Crystal Palace vs Chelsea
Saturday 17th December 2016, 12.30
Palace's two-game unbeaten run came to an end in a 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United on Wednesday night. Chelsea have now won ten in a row following a 1-0 win at Sunderland, also on Wednesday, and have kept eight clean sheets in that period.
Alan Pardew will be disappointed that his Palace side couldn't protect the point they looked to be earning against United until the very end. Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck in the 88th-minute for United who, in fairness, were the better team on the night. It was a game of much-controversy, with Ibrahimovic appearing to handle earlier in the game to assist Paul Pogba's opener, whilst Pogba looked to be offside as he tapped in. However, Palace appeared to get away with a handball from Joe Ledley, so you could argue the decision's balanced themselves out in the end.
Chelsea look unstoppable, and are already guaranteed to top the table on Christmas Day. The last four times that this has happened the Blues have gone on to win the league, even more incentive as if it were needed for Antonio Conte's men. Cesc Fabregas was the hero at the Stadium of Light, his delightful finish making it 30 points from 30 for Chelsea, who are six points clear of second-placed Liverpool.
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| Chelsea will be in search of their 11th straight Premier League victory (Getty Images) |
There will be a good atmosphere a Selhurst Park in Saturday's early kick-off, but I can't see that doing anything for the hosts this weekend. Chelsea are too strong, and I don't see anything other than an eleventh straight win for the Blues.
Prediction: 1-3
Middlesbrough vs Swansea
Saturday 17th December 2016, 15.00
Both teams lost in their respective midweek games, Middlesbrough 3-0 at home to Liverpool and Swansea 3-1 away to West Brom. This is a massive six-pointer as 17th and 18th-place go head-to-head.
Aitor Karanka's Middlesbrough were outclassed by Liverpool at the Riverside on Wednesday evening. The hosts rarely threated recalled Simon Mignolet's goal, and on the rare occasion that they did, through Viktor Fischer, they found the Belgian goalkeeper in good form. At the other end, a brace from Adam Lallana and a Divock Origi strike settled it for the Reds, who should have probably put a few more past Victor Valdes.
Swansea gifted Salomon Rondon a hat-trick of headers as they went down 3-1 at the Hawthorns. The Swans' defence switched off completely in the second-half, as Rondon was allowed two free headers, before completing a 13-minute treble with a fine header past Lukasz Fabianksi. Wayne Routledge pulled one back, but it was too-little-too-late for Bob Bradley's team.
I think Middlesbrough have been decent this season, but their league position is definitely worrying. Swansea are so defensively frail, in my opinion largely due to Ashley Williams' summer departure, and I'm backing Boro to win this clash in the race for survival.
Prediction: 1-0
Stoke vs Leicester
Saturday 17th December 2016, 15.00
Stoke are without a win in two following a 0-0 draw at home to Southampton on Wednesday, whilst visitors Leicester arrive still in search of their first away victory in the league this season after a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Mark Hughes will have accepted a point against Southampton, considering the Potters were down to ten men following Marko Arnautovic's straight red card in the 23rd minute. It was Sparky's 400th match as a Premier League manager, a brilliant achievement for the Welshman, and the point gained sees Stoke sat 12th in the table ahead of the champions' visit on Saturday.
Claudio Ranieri's Leicester are so inconsistent this season, the Foxes' 4-2 demolition of Manchester City last weekend now a distant memory as they went down rather limply at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening. Marc Pugh's first-half strike past Ron-Robert Zieler was enough to clinch all three points on offer for Eddie Howe's Bournemouth, leaving Leicester 14th, worryingly just four points above the relegation zone.
Claudio Ranieri will probably be very glad that the January transfer window is approaching. His side are really struggling domestically, and I don't see them picking up their first league win on the road this campaign at Stoke. The Potters themselves are struggling for goals, and I'm backing a low-scoring draw in this one.
Prediction: 1-1
Sunderland vs Watford
Saturday 17th December 2016, 15.00
Sunderland remain bottom and have now lost two in a row after their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in midweek. Watford lost 2-0 at Manchester City, but sit comfortably in mid-table even after that defeat (11th).
