The League Must Take Its Course: PL Games for 21st - 23rd February 2026

[Mike Oxsaw]

Premier League
Saturday, 21 February 2026 12:30
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Venue: The Etihad Stadium
League Positions: 2 v 10
Current Forms: 43 v 26

This should could be a corker to start the weekend. Equally it could be as dull as ditchwater. The Barcodes will be buzzin' after their emphatic 6-1 away win in the Champions League this week but City have both home and current form advantage, the combination of which will show through.

Prediction: Home Win

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Premier League
Saturday, 21 February 2026 15:00
Aston Villa v Leeds United
Venue: Villa Park
League Positions: 3 v 15
Current Forms: 18 v 21

Both teams seem to have "eased back on the gas" of late, which I find quite strange as neither Villa have secured a European spot or Leeds PL safety, although I strongly suspect both will eventually happen. As for this game though, I think all the ducks are eyeing the Midlands.

Prediction: Home Win

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Premier League
Saturday, 21 February 2026 15:00
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Venue: Brentford Community Stadium
League Positions: 7 v 14
Current Forms: 34 v 17

If Binary did football.. The league position and current form are both twice as good as their current opponents. Number conspiracy theorists, get your crayons out now! This all points to a Brentford victory, which may actually benefit us by upping their belief in achieving Europe via a league placing. That being said, they're by far among a madding crowd for one of those coveted (and financially lucrative) spots, so will be keeping all their options open. 

Prediction: Home Win

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Premier League
Saturday, 21 February 2026 15:00
Chelsea v Burnley
Venue: Stamford Bridge
League Positions: 5 v 19
Current Forms: 31 v 6

Got to feel for Scotty, if only for his West Ham connection. Yet another game Burnley would, I assume, rather not face. They probably can't wait for season's end when they can begin a rebuild for life in the Championship.

Leeds did manage to salvage a draw at Stamford Bridge a couple of weeks ago, but I can't see any points leaving west London after this game.

Prediction: Home Win

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Premier League
Saturday, 21 February 2026 15:00
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
Venue: City Ground
League Positions: 17 v 6
Current Forms: 24 v 37

Liverpool.

Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool.

What do we make of them? Stuttering (by their standards) but still in with a good shout for a European spot. Will they stutter or soar in this tie? We need them - of course - to soar, soar and score, then soar and score more.

Forest will be battling in front of their home fans in an attempt to stave off relegation. I'm leaning towards a draw based on that fact alone, but my head just gave my heart a kick in the bollocks.

Prediction: Away Win

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Premier League
Saturday, 21 February 2026 17:30
West Ham United v A. F. C. Bournemouth
Venue: The London Stadium
League Positions: 18 v 9
Current Forms: 31 v 12

Will the real West Ham please stand up, please stand up, please stand up.
Will the real West Ham  please stand up.
Now, don't go all shady and don't go all cagey,
Just please stand up. Until the fat lady sings.

If ever...let's face it, they're all "If ever" games from this point on, given the predicament we've been actively directed into. But can we win? Yes! Will we win? Give me a moment...

---"Our survey said 'Yes!'" I'd actually go along with that thought as our form has picked up somewhat (although if we're comfortably 2-0 up at half time I reserve the right to change my mind). Still:

Prediction: Home Win

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Premier League
Sunday, 22 February 2026 14:00
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Venue: Selhurst Park
League Positions: 13 v 20
Current Forms: 16 v 18

Palace will be licking their lips at this match. What better opponents (at home) than the leagues whipping boys to help banish those potential relegation blues? A draw away in Europe won't have done their confidence much harm, either. Comfortable:

Prediction: Home Win

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Premier League
Sunday, 22 February 2026 14:00
Sunderland v Fulham
Venue: Stadium of Light
League Positions: 11 v 12
Current Forms: 21 v 29

A game between 2 fairly evenly matched mid-table sides, both occupying slots, I suspect, being very close to where they'll finish at season's end. Being at home should be just enough of an advantage:

Prediction: Home Win

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Premier League
Sunday, 22 February 2026 16:30
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
League Positions: 16 v 1
Current Forms: 10 v 24

Another one of them "If both teams could lose..." games.  A Spurs loss is what we want/need though, and an emphatic one at that.

Arsenal will be fired up for this, especially after having been knee-capped by Wolves on Wednesday evening. Bottle-jobs or brilliant? Is it the time of the turning of the tide?

