Bournemouth v Spurs (12:30pm)
Bournemouth are much improved in recent weeks, and have only lost once in their last six league games, to Man City. However, they have a tendency to fall apart once they concede to the big teams, and their prize scalp of Everton this season was claimed with a clean sheet behind them. If Spurs can score early, then it could be a long day for Bournemouth. But Spurs have been struggling to score early recently and the longer Bournemouth hold on, the better their chances of nicking a winner. And wouldn't it be brilliant if on loan Gunner Jack Wilshere were to have a huge impact on this game? Nevertheless, you'd have to back the visitors.
Prediction: 1-0 Spurs
Arsenal v Middlesbrough (3pm)
Arsenal are flying. Absolutely flying. You'd imagine that their bubble will have to burst as we head towards the Christmas period, but I don't think that time is coming just yet. Especially with a home game against a Boro side that look short on options in attack. Defensively I don't expect Boro to concede loads, but they will concede enough to comfortably lose this game, with Arsenal as dominant as they have been in recent weeks.
Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal
Burnley v Everton (3pm)
This could be a really tough game for Everton, with Burnley's home form exceptional. Liverpool and Arsenal both found it impossible to break them down at Turf Moor and Everton are going to have to be at their best to even get a point out of this match. Nevertheless, Burnley are on the back of a dismal performance against Southampton and Everton should have enough quality to break them down. And if Everton can score once, it will probably be enough.
Prediction: 0-0
Hull v Stoke (3pm)
Hull are a train wreck right now, the inevitable combustion that we've been waiting for since the start of the season seemingly happening with their 6-1 battering at the hands of Bournemouth. Meanwhile, after a shaky start Stoke are rapidly improving, notching their first win of the season last time out against Sunderland, with Joe Allen at the heart of it. So on form, you'd have to say that an away win is the favoured result. But it could well finish 1-1 as well.
Prediction: 2-1 Stoke
Leicester v Crystal Palace (3pm)
This is a really tough one to call. Leicester have been genuinely awful at some points this season, but fairly decent at others. Moreover, they've been very very good at the King Power, where they've picked up all of their points this season. But Palace also have solid away form, and have secured some good wins this season. I think Leicester will be favourites, but could easily see Palace nicking something off a set piece.
Prediction: 2-1 Leicester
Swansea v Watford (3pm)
Even tougher to predict than Leicester v Palace. Right now, you'd have to say that Watford are favourites, but they are so patchy it's hard to predict what they're going to do. And Swansea have looked much better than their results would indicate against Liverpool, City and Arsenal, but nevertheless haven't won since the opening day. With two dodgy defences but decent attacks, this could be a belter.
Prediction: 2-2
West Ham v Sunderland (3pm)
With West Ham also starting to pick up their form, this game has come at the perfect time for them, as they look to make it two wins on the bounce. Sunderland meanwhile hit a new low with their 2-0 defeat to Stoke, a game that was billed as a relegation dogfight which ended up being incredibly one-sided. You would have to say that West Ham should win this game, maybe even comfortably.
Prediction: 2-0 West Ham
Liverpool v West Brom (5:30pm)
Liverpool's Anfield form has been very good this season, running riot against Hull and Leicester, and their 0-0 draw against United on Monday night, as Jurgen Klopp pointed out, will be very good practice for exactly what they're going to get from Tony Pulis' side tonight. Nine men behind the ball, pump it long to Rondon, look to score off set pieces. Away from home, I'd say that Liverpool might struggle to break down West Brom and that 1-1 would be a solid bet at the Hawthorns, but at Anfield I reckon the home side will have enough in the tank to see this one out, especially with Lallana and hopefully Wijnaldum back. Nevertheless, the probability of Rondon nabbing a goal is very high, so I don't expect this to be an easy one for Liverpool.
Prediction: 2-1 Liverpool
Man City v Southampton (1:30pm Sunday)
This could be a tough game for City, especially on the back of defeats to Spurs and Barca and a draw with Everton. Southampton are a good side and in very good form, with ten points from their last four games. Nevertheless, you would imagine that at the Etihad that City would have enough in the tank to break down the Saints, even when they struggled against the other two best defences in the league in Spurs and Everton. Narrow win for City, but a win nevertheless.
Prediction: 2-1 City
Chelsea v Man United (4pm Sunday)
For United, their draw at Anfield on Monday night has made this game a must-win, with five of the six teams ahead of them all having very winnable fixtures. By the time they kick off on Sunday, they could be eight points behind City and/or Arsenal and seven behind Spurs; a draw against a side that really aren't good enough to be making the top four won't cut it. Nevertheless, I think a draw is the most likely result at the Bridge, with neither team good enough to cause the other enough problems and both teams having similar strengths and weaknesses. If I had to pick one, I'd pick United, but I don't have to pick one so I'm not going to. It's fitting that the Jose derby would end in a draw away from home against a big club.
Prediction: 1-1
The Hard and Fast Section
- The England/Bangladesh test finely poised.
- The All-Blacks are just on another level.
- F1 hotting up. Four races to go. US this weekend.
- Konta to probably miss WTA finals. Gutting.
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