The Premier League is getting ready for another blockbuster gameweek of football.
This is the penultimate weekend of fixtures in 2018 and things get off to a flying start on Friday night with Premier League leaders Liverpool travelling to Wolves. Arsenal will be looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats against Burnley on Saturday’s early kick-off while in the evening Manchester United start life post-Jose Mourinho away to Cardiff City.
Sunday sees just one game as Christmas closes in with Everton hosting Tottenham Hotspur.
We’ve had a look at the fixtures and had two of the Squawka team come up with predictions:
Wolves vs. Liverpool
Harry Edwards: Dejan Lovren may just have put the kiss of death on Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season. The Croatian spoke of the possibility of Liverpool matching Arsenal’s Invincible season and, even if it was purely speaking of aims rather than expectations, Lovren does not have the best record after opening his mouth. 1-0 Wolves.
Evan Smith: Wolves have held Man City and defeated Chelsea at Molineux so far so there is good evidence they could cause problems for a top side like Liverpool. But I think this Liverpool side can only grow in confidence following their comfortable win against United and Mohamed Salah’s unique record against promoted sides so no such slip ups here. 2-1 Liverpool.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Mohamed Salah has found his form after a slow start to the season and has scored in each of his last five Premier League games against newly promoted sides.
Arsenal vs. Burnley
HE: Arsenal have not had the best week, losing two games in a row for the first time since the start of the season. Then, it started a 22-game unbeaten run and, while the length may not be achieved again, the Gunners should bounce back with a win this weekend. Burnley haven’t been at their best this season, especially against the bigger sides and shouldn’t cause Arsenal any problems. 3-0 Arsenal.
ES: Burnley have lost four of their last five games in the league and the last time they got even a point away from home was in a 0-0 draw with Leicester over a month ago. Arsenal have lost back to back games in all competitions but this seems the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways. 2-0 Arsenal.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was a bane for Burnley last season, being involved in three goals in this fixture (two goals and one assist). He has also been involved in seven goals in eight starts at the Emirates this season.
Bournemouth vs. Brighton
HE: Bournemouth put a lot of effort into their Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to Chelsea and could suffer the consequences against Brighton. However, neither side have really been in good form of late, both losing their last two league games. 1-1 draw.
ES: Bournemouth’s form has dipped considerably this season with just one win from their last six. But they’ve played three of the big six in that time and this should be a comfortable win. 3-0 Bournemouth.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Callum Wilson is subject to interest from Chelsea and it’s clear to see why as the forward is the only player outside the Premier League’s top six to have scored at least five goals and also provided five assists.
Chelsea vs. Leicester
HE: Chelsea needed Eden Hazard to rescue them from penalties against Bournemouth on Wednesday but, with the Belgian likely to start in his false nine role once more, will be hoping to have an easier game against Leicester. The Foxes were beaten by Man City in midweek with a fairly rotated team, so fans will be hoping for a better result from their regulars on Saturday, though they may have to wait. 2-1 Chelsea.
ES: Leicester haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since 2000 and that run doesn’t look to be ending anytime soon. Only Manchester City have created more chances than Chelsea this season and Hazard has been directly involved in more goals than anyone else in the league including six goal involvements in the past four league games. 2-1 Chelsea.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Eden Hazard has scored in back-to-back games for Chelsea and will become just the 10th player to score 100 goals for the club in all competitions if he nets against Leicester on Saturday.
Huddersfield vs. Southampton
HE: The Ralph Hasenhuttl revolution got underway against Arsenal last week and, with all respect to Huddersfield, should continue this weekend. Southampton are finally looking like a team while their opponents are still struggling. 2-0 Southampton.
ES: Southampton won their first match since the start of September last Sunday and Hasenhuttl’s ideas are beginning to be implemented with good effect. Huddersfield have lost their last four and have only scored three goals at home all season! I fancy Southampton to make it back to back wins on Saturday. 2-0 Southampton.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Charlie Austin loves to play against Huddersfield Town, scoring five and assisted two in eight previous meetings with the Terriers; against no other team has he been directly involved in more goals.
Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace
HE: Man City were able to rest a number of players against Leicester in midweek but still give game time to Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne. Pep Guardiola’s side have been perfect at home this season and will have far too much for Palace, even after their win last week. 4-0 City.
ES: Crystal Palace have picked up just one point from their last six away games and it seems a foregone conclusion it will be one from seven come 5pm on Saturday. Manchester City have won all nine games at home this season scoring 33 goals in the process and Crystal Palace could be in for a long afternoon. 3-0 City.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Raheem Sterling has been enjoying his football this season, particularly at the Etihad with seven goals in six home starts. No other Premier League player has scored more at their home ground this season.
Newcastle vs. Fulham
HE: Newcastle finally remembered how to win last weekend while Claudio Ranieri’s brief honeymoon at Fulham is well and truly over. The Cottagers are fully in a fight for their safety but a Newcastle side in confidence should be too much, condemning Fulham to bottom at Christmas. 2-0 Newcastle.
ES: Fulham have been leaking goals this season (42 after 17 games so far) but luckily for them they are up against a Newcastle side of which only Huddersfield have scored fewer. Newcastle have lost 7 of 9 home games this season but I can see Fulham stealing a point in this game and Mitrovic to break his 5-game goal drought. 2-2 draw.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Salomon Rondon has found form at the right time for Newcastle, being directly involved in a goal in each of the last three Premier League games for the Magpies.
West Ham vs. Watford
HE: Things have changed for West Ham and Watford this season with the Hammers overcoming a poor start to the season to finally find form. Watford, on the other hand, have won just one of their past seven and it was a close one against Cardiff last week. West Ham’s revival should continue with a win here. 2-1 West Ham.
ES: West Ham have been really impressive of late and will be hoping to win three consecutive games at the London Stadium for the first time ever. A dangerous Watford side stand in their way though, and I can see them snatching a point in what should be an exciting game. 2-2 draw.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Michail Antonio will be welcoming Watford on Saturday, having scored more goals against the Hornets (6) than any other side he has faced in his career.
Cardiff vs. Manchester United
HE: Who would’ve thought United would be going into this game with a caretaker manager, let alone Ole Gunnar Solksjaer? The Norwegian returns to Cardiff on Saturday replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho and despite a poor Premier League record, the new manager bounce for a big club should be enough to see United come out on top. 3-0 Man Utd.
ES: Manchester United will be quick to put behind them their poor start to the season and have a good run of fixtures to do so starting off with Cardiff. They should get that new manager bounce fairly quickly against a side they are unbeaten against in seven league meetings. 3-1 United.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Callum Paterson has won more aerial duels (119) than any other Premier League player closely followed by Cardiff teammate Sean Morrison (113) this season.
Everton vs. Tottenham
HE: The final game before Christmas and Everton will be looking to turn around their poor recent form against a Spurs side who seem to be overcoming all obstacles thrown at them since their North London derby defeat three weeks ago. Despite playing in midweek, Spurs should have enough to see off the Toffees. 2-1 Tottenham.
ES: The record doesn’t look good for Everton as they’re winless in their last 11 Premier League meetings. However it goes without saying this is a very different and improved Everton side that have looked competitive against other Big six opposition they have faced this season like Chelsea and also Liverpool and Man City despite ultimately losing. They are unbeaten at home in their last 6 and I think they can get a draw from this one. 2-2 draw.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Harry Kane is not a man Everton enjoy facing, having scored a brace in each of the last three Premier League meetings between these two sides.
The post Premier League predictions for all 10 matches this gameweek appeared first on Squawka News.
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