Premier League predictions: Arsenal sink Spurs in North London derby, Liverpool end Forest’s run

We pick out the winners and losers from the English top-flight’s midweek fixtures

Arsenal defeated local rivals Tottenham 1-0, thanks to a goal from defender Gabriel, when the two teams clashed back in September. EPA

Tuesday: Brentford v Manchester City (11.30pm kick off UAE)

Brentford will be looking to pick themselves up following a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of second-tier strugglers Plymouth Argyle. Last time out in the league, the Bees ended a four-game winless run by thrashing Southampton 5-0.

Reigning champions City are looking to make it three league wins on the spin following victories over Leicester City (2-0) and West Ham (4-1) which lifted them to sixth in the table.

Prediction: Brentford 1 Man City 2

Chelsea v Bournemouth (11.30pm)

Chelsea's draw at Crystal Palace means the fourth-placed Blues have now gone four games without a win to leave them 10 points behind leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.

Bournemouth maintained their excellent recent form by defeating Everton 1-0, thanks to David Brooks' late winner, which meant the Cherries set a new club Premier League record of eight games unbeaten.

Prediction: Chelsea 1 Bournemouth 1

West Ham United v Fulham (11.30pm)

New West Ham manager Graham Potter's reign began with a narrow defeat at Aston Villa in the FA Cup at the weekend, the Hammers' third loss on the trot across competitions.

Fulham will be looking to lose the 'draw specialists' tag they appear to have adopted of late having shared the points five times in their last six matches.

Prediction: West Ham 2 Fulham 2

Nottingham Forest v Liverpool (midnight)

Forest are flying high in third place – six points behind leaders Liverpool – having won six games on the spin with their 3-0 victory at Wolves making it nine clean sheets this season – more than any other top-flight team.

Liverpool saw a three-game win streak come to an end when they could only draw 2-2 at home to Manchester United, but Arne Slot's side have still only lost once in 19 league games.

Prediction: Forest 1 Liverpool 3

Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal in the 2-2 Premier League draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, January 5, 2025. AP

Manchester United's Amad Diallo shoots past Liverpool's Andrew Robertson to make it 2-2. AFP

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal against Manchester United at Anfield. Reuters

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores their second goal from the penalty spot. PA

Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt handles the ball to concede a penalty. Reuters

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates his goal with teammates. AFP

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo scores their opening goal to make it 1-1. PA

Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez scores their first goal. EPA

Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal. Getty Images

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo takes a tumble in the snow. PA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is held back by Manchester United's Diogo Dalot. AFP

Manchester United's Amad Diallo makes a mess of a header, watched by Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker. EPA

Manchester United keeper Andre Onana saves from Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister. PA

Cody Gakpo of Liverpool shoots wide under pressure from Andre Onana and Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United. Getty Images

Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte fouls Liverpool's Cody Gakpo. Reuters

Wednesday: Everton v Aston Villa (11.30pm)

David Moyes will be hoping to hit the ground running as he begins his second spell as Everton manager with the team winless in five games and sitting just one point above the bottom three.

Eighth-place Villa are struggling to find consistency this season but head into this game after securing successive 2-1 wins – against Leicester in the league and West Ham in the FA Cup.

Prediction: Everton 1 Villa 1

Leicester City v Crystal Palace (11.30pm)

Leicester have dropped down to second bottom in the table after five defeats in a row – conceding 14 goals and scoring only two. But Ruud van Nistelrooy's side at least enjoyed a morale-boosting 6-2 battering of second-tier Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Palace salvaged a draw at Chelsea last time out thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta's late leveller which leaves them five points clear of the relegation zone.

Prediction: Leicester 2 Palace 1

Newcastle United v Wolves (11.30pm)

Newcastle made it eight wins in a row across competitions at the weekend when they defeated fourth-tier Bromley at St James' Park. The Magpies are fifth, one point outside the top four.

Wolves saw their three-game unbeaten league run come to an abrupt halt when they lost at home to Forest, a first loss for Vitor Pereira since replacing Gary O'Neil as manager. They are outside the bottom three thanks to goal difference only.

Prediction: Newcastle 3 Wolves 0

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (midnight)

Arsenal lost ground on leaders Liverpool after being held to a draw at Brighton, then followed that up with successive home cup defeats against Newcastle (2-0 in the League Cup) and then Manchester United (via penalties in the FA Cup).

Spurs ended a four-game run without a win by defeating Tamworth in the FA Cup, but needed extra-time to finally overcome their fifth-tier opponents. They head into this North London derby sitting 12th in the standings, a hefty 16 points behind the second-place Gunners.

Prediction: Arsenal 3 Spurs 1

Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir celebrates after saving Kai Havertz's shoot-out penalty during Manchester United's FA Cup third-round win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on January 12, 2025. The game finished 1-1 after extra-time with United winning the shoot-out 5-3. Reuters

United attacker Joshua Zirkzee celebrates after scoring the match-winning penalty in the shoot-out. Getty Images

A dejected Kai Havertz after the match following his shoot-out miss. Reuters

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice shoots for goal but his effort is saved. AFP

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice reacts after his shot was saved by United keeper Altay Bayindir. AFP

Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir saves a penalty from Martin Odegaard of Arsenal. Reuters

Arsenal's Kai Havertz misses an opportunity to win the game late on after shooting over bar. PA

Martin Odegaard misses from the penalty spot for Arsenal. Getty Images

United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir saves a penalty from Arsenal's Martin Odegaard. Getty Images

United and Arsenal players clash after the home side were awarded a penalty for an apparent foul on Kai Havertz. Getty Images

Tempers flare between Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Kai Havertz after Arsenal were awarded a penalty. PA

Gabriel shoots for Arsenal as his effort takes a big deflection off Matthijs de Ligt before finding the back of the net to make it 1-1. Getty Images

Gabriel celebrates after scoring for Arsenal in the 63rd minute. Getty Images

Manchester United show their disbelief after Diogo Dalot is shown a red card by referee Andrew Madley. PA

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring to put his team 1-0 up. AP

United midfielder Bruno Fernandes opens the scoring in the 52nd minute. Reuters

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus goes down injured during the first half. PA

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes argues with referee Andy Madley after he was shown a yellow card for fouling Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus. AFP

Gabriel Martinelli scores for Arsenal but the goal was disallowed for offside. EPA

Arsenal attacker Gabriel Jesus is carried off the pitch on a stretcher. AP

Thursday: Ipswich Town v Brighton (11.30pm)

Ipswich remain in the bottom three after their draw at Fulham, albeit behind Wolves on goal difference only, missing out on what would have been their first back-to-back victories this season.

Brighton's run without a league win now stretches to eight matches after a 1-1 stalemate with Arsenal, which was the Seagulls' fifth draw in six games.

Prediction: Ipswich 1 Brighton 1

Manchester United v Southampton (midnight)

Manchester United have finally shown some signs of life in what has been a poor season so far after drawing at Liverpool and then beating Arsenal. But Ruben Amorim's men are still down in the 13th place, 13 points outside the top four.

Southampton enjoyed a rare taste of victory when they defeated Swansea City in the FA Cup on Sunday but the league table remains miserable reading for rock-bottom Saints who are 10 points shy of safety.

Prediction: Man United 4 Southampton 1