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 -

---

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

[Massive Attack]

I call it LiVARpool for good reason.

[Manuel]

In the Forest v Liverpool game where Macallister scores the winner, I actually think that should have been disallowed with Ekitike in a clearly offside position and iin my opinion interfering with play as the nearest Defenders to him would have taken that in to account. Obviously delighted as it does us a favour but if I'm honest I don't like to see those goals scored in that way and feel for the Defenders who have done what should be asked of them in that situation. They've really made a hash of the offside rule in the modern era.

It's just random now, same with handball. All you can do cross your fingers and hope it goes your way. No-one has a clue what's going on anymore.

Yep, in a way I have sympathy for Officials because it's been over confused unnecessarily and leaves it more open to interpretation rather than is the cheating Sammy Lee wannabe offside or not. Looks like Ekitike is even touching Aina as the Scouse player plays the ball in, then as the balls in the air he runs across other players to get in the mix of it all just as Macallister scores. Not interfering with play, my arse.

Would need another look, but when I was watching it live I thought it was also going to be chalked off, but as said a cynical view would be they weren't going to disallow Liverpool another one.

[Mad Ferret]

There's simply no way they were gonna disallow 2 stoppage time Liverpool goals.

[Massive Attack]

In the Forest v Liverpool game where Macallister scores the winner, I actually think that should have been disallowed with Ekitike in a clearly offside position and iin my opinion interfering with play as the nearest Defenders to him would have taken that in to account. Obviously delighted as it does us a favour but if I'm honest I don't like to see those goals scored in that way and feel for the Defenders who have done what should be asked of them in that situation. They've really made a hash of the offside rule in the modern era.

It's just random now, same with handball. All you can do cross your fingers and hope it goes your way. No-one has a clue what's going on anymore.

Yep, in a way I have sympathy for Officials because it's been over confused unnecessarily and leaves it more open to interpretation rather than is the cheating Sammy Lee wannabe offside or not. Looks like Ekitike is even touching Aina as the Scouse player plays the ball in, then as the balls in the air he runs across other players to get in the mix of it all just as Macallister scores. Not interfering with play, my arse.

[Manuel]

In the Forest v Liverpool game where Macallister scores the winner, I actually think that should have been disallowed with Ekitike in a clearly offside position and iin my opinion interfering with play as the nearest Defenders to him would have taken that in to account. Obviously delighted as it does us a favour but if I'm honest I don't like to see those goals scored in that way and feel for the Defenders who have done what should be asked of them in that situation. They've really made a hash of the offside rule in the modern era.

It's just random now, same with handball. All you can do cross your fingers and hope it goes your way. No-one has a clue what's going on anymore.

[Mad Ferret]

Decent weekend overall for us. We managed to close the gap once again.

[Dick Shaftsbury]

The new manager bounced them all the way out of N17 

They're the only team where the new manager bounce happens to the opposition. 

[Massive Attack]

In the Forest v Liverpool game where Macallister scores the winner, I actually think that should have been disallowed with Ekitike in a clearly offside position and iin my opinion interfering with play as the nearest Defenders to him would have taken that in to account. Obviously delighted as it does us a favour but if I'm honest I don't like to see those goals scored in that way and feel for the Defenders who have done what should be asked of them in that situation. They've really made a hash of the offside rule in the modern era.

[onsideman]

Can’t see Sp*rs losing this one.

New bait needed. It's proper stale now

[Fauxstralian]

Tottenham are in a downward spiral 
Lots of players unavailable & look short all over the pitch with no confidence 
Their next 3 are Fulham away Palace at home & Liverpool away
If they don’t beat Palace their arse will fall out

[Takashi Miike]

[ragingbull]

The new manager bounced them all the way out of N17 

[Takashi Miike]

Agent Tudor delivering the goods

[goose]

Can’t see Sp*rs losing this one.

They looking the real deal again?

[Up The Iron]

Can’t see Sp*rs losing this one.

You must have your eyes shut!

[Mad Ferret]

Can’t see Sp*rs losing this one.

[Massive Attack]

Toenail biting finish that.

[goose]

Or not.
onside by a toenail.

[goose]

This one will be ruled out as well FFS

[Mike Oxsaw]

VAR hates us even when we're not involved in the game.

[goose]

Hahaha what a shit goal.

Oh FFS  
no fucking luck.

[Mad Ferret]

You just know Wolves are gonna end the season with 1 league win….against us of course.

Assuming they don’t turn us over the LS as well.

[twoleftfeet]

Forest destroying Liverpool but can’t score, thankfully. 

[twoleftfeet]

Terrible penalty

[Mad Ferret]

Wolves, Liverpool, Arsenal