For the 2019-20 season preview for Week 26 – please follow this link.
After an action packed midweek round full of surprises where four of the top six failed to win, there’s even more excitement to come with our Premier League Predictions Week 26.
Every week we offer up our Premier League predictions, along with a mini preview of each match, with a few best bets in an alternative Premier League preview.
We also put our tips up against a competitor, usually not human though, and based on some football stat or general life. This week our tipping opponent is based on how happy each team’s home city is.
It’s a lot like the BBC’s Lawros tips, but better. Arguably.
Premier League Predictions Week 26 – Gurgler v Valentine’s Day
TIPS BACKGROUND: The Romantics big day out of the year is just around the corner, so what better excuse to use Valentine’s Day as a way to determine Premier League Predictions Week 26.
How do you use Valentine’s Day for tips? Easy, we found stats on how much people in each city spend on Valentine’s Day in various cities around the UK, and whichever city spends more, the happier they and their partners will be, and that flows onto their team.
Money can’t always buy happiness, but it can buy this week’s tip.
GURGLER PREMIER LEAGUE Predictions Week 26
But first our tips. Based on our opinion, research, study and ignorance. (In no particular order)
MAN UTD to beat Fulham (3-2)
WATFORD to beat Everton (2-1)
CRYSTAL PALACE to beat West Ham (2-0)
ARSENAL to beat Huddersfield (3-0)
LIVERPOOL to beat Bournemouth (4-1)
SOUTHAMPTON to beat Cardiff (1-0)
DRAW – Brighton v Burnley (0-0)
SPURS to beat Leicester (2-1)
MANCHESTER CITY to beat Chelsea (3-2)
WOLVES to beat Newcastle (2-0)
PREMIER LEAGUE Predictions Week 26 – Valentne’s Day Spending in the UK
Average spend per person on Valentine’s Day per City in GBP in brackets.
FULHAM (43.3) to beat Man Utd (41.5)
EVERTON (44.8) to beat Watford (43.3)
DRAW – Crystal Palace (43.3) v West Ham (43.3)
HUDDERSFIELD (46.4) to beat Arsenal (43.3)
LIVERPOOL (44.8) to beat Bournemouth (43.1)
CARDIFF (42.1) to beat Southampton (34.5)
BURNLEY (43.2) to beat Brighton (36.2)
SPURS (43.3) to beat Leicester (38.4)
CHELSEA (43.3) to beat Man City (41.5)
NEWCASTLE (45.5) to beat Wolves (35.2)
Premier League Predictions Week 26 Mini Match by Match Preview
Here’s a quick run down of every game for Week 26, with a barely interesting stat and a best bet included for those inclined.
FULHAM v MANCHESTER UTD
Kick Off: Saturday 12:30pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: Man Utd 4 Fulham 1
Manchester United’s unbeaten run stretched to eight games with a tight win over Leicester last weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjær is talking himself into the Man Utd gig on a full-time basis more each week. Talking of eights, there’s a nice symmetry to Fulham’s last 6 games. Eight points (2W 2D 2L), eight goals scored, eight goals conceded. They are currently seven points from safety, but with their goal difference, it is essentially eight points. It could be double figures by the end of the weekend. The glimmer of hope was the fight back against Brighton last home game. But Brighton are poor away, Man Utd are number one away in the last six.
Barely Interesting Fact: Fulham beat Man Utd twice at home in the 2009 calendar year (2-0, 3-0) but haven’t done that again since.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.59
WATFORD v EVERTON
Kick Off: Saturday 3pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: Everton 2 Watford 2
The Marco Silva derby, where the current Everton manager returns to Watford for the first time since he was let go for being distracted by Everton wile coaching Watford. Of course he ended up there this season and it has sort of worked out for him, and definitely for Richarlisson who followed him. Although Everton will be hoping he doesn’t emulate his dip in goals like last season where he failed to score after November. This is two midfield sides battling it out for the minor spoils of three points and halting a dip in results. More worrying for Marco Silva, whose Everton are less impressed with him. They have lost six from nine and four of six away. Watford aren’t much better, with one win at home in their last six, and one in seven from both. Although there’s been a few draws.