History says"....maybe", which is no fucking help. Home win? Draw, maybe? My heart extracts revenge on my head from earlier and gives it a swift waz in the slatts:

Prediction: Away Win

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Premier League
Monday, 23 February 2026 20:00
Everton v Manchester United
Venue: The Hill Dickinson Stadium
League Positions: 8 v 4
Current Forms: 20 v 22

Is this the game where Carrick's cat finally ceases to be? Expires? Goes to m...you all know the rest. Hard to call. Moyes (name looks familiar?) seems to have got Everton well drilled and efficient and occasionally effective. Man U are playing with a passion, but their current form almost matches that of their hosts. I suspect a typical Monday evening stylee game. I won't be watching.

Prediction:Draw

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The no-longer-being-detained-for-questioning fixture list:

Manchester City v Newcastle United -
Aston Villa v Leeds United -
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion -
Chelsea v Burnley -
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool -
West Ham United v A. F. C. Bournemouth -
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers -
Sunderland v Fulham -
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal -
Everton v Manchester United -

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The "Does he never learn?" acca:

Aston Villa (@ Home to Leeds United 17/20)
Chelsea (@ Home to Burnley 1/5)
Liverpool (Away @ Nottingham Forest 3/4)
Arsenal (Away @ Tottenham Hotspur 4/7)

Total stake: £11.00
Potential returns: £36.97

[Alfs]

Manchester City v Newcastle United: Home
Aston Villa v Leeds United: Home
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion: Home
Chelsea v Burnley: Home
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool: Away
West Ham United v A. F. C. Bournemouth: Home
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Draw
Sunderland v Fulham: Draw
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal: Away
Everton v Manchester United: Away

[honky cat]

The north London derby is like Bad Aids v Ebola. As much as it pains me, I would quite like the chaos caused by spurs and man city winning. Arsenal fans are fucking unbearable now. 

[honky cat]

Manchester City v Newcastle United - home
Aston Villa v Leeds United - home
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion - home
Chelsea v Burnley - home
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool - away
West Ham United v A. F. C. Bournemouth - home
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers - away
Sunderland v Fulham - draw
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - draw
Everton v Manchester United - away 

[Westham67]

Manchester City v Newcastle United: Home
Aston Villa v Leeds United: Home
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion: Home
Chelsea v Burnley: Home
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool: Away
West Ham United v A. F. C. Bournemouth: Home
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Away
Sunderland v Fulham: Home
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal: Away
Everton v Manchester United: Draw

[Mad Ferret]

Manchester City v Newcastle United: Home
Aston Villa v Leeds United: Home
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion: Draw
Chelsea v Burnley: Home
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool: Draw
West Ham United v A. F. C. Bournemouth: Home
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Away
Sunderland v Fulham: Home
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal: Home
Everton v Manchester United: Away

[Manuel]

Tough to call what is going to happen as all games can go either way, we could beat Bournemouth and the others all lose but could easily be us the only losers it's a very unpredictable league 

Yep that's why I won't predict as it's simply guessing, so what's the point. All three results are equally viable, so all we can do is hope we turn up and have that bit of luck that you always need. The big concern for me is it only takes one bad swing in results and it will look all over for us.

[Massive Attack]

The onus is on us to make the most of this game by winning it with the other 2 Clubs above us playing the next day. We win it then it will take the race to a whole new level that both Spurs and Forest will find very uncomfortable. In a way because we have been in this position for so long, we've almost become used to it, so won't be feeling the pressure as much as they would. Just as long as we get the job done and win it. 

2-1 with a very nervy finish but reckon we can hold out. 

And if Liverpool have their shooting boots on Sunday we may even find ourselves out of the bottom 3 before the north London wankfest kicks off.

Give it everything boys.

[fraser]

Tough to call what is going to happen as all games can go either way, we could beat Bournemouth and the others all lose but could easily be us the only losers it's a very unpredictable league and as Manuel says unfortunately it's hardest for us playing catch up. 

[Manuel]

Good effort that, Ox, mixed with some good humour. The 'early' game has been moved to a late KO though (due to Newcastle travelling back from their far-flung European destination midweek) which is a bit of a kick in the bollocks for those that like their football and are in a certain time-zone.

As for our game, I'm trying to be optimistic but the Cherries are a decent outfit and in good form, so fear we might come up short, but sincerely hope not. I also fear Forest might get something against the scousers. Playing catch-up is tough.