The "Our season's all but over, hand me that travel brochure will you?" PL Games List for 6th - 8th January 2026
Posted: 05 Jan 2026, 03:43
Tuesday, 6 January 2026 20:00
West Ham United v Nottingham Forest
Venue: The London Stadium
League Positions: 18 v 17
Current Forms: 4 v 3
If there were prizes for being out of form, both these teams would be a shoo-in. There are "must win" games, and then there are "must win" games. But this...this is a "must win" game - in fact, the mother of all "must win" games. For both teams. Who will prevail? After our weekend omnishambles I can't see it being us. At least Forest managed a goal while shipping their 3. No home advantage because we've got no home, so a draw would be over-optimistic. Not even hope gets a look in. Sadly:
Prediction: Away Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
A. F. C. Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur
Venue: Dean Court
League Positions: 15 v 13
Current Forms: 7 v 18
Spurs are the more "in form" team in this tie, but don't let all that N17 glitz & glamour fool you. Bournemouth will be looking to get their show back on track. I'm tied between a home win and a draw, but, because Spurs are involved:
Prediction: Home Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Brentford v Sunderland
Venue: Brentford Community Stadium
League Positions: 8 v 7
Current Forms: 34 v 17
Yeah, Brentford's current form surprised me, too. Sunderland seem to have come off the boil somewhat (but not by nearly enough to join us in the league basement); not winning much, but not losing much either. Home advantage & current form should play their part, and the Bees will be buoyed after their win at Goodison Park the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Prediction: Home Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
Venue: Selhurst Park
League Positions: 14 v 3
Current Forms: 4 v 33
Home advantage is just about all The Eagles can bring into this game. Villa put 3 goals past Forest at the weekend, whilst Palace gave Newcastle 3 points. Is this the game Palace get their mojo back? Has the Villa bubble burst or is it a slow puncture initiated by a little prick (who works at The Emirates Stadium)? Tune in Wednesday night, batshit fans, where all will be revealed:
Prediction:Away Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium
League Positions: 12 v 20
Current Forms: 15 v 19
Wolves pissed all over whoever they were playing at the weekend to get their first win of the season. First. Win. Everton got Muellered at home by "lowly" Brentford (can't be any more frank than that). I'm tempted to call a draw here, but, as they say, "The league table never lies". OK, it sometimes does, but in this case:
Prediction: Home Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Fulham v Chelsea
Venue: Craven Cottage
League Positions: 11 v 5
Current Forms: 24 v 14
The War of the Roses? Pah! The 100 Years War? Bleagh! THIS is a proper war. The war of the west London wankers. OK, it might have woke overtones, but being at war seems to be trending right now, and Americans ARE involved, so make headlines while the bombs rain. The match? What....? Oh, yes. the match. Both teams drew the last time out, but Fulham lost 2 points at the death while Chelsea did the exact opposite, which I feel will be the significant issue here:
Prediction: Away Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Venue: The Etihad Stadium
League Positions: 2 v 10
Current Forms: 27 v 21
City will want need to get back to winning ways pretty sharpish if they have any thoughts of catching Arsenal. The Seagulls won't be the easiest opponents for them (We hold that title, by a country mile). I believe home advantage and the un-lying league table positions will swing it:
Prediction: Home Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 20:15
Burnley v Manchester United
Venue: Turf Moor
League Positions: 19 v 6
Current Forms: 5 v 19
Turf Moor offers Manchester United yet another corner to turn. Will they take it or are they using a Sat-Nav they bought cheap off David Sullivan' barrow and drive straight on? If, like us, they trust Rolf Harris babysitting more than anything Sullivan has touched, this will be a season where they Turn! Turn! Turn! (sorry. I mean, I'm really sorry. I'm so fucking sorry...):
Prediction: Away Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 20:15
Newcastle United v Leeds United
Venue: St James' Park
League Positions: 9 v 16
Current Forms: 32 v 19
Northern monkeys host slightly less northern monkeys. Leeds will be mightily pissed off at giving up 2 points to Man Utd. over the weekend, but, I feel, not pissed off enough to overcome the Bar Codes who's win against Palace will give them a boost:
Prediction: Home Win
Thursday, 8 January 2026 20:00
Arsenal v Liverpool
Venue: Emirates Stadium
League Positions: 1 v 4
Current Forms: 45 v 27
If Liverpool even want to consider European football next season, they simply have to take something from this game; if it were to be played over a month of Sundays I can't see them doing so and the Arsenal machine will roll on. You might start to see/hear the word "insufferable" a little more often than usual in this part of the season.
