Domestic focus switches from the FA Cup back to England’s top tier this weekend, and Premier League Week 22 begins with a busy fixture slate on Saturday, which includes seven games between lunchtime and dinnertime.
The Manchester Derby between United and City at Old Trafford is a blockbuster opener for stand-in boss Michael Carrick. Two London Derbies follow in the 3pm slots before league leaders Arsenal travel to the City Ground to play Nottingham Forest in the evening.
Two more matches are served up on Super Sunday, including Aston Villa’s date with Everton, while Brighton and Bournemouth cap the game week in the division’s Monday Night Football fixture from the Amex Stadium. Below, we’ve lined up Premier League predictions for each contest.
Premier League Week 22 Saturday games
Manchester United vs Manchester City
Carrick, the Red Devils’ latest temporary head coach, could have hardly be handed a tougher opening assignment in Saturday’s lunchtime fixture when City visit Old Trafford for the Manchester Derby.
The visitors are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions and haven’t lost a Premier League game since defeat at Newcastle on 22 November. Pep Guardiola’s side even laid the ghost of that defeat to rest with a 2-0 win over the Magpies in the Carabao Cup semi-finals in midweek.
United, meanwhile, have failed to win six of their last seven matches in league and cup, while their only win in five attempts at home in the league came in unconvincing style over Eddie Howe’s Newcastle (1-0).
Carrick is expected to move away from his predecessor Ruben Amorim’s three centre halves and wingbacks system here, which only adds more doubt to the host’s chances. Major mid-season tactical changes are likely to lead to uncertainty and City can capitalise.
Guardiola’s title chasers relish playing at Old Trafford, indeed City have won more Premier League away games against Man Utd than any other visiting side (9). Circumstances favour City again here, so the only solution is to back them to win another derby.
Prediction: Manchester City to win – 10/11 (1.91)
Chelsea vs Brentford
New Blues boss Liam Rosenior makes his top-flight bow in Premier League week 22 on Saturday when Chelsea welcome London rivals Brentford to Stamford Bridge for what could be an afternoon of high drama in the capital.
Early evidence suggests that the hosts will entertain under Rosenior’s instruction. They went toe-to-toe with Arsenal in a five-goal thriller (2-3) in the Carabao Cup semi-finals in midweek, so expect them to push forward in numbers again when they take on the Bees.
That should free up space for the visiting counter-attacking specialists to do what they do best, however. Fifth-placed Brentford struck with precision in their last away game at Everton (4-2), and that was the third time in four league fixtures where they notched at least three times.
Keith Andrews’s side were also equal to Chelsea when the Bees and Blues played out a 2-2 draw in September’s reverse fixture. Something similar could unfold in Saturday’s rematch when a menacing Brentford visit the Bridge, and backing goals could be the order of the day again.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score – 10/11 (1.91)
Leeds vs Fulham
Both Leeds and Fulham carry solid form into their encounter at Elland Road and, with the outcome of the game hard to predict, we’re digging a little deeper for backable options on Saturday.
Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cottagers winger Harry Wilson, are likely to be key protagonists in Yorkshire and backing both to lodge 1+ shots on target each appeals on on football betting sites at even money.
Calvert-Lewin has been a player reborn since his free transfer to the Whites from Everton last summer. The 28-year-old has hit nine Premier League goals and is averaging 1.10 shots on target per 90 minutes. Calvert-Lewin racked up 3+ attempts in each of his last three appearances at Elland Road, and he can threaten again here.
Wilson, meanwhile, is in the midst of his own purple patch with four goals in seven appearances, and he let fly with a staggering eight shots in his last runout against Chelsea, finding the target with three of those.
The 28-year-old has landed a shot on target in six of his last seven Premier League starts and he is playing with enough confidence to find his range again on Saturday.
Tip: Dominic Calvert-Lewin & Harry Wilson to have 1+ shot on target each – Evs (2.00)
Liverpool vs Burnley
It’s fair to say Florian Wirtz has underwhelmed since swapping Leverkusen for Liverpool last summer, though the German schemer has shown signs of improvement since Christmas and the 22-year-old has another opportunity to shine against Burnley.
Wirtz chipped in with a goal and an assist in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Barnsley in the FA Cup on Monday evening, so the attacking midfielder has now claimed five goal contributions in his last six appearances overall.
That represents a more than solid return for a player who made little impact before that. Wirtz’s biggest strengths lie in his clever link play around the box when Liverpool are trying to pick their way through deep defensive blocks.
Struggling Burnley are likely to cede possession for most of Saturday’s visit to Anfield, so Wirtz should be in his element again. Finding value for the game is tough, with Liverpool as short as 1/5 to prevail.
Athough backing Wirtz for another goal involvement, i.e. to either score or assist, has some attraction on the best online bookmakers at 8/11.
Tip: Florian Wirtz to score or assist – 8/11 (1.73)
Sunderland vs Crystal Palace
Two goal-shy teams in patchy overall form collide at the Stadium of Light on Premier League week 22 when Sunderland take on Crystal Palace, so punters should anticipate a game of few chances in the north east.
The Black Cats knocked Everton out of the FA Cup last weekend on penalties following a 1-1 draw. That was the ninth match on the spin where Sunderland hit one or fewer goals and the sixth time in seven matches where under 2.5 goals landed.
For Palace, their tale of the tape is similar. The Eagles have scored one or fewer goals in eight of their last nine games, and their struggles in the final third were laid bare again with the holders dumped out of the FA Cup by non-leaguers Macclesfield last week.