Barely Interesting Fact: Watford have a win percentage of just 25% after January since their return to the Premier League
Best Bet: Richarlisson to score anytime @ $2.80
CRYSTAL PALACE v WEST HAM
Kick Off: Saturday 3pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: West Ham 3 Crystal Palace 2
Both teams come off good results on the weekend, Crystal Palace scoring multiple goals and winning at home, and West Ham avoiding another 4-0 loss to Liverpool with a solid draw at home. Despite losing 13 of their 25 games, Crystal Palace have still managed a healthy nine clean sheets.
West Ham at the other end of the scale have failed to score in 40% of their games. Interesting to watch new recruit Michy Batshuayi in action for the Eagles. Given he looked a certainty to go to West Ham in the transfer window.
Barely Interesting Fact: Crystal Palace have not beaten West Ham since doing the double in 2013-14.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.79
HUDDERSFIELD v ARSENAL
Kick Off: Saturday 3pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: Arsenal 1 Huddersfield 0
Tough for Huddersfield and their new manager – Jan Siewert, beaten 5-0 by Chelsea last weekend, then face Arsenal, then the in-form Wolves. Arsenal were inevitably beaten by Man City last weekend, and their away form must be of concern. Only Huddersfield, Fulham and Bournemouth have taken fewer points in the last six away games.
Arsenal have just two points from their six away. Still they should have the firepower to score against Huddersfield, and despite their defensive worries should contain a side who have scored five time in 13 home matches.
Barely Interesting Fact: Huddersfield are yet to score against Arsenal since their return to the Premier League.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score – No @ $2.00
LIVERPOOL v BOURNEMOUTH
Kick Off: Saturday 3pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: Bournemouth 0 Liverpool 4
The big question is are Liverpool choking? Their slight panic at the end of the West Ham game shows signs of worry. They could be seven points ahead but are now just three after draws against Leicester and West Ham, and could be overtaken this midweek by Man City. But they won’t be, as they welcome a team on a losing run away from home of seven games. Only Fulham have conceded more away than Bournemouth, good news for Liverpool to get their spark back.
Liverpool’s once watertight defence has slipped recently, they have conceded in six of their last seven games (eight in total), with just another seven goals conceded in 15 games.
Barely Interesting Fact: Liverpool have won the last three games against Bournemouth 11-0 . But it was a similar recent record v West Ham before Monday’s draw.
Best Bet: Liverpool -1.0 Handicap @ $1.57
SOUTHAMPTON v CARDIFF
Kick Off: Saturday 3pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: Cardiff 1 Southampton 0
An emotional win for Cardiff last weekend after the loss of their new recruit Emiliano Sala, and are looking to double up against south coast sides this weekend. Southampton have turned their season around, but they still have the second worst home record with just two wins for the season. Cardiff have half that amount of away wins, and have only scored in six of their 12 away games.
Barely Interesting Fact: Southampton have lost less than half of their games this season despite their lowly position, which is better than eight other teams. It is on the back of a season high 9 draws in 25 games. Next best is Watford on seven. Only Spurs (0), Man City (2) and Bournemouth (3) have drawn fewer games than Cardiff.
Best Bet: Both sides to score – No @ $1.83
BRIGHTON v BURNLEY
Kick Off: Saturday 5:30pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: Burnley 1 Brighton 0
Brighton have some very decent home form this year, just three losses against some, but not all of the big six, and they need it as their away form is not good. Without the home form they’d be right in the relegation fight. In saying that, Brighton haven’t scored at home in their last three matches in all comps. As it stands they are now only five points clear of 18th placed Cardiff.
Burnley are the last of the safe sides in 17th, but are unbeaten in six games with three wins and three draws. A loss here for Brighton and a Cardiff win over Southampton could see the Seagulls just three points from danger.
Barely Interesting Fact: Previous to Burnley’s win earlier in the season, there were five draws in a row between these two sides. Or Burnley haven’t led at half time away this season.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.51
SPURS v LEICESTER
Kick Off: Sunday 1:30pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: Leicester 0 Spurs 2
A match between the unlikely duo fighting for the 2015-16 which infamously went to the Foxes. Spurs have managed to continue to the same heights as expected, and could yet find their way into a title fight. Especially when they get Harry Kane back. In the meantime they hold the quirky record of not drawing a game this season, the record in the Premier League era is three (both Chelsea).
