Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 21

It was a slow burn but the third round of the FA Cup was undoubtedly delivered and there is little time for rest with another Premier League game week around the corner.

Thought the holiday season was hectic? Pfft. It's January true agent of chaos.

The weekend allowed most managers to rest and rotate ahead of the upcoming midweek fixtures, and only three top-flight sides made it out of the FA Cup – two of which went down to Premier League rivals. Southampton also won.

The underdogs will be keen to respond quickly under the lights, with Gameweek 21 serving up some midweek action.

Here's how 90 min anticipates playing the next Premier League midweek fixture.

Maybe that Nottingham Forest win at Anfield wasn't so stunning after all. Was just their 'Leicester at the Etihad' moment from 2016 on the way to the unthinkable Premier League glory?

Forest's remarkable campaign has raised the question of whether they can repeat the Foxes' unlikely triumph, with Nuno Espirito Santos' side third in the table. They can move within three points of Liverpool on Tuesday, but they must beat the league leaders at the City Ground to do so.

Arne Slott's Reds have lost just once in the league all season, but Manchester United and Tottenham have both enjoyed success against the title favorites in the past week.

Ahead of Tuesday's top-of-the-table clash, Manchester City are in action against Brentford as they look to win a fourth in a row in the league, while Chelsea face Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on the back of a four-game winless run in the Premier League. The Cherries will leapfrog the Blues in the table with a win in west London.

Graham Potter also takes charge of his first game at the London Stadium as West Ham United manager. Potter oversaw a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in FA Cup on Friday night, but there were encouraging signs in the debut. Fulham make the short trip across London to face the Hammers.

Wednesday's action is highlighted by the north London derby, with injury-hit Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur clashing at the Emirates Stadium.

You never know what you're going to get from Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham, typified by their last two performances, but you can predict more Arsenal misery in front of goal given their sloppiness in defeats to Newcastle and Manchester United during the past week. Mikel Arteta's options up front are running thin from the game.

An emotional base of Gunners fans are becoming increasingly frustrated with their current situation and a home loss to mid-table Spurs will go a long way.

David Moyes' return to Goodison Park is the pick of the former, with the Scot's second managerial spell on Merseyside coming against an inconsistent Aston Villa side.

Newcastle aim to continue their rich run of form when they take on Vitor Pereira's Wolves in St. James' Park, while Leicester face Crystal Palace after hammering QPR for six at the weekend. The Foxes can escape the drop zone with a win over 15th-placed Eagles.

Gameweek 21 concludes with a few games on Thursday, with the first outing at Portman Road. Chelsea and Bristol Rovers have felt the wrath of Kieran McKenna's side in the East of England over the past fortnight, with the Tractor Boys starting to feel comfortable in the top flight.

Brighton have been hampered by injuries over the last couple of months, but they have done a great job of avoiding defeat and perhaps should have turned some of their recent setbacks into wins. Maybe they will get a belated triumph on Thursday.

Finally, a Manchester United side full of grit and spirit take on Southampton in what was dubbed a relegation six-pointer after the Red Devils were beaten at home by Newcastle. United's position in the table has not changed, but their last two performances suggest they will not be dragged into the fight during the second half of the season.

However, they face a Saints side who go into the match on the back of a rare win. Ivan Juric's first win as manager came against Championship side Swansea City.

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