The first full week of Premier League matches in 2025 promises sparks, with the unmissable clash between championship leaders Liverpool and a struggling Manchester United taking place this Sunday at Anfield.
In stark contrast, Liverpool aim to preserve the high standards they have set throughout 2024, while Manchester United, mired in a crisis of confidence and identifying themselves as relegation candidates, will be praying for a new departure as the new year begins.
Red Devils fan and The Slow Readers Club bassist James Ryan is among those hoping for a turnaround, and he’s made some bold predictions for day 20 of our weekly prediction challenge.
The big question remains: will Arsenal, who face Brighton & Hove Albion, or Chelsea, who face Crystal Palace, take advantage of possible errors from Liverpool? Can Manchester City finally get back to winning ways against West Ham United? And how will Nottingham Forest continue their remarkable campaign?
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Read on to see James Ryan’s predictions alongside Sports Mole’s analysis for this exciting opening day of the new year.
Tottenham vs. Newcastle – Samedi, 12h30
James : Tottenham 1-3 Newcastle
Sports Mole : Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle
Excitement is guaranteed as Tottenham host Newcastle, and given the history, a goalless draw is out of the question; none of the last 59 confrontations have ended without a goal. As Spurs attempt to end Newcastle’s remarkable run of clean sheets, the fragility of Spurs’ defense could be exploited by their rivals, as the Magpies continue their quest for a top-four finish.
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Aston Villa vs. Leicester – Saturday, 3 p.m.
James : Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester
Sports Mole : Aston Villa 3-1 Leicester
Aston Villa will be full of confidence, remaining unbeaten at home in the league since August, and will look to pile on the woes for a Leicester side who have seen better days.
Bournemouth vs. Everton – Saturday, 3 p.m.
James : Bournemouth 2-0 Everton
Sports Mole : Bournemouth 3-0 Everton
Despite a difficult start to their previous meeting, Bournemouth managed a spectacular late victory against Everton, who have been struggling to find form and creativity since the start of the season.
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James : Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea
Sports Mole : Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea
Despite an unfavorable record against Chelsea, Crystal Palace have recently become a difficult team to beat under Glasner’s leadership. Meanwhile, Chelsea face another difficult afternoon as they struggle with their own deficiencies in attack and defence.
Manchester City vs. West Ham – Samedi, 15h
James : Manchester City 3-0 West Ham
Sports Mole : Manchester City 3-0 West Ham
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With Bowen on the flank, West Ham’s attacking threat diminishes considerably, paving the way for a resurgent Manchester City, determined to string together victories for the first time since October.
Southampton vs. Brentford – Saturday, 3 p.m.
James : Southampton 1-2 Brentford
Sports Mole : Southampton 0-0 Brentford
New coach Juric has strengthened Southampton’s defense compared to the start of the season, yet Brentford, despite somewhat poor form recently, have the potential to turn things around.
Brighton vs. Arsenal – Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
James : Brighton 2-1 Arsenal
Sports Mole : Brighton 1-3 Arsenal
Brighton’s knack to score and concede continues, but Arsenal, although undermined by defensive problems, should find the net against a struggling home defense.
Fulham vs. Ipswich – Sunday, 2 p.m.
James : Fulham 2-0 Ipswich
Sports Mole : Fulham 2-1 Ipswich
Ipswich go into this match full of confidence after a recent victory, but they face strong competition from an increasingly resilient Fulham side.
James : Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
Sports Mole : Liverpool 3-0 Manchester United
As Manchester United face a tough task at Anfield, changes to the squad could bring a glimmer of hope to fans; Nonetheless, expectations of a reinvigorated Liverpool destroying their rivals remain high.
Wolves vs. Nottingham Forest – Lundi, 20h
James : Wolves 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Sports Mole : Wolves vs. Nottingham Forest – To be confirmed
Ryan’s thoughts on his long-time support of United are valuable through the memories he shares and the anticipation of the matches to come.
The competition leaderboard shows where artists stand based on their predictions, with Kyle Starkey leading a season of surprising results.
Those interested in Ryan’s music can look forward to the release of their new album, “Out Of A Dream”, scheduled for March.
