Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 30

After a bruising continental midweek that saw only one of nine English clubs win across UEFA competitions, the Premier League resumes with a weekend that could reshape the title race, the scramble for Europe and the desperate fight to avoid the drop. Sports Illustrated’s projection of every fixture in Gameweek 30:

Bournemouth’s eight-match unbeaten run has stalled into three consecutive 0-0 draws; the Cherries have not scored since mid-February and last tasted victory at Everton on 8 February. Saturday’s trip to Turf Moor offers a timely tonic. Burnley, nine points from safety with nine matches left, saw the momentum of their dramatic win at Palace evaporate with back-to-back defeats. Anything but a Bournemouth victory would be a surprise.

Sunderland, dumped out of the FA Cup by League One’s bottom club Port Vale, still carry top-flight breathing room thanks to an early-season cushion. Régis Le Bris has injury headaches, yet the Black Cats are 11 points clear of danger after edging Leeds 1-0 last time out. Brighton, two straight wins after a January wobble, visit the Stadium of Light in a meeting of mid-table sides whose seasons now hinge on final standings pride.

Arsenal, held 1-1 at Bayer Leverkusen, could open a 10-point gap at the summit before kick-off, but Everton arrive with the league’s fourth-best away record. The Toffees won the reverse fixture on Merseyside through Viktor Gyökeres’s penalty; Kai Havertz’s late spot-kick in Germany papered over another blunt attacking night for Mikel Arteta’s side. Expect a tight contest at the Emirates.

Chelsea’s 3-1 capitulation in Paris leaves them needing a miracle to stay in Europe, increasing the importance of Saturday’s visit of Newcastle. Liam Rosenior’s Blues, buoyed by a 4-1 rout of Aston Villa, hold a four-point buffer over Liverpool in sixth. Eddie Howe’s Magpies, distracted by a daunting Champions League date in Barcelona, have collected the third-fewest away points in the division and have not won on the road since January.

Manchester City, thrashed 3-0 by a vulnerable Real Madrid, travel to the London Stadium knowing another slip could leave them double-digits behind Arsenal. West Ham, lifted by a shoot-out win over Brentford, sit outside the drop zone only on goal difference and will be without star winger Crysencio Summerville. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have lost once in five league matches; a point against the champions would further fuel survival hopes.

Crystal Palace, goalless in Larnaca on Thursday, must win in Cyprus to keep their Conference League dream alive. Oliver Glasner’s men have pulled six points clear of the bottom three after beating Wolves and Spurs, yet unease lingers at Selhurst. Leeds, three points above the relegation places, have the league’s worst away record and could slip dangerously close to trouble if they fail to capitalise on Palace’s European fatigue.

Manchester United, beaten for the first time under Michael Carrick by Newcastle, have had a fortnight to stew. Aston Villa, below United on goal difference after consecutive league defeats, arrive fresher only in the sense that Unai Emery’s squad did European duty on Wednesday, edging Lille. A Villa midfield nearing full health and Ollie Watkins’s first goal since January could decide a fixture neither side can afford to lose.

Nottingham Forest sandwich a Europa League second leg against Midtjylland between two relegation six-pointers. First up are Fulham on Sunday, and the City Ground is set to be raucous. Vitor Pereira’s side have lost only once at home in 2026; Fulham, out of the FA Cup and with little but pride to play for, have lost back-to-back home league games to West Ham and Southampton. A Forest victory would move them six points clear of the bottom three.

Liverpool, humbled 1-0 at Galatasaray, host a Tottenham side in freefall under Igor Tudor. Spurs have lost four straight, were a defensive shambles in Madrid and will be without concussed duo Cristian Romero and João Palhinha. Liverpool have not lost at Anfield to Tottenham since 2011; another home win looks the likeliest outcome even if Arne Slot’s side have rarely convinced.

The curtain falls on Monday night under the lights at the Gtech. Brentford, stung by Ouattara’s missed Panenka in their FA Cup exit, sit seventh on 44 points, one ahead of Everton. Wolves, revived under their new boss, shocked Liverpool last week but were dumped out of the cup by the same opponents. A Bees victory would keep genuine European qualification in view; anything less keeps the door ajar for the chasing pack.

Predicted winners: Bournemouth, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Leeds, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Brentford. Draws: Sunderland-Brighton, Crystal Palace-Leeds.

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