EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 25 Recap

The Premier League title race continues to take shape, with Liverpool maintaining their grip at the top despite a nervy win over Wolves and a draw against Villa during the midweek. Arsenal remain in pursuit after grinding out another victory, while Nottingham Forest’s top-four ambitions took a hit with a loss to Fulham. Manchester City’s dominant performance against Newcastle put them back in the Champions League spots and with no Champions League football the rest of the way the league is now their sole focus, while Bournemouth’s dream season keeps rolling on as they sit fifth.

Further down the table, Chelsea’s top-four hopes suffered a damaging blow after a humbling defeat to Brighton, who have rediscovered their form at just the right time. Manchester United’s woes deepened with yet another loss, dropping them to a shocking 15th place as their season continues to spiral. At the bottom, Southampton are looking doomed, while Ipswich and Leicester remain locked in a tense relegation battle. Everton, however, have started to turn things around under David Moyes, pulling further away from the drop zone.

With the table tightening across all key battles, Matchweek 26 brings massive fixtures. Manchester City host Liverpool in a showdown that could redefine the title race, Arsenal face a tricky test against West Ham, and Newcastle take on Nottingham Forest in a crucial European battle. Chelsea will look to bounce back against Villa, while Manchester United head to Everton desperately needing a response.

Before we dive into the Matchweek 26 preview, let’s break down all the key action from Matchweek 25.

Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Chelsea

Brighton completed a league and cup double over Chelsea in emphatic style, running out 3-0 winners in a game they controlled from start to finish. Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring with a moment of individual brilliance, bringing down a long pass from Verbruggen before slotting past Jorgensen. Yankuba Minteh then took over, scoring twice—first with a close-range finish after Danny Welbeck’s flick, then with a well-placed strike at the near post. Chelsea were lifeless throughout, failing to register a single shot on target. Enzo Fernandez saw a goal ruled out for a foul, while Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku struggled to make any impact. The Blues’ top-four hopes took a massive hit with this result while Brighton bounced back from their 7-0 thrashing against Nottingham Forest.

Leicester City 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal left it late but got the job done against a defensively compact Leicester side. Mikel Merino came off the bench to score twice in the final 10 minutes, first converting a pinpoint cross from 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri before sealing the result from a Leandro Trossard assist. Leicester put up a solid defensive effort but offered next to nothing going forward, creating just one clear-cut chance all game. The Foxes remain deep in relegation trouble, while Arsenal keep pace in the title race.

Aston Villa 1-1 Ipswich Town

Ipswich battled to an impressive away draw despite playing over an hour with 10 men. Villa were in complete control for most of the game, registering 25 shots and an xG of 2.42, but their finishing let them down. Axel Tuanzebe’s early red card put Ipswich on the back foot, but they stunned the home crowd by taking the lead through Liam Delap. Villa eventually found an equalizer when Marcus Rashford’s free-kick struck the bar, allowing Ollie Watkins to tap in the rebound. Ipswich keeper Alex Palmer produced a string of outstanding saves late on to secure a valuable point and was rightfully the man of the match.

Fulham 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest’s top-four push took a hit as they fell to Fulham at Craven Cottage. Emile Smith Rowe put the hosts ahead with a well-placed header, but Forest responded before halftime through Chris Wood, who latched onto a lofted pass from Morgan Gibbs-White. Fulham controlled the second half and retook the lead when Calvin Bassey powered in a header from a corner. Forest struggled to create chances and will see this as a missed opportunity to strengthen their Champions League bid in what has been an otherwise remarkable season.

Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle United

Manchester City reminded everyone why they’re still a force to be reckoned with, dismantling Newcastle 4-0 at the Etihad. Omar Marmoush stole the show with a first-half hat-trick, starting with a delicate chip over Dubravka before adding two more—one via a deflected effort and another from a Savinho cross. James McAtee wrapped things up late on as City cruised to victory. Newcastle were completely outplayed, with Kieran Trippier subbed at halftime after a torrid 45 minutes. The Magpies’ inconsistency continues to hurt their European push after finding some form last month.

Southampton 1-3 AFC Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s European charge keeps gathering pace after another convincing win, this time against relegation battling side Southampton. Dango Ouattara got things rolling with a header before Ryan Christie doubled the lead with a clinical finish. Southampton showed some life in the second half as Kamaldeen Sulemana pulled one back, but Marcus Tavernier’s late strike killed off any hopes of a comeback. The Saints remain rock bottom and look destined for the drop while Bournemouth are in fine form heading into the weekend.

West Ham United 0-1 Brentford

Brentford left the London Stadium with all three points, thanks to an early goal from Kevin Schade. The Bees had two goals disallowed for offside but controlled the game well. West Ham improved in the second half, but Mohammed Kudus missed a golden chance to equalize. The Hammers have won just once since Graham Potter’s arrival and remain stuck in mid-table despite showing some improvement in gameplay.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton

Everton’s resurgence under David Moyes continued with a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace. Beto opened the scoring after a defensive error, but Palace hit back through Jean-Philippe Mateta early in the second half. The match-winner came from Carlos Alcaraz, who capitalized on a loose ball in the box to fire Everton to another crucial victory. Palace had their chances but couldn’t make them count, while Everton’s defensive resilience proved the difference.

Liverpool 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Liverpool kept their lead at the top intact, but they had to grind out a result against Wolves. Luis Diaz bundled in the opener before winning a penalty, which Mohamed Salah calmly converted. Wolves fought back in the second half and gave Liverpool a scare when Matheus Cunha scored a stunning long-range strike. The Reds failed to register a single shot after the break but held on for another important three points. These gritty, hard-fought wins could prove to be the difference in the title race, given the inconsistency of their closest challengers.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester United

Spurs edged Manchester United in a tight contest, with James Maddison’s first-half goal proving decisive. The hosts had to weather an early storm, as United created several chances through Alejandro Garnacho and Diogo Dalot, but their finishing let them down. Tottenham defended well in the second half and saw out their first home win since November. United, meanwhile, slumped to 15th in the table—another brutal blow in what has been a miserable campaign even with Ruben Amorim at the helm, a coach known for pulling clubs out of chaos.

