Predictions: Jack's Round 13 Premier League Picks

After last weekend's results, it suddenly looks as if it's now on Chelsea to stop Arsenal if anyone is going to this season, so it's fun to see that they will play each other this Sunday.

This week's fixture list looks a bit of a nightmare to predict if I'm honest, so I'm hoping for some Exacts on the ones I do get right because I'm not sure it'll be easy to get 7+ results correct.

Last round

5/10 and 11.5 points. Like most, I was let down by Man City, Liverpool and Man United. A big thank you to Bart Verbruggen for handing me an Exact for the Brighton win!

Here are my thoughts on Round 13.

Brentford vs. Burnley

This at least looks like a reasonably straightforward prediction to begin with, as Brentford have been solid at home. They're arguably more effective against the 'big' teams where they're given space on the break, and that's been proven by their excellent home results so far coming throughout a really tough fixture list on paper, but you'd think they'll still have the weapons to beat a more defensive Burnley side too. Michael Kayode's long throw-ins don't care whereabouts you are on the table. Prediction: Brentford 2-0 Burnley

Manchester City vs. Leeds

City's back-to-back defeats in the past week have been frustrating from a Superbru perspective and I was really surprised by their defeat to Leverkusen even with a rotated lineup, but I'm still fairly confident they'll win this match comfortably. Leeds have been reasonably competitive in recent games but it still feels as if they're drifting in the wrong direction at the moment. Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Leeds

Sunderland vs. Bournemouth

Both of these teams let me down last week when I backed them to win and it's tricky to choose between them in this round. With that in mind, I'm tempted by the draw. Sunderland and Bournemouth can each be very pleased with their seasons so far but when you look at their form streaks you can see they're each starting to fade slightly and I think both teams will be cautious about avoiding another defeat in this game. Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Bournemouth

Everton vs. Newcastle

I'm not sure I can pick Newcastle to win an away game until they do. It will happen at some point, but this looks like a challenging assignment a few days after losing in Marseille against an Everton team that has just won at Old Trafford. It's not as if Everton played United off the park, but having the resilience to win that match when down to 10 men after a bizarre red card will build real confidence and togetherness in the camp (ironically given the nature of Gueye's red) so if Everton can find a goal or two I think they'll see this out. Prediction: Everton 2-1 Newcastle

Tottenham vs. Fulham

It's almost as hard to pick Tottenham to win at home as it is to pick Newcastle away. Thomas Frank *really* needs a win here, and Spurs should get one since Fulham are yet to win away, but there'll be some nerves about and Fulham have found a bit of form in their home games. Fulham's last away performance at Everton has me leaning towards Spurs, but then I look at Tottenham's home results and think I might just risk the draw. Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Fulham

Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United

This is the kind of match where Manchester United should be taking full advantage of their lack of European football, as they'll have had double the amount of time to prep for this match than Palace will have had, but I'm far from certain United will become the first away team to win at Selhurst Park in the Premier League this season. After a reasonable run of form, the defeat to Everton was yet another game where Ruben Amorim seemed to lack any kind of adaptability, so I think Oliver Glasner will probably build upon his already strong record against United. Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Manchester United

Aston Villa vs. Wolves

Villa being 4th going into this round is a bit surprising because they really haven't been that good for most of this campaign, but this is another match that they can almost certainly win even if not at their best. The table is very, very ugly for Wolves fans right now and after not receiving another new manager bounce last weekend at home to Palace, I'm not sure Rob Edwards can manage one at Villa Park either. Prediction: Aston Villa 2-0 Wolves

Nottingham Forest vs. Brighton

A couple of you called me out for no draw picks last week and I might be going too far the other way now because I reckon this could finish level. Credit to Sean Dyche who has got Nottingham Forest looking much more like the team they should be with the squad that they have, but Brighton are a decent side who carry considerable goal threat. I think Forest are the more likely to win but Brighton might just manage a point having had more time to prepare without European commitments. Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Brighton

West Ham vs. Liverpool

Hmm. Liverpool's campaign is starting to feel like Chelsea's 'Mourinho season' in that every time you think it can't get worse, it does. How have they lost 6 of their last 7 league games!? It's so hard to predict if and when they'll turn things around because the issues seem to largely be mental/confidence related at this point and it's obviously impossible for me to know when that has improved. West Ham have started scoring goals in the last few rounds but I'm really not sure about picking them. I'm going with a narrow away win on the basis that Alexander Isak may finally start firing if Hugo Ekitike is out with injury and the responsibility all falls on him. Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Liverpool

Chelsea vs. Arsenal

This should be a belter. You'd have to say Arsenal are favourites given their immaculate form and win over Bayern in midweek, but Chelsea should really test them having already put in excellent performances in big home games against Barcelona and Liverpool (it was more impressive at the time) this season.

I don't want to sound like those social media users who simply label Arsenal as 'set-piece FC' because I think there's plenty more to the Gunners than that, but I do feel that in this specific match it's likely to be where Chelsea come unstuck if they are to lose. With such a young squad, we've seen the Blues lack consistency in this campaign and show poor discipline. While there's a chance that things all go well for them on the day and Chelsea put themselves in the title race with a win, I think the lack of experience may cost them at set-pieces if this is tight late on, both in terms of dealing with the aerial balls and in terms of giving away silly free-kicks in the first place as they should be doing all they can to ensure Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka aren't given opportunities to swing balls into the box. Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal

Best of luck with your own Round 13 predictions! Feel free to leave them in the comments below.