Dave & Em give their premier league predictions for Matchweek 20 plus plenty of wolves chat
New year, fresh predictions, and the usual Wolves worries. Dave and Emma kicked off 2026 with Premier League Matchweek 20 picks, plus a proper Wolves chat about form, the January window.
They also shared a little New Year’s tradition that, if it works, might be the most important “signing” Wolves make all season. Let’s hope 2026 is a damn sight better for Wolves fans.
Happy New Year, and the grape superstition Wolves fans can get behind
Always Wolves opened with New Year wishes to viewers around the world, and the mood was clear: 2026 needs to be kinder to Wolves than 2025.
Dave even went all in on a superstition, despite not liking grapes. At a house party (with a theme, photos promised on his socials), everyone got handed 12 grapes. It’s based on a Spanish tradition, and the idea is simple: you eat grapes on the midnight chimes for good luck across the year.
- You eat 12 grapes on the chimes at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
- It’s meant to be done under a table (they did not do that part).
- The grapes are tied to luck across the months ahead.
Dave’s verdict: he doesn’t like grapes, but he ate them anyway “for the sake of Wolves”. Emma joked that if it had been tomatoes, she’d never have managed it..
For anyone wanting the party photos, Dave pointed viewers towards his Instagram, Dazzling Dave on Instagram.
Match Bingo: football meets bingo (with a £250 pot for Wolves v West Ham)
The video was sponsored by Match Bingo, which is exactly what it sounds like: match events become your bingo card, and you tick things off as you watch. It’s built for the days when you want some extra interest in a game, especially if you’re watching from the sofa rather than going to the ground.
Key points they shared:
- There’s usually around a £250 prize pot.
- Cards are £2 per entry, and if you buy four cards you get one free.
- There’s a 100 percent bonus on top of your deposit (minimum £10).
- It’s for 18+ UK residents.
- Use the sign-up code always for the extra bonus.
If you want to try it, they linked it here: Match Bingo app via Always Wolves.
They also summed up the appeal in a very Wolves way: even if the result hurts, you might still win something. That’s not a bad backup plan.
Prediction league update: Emma smashes Week 18
They recorded this while Matchweek 19 was still in progress, so the “winner” chat focused on the previous completed round, Week 18.
Dave said he’d been well ahead overall, and the running total was 113 to 99 in his favour. Then Emma “pulled a finger out” and absolutely turned him over.
The Week 18 score:
- Emma: 11 points
- Dave: 2 points
Dave called it his worst week, with only two outcomes correct. Emma even landed three spot-on scorelines (including Nottingham Forest winning, Sunderland 1 to Leeds 1, and Aston Villa beating Chelsea).
Dave’s reaction was pure superstition logic: if Emma battering him means Wolves improve, he’ll take it, but preferably by one point at a time next time.
Premier League Matchweek 20 predictions
Here are every Matchweek 20 prediction they shared in the episode, with both names listed for each fixture.
Early kick-off: Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
They both landed on the same score, Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest.
Emma’s reasoning was simple: Villa are going well, they’re at home, and that usually counts for plenty. She framed it as the “Christmas time” factor too, even though Dave pointed out the reality, it’s past Christmas now and everyone’s heading back to work.
Still, no split here, they both see Villa edging it.
Saturday 3pm: Brighton vs Burnley
This one felt fairly straightforward to them, with Burnley described as struggling badly.
- Emma: Brighton 2-0 Burnley
- Dave: Brighton 3-0 Burnley
Emma called it a tough ask for Burnley away from home, and even compared their outlook to Wolves, with relegation fears hanging around.
Saturday 3pm: Wolves vs West Ham (and why the mood at Molineux matters)
This was the Wolves talking point of the week.
They felt the performance at Manchester United was “much improved”, and Dave also liked what he saw in the second half against Liverpool. One thing they both highlighted was the crowd response, with fans getting behind the team and little sign of the online toxicity spilling over into the ground.
Emma made a point that will sound familiar to anyone who’s sat through a nervous home match: Molineux can feel tense when results are poor. Their hope is that the improved showing at Old Trafford helps everyone settle, so it’s more backing and less anxiety.
- Emma: Wolves 1-0 West Ham
She also suggested a Wolves win could put pressure on West Ham’s boss, Nuno.
Dave did not give a score in this video, and said his prediction would be in the match preview.
Saturday 3pm: Bournemouth vs Arsenal
Emma backed a tight away win, even with a nod to Bournemouth’s ability to surprise.
- Emma: Bournemouth 0-1 Arsenal
- Dave: Bournemouth 1-3 Arsenal
Dave mentioned Arsenal beating Villa 4-1, and expects Arsenal to have too much, but he’s giving Bournemouth a goal in response.
