Up to date:
Dec 31, 2022
We take a look at a few of this week’s fixtures, together with Man Metropolis v Everton, Fulham v Southampton, and a tricky fixture in Brighton v Arsenal.
This week’s Premier League video games
West Ham v Brentford
Liverpool v Leicester
Wolves v Man United
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Fulham v Southampton
Man Metropolis v Everton
Newcastle v Leeds
Brighton v Arsenal
Tottenham v Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
Wolves v Man United
Wolves returned from the worldwide break with a vital win at Goodison Park. A Ninety fifth-minute aim from Ait-Nouri ensured they returned from Everton with a significant 3 factors, leaving them simply 1 level away from West Ham in seventeenth, additionally ending their 5-game winless streak.
They are going to be hoping that this win will have the ability to kickstart their season and drag them away from the underside 3, however first, they should overcome a Man United aspect who’ve vastly improved in latest video games.
Daniel Podence bought his third aim of the season, and he appears to be the more than likely participant to haul Wolves out of the underside 3 in the intervening time. Wolves are flush with thrilling ahead gamers, however they don’t appear to be clicking in the intervening time, however after they do the targets will come, and hopefully, the huge win at Goodison Park will give them confidence going ahead.
Man United impressed upon their return from the World Cup, with a really snug 3-0 win towards Nottingham Forest, which places additional stress on the groups within the high 4.
Marcus Rashford continued his high quality type with one other aim and help, taking his tally to five targets and three assists for the season. Christian Eriksen additionally registered his fifth help of the season, while Casemiro continued to impress, capping one other spectacular efficiency off with an help.
United are hopeful of an opportunity of a high 4 spot however must maintain tempo with Newcastle and Spurs, while Liverpool stays scorching on their heels. This ought to be a simple recreation for United towards a backside 3 aspect, and I believe they’ll win, comfortably. Their defence ought to be too sturdy for a Wolves aspect who don’t rating a lot.
Prediction: Wolves 0 – 2 Man United
Fulham v Southampton
Fulham returned to profitable methods with a snug 3-0 win away towards Crystal Palace. A recreation by which the referee took centre stage, sending off Tyrick Mitchell, and James Tomkins throughout the first 60 minutes.
However take nothing away from Fulham, they nonetheless dominated the sport, registering 23 pictures, 11 of these being heading in the right direction, while limiting Palace to 0 pictures heading in the right direction, while Mitrovic scored his tenth aim of the season in simply 13 video games.
Fulham wants to seek out the consistency that they had throughout the early phases of the season after they had been pushing for a high 6 spot. They’ve since dropped off and slowly began to slip down the desk. While they need to keep comfortably away from relegation this season, they don’t wish to be dragged in direction of the decrease half of the desk.
Southampton however has been completely woeful this season. They sit on the foot of the desk, simply 2 factors away from West Ham in seventeenth, however have misplaced their final 4 video games, their final 3 conceding no less than 3 targets, and haven’t received in 6, since a 1-0 win away towards Bournemouth.
They misplaced 3-1 towards Brighton of their final recreation, a recreation by which Brighton’s superior ending received them the sport. Either side registered 4 pictures heading in the right direction, but Southampton solely discovered the again of the web as soon as and misplaced the sport.
Nathan Jones has not had one of the best begin to his managerial life at St Marys, and will probably be an fascinating switch window for them. The calibre of gamers they carry in will present whether or not they imagine they’ve an opportunity of staying up or not, and if the unhealthy run of outcomes continues, how lengthy will Nathan Jones be given?
Fulham ought to inflict a fifth straight loss on Southampton right here, and it ought to be comparatively snug for them. Mitrovic ought to equal his highest-scoring Premier League season by getting his eleventh aim, and he’ll spearhead Fulham to a second win for the reason that return from the World Cup.
Prediction: Fulham 3 – 1 Southampton
Man Metropolis v Everton
Man Metropolis regained 2nd spot with a 3-1 win at Elland Street towards Leeds, the place information had been damaged.
Erling Haaland hit 20 targets for the season in 14 video games, turning into the fastest-ever participant to succeed in 20 Premier League targets. Sufficient has been stated already about Haaland this season, however it’s terrifying to suppose simply what number of targets he may rating this season.
It was not all on Haaland this week, nonetheless, as Jack Grealish put in a great efficiency. Regardless of lacking a bunch of possibilities and continuously getting hounded by the Leeds followers, he assisted each of Haaland’s targets. Hopefully, it will kickstart his season, and he can begin including some targets to his recreation.
The frustration of shedding towards Brentford simply earlier than the break has been put behind them, they superior within the Carabao Cup towards Liverpool and have returned to profitable methods within the Premier League, they simply must hope that Arsenal begins to slide up and that they’ll capitalise when it occurs.
Everton is in massive bother, they had been woeful simply earlier than the break and didn’t look any higher of their recreation towards Wolves. Regardless of them taking the lead, their defensive points reared their ugly head once more, as they surrendered their lead and misplaced the sport on the dying, within the Ninety fifth minute.
Everton followers stay divided over Frank Lampard additionally. Half imagine that he ought to be sacked and another person introduced in earlier than the switch window, whereas the opposite half imagine that the gamers are the blame and that no different supervisor would have the ability to enhance the performances with the present crop of gamers.
