Predictions: Jack's Round 2 Premier League Picks

We're officially underway in this Premier League Predictor, and though we now have a round of performances to work with when making our predictions, it feels as if things won't be settled until the transfer window has closed.

If anything, situations are becoming even more chaotic than they were this time last week as we near the deadline, with injuries instantly resulting in new transfer targets, which in some cases have led to amusing* 'hijacks'. *depending on who you support.

Last week

The opening round of 2025-26 wasn't a great one for me, with 4 Close predictions and nothing else giving me 6 points. Fulham's late equaliser was frustrating, and I feel I should have backed Sunderland though I never even considered 3-0.

Here are the Round 2 fixtures we have coming up which include some absolute must-watch games in my opinion. Here are my thoughts, leave your own in the comments!

West Ham vs. Chelsea

I never enjoy predicting West Ham in the 'big' London derbies because while there's every chance they continue being quite ordinary as they were in this fixture last season, they do sometimes really raise their level in matches like this and they really ought to here given last week's result at Sunderland. Chelsea looked tired in their opener against Palace and I can picture a Jarrod Bowen winner on the break in this match but I don't think I want to risk going against the away win. Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Chelsea

Manchester City vs. Tottenham

This is another match where the head-to-head record is playing on my mind because Manchester City frequently don't beat Tottenham, despite usually being hot favourites. Spurs and particularly Richarlison looked good last week but City were excellent at Wolves. Tijjani Reijnders' performance was an absolute joy.

It also feels like Spurs need to be wary of their transfer activity extinguishing the momentum gained from their Europa League win and reasonable start under Thomas Frank. Having come so close to signing both Morgan Gibbs-White and then Eberechi Eze without getting over the line, a failure to bring in a player of that kind of quality in the remainder of the window will really hurt fans after James Maddison's injury. Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham

Bournemouth vs. Wolves

Bournemouth and Antoine Semenyo in particular really played their part in a great opening game of the season at Anfield in Round 1, and you'd think they'll have too much for a Wolves side that doesn't look particularly threatening on paper. As it stands, I'm not sure where Wolves' goals are going to come from this season, and while Jhon Arias could step up alongside Jorgen Strand Larsen or Vitor Pereira could come up with an effective system, I think I need to see it happen before I'll feel comfortable backing them to win a game like this. Prediction: Bournemouth 1-0 Wolves

Brentford vs. Aston Villa

I'm quite intrigued by this match. Brentford need a performance that gives their fans some hope after an incredibly turbulent summer, while Aston Villa also need a big display because they were miles off it last week against Newcastle. There's no doubt that Villa are the better side on paper and their recent record at the Gtech Community Stadium is solid enough for me to go with them. Prediction: Brentford 0-2 Aston Villa

Burnley vs. Sunderland

It's probably too early to say this is a must-win for Burnley, isn't it? There aren't going to be too many games where I consider picking them to win this season I don't think, but this is a tough one to call after Sunderland beat West Ham so convincingly last week. I'm sticking with my pre-season instinct which is that Burnley don't lose this match. It's so hard to picture them scoring goals in the Premier League with a lineup like the one they put out against Tottenham but they were excellent defensively last season in the Championship. Prediction: Burnley 0-0 Sunderland

Arsenal vs. Leeds

Like most people, I can only see an Arsenal win here. Last week was a big result for the Gunners given how well Manchester United played in parts, so to come through that with a clean sheet ahead of this first game of the season is a big confidence boost. Leeds obviously had a great result too and I think they'll give plenty of teams a game at Elland Road this season, but this will be tough. Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Leeds

Crystal Palace vs. Nottingham Forest

If, like me, you're a big football fan who enjoys watching a spicy atmosphere created by off-field issues, then this is the first of two must-watch matches this weekend. Personally, I feel Crystal Palace have been pretty hard done by with their demotion from the Europa League, particularly since it will do next to nothing to stop multi-club ownership which is already ruining football for so many fans, but the anger they now feel towards Nottingham Forest (who have taken their place in the Europa League) as well as UEFA means this has become an early-season blockbuster.

Palace fans spent most of last week's game at Chelsea singing about Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, so I'm excited to see how things play out at Selhurst Park when they're actually up against Forest here. Both teams have started the season pretty well, and though the loss of Eberechi Eze is a huge blow to Palace, I just feel they're going to be so up for this match and that energy could well carry them to a win so long as the players don't overstep the mark. Having gone toe-to-toe with Liverpool and Chelsea already this season, I think the Eagles can edge this. Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Everton vs. Brighton

There should be a good (albeit slightly different) atmosphere at this game as well as Everton play their first home Premier League game at their new stadium. I was ready to pick them to win despite Brighton being a good side, but their performance at Leeds was far from encouraging. Having seen Everton create so little in that game, I think Brighton are probably favourites here, but I'm going with a draw on the basis that an Iliman Ndiaye or Jack Grealish could create a memorable moment in the Hill Dickinson Stadium opener. Prediction: Everton 1-1 Brighton

I'm definitely way too focused on narrative in these predictions aren't I...

Fulham vs. Manchester United

It can't be said about too many stadiums these days, but Manchester United always win at Craven Cottage. Fulham have deserved more from their last two home meetings with the Red Devils and have a little bit of momentum from that late equaliser at Brighton last week, but I thought United were good in that defeat to Arsenal and they'll find the net a couple of times in this game if they play similarly. Prediction: Fulham 0-2 Manchester United

Newcastle vs. Liverpool

This is of course the other must-watch game because of the saga surrounding Alexander Isak. It remains to be seen if Isak gets his move to Liverpool in this window, but it was never happening ahead of this fixture. St James' Park is going to be *hot* for this match and after a pretty impressive display at Villa Park last week, I feel there's a reasonable chance of a Newcastle win here. I'm just torn as to whether or not I should back them!

Liverpool are going to score a lot of goals this season but they're also going to concede a lot. The return of Ryan Gravenberch from suspension should help a bit, but the trade-off with the attacking quality that Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez provide as full-backs is that they can be got at (Frimpong is injured now anyway), while Ibrahima Konate didn't cover himself in glory in that Bournemouth match. Whatever happens, this game should be a lot of fun and pretty end-to-end. With the atmosphere set to be huge and Newcastle players themselves already conceding that it's a huge game 'because of everything that's happened', I think the Magpies will get a result, it just might not be a win since they are missing that clinical edge that Isak provides. Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool

Best of luck with your own Round 2 predictions!