Leeds vs Manchester United
This is the one where Emma nearly changed her mind mid-sentence, because it feels like the sort of match that gets nasty in the best way.
- Emma: Leeds 1-2 Manchester United
- Dave: Leeds 2-2 Manchester United
Dave expects Leeds to be right up for it at Elland Road, and Emma agreed it’ll be feisty, but still stuck with United edging it.
Everton vs Brentford
Emma backed Everton at home, and mentioned the new stadium suiting them.
- Emma: Everton 1-0 Brentford
- Dave: Everton 2-1 Brentford
Fulham vs Liverpool
They both went the same way here, even though Fulham’s form got respect.
- Dave: Fulham 1-2 Liverpool
- Emma: Fulham 1-2 Liverpool
Fulham were said to be on a three-game winning run, but neither could see them beating Liverpool.
Newcastle vs Crystal Palace
Another full agreement:
- Dave: Newcastle 2-1 Crystal Palace
- Emma: Newcastle 2-1 Crystal Palace
Tottenham vs Sunderland
This one split them, and Sunderland got a lot of praise.
Emma said she keeps underestimating Sunderland, waiting for the bubble to burst, but it never does. She compared them to Wolves when they first came into the Premier League, riding momentum, belief, and confidence (with a quick “Ted Lasso belief” shout).
- Emma: Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland
- Dave: Tottenham 2-1 Sunderland
Dave admitted Spurs have been poor at home, but still expects them to edge it.
Manchester City vs Chelsea
Chelsea’s manager had been sacked, and they asked Chelsea fans to share thoughts on that. On the pitch, they both stuck with City at home.
- Dave: Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea
- Emma: Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea
Q&A and Wolves transfer talk: leadership, sales, and January reality
The second half of the chat turned into a mini Q&A, with a few topics Wolves fans always circle back to in January.
Would Conor Coady coming back as a player-coach work?
Dave asked how they’d feel about Conor Coady returning in a player-coach role.
Emma liked the idea, saying it could suit him well if coaching is his route, though she noted he’s been doing punditry and has his own coaching academy for kids.
She also said that Wolves already have leadership voices, and she pointed to “Doc” as someone doing plenty of that dressing room work.
January window approach: character, fight, and difficult choices
Dave asked how Wolves should approach the January transfer window.
Emma said it’s difficult, and she feels relegation is likely, but she still wants an active window. Her focus was less about flashy names and more about leadership, personality, and character, players who want the fight.
She also made a blunt point about sales: if players want to go, selling in January can bring a better price than waiting for summer, even if it weakens the squad in the short term.
They also talked about the no-win nature of January:
- If Wolves plan for the Championship, fans will say they’ve not done enough.
- If Wolves spend big, people ask what the point is.
They expect loans could be part of the answer, and they also noted Wolves are in a stronger financial place in terms of PSR, especially if relegation happens.
Who would they sell, and what about Strand Larsen’s value?
Another message asked Emma which players she’d sell and what she’d do with the money.
Emma suggested that one of Gomes or André might be sold, depending on offers. Dave pushed back hard on the idea of selling Gomes, and shared a story about meeting Gomes’ family on the way back from Manchester. They were in Burger King, they were “lovely”, and Dave and Emma even sang the player’s song to them.
They also talked about how Wolves looked when Gomes was suspended, saying the side got run through, and that Gomes covers ground and seems more aware. Emma also said Wolves still need a creative midfielder, and the midfield is light anyway, with injuries (they mentioned Bellegarde and “Munetsi” being out).
Emma also said she’d sell Strand Larsen if a decent offer came in. They discussed reported interest from West Ham and Nottingham Forest, plus talk of West Ham wanting a swap involving Max Kilman, which they did not like.
On price, they floated a range around £35 million to £40 million, and Emma said Strand Larsen might need a fresh start, carrying too much weight.
The “young man” who’s lifted the place
They finished the Wolves chat by praising Matheus Mane who’s brought energy and positivity to the team. Emma called him a bright spark, saying he’s lifted the whole side.
They liked his fearlessness and the fact he shoots, even if a few efforts could have been passes. The wider point was clear: Wolves have begged players to “just shoot”, and he’s doing it.
They also said Wolves should prioritise an improved contract, because clubs were already interested last summer. They don’t want to repeat mistakes from the past, where a talent comes through, then leaves, and everyone watches them shine elsewhere. They even mentioned a new chant for him, as a sign the fanbase has taken to him quickly.
Conclusion
Matchweek 20 has plenty of spicy fixtures, and Dave and Emma agreed more than you might expect, including identical calls for Villa, Fulham, Newcastle, and Man City. The big talking point for Wolves is still the same: turn improved performances into points, and make Molineux feel like a lift, not a weight.