Saturday's Premier League predictions including Brighton vs. Arsenal

Spurs vs. Newcastle (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Potentially on the brink of full-blown crisis mode, an ailing Tottenham Hotspur side commence proceedings for 2025 at home to Newcastle United in Saturday's early Premier League kickoff.

Ange Postecoglou's side could only take a point off of Wolverhampton Wanderers in their final game of 2024, while the Magpies made extremely light work of a meek Manchester United.

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Newcastle United

Not one of the previous 59 Premier League meetings between Spurs and Newcastle has finished goalless, and that sequence should not be snapped at a ground where Tottenham have both scored and conceded in their last eight top-flight games.

While the Lilywhites are backed end the Magpies' stellar streak of clean sheets, the hosts' ravaged defence should be ruthlessly exposed by their bogey team Newcastle, who have our vote to prolong Postecoglou's misery and enhance their top-four credentals.

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> Bentancur banned again, Udogie hurt again: Tottenham injury list for Newcastle clash

Bournemouth vs. Everton (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Bournemouth and Everton lock horns in their first match of 2025 when they meet at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.

The fanbases of these two clubs could not be further apart in their satisfaction with the current direction they are going in, with Everton still down in the dumps and the Cherries making their best-ever start to a Premier League season.

We say: Bournemouth 3-0 Everton

Bournemouth were woeful for 85 minutes in the reverse fixture before a staggering late win, but they should make much lighter work of this one against an Everton side devoid of ideas and confidence.

Everton have still never won a Premier League game at the Vitality, and everything the Cherries excel at is what they are currently lacking, and a repeat of last week's performance could result in another ugly scoreline.

> Will Ouattara be rewarded with a start? Bournemouth predicted lineup vs. Everton

> McNeil absent, Lindstrom set to return: Everton predicted lineup vs. Bournemouth

Aston Villa vs. Leicester (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Looking to extend their unbeaten home league run to 10 matches, Aston Villa will welcome Midlands counterparts Leicester City to Villa Park for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.

The Villans were forced to share the spoils with Brighton & Hove Albion during their final contest of 2024, whereas the Foxes were defeated on their own patch by Manchester City to round off a calendar year of mixed fortunes.

We say: Aston Villa 3-1 Leicester City

Unbeaten in the Premier League at home since August, Aston Villa should be extremely confident of putting an out-of-form Leicester side to the sword this weekend.

The Foxes' difficult run of fixtures continues into 2025 as they visit the Second City on Saturday, when a fifth straight top-flight defeat appears likely.

> Will Faes return? Leicester predicted XI vs. Aston Villa

> Three stars sidelined: Aston Villa predicted XI vs. Leicester

Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Chelsea will look to improve on an awful end to 2024 when they travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in their first Premier League game of the new year on Saturday.

Enzo Maresca's men lost their final two games of the year to drop down the table and a long way off league leaders Liverpool.

We say: Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea

Palace have a dreadful record against Chelsea, and they are not much better when facing fellow London clubs, but Glasner has made them difficult to beat with a much more settled side of late.

Chelsea's shortcomings are being exposed, with the goals drying up and defensive frailty becoming costly, and this will be another difficult afternoon for Maresca's side.

> One change from Southampton win? Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs. Chelsea

> Nkunku, Felix, Madueke all to drop out? Chelsea predicted lineup vs. Crystal Palace

> Lavia latest: Chelsea injury, suspension list vs. Palace

Man City vs. West Ham (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Having ended 2024 as they mean to begin 2025, Manchester City endeavour to continue their Premier League revival in Saturday afternoon's home encounter with West Ham United at the Etihad.

The reigning champions ended a topsy-turvy calendar year by seeing off Leicester City 2-0, several hours before their visitors were obliterated 5-0 at home by rampant leaders Liverpool.

We say: Manchester City 3-0 West Ham United

Bowen's absence deprives West Ham of their principle attacking threat away from home, as the ex-Hull City man has registered 16 combined goals and assists in Premier League away games since the start of last season; none of his teammates has contributed more than eight.

Given the sorry nature of their defensive display against Liverpool too, Lopetegui's men should be put to the sword by a revitalised Man City, set to win back-to-back games for the first time since October.

> Bowen out as Lopetegui rings changes: Predicted West Ham XI against Man City

> Stick or twist from Guardiola? Predicted Man City XI against West Ham

> Stones, Ederson, Nunes updates: Man City injury, suspension news vs. West Ham

Southampton vs. Brentford (Saturday, 3.00pm)

New Southampton boss Ivan Juric will continue to seek a first win since taking over when they welcome Brentford to St Mary's in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Saints are cut adrift at the bottom of the table, but no team in the division has a worse away record than the Bees so far this season.

We say: Southampton 0-0 Brentford

Juric has put his marker down quickly and instantly made Southampton tougher to score against, compared to the shots that would frequently rain down on their goal under Martin.

Brentford have the firepower, but they have looked slightly blunt in recent weeks, taking just one point from their previous five games, and the goals have dried up for some of their key attacking players.

> Could Downes return for suspended Fernandes? Southampton predicted XI vs. Brentford

> Three key centre-backs still missing: Brentford predicted lineup vs. Southampton

Brighton vs. Arsenal (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Venturing outside of London for the first time in 10 matches, Arsenal head to the South Coast to pit their wits against Brighton & Hove Albion in Saturday evening's Premier League showdown.

Mikel Arteta's men kicked off the New Year with a resounding 3-1 success over Brentford, a couple of days after the Seagulls produced a stellar fightback of their own in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-3 Arsenal

Brighton had both scored and conceded in six successive Premier League home games before their goalless affair with Brentford on December 27, and the goals ought to flow once again versus an Arsenal side who have struggled for clean sheets on the road of late.

However, Arteta's men are coping just fine on the offensive front without the influential Saka and have our backing to march to a second 3-1 win of the year, thus preventing Liverpool from steering further clear at the Premier League summit.

> Who replaces Timber? Will Nwaneri start? Predicted Arsenal XI against Brighton

> Welbeck denied Gunners reunion? Predicted Brighton XI against Arsenal

> Havertz hope, defender banned: Arsenal injury, suspension list for Brighton

Written by

Oliver Thomas