The Premier League is back, and there’s barely enough time to catch our breath before the next gameweek kicks off, and so here is our Premier League Predictions Week 31.
Each week our preview includes just enough quick info and barely interesting stats to help you decide a winner. Or to provide just enough barely interesting information leading into the big midweek of football.
If you enjoy loads of stats and graphs with some opinion, then you will enjoy our full Premier League Week 31 Predictions and Preview.
Premier League Week 31 Predictions
GAME BY GAME PREVIEW
Here’s our match by match review and our own Premier League Predictions Week 31. With loads of stats as below. But keep in mind the following…
Match H2H are for the League fixtures only, because who knows what teams play in cups these days.
Our barely interesting facts are just that, barely interesting. But takes in all competitions and cups. Or whatever suits the stat.
LEICESTER CITY v BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Tuesday 6pm – SKY
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: 2-2-2
All Time League H2H Record: Leicester 13 Brighton 9 Draw 5
Why Leicester can win
Leicester are undefeated in their last five games v Brighton.
Leicester have the competition’s leading goal scorer, Brighton’s best is Neil Maupay with half as many goals.
Brighton haven’t won an away game in seven attempts, and that was Arsenal. Before that it was the first week of the season.
Leicester have scored an average 2.71 points at home to bottom six clubs this season. Brighton have 1 point per game away to the top six.
Brighton’s worst record against UK regions is midland teams. This is also true for teams with blue kits.
Leicester have an average of 2.25 points per game against south coast sides.
Why Brighton can win.
Showed plenty of determination to beat Arsenal with their late goals, and win the game and scuffle.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Brighton have only scored in three of the last nine games at Leicester, but at least one of them was a 4-1 win in the Championship a few years back.
Final Say:
Leicester 1 Brighton 0
IF we were a betting person:
Half with most goals – Second @ $2.00
SPURS v WEST HAM
Tuesday 8:15pm
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: Spurs 7 West Ham 8 Draw 9
All Time League H2H Record: Spurs 40 West Ham 29 Draw 18
Why Spurs can win
The Away side has not won this fixture in the last seven matches in all comps (6 losses and a draw) going back to 2017.
Jose Mourinho has a strong 2.29 average points per game against West Ham.
Spurs have slightly better record against London clubs this season (1.29 v 0.86 points per game).
Why West Ham can win.
West Ham are the team who have most recently won a game.
The Hammers also have beaten Spurs three of the last six league matches, including the last two.
Spurs have the equal worst clean sheet record this season.
West Ham have the best shots on target ratio this season, although are fourth last for shots.
Barely Interesting Stat:
West Ham have won the only League game on a Tuesday at Spurs. In 1924. When the Olympics were in Paris.
Final Say:
Spurs 2 West Ham 0
IF we were a betting person:
Spurs to win and under 2.5 Goals @ $4.00
WOLVES v BOURNEMOUTH
Wednesday 6pm
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: Bournemouth 2 Draw 2
All Time League H2H Record: Bournemouth 4 Wolves 3 Draw 2
Why Wolves can win
Because Wolves looked like one of the better sides first weekend back, and Bournemouth were down the other end of that assessment.
Wolves average 2.33 points per game at home to bottom six sides.
Bournemouth have lost their last six away games, scoring just two goals.
Why Bournemouth can win.
Midweek games have either been a 2-1 Bournemouth win or a 1-1 draw.
The home side have lost 2-1 on three of the last six meetings.
Barely Interesting Stat:
These teams have met in every division and cup except for the fourth tier in just 13 matches.
Final Say:
Wolves 3 Bournemouth 0
IF we were a betting person:
Wolves to win by more than one goal @2.50
MANCHESTER UTD v SHEFFIELD UTD
Wednesday 6pm
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: Man Utd 8 Sheffield Utd 3 Draw 2
All Time League H2H Record: Man Utd 40 Sheffield Utd 33 Draw 16
Why Man Utd can win
Sheffield Utd have only won a single midweek game @ Man Utd in seven attempts.
The last time Sheffield Utd won at Old Trafford was Boxing Day 1973. Seven consecutive losses with an aggregate of 17-2 since.
Why Sheffield Utd can win.
There have been five league games on a Wednesday – the sequence is currently Man U, Shef U, Man U, Shef U, Man U……
Barely Interesting Stat:
Sheffield Utd won the first ever Premier League fixture in 1992, and nothing since. (5 losses and a draw this season.)
