The hottest team in English football is featured in these mid-week Premier League predictions.
The pregame narrative: Manchester United is flying under interim bench boss Michael Carrick and is favoured on the road at West Ham. I'm backing the Red Devils to win a fifth-straight game and also expect Nottingham Forest to pick up three points at home.
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EPL Matchday 26 predictions
Best bet: Manchester United to win (-132)
If you're a terminally online footy fan, you have definitely heard of Frank Ilett.
And if you haven't, he's a Manchester United supporter who shaved his head 15 months ago, vowing not to get a haircut untill the Red Devils won five games in a row.
490 days ago this fan said he wouldn't cut his hair until Manchester United wins five games in a row
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) February 7, 2026
The team will go for its fifth straight win on Tuesday as a comfortable favorite over West Ham
(via @theunitedstrand) pic.twitter.com/TNC3Gbt8wb
I think Illet can get the clippers ready thanks to what Carrick is doing.
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United triumphed in the Manchester Derby in Carrick's first game as interim manager, picking up subsequent wins over Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham.
In that span, the Red Devils have scored 10 goals while generating 6.94 xG (fourth-most) and allowed four goals and 5.06 xG in (seventh-fewest), per Stat Muse.
West Ham is in solid form, with three wins in its last four games, but is firmly in the relegation zone, sitting 18th, three points behind Nottingham Forest.
The Hammers also haven't beaten any good competition this year, posting a 0-1-6 record against teams currently in the top six. They have a -12 goal differential in those fixtures.
The one draw was against United, but that was in December when the Red Devils were floundering.
Expect Carrick's squad to keep things rolling.
Key stat: Man United has generated the second-most xG (44.9) in the EPL. West Ham has conceded the second-most xG against (42.5).
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Premier League predictions: Nottingham vs. Wolves best bet
Nottingham to win (-132): Nottingham is far from a world beater, sitting 17th in the EPL table with a 2-1-2 record in their last five Premier League games.
But this is a great spot to back the Tricky Trees.
Wolverhampton's beginning-of-the-year form is long gone, and the squad is back to playing like a basement dweller.
- The Wolves have lost three straight after picking up points in five straight.
- In that span, they have been outscored 7-1.
- Before the five-point aberration, Wolverhampton had lost 12 straight EPL fixtures. That includes a loss at home to Nottingham Forest.
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Fading Wolverhampton on the road has been an extremely profitable strategy this year. It is 0-3-9 with just five goals scored.
Nottingham has been decent at home, with some strong results lately, including a 0-0 draw against Arsenal.
Premier League Matchday 26 predictions made at 11 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2026.
