Arsenal:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres

Chelsea:
Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Gusto; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro

The leaders Arsenal will welcome Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Gunners have no space for calculations, Manchester City are five points behind, but have a match in hand. On top of that, Arsenal travel to Etihad, so Man City are in poll position. They will become champions if manage to win the remaining 11 games in the Premier League. So, Arsenal are in "must win" position. They already played a derby last weekend and were successful. Arsenal demolished Tottenham winning 4:1 as guests. Two players were impressive as both Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres scored braces. Mikel Arteta was surely satisfied with the performance of his players. The Spaniard has few injury worries ahead of the derby. Four players are struggling with injury and all of them are rated as doubtful - Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz , Max Dowman and Ben White. In addition, long-term injury victim Mikel Merino is definitely sidelined.

Chelsea are currently sharing the fifth place on the table with Liverpool. Both teams have 45 points, three less than fourth-placed Manchester United. The mathematics is simple, these three clubs are fighting for two Champions League tickets. England will again have five representatives and three of them have secured ticket - Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa. It is clear this match is extremely important for the Blues. But the players confidence isn't at desired level after dropping four points on the last two matches. Leeds and already-relegated Burnley look like preferable opponents, but at the end they left Stamford Bridge unbeaten. New manager Rosenior must find a way to avoid such scenarios in the future games. Players must stay focused until the last whistle. Wesley Fofana will skip the match due to suspension, while six other are struggling with injuries. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Levi Colwill are definitely missing, while Marc Cucurella, Estevao Willian, Dario Essugo and Filip Jorgensen are rated as doubtful.

Arsenal vs Chelsea Prediction:

Arsenal were back to their best performances against Tottenham in North London derby last weekend. They dominated the match and scored four goals. The majority of Tottenham fans left the stadium before the final whistle. Chelsea, meanwhile, dropped four points on the last two matches and the players confidence is not at desired level. What is worse, both matches were at Stamford Bridge. Worst of all, the opponents were relegation candidates Leeds United and already relegated Burnley. The inconsistency was the reason why Maresca was sacked, but Rosenior looks unable to solve the problem. In addition, the absence of Fofana due to suspension is a big handicap, as well as injury situation. The truth is Arteta also has some injury issues, but it is not a problem as he has long roster. The Gunners have already beat Chelsea twice in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, 1:0 at Emirates and 3:2 at Stamford Bridge. I think they will win again.

Arsenal vs Chelsea Pick: Arsenal to win @ 1.66 with 1xBet

 

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Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Preview (Sunday, 01.03.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Manchester United:
Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Crystal Palace:
Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Guessand; Strand Larsen

High-flying Manchester United will welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford on Sunday. The Red Devils are in fantastic form, they have five wins and just one draw on the last six matches in the Premier League. The victims are not some mediocre teams, but Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, Everton and Fulham. The only side that remain unbeaten in this period are West Ham. Interim manager Michael Carrick is doing a fantastic job and the fans are truly enjoying after long period of frustrations and disappointment. Benjamin Sesko has scored his fifth goal in six league outings since the departure of Ruben Amorim, and he is the player that keeps United in control of their top-four finish. The Slovenian striker probably have done enough to displace Amad Diallo. Carrick has the majority of his players available for this match, but Patrick Dorgu and Matthijs de Ligt remain sidelined with thigh and back injury respectively. In addition, Lisandro Martinez and Mason Mount are both rated as doubtful.

Crystal Palace are 13th with 35 points and the next period is crucial for their ambitions. The Eagles are 10 points away from the drop zone, while at the same time they are 10 points away from the sixth place and European spots. The current form is solid, two wins on the last three league matches. Furthermore, they secured a 3:1 aggregate victory against Zrinjski from Bosnia & Herzegovina and move into the Last 16 of the Conference League. Maybe a European success is what they want after winning the FA Cup last season and Community Shield in August. The Eagles next face Cypriot side AEK Larnaca and should qualify to the quarter-finals. Glasner could be satisfied with the fact his team came out of their second-leg victory over Zrinjski unscathed on the fitness front. However, Jefferson Lerma, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Cheick Doucoure and Eddie Nketiah remain sidelined. On the positive note, Maxence Lacroix overcame a groin issue. Not only he started on Thursday, but also scored the first goal.