David Moyes will be ruing the ability of Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for weeks to come. His side rarely threatened the Belgian stopper, but Patrick van Aanholt must have thought he'd snatched the unlikeliest of draws for the Black Cats in injury-time. What he saw, however, was Courtois fly through the air to tip the left back's half-volley brilliantly past the post, protecting Chelsea's incredible winning run.
Watford were comfortably beaten at the Etihad, but a 2-0 scoreline isn't the worst result in the world against Pep Guardiola's side. Walter Mazzarri will have highlighted this game as potential victory out of the Hornets' two fixtures this week, and Troy Deeney is likely to return to the starting lineup as his hunt for a 100th goal for Watford goes on.
I think that this will be another close game in the Premier League this weekend. Both sides will want to avoid defeat, and I can see them playing out a tight draw at the Stadium of Light.
Prediction: 1-1
West Ham vs Hull
Saturday 17th December 2016, 15.00
West Ham followed up a very good point at Liverpool with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Burnley on Wednesday night. Hull lost 3-0 at Spurs, and are now without a win in their last five league matches.
The Hammers' success over Burnley was their first league win in seven, but it was more comfortable than the 1-0 scoreline suggested. Mark Noble and Pedro Obiang both struck the woodwork, and Aaron Cresswell had an effort blocked on the line. Eventually, Noble's penalty rebound was enough for Slaven Bilic's men, who will be hoping to build on their recent form and put some distance between themselves and the bottom of the Premier League.
Hull's defeat at Tottenham may not have come as a surprise, but Mike Phelan's men do not look capable of winning any match at the moment, and that's a real worry for the 19th-placed Tigers. They will have targeted teams like West Ham as one's that they need to start taking points off of, and might fancy their chances at the London Stadium.
West Ham seem to have turned a corner of late, and I think that their 2-2 draw at Anfield last Sunday could see them really kick on as we enter the Christmas period and New Year. There will be a better atmosphere there on Saturday following victory in midweek, and I don't see Hull leaving London with anything this weekend.
Prediction: 2-0
West Brom vs Manchester United
Saturday 17th December 2016, 17.30
West Brom have now won four of their last six Premier League games and remarkably sit in 7th-place following a 3-1 victory over Swansea at the Hawthorns on Wednesday. Manchester United won for the second successive league match thanks to a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace, and are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games.
Salomon Rondon was the hero for the Baggies, becoming only the second-ever player to bag a headed hat-trick in the Premier League behind Duncan Ferguson. As I said in midweek, Tony Pulis knows how to get his side playing to their strengths, and Matt Phillips and Chris Brunt whipped in some gorgeous deliveries as Rondon downed the Swans.
Manchester United are looking much more threatening in recent weeks, and deserved their victory at Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba each created a goal for the other, with Zlatan's goal coming with two minutes left to play. That result backed up a solid 1-0 victory over Tottenham last weekend, but Mourinho will know that this is no easy test as his side look to make it three wins from three.
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| These two were the heroes last time out for United (Getty Images) |
I don't like going against West Brom at home, but I can see them dropping just a little deeper with United in town, and I think that will benefit the Red Devils. I think it'll be close, but I'm predicting Mourinho's men to get their third straight league victory in Saturday's late kick-off.
Prediction: 1-2
Bournemouth vs Southampton
Sunday 18th December 2016, 13.30
Bournemouth have bounced back from every game that they've lost since 5th October with a victory in their very next game. You could look at this the other way round, of course, but there have been some impressive scalps in that time, most notably on Tuesday night in a 1-0 victory at home to champions Leicester. Southampton made in two matches unbeaten in a 0-0 draw at Stoke on Wednesday.
Bournemouth look a very good side at home, and Marc Pugh's excellent strike earned Eddie Howe's men another three points at the Vitality Stadium. It was a victory that the Cherries deserved, and it was great to hear that Jack Wilshere has already completed more minutes than in any of his other Premier League campaigns. The Englishman is looking very settled in midfield, and is starting to look like the player that ran Barcelona ragged at the Nou Camp as a youngster.
Claude Puel will be disappointed that his side couldn't see off ten-man Stoke at the Bet365 Stadium on Wednesday. That point leaves the Saints in 9th, level on points with Saturday's opponents but a place above them on goal difference.
This should be an entertaining South Coast derby, with both clubs pushing hard for a top-half finish this season. I see the hosts just edging it on Saturday, with fan power playing a huge part at the Vitality.
