TUESDAY:
NEWCASTLE V NORWICH
We're not at the half way mark yet but this one already feels like a relegation six pointer. Newcastle need a win as they're yet to get one whilst Norwich will want to continue their reasonably good start under Dean Smith.
Newcastle's defeat to Arsenal at the weekend showed how tough a job Eddie Howe has on his hands and why they're in the position they find themselves in. They didn't offer enough going forward and were once again poor defensively. They need to buy players in January if they're to stand a chance of staying up and the manager knows that.
Norwich have looked fairly resolute since Dean Smith has been in charge but the only worry about them is the lack of goals they're scoring. They had some good chances against Wolves at the weekend but they didn't take them. Goals have been a problem for them all season and it is why they're down there.
PREDICTION: 2-1
With Norwich struggling to score goals, I'm backing Newcastle to get off the mark in this one. They'll have enough going forward to hurt the Canaries and with their front foot approach they should win here.
LEEDS V CRYSTAL PALACE
I'm beginning to worry about Leeds simply because I really can't see where they're going to get their points from. The second season syndrome has definitely hit them as they're struggling to find the form they had last season plus the fact of other teams finding them out. They should stay up because of the manager they have but I still fear for them at this moment in time.
They're not scoring goals and they're also not keeping them out despite their clean sheet against Brighton at the weekend. They need to sort both problems out soon if they're to get results but I can't see it being in this one.
Crystal Palace saw their excellent home record ended by Aston Villa at the weekend but they won't dwell on that too much going into this game. They've made a lot of progress under Patrick Vieira and they're having a decent season overall so they'll see that result as an off day and move on.
PREDICTION: 0-3
With Leeds struggling for goals, I've got to go with a Palace win here. They're progressing nicely under Vieira this season and with the forward players they have they should win this one without too many problems.
WEDNESDAY:
SOUTHAMPTON V LEICESTER
Southampton's decision to play a back three against Liverpool was a strange one and it turned out to be one that backfired. They looked disorganised and open all game for which they got punished for as Liverpool opened them up time and time again.
I expect they'll go back to the back four after that failed experiment and I hope they will as they lost this fixture 9-0 a couple of seasons ago. A lot has obviously changed since that day but the Saints still won't want a repeat of it in this one. Especially after losing by a big score line at the weekend.
Leicester looked more like their usual selves against Watford at the weekend and the main question for them is whether they can build on that result. Consistency has been an issue for the Foxes this season and a result like that will surely give them the confidence to play like that on a regular basis.
James Maddison has hit form recently and his performance against Watford was the best I've seen from him for a number of months. He had a slow start to the season and now he's beginning to hit his stride due to the confidence he's in.
PREDICTION: 1-3
Leicester have been inconsistent this season. But I think they'll win this one because I can see them carry their performance from the Watford game into this one. They have struggled defensively this season but with their attacking players hitting form, they'll have no problems in winning this game.
WATFORD V CHELSEA
Watford are an inconsistent team under Claudio Ranieri. One week they're good the next they're a completely different side. After an impressive win against Man United the week before, they never looked like getting something against Leicester the weekend just gone.
The Hornets are still without a clean sheet this season and I can see that run carry on into this one. They haven't improved there since Ranieri has been in charge and they need to do that fast if they're to stay up.
Chelsea will be disappointed that they didn't beat Man United at the weekend because of the amount of chances they had. They had a lot of the ball and created a lot of chances but didn't take them apart from the penalty they were awarded in the second half.
They'll be happy that Romelu Lukaku is back because he might've taken those chances if he started that game instead of Timo Werner. I'm hopeful that he'll start this one having made his return at the weekend and if he does I think he'll score.
PREDICTION: 0-3
I've got to go with a Chelsea win here because I can see them being too strong for Watford. They have Lukaku back to lead their attack and I can see him being the difference for them in this game whether he starts or comes on later in the game.
WEST HAM V BRIGHTON
West Ham were in the game against Man City on Sunday but unfortunately for them it was a second successive defeat. It was a bit better than the showing they put in against Wolves the week before in that they had better chances but it wasn't enough for them to get a result.
They'll want to return to winning ways in this one so they can get their season back on track and they need to because Arsenal are only behind them on goal difference. They'll definitely put in a better performance because of the standards they've set themselves over the past year.
Brighton really are back to their old selves in having a lot of the ball but not taking their chances. They were taking their chances at the start of the season as they won four of their opening five games. But since then they've picked up a lot of draws and haven't been as clinical in front of goal.
They're still in a comfortable league position which is surprising considering the winless run they're on and they'll want to put an end to it soon so they don't get pulled down the table.
PREDICTION: 2-0
West Ham have had a little wobble in recent weeks, but I can see them bounce back with a victory in this one. With Brighton in a dry patch at the moment, I can't see why they can't get their first Premier League victory over them.
WOLVES V BURNLEY
Wolves have been that team who have gone under the radar this season and their manager deserves a lot of credit for that. They've improved as the season has progressed after a difficult start and during that time the manager has kept his players' feet on the ground so they go quietly about their business.