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Prediction:

Manchester United are in terrific form at the moment, five victories and one draw on the last six league fixtures. The atmosphere in the squad is positive, while the players confidence is high. Collecting 16 out of 18 points is something nobody was expecting. United have the best record, not only in the Premier League, but also in European top-five leagues. The former captain Roy Keane admitted Manchester United have 'momentum' under Michael Carrick but believes he is not the right person for the permanent role. However, Carrick will cement his position if Man United continue winning. Crystal Palace will try to upset the favorites, but I think they will lose here. The Eagles are not strong as they were. Captain Guehi left the club and joined Man City in January. His departure is a big handicap as he was the key-man in the defense. Additionally, the players are tired after playing three matches in just eight days, while Manchester United had only one. Palace head to Old Trafford boasting just one victory from their last eight on the road.

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Pick: Manchester United to win @ 1.60 with 1xBet

 

[spkutano]

Wolverhampton vs Liverpool Preview (Tuesday, 03.03.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Wolverhampton:
Sa; Mosquera, S. Bueno, T. Gomes; Tchatchoua, A. Gomes, J. Gomes, H. Bueno; Bellegarde, Mane; Armstrong

Liverpool:
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Salah; Ekitike

Wolverhampton are at the bottom of the Premier League table with only 13 points from 29 matches. The fans are well aware of the situation and they know Wolves will play in Championship Division next season. And yet, they are still supporting their club like they are fighting for title. There were 30,197 spectators at Molineux Stadium on Friday night, in the match against Aston Villa. The guests were clear favorites, but Wolverhampton created one of the biggest surprises this season. Goals from Joao Gomes and Rodrigo Gomes were enough for the second top-flight win of the season. Manager Rob Edwards, who replaced Vitor Pereira in November, is doing an excellent job. Edwards can not guide his team to safety, but his numbers are not bad at all. The last 11 league fixtures have produced four losses, five draws and two wins. For this match he has almost all players available, only Hee-Chan Hwang is struggling with a calf injury. It is expected Edwards to continue with the same eleven that started against Aston Villa.

Liverpool are fifth on the table, three points ahead of Chelsea. According to UEFA ranking, England will have five participants in the Champions League next season. The Reds spent enormous money during the Summer and they were hoping to defend the title. But right now they are far away from the first place and their only target is the European top competition. The current form is solid, Arne Slot's men have won the last three fixtures in the Premier League. They narrowly beat Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, both with 1:0, while on Saturday demolished 5:2 West Ham at Anfield. The high victory will definitely have positive impact to the players confidence, but the result was not reflective of their performance. Plus, the deflection helped Liverpool to score three goals, while the Hammers missed several good opportunities. Key creative, Florian Wirtz will likely to miss the match, so that means Dominik Szoboszlai will play again as a number 10. Slot is also without three long-term injury victims - Bradley, Leone and Isak.

Wolverhampton vs Liverpool Prediction:

This match is between the bottom-placed Wolverhampton and fifth-placed Liverpool. On paper, everything is clear and Reds are big favorites against the club that lost 20 of their 29 league fixtures. But it's not that simple. Some details are on Wolves side, for example the pressure. There is no pressure on Wolves players, whereas Liverpool know that they cannot afford to drop more points. Both teams won in the last round - Wolverhampton 2:0 against Aston Villa, while Liverpool 5:2 against West Ham. I think that both teams will score here. At the end I will mention the last three mutual games ended efficiently, including the reverse fixture played in December, when Liverpool won 2:1.

Wolverhampton vs Liverpool Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.80 with Bet365

 

[spkutano]

Aston Villa vs Chelsea Preview (Wednesday, 04.03.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Aston Villa:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Luiz, Onana; Buendia, Rogers, Sancho; Abraham

Chelsea:
Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Fofana, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Pedro

Aston Villa will welcome Chelsea to Villa Park in Birmingham as both teams are fighting for a Champions League spot. Aston Villa are sharing the third place with revitalized Manchester United as both teams have 51 points, six more than sixth-placed Chelsea. As I wrote previously, England will most probably have five sides in the Champions League next season. Maybe even six participants if Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest lifted the trophy in UEFA Europe League. However, Villa are in poor form, just one victory on the last six matches across all competition. The last defeat was particularly painful, they lost 2:0 to already relegated Wolverhampton. Aston Villa won the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge in December with 2:1 thanks to Ollie Watkins second-half brace. Unai Emery has an additional problem - the injury situation. Boubacar Kamara remain sidelined due to a knee injury. The midfield is weakened even more as Youri Tielemans is struggling, as well as Harvey Elliott, Andres Garcia and captain John McGinn.

