English Premier League Predictions - 22 August, Matchday 1

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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Everton and Crystal Palace to battle out a low-scoring clash.
Ipswich to put Sunderland’s goal under pressure.
Goals to flow between Forest and Leeds.
Brentford and Spurs to score four goals or more.

Igor Thiago of Brentford scores his team’s sixth goal against Eintracht Frankfurt (Getty Images).

English Premier League Predictions - 22 August 2026, Matchday 1

English Premier League Predictions - 22 August 2026, Matchday 1
Everton vs Crystal Palace
Ipswich vs Sunderland
Notts Forest vs Leeds
Brentford vs Spurs

Everton vs Crystal Palace

Both sides have experienced a bit of a roller-coaster through pre-season, much like their 2025/26 Premier League campaigns. Both have lost two of their last five matches, but Palace have been goalless twice, scoring five goals in five while Everton have netted seven times.

Hard to tell who has the better chance of a win, although Everton at home are likely to pick up a point if they don’t snatch the win. Both averaged a fraction over a goal a game, which they have matched so far this season, so I’m backing a match with two goals or less.

Ipswich vs Sunderland

After going down 2-0 away to Oxford in a pre-season friendly Ipswich have found a nice groove, winning their last four games with two clean sheets and a goal aggregate of 10-3. Their last two games have been won by a total of seven goals to two, so they are looking prolific, with striker Emersonn scoring in their last two wins, so I’m backing him to find the net.

Sunderland finished seventh last season but struggled to put goals or wins away and in their last three games have two wins and one defeat, with an aggregate score of 5-5. I can’t see them winning, so I’d back an Ipswich win or a draw, but either is a tough call as Sunderland are no pushovers.

Notts Forest vs Leeds

Forest suffered three pre-season defeats on the bounce while scoring just one goal, but they won their last two 2-1 (Bayer Leverkusen) and 2-0 (Brest). One of their defeats was a tight 1-0 away loss to Barcelona.

Leeds have won four of the last five pre-season matches, losing only away to Man United on penalties after ending 1-1 at full time. They also beat Liverpool 4-2 and Sunderland 1-0 away, so they are playing and travelling well. In their last five matches they have scored 12 goals to three, so they should start the season hot.

Brentford vs Spurs

Brentford had a good season, ending in ninth spot. They have had a gentle but successful pre-season beating Rennes 4-2 away and Eintracht Frankfurt 7-0 at home, so they should come out the gates flying.

Spurs are undefeated in five matches as they look for an improvement on last season’s near relegation. They have picked up three wins and two draws scoring in all five matches and conceding just five goals while netting nine. This looks like a game with a fair number of goals coming.

Verdict

English Premier League

Goals to be in short supply between Everton and Crystal Palace but to rain in between Notts Forest and Leeds. Emersonn so score for Ipswich against Sunderland, with both teams to score. Brentford and Spurs to score plenty of goals.

Everton Goals

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Emersonn Goal

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