Prediction: Home Win
My Throw-more-money-away acca for these games:
Manchester United (Away @ Burnley 8/11)
Aston Villa (Away @ Crystal Palace 7/5)
Manchester City (@ Home to Brighton & Hove Albion 1/3)
Everton (@ Home to Wolverhampton Wanderers 3/4)
Total stake: £11.00
Potential returns: £51.29
West Ham United v Nottingham Forest
Venue: The London Stadium
League Positions: 18 v 17
Current Forms: 4 v 3
If there were prizes for being out of form, both these teams would be a shoo-in. There are "must win" games, and then there are "must win" games. But this...this is a "must win" game - in fact, the mother of all "must win" games. For both teams. Who will prevail? After our weekend omnishambles I can't see it being us. At least Forest managed a goal while shipping their 3. No home advantage because we've got no home, so a draw would be over-optimistic. Not even hope gets a look in. Sadly:
Prediction: Away Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
A. F. C. Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur
Venue: Dean Court
League Positions: 15 v 13
Current Forms: 7 v 18
Spurs are the more "in form" team in this tie, but don't let all that N17 glitz & glamour fool you. Bournemouth will be looking to get their show back on track. I'm tied between a home win and a draw, but, because Spurs are involved:
Prediction: Home Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Brentford v Sunderland
Venue: Brentford Community Stadium
League Positions: 8 v 7
Current Forms: 34 v 17
Yeah, Brentford's current form surprised me, too. Sunderland seem to have come off the boil somewhat (but not by nearly enough to join us in the league basement); not winning much, but not losing much either. Home advantage & current form should play their part, and the Bees will be buoyed after their win at Goodison Park the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Prediction: Home Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
Venue: Selhurst Park
League Positions: 14 v 3
Current Forms: 4 v 33
Home advantage is just about all The Eagles can bring into this game. Villa put 3 goals past Forest at the weekend, whilst Palace gave Newcastle 3 points. Is this the game Palace get their mojo back? Has the Villa bubble burst or is it a slow puncture initiated by a little prick (who works at The Emirates Stadium)? Tune in Wednesday night, batshit fans, where all will be revealed:
Prediction:Away Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium
League Positions: 12 v 20
Current Forms: 15 v 19
Wolves pissed all over whoever they were playing at the weekend to get their first win of the season. First. Win. Everton got Muellered at home by "lowly" Brentford (can't be any more frank than that). I'm tempted to call a draw here, but, as they say, "The league table never lies". OK, it sometimes does, but in this case:
Prediction: Home Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Fulham v Chelsea
Venue: Craven Cottage
League Positions: 11 v 5
Current Forms: 24 v 14
The War of the Roses? Pah! The 100 Years War? Bleagh! THIS is a proper war. The war of the west London wankers. OK, it might have woke overtones, but being at war seems to be trending right now, and Americans ARE involved, so make headlines while the bombs rain. The match? What....? Oh, yes. the match. Both teams drew the last time out, but Fulham lost 2 points at the death while Chelsea did the exact opposite, which I feel will be the significant issue here:
Prediction: Away Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 19:30
Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Venue: The Etihad Stadium
League Positions: 2 v 10
Current Forms: 27 v 21
City will want need to get back to winning ways pretty sharpish if they have any thoughts of catching Arsenal. The Seagulls won't be the easiest opponents for them (We hold that title, by a country mile). I believe home advantage and the un-lying league table positions will swing it:
Prediction: Home Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 20:15
Burnley v Manchester United
Venue: Turf Moor
League Positions: 19 v 6
Current Forms: 5 v 19
Turf Moor offers Manchester United yet another corner to turn. Will they take it or are they using a Sat-Nav they bought cheap off David Sullivan' barrow and drive straight on? If, like us, they trust Rolf Harris babysitting more than anything Sullivan has touched, this will be a season where they Turn! Turn! Turn! (sorry. I mean, I'm really sorry. I'm so fucking sorry...):
Prediction: Away Win
Wednesday, 7 January 2026 20:15
Newcastle United v Leeds United
Venue: St James' Park
League Positions: 9 v 16
Current Forms: 32 v 19
Northern monkeys host slightly less northern monkeys. Leeds will be mightily pissed off at giving up 2 points to Man Utd. over the weekend, but, I feel, not pissed off enough to overcome the Bar Codes who's win against Palace will give them a boost:
Prediction: Home Win
Thursday, 8 January 2026 20:00
Arsenal v Liverpool
Venue: Emirates Stadium
League Positions: 1 v 4
Current Forms: 45 v 27
If Liverpool even want to consider European football next season, they simply have to take something from this game; if it were to be played over a month of Sundays I can't see them doing so and the Arsenal machine will roll on. You might start to see/hear the word "insufferable" a little more often than usual in this part of the season.
Prediction: Home Win
My Throw-more-money-away acca for these games:
Manchester United (Away @ Burnley 8/11)
Aston Villa (Away @ Crystal Palace 7/5)
Manchester City (@ Home to Brighton & Hove Albion 1/3)
Everton (@ Home to Wolverhampton Wanderers 3/4)
Total stake: £11.00
Potential returns: £51.29