Burnley will be feeling the most refreshed going into this game as they had their weekend game against Spurs called off due to heavy snow. This could give them the advantage over their opponents because they've had more time to prepare for this game as a result of their weekend game being called off.
This is a game that they have to win because the two teams below them in Newcastle and Norwich are playing each other the day before. They're three points clear of bottom of the table Newcastle and level on points with Norwich so if they're to pull themselves away from trouble, they have to win this game.
PREDICTION: 2-0
With Burnley without Tarkowski through suspension and Wolves in decent form, I've got to hand Wolves the win here. The Clarets may have had more time to prepare for this game, but I think Wolves' attacking quality will shine through in this one.
ASTON VILLA V MAN CITY
Aston Villa have made a strong start under Steven Gerrard with wins from his first two games against Brighton and Crystal Palace. Their main improvement since he's come in has been defensively because they were conceding a lot of goals before he came in and he has made them more solid in that department since he's been in charge.
This game will without a doubt be his first big test as Villa boss because of the team his side are facing in Man City. It will arguably be his biggest test as a manager as he's never faced a top side like City in his managerial career. He will surely learn a lot about the Premier League from this game.
Jack Grealish will be disappointed that he won't be available for this one because he would've looked forward to facing his former club at Villa Park if he wasn't injured. He won't be a massive miss as City have other players who can step up in place of him but he'll still be disappointed that he won't play in this game.
City do have quite a few key players missing ahead of this one in Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden as well as Jack Grealish. But due to the strength of their squad, they'll still manage without them. Bernardo Silva has stepped up for them this season and with players like Riyad Mahrez in good form, City should have no problems in getting a result here.
PREDICTION: 0-2
Villa have started well under Steven Gerrard. But I think City will put an end to that good start in this game. They may be without a few key players through injury, but I they'll still have enough to get a result because of their strength in depth.
EVERTON V LIVERPOOL
The pressure really is on for Rafa Benitez at Everton and this could be the game where the fans begin to turn on him. Their form over the last couple of months has been poor with no wins from their last 7 games plus they haven't looked like scoring goals. That along with him being a former Liverpool manager could persuade the fans to turn on him. Especially if his side don't turn up.
Liverpool were at their brilliant best in their win over Southampton at the weekend where they arguably fielded their best 11. Fabinho-Henderson-Thiago is surely their best midfield because of what they all offer and Thiago in particular in benefitting from having the other two alongside him. Those three have rarely played together for the reds and if they can all stay fit it will be a massive bonus for them.
The Reds haven't won at Goodison for the last four seasons with all those game ending in draws. With the form that Everton are currently in, they'll definitely fancy themselves to win here and end their four game drought at Goodison.
PREDICTION: 0-2
This one has to be a Liverpool win because they're in better form and the stronger team. They haven't won here for a few seasons but with Everton as bad as they are at the moment, I can't see anything other than a win for the reds.
THURSDAY:
TOTTENHAM V BRENTFORD
Spurs will have had five days to prepare for this game as there weekend game with Burnley was postponed. This should be feeling refreshed as a result of that and it could perhaps give them the advantage in this game. But that depends on which Spurs will turn up. The one who turned it around against Leeds or the one who were awful against NS Mura in the Europa Conference League. This game will tell us.
Brentford have got their attacking zip about them back after two promising performances from their last two games. Their win over Everton at the weekend was massive for them as it ended their five game winless run and they'll now want to kick on.
PREDICTION: 2-0
Brentford may be looking more like the team we saw earlier in the season, but I think Spurs will win this one. They've had more time to prepare for this game and with a manager like Antonio Conte in charge, I can't see a reason why they can't win this one.
MAN UNITED V ARSENAL
Man United's pressing was much better in their draw with Chelsea plus they looked more organised defensively. Neither of these were seen under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and you have to give Michael Carrick credit for the way he set the team up. They may not have done enough going forward but their work rate off the ball and organisation was much better.
United could have Ralf Rangnick in the dugout for this one following his appointment this week and he'll be taking over a team in a better shape than they were a week ago. Their results and performances under Michael Carrick have been promising and Rangnick will want to build on that with a another good result and performance in this one.
Arsenal's win in this fixture last season was their first at Old Trafford since 2006 and they have another chance here to improve their record in this fixture. They would've fancied themselves a few weeks ago because of the form they were in compared to United but now this game will be trickier than they thought.
The Gunners had to be patient in their win against Newcastle at the weekend as Newcastle managed to keep them at bay in the first half. Their patience eventually paid off in the second half as they found gaps in the Newcastle defence and exploited them which was how they got their goals.
PREDICTION: 1-1
I would've had this down as an Arsenal win a few weeks ago because of how poor United were at the time. But with the home side putting in better performances of late, I'm going for a draw in this one. Arsenal have improved as the season has progressed but with United wanting to prove a point following Ralf Rangnick's appointment, I can see both sides cancel each other out.
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