Premier League upset predictions for Gameweek 35

There have been debates about the entertainment value of the Premier League all season, but the top-flight of English football remains the least predictable of Europe’s top leagues.

No Premier League team is currently on a winning run of more than three games, with only four sides on a streak of more than one unbeaten match. There is never any shortage of unexpected results.

Here are three underdog stories to keep an eye on in the Premier League this weekend.

Brentford vs West Ham United
Gtech Community Stadium, Saturday, May 2, 3pm BST

Brentford and West Ham have their sights set on different objectives at opposite ends of the Premier League table, with the former targeting European qualification and the latter scraping to stay in the division.

Keith Andrews’ team are favourites to win here and have vastly outperformed expectations this season. But Brentford are on a winless run of six games and have not won in the Premier League since beating Burnley in February.

West Ham, however, have won two of their last three games and have finally adapted to Nuno Espirito Santo’s methods. They have tightened up at the back and are increasingly dangerous in quick transition in the attack.

While West Ham have never won away at Brentford in the Premier League era, Nuno-ball could eliminate some of the Bees’ strengths with Jarrod Bowen as a potential difference-maker.

Bowen has seven assists in his last seven appearances. The England winger could expose some of the space behind the Brentford full-backs who are afforded the freedom by Andrews to get forward.

Victory for the Hammers at 12/5 would do a lot to boost their chances of avoiding relegation to the Championship and recent form suggests it could be on the cards.

Manchester United vs Liverpool
Old Trafford, Sunday, May 3, 3.30pm BST

Three points are all that separates Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League table, with both sides aiming to secure Champions League qualification for next season.

This is a match that usually guarantees drama, considering the fixture has produced 40 goals in the past 10 encounters. United and Liverpool both have the attacking quality to make Sunday’s game a memorable one.

Bruno Fernandes is possibly the most influential player in the Premier League at this moment in time, having scored or assisted in eight consecutive appearances.

Meanwhile, Arne Slot’s attack has been hit hard by injuries to Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah in recent weeks. It means the Liverpool head coach will have to get creative with his forward line for Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford.

Alexander Isak’s ability to stretch the pitch could give an under-strength Manchester United back line a problem, while Florian Wirtz is capable of exploiting space in between the lines.

Liverpool have lost five of their past seven away matches, and have won just one of their five most recent Premier League meetings at Old Trafford. United, on the other hand, have won six of their seven home matches with Carrick at the helm and are favourites to win again here.

Nonetheless, Liverpool have won their past three league games and could pose a serious threat in quick transition moments and from set pieces. Liverpool have reason to be positive about their chances of a win at 17/10.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur
Villa Park, Sunday, May 3, 7.00pm BST

The situation could hardly be any more grave for Tottenham Hotspur. While Roberto De Zerbi claimed his first win as Spurs manager away to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, Spurs remain two points from safety in the table.

Xavi Simons’ ACL injury dealt Tottenham a huge blow, considering the Dutchman’s importance as a creator in the final third, with Dominic Solanke another injury doubt for the trip to Villa Park.

Aston Villa, however, might have one eye on next week’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest, with Unai Emery’s side 1-0 down from the first game at the City Ground.

While Villa still have work ahead of them to secure their place in the top five, they have enough of a cushion (eight points) over Brighton in sixth place that Emery could be tempted to rest some of his best players.

Meanwhile, De Zerbi is clearly getting through to his new players. Spurs played with much more intensity at Molineux last week and were able to pass their way out of pressure more than once.

De Zerbi is still taking root and Spurs might have too many injuries to truly play the way their new Italian manager envisages, but Sunday could be an opportunity for a victory to supercharge Tottenham’s fight against the drop with a win at odds of 15/8.