EPL 2024-25: Matchweek 26 Preview

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Leicester City vs. Brentford – 3:00 PM

Leicester’s desperate battle against relegation continues as they host a Brentford side that’s been difficult to break down. The Foxes have shown flashes of resilience but remain winless in their last five. With just one goal in their last four matches, Leicester’s attacking woes remain a major concern. Brentford, meanwhile, secured an important win over West Ham last time out, thanks to Kevin Schade’s early goal. Their defensive discipline has kept them competitive, and against a Leicester side lacking confidence, they’ll fancy their chances of extending their unbeaten run.

Prediction: Leicester City 1-2 Brentford

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2025

Everton vs. Manchester United – 7:30 AM

Everton’s revival under David Moyes has given them real hope of climbing the table, while Manchester United are in full crisis mode. The Toffees followed up their gritty win over Palace with another solid performance, and with Beto and Alcaraz stepping up in key moments, they’ll be confident of getting another result at Goodison Park. United, on the other hand, continue to sink further into turmoil. A narrow defeat at Spurs saw them fall to 15th in the table, and their attacking woes are only getting worse. With Everton’s home form improving and United struggling to create meaningful chances, this one could spell more trouble for the Red Devils.

Prediction: Everton 2-2 Manchester United

AFC Bournemouth vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers – 10:00 AM

Bournemouth continue to push toward the European spots and are coming off another impressive win against Southampton. The Cherries have been one of the season’s biggest surprises, with Dango Ouattara and Ryan Christie proving instrumental in their recent success. Wolves, meanwhile, are still hovering around the relegation fight and were unable to get anything from their trip to Anfield. They’ve struggled on the road and will need a much-improved defensive effort to slow down Bournemouth’s dangerous attacking unit.

Prediction: AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Wolves

Arsenal vs. West Ham United – 10:00 AM

Arsenal remain locked in the title race and will be looking to extend their unbeaten run against a West Ham side that continues to lack consistency. The Gunners left it late against Leicester last week, but Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri once again stepped up in key moments. West Ham, meanwhile, have struggled to find their rhythm under Graham Potter. Their narrow defeat to Brentford only highlighted their attacking inefficiency, and unless Lucas Paquetá and Mohammed Kudus can provide a spark, they could be in for another long afternoon.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 West Ham United

Fulham vs. Crystal Palace – 10:00 AM

Both sides enter this London derby looking to build on recent results. Fulham’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest boosted their confidence, and Emile Smith Rowe continues to be a key playmaker for Marco Silva’s side. Crystal Palace suffered a setback against Everton but remain difficult to break down defensively. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s form has been a bright spot, and if Palace can frustrate Fulham early, they’ll have a chance to take something from this match.

Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Crystal Palace

Ipswich Town vs. Tottenham Hotspur – 10:00 AM

Ipswich put in a resilient display against Aston Villa despite being down to 10 men, and their fight for Premier League survival remains very much alive. They’ll need another inspired performance as they take on a Tottenham side that’s still struggling for consistency. Spurs edged Manchester United 1-0 last time out, with James Maddison providing the crucial goal. However, their inability to put games away remains a concern, and against a well-organized Ipswich side in which they have lost to previously, they’ll need to be more clinical in front of goal.

Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Southampton vs. Brighton & Hove Albion – 10:00 AM

Southampton remain bottom of the table and need a miracle to turn things around. Their 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth was another reminder of their defensive frailties, and with Brighton coming off a huge 3-0 win over Chelsea, this could be another tough outing for the Saints. Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma were unstoppable against Chelsea, and if they replicate that performance, Southampton’s defense will be in serious trouble.

Prediction: Southampton 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Aston Villa vs. Chelsea – 12:30 PM

Chelsea were humiliated by Brighton last week and now face another tough away trip to Villa Park. Their top-four hopes took a massive blow, and the pressure is mounting on Enzo Maresca to find a response. Aston Villa were left frustrated after a dominant yet wasteful 1-1 draw with Ipswich. With Ollie Watkins and Marcus Rashford leading the attack, Villa will look to exploit Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities and extend the Blues’ misery.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2025

Newcastle United vs. Nottingham Forest – 9:00 AM

Both sides are fighting for European places, but recent form hasn’t been encouraging. Newcastle were dismantled by Manchester City and need a response, while Nottingham Forest’s loss to Fulham was a big setback in their push for the top four. Forest have struggled away from home, and Newcastle will be eager to bounce back in front of their home fans. This could be a closely contested affair, with both teams needing a result.

Prediction: Newcastle United 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Manchester City vs. Liverpool – 11:30 AM

The biggest game of the weekend. First vs. third. Title race implications. Liverpool’s lead at the top remains firm, but Manchester City made a statement last weekend with a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle and are now eliminated from the Champions League with their only hope being the league this season. Omar Marmoush was electric, bagging a first-half hat-trick, and Pep Guardiola’s side look ready for a serious push in the final stretch of the season. Liverpool, however, keep finding ways to win. Their 2-1 victory over Wolves wasn’t their best performance, but Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz made the difference. Liverpool may not be at their free-flowing best, but their resilience in grinding out results has been pivotal. A win for City could reignite their title challenge, while a Liverpool victory would put them firmly in the driver’s seat. I expect a tense, high-quality battle between the league’s two biggest forces.

Prediction: Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool