TUESDAY:
NORWICH V ASTON VILLA
Norwich were unlucky not to come away with at least a point against Man United at the weekend because of how well they played on the day. They created a lot of chances but didn't take them which has been their problem all season and it could send them down if they don't work on it.
Dean Smith will be up against his former club for the first time since he left them last month and his knowledge of the Villa squad could give the Canaries an unlikely advantage in this game. But at the same time Villa's knowledge of their former boss and how he sets his team up could also give them the advantage.
Aston Villa have been a competitive team under Steven Gerrard by putting in good performances week in week out since his appointment. He's got the players onside with what he wants them to do and you can see the impact he's had on the team with the performances they've been putting in.
They didn't offer much going forward against Liverpool at the weekend but their performance on the day wasn't too bad as they defended well up until the penalty and were in the game for most of the contest.
PREDICTION: 0-2
This one could be a close game with Dean Smith taking on his former players who will know how he'll set his Norwich team up. But as Villa have more quality and are looking a competitive side under Steven Gerrard, I've got to give them the win and a straight forward one.
MAN CITY V LEEDS
Man City didn't beat Leeds at all last season with this fixture ending in a surprise defeat for them. They won't be concerned about that too much going into this one as they know they have the ability to beat anyone on their day. Pep would've learnt a lot about Leeds on that day and he'll always know how they'll set themselves up because of how high he rates Marcelo Bielsa.
They were a bit lucky to come away with a win against Wolves at the weekend because their penalty should never have been awarded. They probably deserved to win on the day because of how dominant they were but they were still a bit lucky because of the controversial penalty that shouldn't have been given.
Leeds gave Chelsea a good game at the weekend and they did it without both Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford. They deserve a lot of credit for that because no one really gave them a chance without those two in their side and although they didn't get anything from the game, their performance will give them confidence moving forward.
Marcelo Bielsa's team have a few tricky games coming up with Arsenal and Liverpool coming up after this tricky one against City. They can step up in those games like they did at times last season and against Chelsea at the weekend. But stepping up without Phillips and Bamford again will be really tough.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I've got to give City the win here because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. Leeds will play their way like they always do but with City having all their big hitters available, I can see them play Leeds off the park.
WEDNESDAY:
BRIGHTON V WOLVES
Brighton have had plenty of time to prepare for this game after their game against Spurs at the weekend was called off. This could give them the advantage here because they'll be feeling fresher than their opponents as a result of their weekend game being called off plus they've had more time to work on their finishing.
Finishing their chances has been an issue for them since their strong start like it was for the whole of last season. Given the amount of time they've had on the training ground to work on it, they'll hopefully be more clinical when they're through on goal.
Wolves will be without Raul Jimenez for this one after he stupidly got himself sent off a matter of seconds after receiving his first yellow against Man City. That decision ultimately cost his team the points and given that he's Wolves' best player and they're without a win in 5, they'll be disappointed in him.
Wolves' goal scoring problems have really come back to bite them in recent weeks having not scored in any of their last four games. They've looked solid defensively as they haven't conceded many goals during that time but going forward they've looked blunt. Without their star striker for this one, their goal scoring problems will probably continue in this one.
PREDICTION: 1-0
Both sides haven't been the most clinical when it comes to taking their chances in recent weeks with Brighton not finishing teams off and Wolves not scoring in any of their last four. But as Brighton have had more time to prepare for this game and Wolves are without Jimenez, I'm going to hand them the win here.
BURNLEY V WATFORD
Burnley put in a strong defensive performance against West Ham at the weekend by being organised and getting in the way of shots. Nick Pope made some vital saves to keep them in the game and the defenders kept their shape for the whole game.
This is the stage of the season where Burnley need to start winning games because their league position in a few weeks could determine where they will finish at the end of the season. A win here would be a good start for them as it's a winnable game for them plus its also a must win game for them.
Watford just can't keep clean sheets. Only Norwich and Newcastle have conceded more goals than them this season and I can't believe that they're not in the bottom three. They have some decent players going forward but defensively they look leaky.
This is a big game for the Hornets and one they must win if they're to pull clear of the drop zone. Burnley are two points behind them in 18th and a defeat here will make their season even more challenging than it already is.
PREDICTION: 2-0
It's a must win game for both sides and I'm going for Burnley to take the points. They're better team defensively that Watford and with a goal scorer in Chris Wood at the top end who can bully defenders, the Clarets should win here without to many problems.
CRYSTAL PALACE V SOUTHAMPTON
Crystal Palace looked back to their best against Everton at the weekend which ended a run of 3 straight defeats and a run of four games without a win. They looked a threat going forward whenever they were on the attack and in Conor Gallagher they have a special talent who is already looking like on of the signings of the season.