The subsequent few video games will not be wanting good for Everton both. Man Metropolis away after which Brighton at dwelling, 2 potential 6-pointers at dwelling towards Southampton after which away towards West Ham, after which Arsenal at dwelling, and an enormous derby away towards Liverpool. The subsequent few weeks may very well be extraordinarily lengthy in the event that they fail to choose up any factors.
This recreation ought to be pretty simple. Everton can’t defend, and Metropolis are simply ridiculous going ahead at instances. This might get ugly for Everton, and this ought to be a high-scoring recreation.
Prediction: Man Metropolis 4 – 0 Everton
Brighton v Arsenal
This ought to be the sport of the weekend, and what a difficult recreation for each side. This one may go both method, a win for both aspect can be large and would show their intentions for the remainder of the season.
Brighton returned to profitable methods with a 3-1 win towards Southampton. Solly March picked up the Man of the Match award after getting a aim and helping Joel Veltman’s aim.
Danny Welbeck managed to get an help towards Man United at first of the season in Brighton’s 2-1 win. Will he have the ability to hang-out one other one in every of his former golf equipment?
Brighton stays simply outdoors of the highest 6, and will probably be fascinating to see simply how shut they’re to one of many European spots on the finish of the season. The January switch window may very well be essential, and they are going to be hoping to not lose any of their stars which have carried out to this point this season.
Arsenal however additionally returned with a 3-1 towards West Ham. It seemed as in the event that they had been on target to drop factors at halftime as they had been 1-0 down, nonetheless, a second-half masterclass ensured they completed the evening with 3 factors.
Ødegaard continued his wealthy vein of type, reaching 10 aim contributions for the season with one other 2 assists, while Bukayo Saka scored his fifth of the season to proceed his World Cup type.
Eddie Nketiah additionally proved that he’s prepared to guide the road in Gabriel Jesus’ absence, as he scored his first aim of the season. Granit Xhaka continued his upturn in type, notching one other help, taking him to 7 aim contributions for the season.
Each Arsenal participant appears to be in type in the intervening time, there doesn’t appear to be a weak hyperlink of their group. Their ahead gamers are all contributing, their midfielders are scoring, and the gamers being introduced in to exchange injured ones are hitting the bottom working. All the things at Arsenal appears to be going effectively to this point, and they are going to be hoping they don’t hit a stumbling block right here.
This can be a exhausting one to name. It may go both method. Brighton has solely misplaced twice at dwelling to this point, however all the things appears to be going proper for Arsenal this season. This ought to be a decent recreation, however I believe the league leaders will edge it.
Prediction: Brighton 1 – 2 Arsenal
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
The World Cup break seemingly got here on the mistaken time for Forest. In the weeks main as much as the break, Forest would have been begging for the break to return so they might work on their techniques, get the group on the identical wavelength and push on after the World Cup.
However after beating Liverpool and Crystal Palace, and getting a well-earned draw towards Brentford, it seemed as if issues had been lastly beginning to click on at The Metropolis Floor. They hauled themselves as much as 18th, only a level away from security, and had been wanting assured.
After the break, they travelled to Previous Trafford and had been effectively crushed, had been dominated on the ball, and by no means actually seemed like that they had an opportunity of getting something out of the sport. It was virtually as if the Forest from the beginning of the season had returned. It was at all times going to be tough returning to such an enormous recreation, however they wanted to be ready, they usually actually weren’t.
Life doesn’t get any simpler for them, as this week they host Chelsea. Forest has not carried out effectively towards the highest 6 to this point this season. They misplaced back-to-back video games towards Spurs and Man Metropolis, shedding 2-0 and 6-0 respectively. They then miraculously beat Liverpool 1-0 however may have simply misplaced by a big margin had it not been for Dean Henderson’s heroics in aim. They then misplaced 5-0 towards Arsenal, and have now misplaced 3-0 towards Man United.
While the worldwide break might have come at a foul time for Forest, it got here on the excellent time for Chelsea and Graham Potter. Previous to the break, that they had solely scored 2 targets in 5 video games, had not received of their final 5 video games, and misplaced their final 3.
They returned to motion towards a defensively frail Bournemouth aspect, they usually ran out 2-0 winners, and deservedly so. Sterling, Mount and Havertz all reached 5 aim contributions for the season, with Sterling and Havertz grabbing an help every, while Mount and Havertz each bought a aim.
The one damaging for Chelsea is that Reece James got here off injured but once more. He returned to motion after spending 2 and a half months out injured, and it’s now reported that he might be out for an additional 4 weeks after being pressured off. It has been a tricky 12 months for the English fullback, and it’s a disgrace to see him injured but once more.
The consistency must return for Chelsea now, as they’re slipping away from any likelihood of reaching a high 4 end. They presently sit 6 factors behind 4th positioned Spurs, and have each Liverpool and Man United forward of them who’re all vying for that spot.
This ought to be a comparatively snug recreation for Chelsea, and Forest’s struggles towards the highest 6 ought to proceed right here. Although they stunned everybody by beating Liverpool, I don’t suppose luck might be on their aspect this time.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0 – 3 Chelsea
Different Predictions
- West Ham 1 – 2 Brentford
- Liverpool 3 – 0 Leicester
- Bournemouth 1 – 1 Crystal Palace
- Newcastle 3 – 1 Leeds
- Tottenham 1 – 1 Aston Villa