When Palace and Sunderland last crossed paths in September, they couldn’t be separated following a largely uneventful 0-0 draw and you’d have to expect similar on Saturday. Two-thirds of Sunderland’s 21 Premier League fixtures this term have already produced under 2.5 goals and we’re backing that trend to continue.
Prediction: Under 2.5 goals – 3/5 (1.60)
Tottenham vs West Ham
Still winless in 2026, Tottenham put in another disappointing shift at home last weekend when they were beaten by Aston Villa (2-1) in the third round of the FA Cup.
Spurs are never far from wilting when playing on their own patch. They’ve won only four of their last 24 Premier League games in North London, so it makes little sense to back them here at 7/10, even against relegation candidates West Ham.
Instead, we’re looking to the card markets for inspiration. Tottenham have collected 57 cards this term (55Y, 2R), which is more than any other Premier League outfit.
That would make them ill-disciplined enough, however, the signing of hard-hitting midfielder Conor Gallagher, who was a prolific card earner for previous EPL clubs Chelsea and Palace, only adds more aggression to Thomas Frank’s Spurs.
With Gallagher on board alongside the likes of Cristian Romero (8 cards) and Joao Palhinha (5), Tottenham could tackle their way into trouble again in what’s likely to be a tense tussle with London rivals West Ham.
Spurs have collected 29 cards in ten Premier League home games since August (avg 2.90) and they are available at an attractive price on top betting apps to beat a target of over 2.5 cards again here.
Tip: Over 2.5 Tottenham cards – 19/10 (2.90)
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
The Gunners’ superior class eventually told in their Carabao Cup win at Chelsea (3-2) in midweek, so they can continue their pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts with another victory at Nottingham Forest during Premier League week 22 on Saturday evening.
Table toppers Arsenal are on a superb five-game winning streak on the road and managed to score at least three times in four of those matches. This weekend, they travel to take on Sean Dyche’s side, who have been loose defensively and the visitors can take full advantage.
Forest were eliminated from the FA Cup last week by Wrexham and, although they lost on penalties, they did concede three times in Wales. That was the fourth time in five fixtures where the Tricky Trees came unstuck at least twice.
An Arsenal side with serious firepower (and quality ammunition in reserve), have more than enough quality to overwhelm Forest here. Each of the Gunners’ last three away games featured five goals, including their last Premier League away fixture at Bournemouth (3-2).
Combining an away win with over 2.5 goals at 7/5 will suit some here, though reducing the target to over 1.5 goals is just as easily fancied for more risk-averse punters.
Tip: Arsenal to win and over 1.5 goals – 5/6 (1.83)
Premier League Week 22 Sunday games
Wolves vs Newcastle
Wolves continued their mini-revival with a convincing 6-1 win over Shrewsbury in the FA Cup last weekend and, while that triumph against League Two opposition was expected, it did allow Wanderers to maintain their upward curve.
Rob Edwards’s side are now unbeaten in four games in total, a run that includes a surge of three Premier League fixtures without defeat for the division’s bottom club.
With their form and confidence on the up, Wolves are suddenly a trickier prospect and we should expect them to compete well against Newcastle at Molineux on Sunday.
Wanderers have now failed to score in only one of their last eight games since early December, so they can net against a Magpies defence that has secured just one clean sheet in their last 16 matches in all competitions.
Newcastle shipped eight goals in their last three games alone, but hit seven goals themselves (4-3 vs Leeds, 3-3 vs Bournemouth, 0-2 vs Man City).
In fact, 11 of their last 14 contests in the Premier League have produced action at both ends. A dip into the same market is advised here at 6/10, though linking BTTS with over 2.5 goals offers an alternative with a bigger price at 10/11 if needed.
Tip: Both teams to score – 3/5 (1.60)
Aston Villa vs Everton
David Moyes’s Toffees have failed to win five of their last six Premier League fixtures and their lot is unlikely to improve on Sunday when they visit fortress Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s side have won each of their last 11 games on home soil in all competitions and if that wasn’t enough, Villa are also unbeaten in all 13 of their Premier League meetings with Everton since their return to the top flight in 2019.
In addition, the Toffees have lost on each of their last four visits to Villa Park, making them easy to oppose on their latest trip to the West Midlands.
The Villans have conceded at least once in 90% of their last ten competitive fixtures however, which suggests they will need to double up, at least, to beat Everton this weekend.
With that considered, there is room to add in some goals to the docket here, so combining an Aston Villa win with over 1.5 goals at an Even-money price appeals.
Tip: Aston Villa to win and over 1.5 goals – Evs (2.00)
Premier League Week 22 Monday game
Brighton vs Bournemouth
Buoyed by a successful double jaunt to Manchester, Brighton are back on home soil on Monday evening to face South Coast rivals Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium.
Despite scoring two or more goals in five of their last seven and at least three times in three of the same games, the Cherries managed to extract just one win (3-2 vs Spurs), though their impressive output in the final third cannot be discounted.
Andoni Iraola’s cavalier side only have one setting, so expect Bournemouth to play with the brakes off again when they visit Brighton. The Cherries’ league fixtures have been averaging 3.52 goals this season, and more drama is possible here.
Meetings between these clubs also tend to deliver excitement. Each of their last five encounters have produced over 2.5 goals and both teams impacted the scoresheet in five of those. Punters can stack those markets on top of each other for a price of 8/11 on Monday.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score – 8/11 (1.73)