They're looking a more exciting team to watch this season with the way they've been playing along with the players they have in forward areas. They have more forward thinking players than they have done over the past few seasons and they're benefitting from Vieira's style of play.
Southampton did start brightly in their defeat to Arsenal at the weekend but they got punished later on as Arsenal won the game rather comfortably. The Saints did have some good chances on the day but they didn't take them.
The Saints are on a poor run of form going into this one with no wins from their last five games. I said earlier in the season that they could be in a relegation battle and if they don't start winning games, they could well be down there fighting it out.
PREDICTION: 1-0
With Southampton not in great form I've got to give Palace the win here. They more goals in them than the Saints do plus they can see games out better.
ARSENAL V WEST HAM
Arsenal looked impressive in their win against Southampton at the weekend where Mikel Arteta made another big statement in leaving out captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. Having started him on the bench against Everton the week before and the player himself not in his best form, I wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal were to think about moving him on.
The Gunners will have Emile Smith Rowe back for this one which will be a massive boost for them because of how important he is for them. They may not have missed him against Southampton as Martin Odegaard played well but having Smith Rowe back in contention will still be a big plus for them.
West Ham have beaten Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs already in the league this season along with beating both City and United in the Carabao Cup. Those results will give them confidence going into this one because they know they can beat anyone on their day. David Moyes may not have a great record against Arsenal but his side will still believe that they can get a result here.
It's fair to say that the Hammers did not have their shooting boots on against Burnley at the weekend as they missed a lot of decent chances. They were denied a lot by Nick Pope in the Burnley goal but they did also fire a load of shots over the bar. They'll need to be a bit more clinical in this one if they're to get the result they want.
PREDICTION: 1-2
With the record that West Ham have against the big teams this season, I'm backing them to keep up that record in this one. Their record at the Emirates may not be the best, but I can still see them win this game.
THURSDAY:
LEICESTER V TOTTENHAM
Leicester were more like themselves against Newcastle at the weekend but the question going into this one will be whether they can follow that up. They've been very inconsistent this season and it'll be interesting to see which version of them turns up for this game.
Jamie Vardy should be back in the starting line up for this one after starting the Newcastle game on the bench. Patson Daka did step up in his absence but having Vardy back for this kind of game will be massive for Leicester as he has a good record against the big teams.
Spurs will be without a few key players for this one as a result of their recent COVID outbreak. They may have had plenty of time to prepare for this game with their game with Brighton being postponed but without the likes of Lucas Moura and Heung Min Son, I can see them struggle here. Especially with Harry Kane not yet firing.
PREDICTION: 3-1
With Spurs missing a few key players through COVID, I've got to go for a Leicester win here. They'll have the majority of their key players available and with Jamie Vardy back in the starting line up, I can see them follow up their impressive win over Newcastle with another win here.
CHELSEA V EVERTON
Chelsea haven't been as solid defensively as they have throughout Tuchel's tenure over the last few weeks with 11 goals conceded from their last 5 games in all competitions. They're really missing N'Golo Kante in the middle of park because he makes more solid when he's there due to the work he does out of possession.
I'm sure they'll return to their best soon as that is what all the top teams do. The blues have a strong squad on paper with bundles of quality and because of that I have no doubts that they'll be up there challenging for the league come the end of the season.
It was back to the drawing board for Everton at the weekend after an abject display in their defeat to Crystal Palace. They did have some chances after getting a goal back in the second half but overall it was a poor display. They started slowly and they never recovered.
The Toffees have a poor record at Stamford Bridge with their last win there coming in 1994 where assistant manager Duncan Ferguson was still playing. With Rafa Benitez expecting a hostile reception having been a former Chelsea manager himself, it looks like Everton will be in for another tough afternoon.
PREDICTION: 2-0
Chelsea have looked a bit shaky in recent weeks, but I think they'll have enough to get a result and keep a clean sheet in this game. Everton are out of sorts in all areas of the pitch and I can see them put in another abject performance.
LIVERPOOL V NEWCASTLE
Liverpool have looked really solid defensively in recent weeks with 4 clean sheets from their last 5 games. They have looked devastating going forward like they usually are but defensively they're looking a lot more solid. They have a solid centre back partnership in Van Dijk and Matip plus with Fabinho sitting in front of them, they don't give teams a sniff at their goal.
Newcastle really are in trouble. They have some fixtures coming up including this one and they're looking all over the place defensively. They were like that against Leicester at the weekend where we found out how tough a job Eddie Howe has on his hands. Unless they bring in some good players in January, the Magpies are still in for a long season.
They have a lot of money as a result of their takeover but at the moment they're only heading one way. Which is down to the Championship.
PREDICTION: 4-0
I've got to hand Liverpool the win here because I can see them being too strong for Newcastle. With Newcastle being all over the place defensively and Liverpool being clinical in attack, I can see this game being a one sided affair.
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