Prediction: 2-1
Manchester City vs Arsenal
Sunday 18th December 2016, 16.00
Manchester City put a two-game losing streak behind them with a 2-0 win at home to Watford on Wednesday. Arsenal lost for the first time since the opening day (against Liverpool), losing 2-1 to fellow Merseysiders Everton at Goodison Park.
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| Two managerial heavyweights go head-to-head on Sunday (Getty Images) |
City were just too good for Watford on Wednesday, and returned to winning ways at the Etihad thanks to a couple of lovely team goals. Pablo Zabaleta volleyed home at the back post from Kevin de Bruyne's pinpoint cross, before Raheem Sterling teed up David Silva in the second-half to wrap up the win for Pep Guardiola's side. They will be in confident mood ahead of this massive showdown with Arsenal, but will still be without the suspended Sergio Aguero.
Alexis Sanchez scored again for Arsenal at Goodison, but it wasn't enough as the Gunners threw away the lead. Arsenal looked lacklustre after their goal, and allowed Seamus Coleman and Ashley Williams to turn the game on it's head. The last minute at Goodison was one of the best I've ever seen in football; Phil Jagielka was sent off, Petr Cech was inches from getting his head on a free-kick to equalise for Arsenal, Leighton Baines blocked an effort on the line and Everton failed to make it three with Cech out of his goal.
I'm going with the home side in this Super Sunday clash. I was shocked at Arsenal's capitulation at Everton, and I fancy Pep to get the better of Arsene Wenger at the Etihad.
Prediction: 3-1
Tottenham vs Burnley
Sunday 18th December 2016, 16.00
Tottenham bounced back from defeat at Old Trafford a week ago with a thumping 3-0 victory over Hull in midweek. Burnley lost 1-0 at West Ham, and are still without an away win in the league this season.
Christian Eriksen was the star of the show at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. The Dane scored a brace to put Spurs 2-0 up, and was within a whisker of a hat-trick, David Marshall making a decent save onto the post from Eriksen's free-kick, only to see Victor Wanyama smash home the rebound. It was a good response by Spurs following that defeat to Man United, and they now trail 4th-placed Manchester City by just three points.
Burnley are a completely different side away from home to the one we see winning at Turf Moor most weekends. The Clarets offered very little creativity or attacking threat at West Ham on Wednesday, and left the London Stadium with exactly what they deserved - nothing.
Mauricio Pochettino's men are expected to win this game, and I see them doing exactly that. Spurs have some very good attacking options, as we saw in midweek as Moussa Sissoko came in for the rested Son Heung-min, and I see Sean Dyche's side leaving London pointless again on Sunday.
Prediction: 3-0
Everton vs Liverpool
Monday 19th December 2016, 20.00
Everton ended a run of five matches without a victory with that thrilling 2-1 success over Arsenal, whilst Liverpool ended a run of two matches without a win with an impressive 3-0 win at Middlesbrough.
Everton's turnaround against Arsenal was quite extraordinary, as the Toffees had been camped on the edge of their own box until Alexis Sanchez's deflected free-kick gave Arsenal the lead. From then, Ronald Koeman's men just went for it, and headers from defenders Seamus Coleman and Ashley Williams saw Everton earn a thoroughly deserved win. It was a much-needed confidence boost ahead of Monday's Merseyside derby, and it's a game that I'm so excited for.
Adam Lallana ran the game for Liverpool at the Riverside on Wednesday, netting a brace and creating the other for Divock Origi as the Reds ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. Similar to Everton's win, it was the perfect result for Jurgen Klopp's men ahead of the derby at Goodison Park, putting disappointing results against Bournemouth and West Ham behind them. Origi limped out of the game at Boro, but it looks as though he will be alright for Monday which is brilliant news for Klopp; the Belgian has scored five in his last five Liverpool games. His international compatriot Simon Mignolet returned to the starting lineup in place of struggling German Loris Karius, and gave an assured display which should see him retain his spot against Everton.
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| Liverpool's midweek match winners will aim to be the difference again on Monday (Getty Images) |
Both teams enter the match on the back of good wins, which should hopefully make for a very open and entertaining game. At the same time, neither will want to give the other bragging rights, so I'm going for an entertaining draw to close Gameweek 17.
Prediction: 2-2
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