Score Predictor tips for Matchweek 22: Newcastle to swarm Manchester City’s brittle defence

MATCHWEEK 22 features some intriguing match-ups that will test the foresight of Score Predictor users.

As usual, there's £250 up for grabs and it's completely free to play - why not get involved?

Simply enter your predictions for the five selected Premier League games and earn points for the accuracy of your forecast as the action unfolds.

If you amass the most points then you'll claim the cash prize!

Allow us to present some key stats and facts for each relevant fixture to help inform your decisions...

Manchester City v Newcastle

A fascinating encounter first up with Pep Guardiola's side having capitulated late on (not for the first time this season) against Real Madrid in midweek.

The defending champions have been guilty of far too many errors in recent weeks and they continue to give up a wealth of clearcut chances.

Alexander Isak will certainly fancy his chances of exploiting City's weaknesses, though to what extent may depend on the availability of Anthony Gordon, who is a doubt at this stage.

Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali could feasibly dominate the middle third too with Rodri's absence still a huge disadvantage for the hosts.

That being said, City pack a punch in attack and in Erling Haaland they have one of very few players in Europe to have outscored Isak in 2024/25.

Eddie Howe's side lost to Fulham in their last league outing but so did Man City, that 5-1 mauling at the hands of Arsenal.

Our Prediction: 2-2 draw

Southampton v Bournemouth

Saints beat Ipswich in their last league game but that's the full extent of the positive outlook if truth be told.

Ivan Juric's side still need three points to go past Derby's record-low tally for a Premier League campaign from 2007/08 and it seems unlikely they'll take anything off Andoni Iraola's well-drilled outfit on Saturday.

The Cherries only defeat in their last 14 games in all competitions came against Liverpool and even Arne Slot admitted his side benefited from a slice of luck that day.

Southampton have conceded the most goals in the top flight this season while Bournemouth have scored 11 goals in their last four outings.

Our Prediction: 3-0 to Bournemouth

Crystal Palace v Everton

Two bottom-half teams who have made significant strides forward of late.

Only Arsenal have taken more points from their last six league games than the Eagles while David Moyes oversaw three wins in four before Wednesday night's spirited draw against Liverpool.

Palace have tightened up at the back since the turn of the year and have consequently kept five clean sheets in their last six games.

However, Oliver Glasner's troops have had a lot more success on the road this term - only four teams have earned fewer points at home.

Dwight McNeil inspired Everton to a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture back in September but he's injured for this weekend's trip to the capital.

There's also the question of how much an emotionally-charged Merseyside derby has taken out of Moyes' men?

Our Prediction: 1-1 draw

Liverpool v Wolves

The same question could be asked of the Reds but a home game against opponents currently 17th in the table represents a relatively simple task on paper.

Wolves have registered back-to-back 2-0 wins against Aston Villa and Blackburn this month and Slot will be wary of the threat posed by Matheus Cunha but it's hard to look past the hosts on Sunday.

Liverpool are the top scorers in the league, thanks to Mohamed Salah's blistering form, while only Leicester and Southampton have conceded more goals than Wolves.

Our Prediction: 3-1 to Liverpool

Tottenham v Manchester United

On the one hand, this is a meeting of two of the world's richest clubs, both members of the Premier League's so-called 'big six'.

On the other hand, it's 14th vs 13th.

Spurs' 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in September is among the rare high points of their otherwise bitterly disappointing league campaign and Ange Postecoglou also enjoyed a 4-3 win over the Red Devils in the Carabao Cup just before Christmas.

Unfortunately, Dominic Solanke, who has scored three goals against Man United this season, isn't expected to return from injury until the end of the month.

Defeats to Liverpool and Aston Villa in the cups have all but erased memories of Spurs' impressive win at Brentford at the start of the month.

As for Ruben Amorim's side, who knows what to make of them?

Recent wins over Rangers, Fulham, FCSB and Leicester have given fans reasons to be cheerful but even the most partisan members of the Old Trafford faithful would admit there's still plenty of room for improvement.

Sunday's main event is essentially a meeting between the Premier League's two biggest underachievers at present - nightmare fuel for Score Predictor users.