Chelsea are currently on the 6th place, three points behind fifth Liverpool (at the time of writing). The Blues were in solid form, recording three victories and two draws during January and February. But the first day of March wasn't lucky for them as Chelsea lost the London derby to leaders Arsenal. They were solid, having 59% ball-possession, but two set-piece goals made the difference in the London derby. The fans left the stadium very disappointed and many of them are asking if Liam Rosenior is better option than Enzo Maresca. Losing to Arsenal isn't a catastrophe, but the home draws with Leeds United and already relegated Burnley are shameful results. The Blues have collect just two of the nine points and they have to improve in the next period. The discipline should also be improved as another player was sent off against Arsenal. That means Pedro Neto will miss the trip to Birmingham due to suspension. Levi Colwill, Estevao Willian and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens remain out with injuries, while Dario Essugo and Marc Cucurella are rated as doubtful.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea Prediction:

Aston Villa won the reverse fixture in December, and they will try to record a league double over the Blues for the first time in over 30 years. However, Aston Villa are far from their best. They have just one victory on the last six matches across all competition. Worst of all, they suffered defeat in the match with already relegated Wolverhampton. Chelsea also lost in the previous round, but they played against the leaders Arsenal at the Emirates. And I think they weren't outplayed, having 59% ball-possession, but two set-piece goals made the difference in the London derby. The Blues lost, but they deserved to remain unbeaten. Considering the previously mentioned facts, I expect a draw. Simply, I do not see clear favorites in this derby. I think both managers, Unai Emery and Liam Rosenior, will be happy not to lose back to back matches. A point is good for Rosenior as they play away from home, while Emery will also be satisfied with a point knowing Villa are in poor form.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea Pick: Draw @ 3.73 with 1xBet

 

[spkutano]

Tottenham vs Crystal Palace Preview (Thursday, 05.03.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Tottenham:
Vicario; Danso, Van de Ven, Dragusin; Porro, Sarr, Palhinha, Gray; Simons; Tel, Richarlison

Crystal Palace:
Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Riad; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Johnson; Strand Larsen

Tottenham will welcome Crystal Palace on Thursday in the last match of the round 29. The Spurs are on the 16th place, just two away from the drop zone. The fans are frustrated, they were expecting to see their team fighting for the Champions League. But this season is very much like the previous one. Nevertheless, they won UEFA Europe League and secured a place in the most prestigious European competition. This success wasn't enough manager Ange Postecoglou to keep his job, so he was replaced by Thomas Frank. The things went from bad to worse. In situation like that, usually the manager pay the price, so Igor Tudor replaced Frank. The Croat failed to deliver better results, Tottenham lost 4:1 to biggest rivals Arsenal and lost 2:1 to Fulham. The injury situation is something that connect all three managers. I don't think any manager could handle with that situation when majority of his key players are injured. Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Wilson Odobert remain sidelined, but there is more - Djed Spence is rated as doubtful due to a calf problem, while Cristian Romero is suspended.

Crystal Palace ended the last season very good. They won the FA Cup and that was the first piece of silverware in their long history. That's not all, they won the FA Community Shield, beating Liverpool at Wembley. The fans were celebrating the trophies and they were happy to witnessed these successes. The Eagles were solid in the first part of the season, but January brought problems. Manager Oliver Glasner wasn't satisfied with the club's decision to sell the captain Guehi to Manchester City. Glasner announced he will leave the team at the end of the season and maybe that's the reason for the worse results. Palace have two defeats on the last three matches in the Premier League. In the last round they suffered a narrow 2:1 loss to Manchester United. Crystal Palace started excellent, as Maxence Lacroix scored after just four minutes in, but then the same player made two mistakes. First, his challenge resulted with penalty, and second, he was sent off, leaving his teammates to fight 10 on 11. Lacroix will also serve an one-match ban. Four players are sidelined through injury - Cheick Doucoure, Eddie Nketiah, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jefferson Lerma.

Tottenham vs Crystal Palace Prediction:

This is a "Do or Die" match for Igor Tudor. The Croatian tactician took the team few days before the North London derby and he has no time to implement some of his ideas, so the defeat was somehow expected. The Spurs looked better against Fulham, but that wasn't enough to escape the defeat. Some supporters are already calling for Tudor’s head on the social media. I must admit I don't trust Tudor too much as manager, but he is a big motivator. He will ask the maximum of his players and he will push them during the match. Tottenham posses the quality and it is not coincident they finished fourth on the overall table. They beat teams like Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, Slavia Prague, FC Copenhagen and Villarreal. Crystal Palace, meanwhile have lost two of the previous three matches. The atmosphere in the squad is not at desired level, particularly after Glasner announced his departure at the end of the season. Playing in Europe is another problem as they have limited roster. The Eagles are solid, but I think Tottenham could win the match.

Tottenham vs Crystal Palace Pick: Tottenham to win @ 2.44 with 1xBet