Premier League Predictions for New Year's Day 2026

Last Updated on 31/12/2025 by Andy Clark

Premier League predictions and betting tips

There are four Premier League matches on New Year’s Day in 2026, following on from the six matches that took place on Tuesday night where Newcastle, Arsenal and Everton got wins.

Like with Tuesday, we have two kick-off times and all the matches are live on Sky Sports. This time, Crystal Palace vs Fulham and Liverpool vs Leeds kick off at 5.30pm before Sunderland vs Manchester City and Brentford vs Tottenham at 8pm.

As well as our bet builder tips for the Premier League matches, you can see a score prediction for each New Year’s Day game and the best bet for each match.

Crystal Palace vs Fulham Prediction

A month ago, this would have been an easy prediction – Crystal Palace to win. However, they have lost their last three Premier League matches, gone out of the EFL Cup and drawn in the Conference League since beating Fulham in early December, and will be desperate to get back to winning ways here. Fulham have had the opposite turn in form, winning all three Premier League matches since that defeat to Palace. It means they have moved away from trouble and are 12 points ahead of West Ham in 17th. Marco Silva’s side can look up rather than down and that in itself will put some confidence into the team. Palace will look to stop the rot tonight and we’re going for a 1-1 draw.

SCORE PREDICTION – Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham (11/2 with Coral’s sign-up offer).

Liverpool vs Leeds Prediction

Both of these sides are in good form going into the New Year’s Day fixture, and fans will be hoping they serve up another classic meeting between the sides. Leeds fought back to get a 3-3 draw at Elland Road in the reverse fixture, and they come into this unbeaten in five. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has found a rich vein of form to leave Leeds six points ahead of the relegation zone despite a tough recent run of fixtures.

Liverpool are quietly putting a run of results together despite not being at their best, and with Chelsea and Manchester United dropping points again on Tuesday night, they will look to take a stranglehold on fourth place with a victory here. Wirtz and Ekitike scored in the win over Wolves at the weekend and if those two start to link up, who knows how well Liverpool can end the season?

SCORE PREDICTION – Liverpool 2-1 Leeds (8/1 with the bet365 sign-up offer)

BEST BET – Dominic Calvert-Lewin to have over 0.5 shots on target (4/6 with BetMGM)

Sunderland vs Manchester City Prediction

Manchester City are hunting down Arsenal at the top of the Premier League but their rivals put in a fantastic performance to beat Aston Villa 4-1 on Tuesday, extending their gap at the top to five points. This will be a tricky game for City – Sunderland have already held Liverpool and Arsenal to draws this season, and beaten Chelsea and Newcastle. However, City won the reverse fixture 3-0 and Pep Guardiola’s side look like they are really in their groove at the moment. Sunderland are missing players from AFCON, and Dan Ballard is out, so we’re backing City to keep the bandwagon rolling and they can come away from the North East with their ninth straight win.

SCORE PREDICTION – Sunderland 0-2 Manchester City (13/2 with bet365)

BEST BET – Ryan Cherki to score or assist (8/11 with bet365)

Brentford vs Tottenham Prediction

Both of these sides come into this fixture off the back of good wins last time out. Brentford beat Bournemouth 4-1 to make it two straight wins, and Tottenham got a 1-0 win away at Crystal Palace to ease some pressure on Thomas Frank, who returns to his old club on New Year’s Day. These sides are separated by just a point in the table, but we’re backing Brentford to get the three points in this one to move them clear of Spurs. Igor Thiago is a doubt for the match, but Kevin Schade has been in good form and you just never know what you are going to get with this Tottenham sode.

SCORE PREDICTION – Brentford 2-1 Tottenham (9/1 with bet365)

BEST BET – Lucas Bergvall to be carded (7/2 with the SpreadEx sign-up offer)