Final Say:
Man Utd 3 Sheffield Utd 0
IF we were a betting person:
Marcus Rashford to score @ $1.80
NEWCASTLE v ASTON VILLA
Wednesday 6pm
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: Newcastle 13 Aston Villa 7 Draw 3
All Time H2H record: Newcastle 71 Aston Villa 56 Draw 37
Why Newcastle can win
It’s been nine games since the away team has won in the league for this fixture. It was also the last time more than two goals was scored. In the subsequent eight games, the away team has scored one goal twice.
If you exclude Saturdays, Newcastle haven’t been beaten at home by Aston Villa in 13 matches going back to 1951.
Why Aston Villa can win.
Aston Villa won the game earlier in the season.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Aston Villa last beat Newcastle away on a Wednesday in 1954. It is back to April 2005 for their last away win in the League on any day. (7 losses 4 draws).
Final Say:
Newcastle 2 Aston Villa 0
IF we were a betting person:
Newcastle to win @ $2.34
NORWICH CITY v EVERTON
Wednesday 6pm
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: Draw 4 Everton 3 Norwich 2
All Time H2H record: Everton 22 Draw 19 Norwich
Why Norwich can win
They have beaten Man City at home this season.
The have a reasonable record against blue kits this season – 1.67 points per game.
Why Everton can win.
Norwich haven’t beaten Everton at home in midweek (2)
Barely Interesting Stat:
Everton have won once in eight attempts at Norwich in the Premier League, and add another four games for the old first division.
Final Say:
Norwich 1 Everton 2
IF we were a betting person:
LIVERPOOL v CRYSTAL PALACE
Wednesday 8:15pm
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: Liverpool 9 Crystal Palace 4 Draw 3
All Time H2H League record: Liverpool 29 Crystal Palace 14 Draw 11
Why Liverpool can win
Two wins and a draw for Liverpool from three midweek league games. One on 1989 was 9-0 to Liverpool.
Why Crystal Palace can win.
Crystal Palace are on the EPL’s longest winning streak – four.
Crystal Palace were the last team to beat Liverpool on April 23, 2017, 55 games unbeaten in the league. For a combined FA of 143 – 32.
That last away win was the third win in a row at Liverpool for Crystal Palace
Barely Interesting Stat:
The last time Liverpool didn’t win at home was v Leicester on Jan 30, 2019. Draw 1-1. For 22 wins straight.
Final Say:
Liverpool 1 Crystal Palace 0
IF we were a betting person:
Draw @ HT / Win for Liverpool @ $4.00-
SOUTHAMPTON v ARSENAL
Thursday 6pm
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: Arsenal 13 Draw 10 Southampton 7
All Time H2H League record: Arsenal 42 Draw 24 Southampton 19
Why Southampton can win
Arsenal have won just two of their last nine visits to Southampton.
Arsenal have also won only three of 14 midweek matches at Southampton
Danny Ings back in form.
Why Arsenal can win.
Because they should beat Southampton away.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Although, Arsenal have won seven of the last eight games on a Wednesday between these sides. This is spread across various cups and leagues, and goes back to 1979. And interestingly, eight of these have been played at Arsenal.
Final Say:
Southampton 2 Arsenal 0
IF we were a betting person:
Southampton to win @$2.70
BURNLEY v WATFORD
Thursday 6pm
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: Burnley 5 Draw 4 Watford 1
All Time H2H League record: Burnley 13 Watford 7 Draw 7
Why Burnley can win
Watford have won just one midweek game v Burnley
Watford won the last game at Burnley in August 2018, it was their first win there in 10 games.
Why Watford can win.
Watford won the last game at Burnley in August 2018, it was their first win there in 10 games.
Barely Interesting Stat:
These teams have never met on a Thursday
Final Say:
Burnley 0 Watford 0
IF we were a betting person:
Draw @ $3.20
CHELSEA v MANCHESTER CITY
Thursday 8:15pm
MATCH STATS
Midweek Record: Chelsea 14 Man City 7 Draw
All Time H2H League record: Chelsea 60 Man City 50 Draw 39
Why Chelsea can win
Man City have only won one of their last eight midweek visits to Stamford Bridge, going back to 1968.
Why Man City can win.
Refer 5-0 thrashing of Burnley.
Barely Interesting Stat:
The away team has scored exactly one goal in ten of the last 14 midweek games.
Chelsea have won the only clash between these sides on a Thursday – a 2-1 win in the old Division 1 in 1935.
Final Say:
Chelsea 1 Man City 1
IF we were a betting person:
Draw @ $4.00
