SATURDAY:
ARSENAL V CRYSTAL PALACE
Arsenal's title challenge began to crumble during the Christmas period, but they are still in with a chance of winning the title.
I still think they need a clinical striker for them to do that though as that has what has cost them in recent games. But I don't see them getting one in this window as it isn't straightforward to get one at this time of year.
Crystal Palace will definitely make it difficult for them here as they're a tough side to beat and a side who can look dangerous on the counter. But they're also a side that don't score many goals.
Because of the latter, I think Arsenal will have enough to put their recent wobble behind them.
PREDICTION: 2-0
BRENTFORD V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Brentford have Ivan Toney back following the completion of his long suspension which is no doubt a welcome boost. Keeping him would be an even bigger boost with some of the big boys interested in him.
I do however think it will take time for him to get himself up to full speed after missing a lot of football over the last six months. He might've had one or two games for the U23's recently, but that level isn't as high as the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest were charged by the Premier League for breaching financial rules during the week along with Everton. But I don't think they'll read too much into that as they've made a reasonably solid start under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Their away form is still a worry, but they have won more games on the road than they did in the whole of last season. Their most recent one coming at Newcastle on Boxing Day.
I probably should predict a Brentford win here as they're strong at home and Forest are so poor away.
But with the Bees missing a lot of players through injury and Forest having made a decent start under Nuno, I think the points will be shared here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
SUNDAY:
SHEFFIELD UNITED V WEST HAM
Sheffield United performance wise have improved under Chris Wilder in that they're more difficult to beat. But they need to start turning those performances into results so they can climb off the bottom of the table.
West Ham are missing a number of players through injury and some of them were missed in their FA Cup defeat at Bristol City in midweek.
Jarrod Bowen was certainly a miss as they missed his runs in behind the defence. No one was able to do that in his absence and to make matters worse, they lost Said Benrahma to an unnecessary suspension which has left them even more short handed in attack.
Because of the injuries that West Ham have, I can see the Blades nick a draw here as they'll have the home crowd on their side, and I can see the Bramall Lane atmosphere make it a tough game for the Hammers.
PREDICTION: 1-1
BOURNEMOUTH V LIVERPOOL
Bournemouth won this fixture 1-0 last season and it was a key result that played a huge role in them staying up.
This season the Cherries are pushing for a top half finish and playing an attractive style of play which took time to get used to after a slow start.
Andoni Iraola's side ended 2023 in good form and will look to take the game to Liverpool here as they're a side who like to play on the front foot.
Liverpool are without three key players for this one in Mo Salah who is at AFCON, and both Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai who are both injured.
Alexander-Arnold will arguably be the bigger miss as he has been at the heart of everything the reds have done in recent games. His absence leaves Liverpool with no recognised senior full backs as both Robertson and Tsimikas are also injured.
Despite those absentees, I still think Liverpool will find a way to win as they have players who can step up. Curtis Jones has been one of those recently whilst the attacking players are also capable when they're on it.
PREDICTION: 1-2
MONDAY:
BRIGHTON V WOLVES
Brighton are again pushing for Europe this season and all credit must surely go down to the manager who has kept his team in touching distance.
With no Europa League distraction for the next month or so, De Zerbi will hopefully not mention the amount of games his side have had to play like he has done a lot this season.
Wolves looked set to be in for a long season when they lost the reverse fixture 4-1 at the start of the season off the back of a tough summer. Well that hasn't been case as they currently sit in 11th and a point off the top 10.
They've been an all round good team under Gary O'Neil who I think is one of if not the most underrated manager in the Premier League. He did a great job at Bournemouth last season and is arguably doing a better one at Wolves this season.
Wolves will definitely cause Brighton problems here as the Seagulls can look open defensively. But I think Brighton will still have enough to claim the points here as they're at home and have more energy.
PREDICTION: 3-1
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