Leicester continue to be unpredictable, fourth last in last six form, which has seen them secure four points away to the Liverpool based sides, lose at home to bottom four sides Southampton and Cardiff and score three goals but still lose at Wolves. Marco Silva’s predictable second half form slip has seen the pressure of Claude Puel as next manager sacked, and surely no one would expect them to beat Sours at Wembley. Which means they probably will. Spurs are sixth in home form this season, Leicester are seventh away,
Barely Interesting Fact: There have been 21 goals in the last four games between these two sides, including 5-4 and 6-1 wins to Spurs.
Best Bet: Leicester +2.0 Handicap @ $1.36
MANCHESTER CITY v CHELSEA
Kick Off: Sunday 4pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: Chelsea 2 Man City 0
The big name clash of the weekend, and it is delicately poised too, with Chelsea finding their goal scoring form against Huddersfield, with Higuain scoring and Hazard back to his best position, and hence his best form. Sergio Aguero is back playing, and scoring the earliest of goals, he has 12 in 16 games v Chelsea, and with a star-studded midfield where they can’t fit everyone in each week, Man City should win. Especially if they take the temporary lead of the EPL if they beat Everton on Wednesday evening.
Barely Interesting Fact: Man City have just two less goals at home this season (43) than Chelsea have scored in total (45). And six more goals in total than the combined total of goals scored by the bottom three.
Best Bet: First Goalscorer – Sergio Aguero @ $4.20
WOLVES v NEWCASTLE
Kick Off: Monday 8pm
Previous 2018-19 Result: Newcastle 1 Wolves 2
Premier League Week 26 rounds off in Wolverhampton as in form Wolves look to secure the seventh placed position, all while staying in the FA Cup after winning their replay against Shrewsbury midweek. 7th place and an FA Cup semi/final appearance would be almost as good as the club could hope for. This season. They come into the game on three straight wins in the league, and even more impressive is they are starting to pile on the goals.
Newcastle don’t score quite as easily, in fact they have scored the second fewest goals this season. We can’t wait to see their new recruit Miguel Almiron in action, as the MLS player of the season should bring plenty of goals and assists. And hopefully points for our FPL side.
Barely Interesting Fact: Wolves have scored 10 goals in their last three league games, counting backwards it would have taken Newcastle 11 games to score ten. Only Man City have scored more than Wolves in the last six games.
Best Bet: Wolves to win @ $1.62
Premier League Predictions Week 26 – MMMMMulti
Time to make some money – here’s our best five tips rolled into one money-making machine.
CRYSTAL PALACE to beat West Ham
ARSENAL to beat Huddersfield
LIVERPOOL to beat Bournemouth
DRAW – Brighton v Burnley
WOLVES to beat Newcastle
$1 for $20
2018-2019 Premier League Tipping Competition Results
THE GURGLER
2018-2019 Tipping Results – 129/250 – 52% – (14 Correct Scores)
Last Week Tipping Results – 7/10 *
* Man City v Everton result pending
Best – 7/10 Week 1, 3, 4, 7, 15, 25
OPPOSITION
2018-2019 Results – 109/240 – 45%
Week 1 – 6/10 – Week 1 Form from last 5 seasons
Week 2 – 5/10 – Change in Market Value after Transfer Window
Week 3 – 4/10 – Red Cards from last 5 seasons
Week 4 – 7/10 – Form v Post Sir Alex Man Utd
Week 5 – 5/10 – Post International Break Form
Week 6 – 3/10 – Avoiding Russian Spies
Week 7 – 4/10 – Brexit
Week 8 – 6/10 – v Jose Mourinho
Week 9 – 4/10 – Sacked Managers / Tenure
Week 10 – 4/10 – Fighting Managers
Week 11 – 7/10 – v Leicester City
Week 12 – 4/10 – US Mid Term Elections
Week 13 – 6/10 – Claudio Ranieri
Week 14 – 5/10 – Own Goals
Week 15 – 5/10 – Midweek Form (Last 5 Seasons)
Week 16 – 2/10 – Hate
Week 17 – 4/10 – Dangerous Nickname
Week 18 – 5/10 – Christmas Shopping
Week 19 – 4/10 – Boxing Day Form
Week 20 – 7/10 – 2018 Form
Week 21 – 1/10 – New Year’s Eve
Week 22 – 7/10 – January Form
Week 23 – 3/10 – Traffic
Week 24 – 2/10 – Post FA Cup 3rd / 4th Round Form
Week 25 – 4/10 – Happiness
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