Sunderland v Arsenal (12:30pm Saturday)
Arsenal travel to Sunderland on the back of eight games unbeaten in the league, and having won six of their last seven. Sunderland on the other hand, are yet to secure their first win this season. You would imagine that this one is as predictable as they come, and to be honest I have no confidence that Sunderland's defence can keep out Arsenal's dangerous triumvirate of Ozil, Sanchez and Walcott. Arsenal are due to hit a bad run of form sooner or later, but given the Gunners' abysmal November form, I'm going to give them one more weekend. The Black Cats really could be in for a hammering here. That said, Jermain Defoe is due a goal against Arsenal; he hasn't scored against them in over a decade.
Prediction: 4-1 Arsenal
Man United v Burnley (3pm)
Without a win in three in the league, this could be the perfect chance for United to get back to winning ways, given that Burnley have conceded three in each of their three away games this season, and have a record of three defeats with an aggregate score of 9-1. United's home form may be patchy in the league this season, but only Man City have beaten them in all competitions at Old Trafford since Southampton in January. This should be a walkover.
Prediction: 3-0 United
Middlesbrough v Bournemouth (3pm)
Bournemouth are in fine form in the league at the moment, with their only defeat in their last seven coming at the hands of league leaders Manchester City. However, they are yet to win away from home this season, and Boro are in increasingly desperate need of points, having beaten only Sunderland this season. I fancy this one to be a really tight contest, and probably but I think if anyone's going to nick it, then it'll be Bournemouth.
Prediction: 1-1
Spurs v Leicester (3pm)
This is another home banker. Leicester away from home this season are four defeats in four, having shipped eleven goals to Liverpool, United and Chelsea. Spurs are looking to get back to winning ways, after drawing their last two games and are without a win in four games in all competitions, and certainly have the firepower to make a woeful Leicester defence suffer away from the King Power. Only Liverpool have come to White Hart Lane this season and even scored, let alone picked up a result, so Leicester will probably fail to find the net.
Prediction: 2-0 Spurs
Watford v Hull (3pm)
Hull are in serious danger of having the wheels come off. Their fifth defeat in a row to Stoke sent them into the relegation zone and their last two away games saw them ship a mind-blowing eleven goals. Watford meanwhile have been blowing hot and cold in both attack and defence last season, as evidenced by the fact that they've picked up 2-2 and 0-0 draws in their last three games. But against a Hull side with no discipline or organisation, Watford should pick up an easy win.
Prediction: 3-1 Watford
West Brom v Man City (3pm)
This is a fascinating one to be honest. After six games without a win, the pressure is really on Pep's City side. West Brom don't score or concede that many goals, and might fancy themselves to pinch another 1-1 draw here, as they have in three of their last four games, but Liverpool showed last week at Anfield that defensively this West Brom side can't cope with a team that presses well and has plenty of pace and aggression in its attack. This is a winnable game for City, and if they turn up to the races, then they should win it.
Prediction: 2-1 City
Crystal Palace v Liverpool (5:30pm)
Palace have been something of a bogey team for Liverpool in recent years. The infamous 3-3, the three straight league defeats that followed it, including one very near the end of Brendan Rodgers' rein, make this fixture one that stings for Liverpool fans. However, Liverpool have won on their last two trips to Selhurst Park, and have only lost one game there since Palace got promoted in 2013. Overall, this is the sort of game that Liverpool need to go into with confidence, and if they act as if they have broken their Palace hoodoo, they will have broken it. On paper, Palace look set to hit a bad run of form, and Liverpool have the team to take advantage. And the psychological element remains important, and it will be interesting to see how earlier results affect Liverpool's mindset. Will Christian Benteke come back to haunt Jurgen Klopp?
Prediction: 2-1 Liverpool
Everton v West Ham (1:30pm Sunday)
The first of Sunday's double header sees a recovering West Ham travel to Goodison Park. The Hammers have back to back league wins under their belts to steady their slide down the table, both 1-0 victories. But it remains to be seen whether their defence can cope with the pressure if they concede, and both of Everton's defeats this season have come away from home. You would say that the home side remain heavy favourites for this one, and I think that they'll give West Ham a real reality check.
Prediction: 3-0 Everton
Southampton v Chelsea (4pm Sunday)
Since switching to 3-4-3, Chelsea have been blazing a trail of fire up the Premier League, scoring nine goals without conceding in the three games since losing to Arsenal to move back within a point of the top three. On the other hand, Saints remain unbeaten after drawing with Man City, and are themselves in the scrap for European places. I think that Southampton will prove a tough nut for Chelsea to crack, and I think that Saints are favourites for this one, although I think it will be a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Stoke v Swansea (8pm Monday)
Back to back wins against dross opposition have lifted Stoke out of the drop zone, whilst Swansea's defeats to the top three have seen them fall into it. Despite not winning since the opening day, Swansea have not looked like a bad side and sooner or later you have to feel that they will arrest their slide, whilst Stoke might be sitting a little more comfortably after their recent good results. I fancy the Swans to nick something in this game.
Prediction: 1-0 Swansea
The Hard and Fast Section
- Tamim hundred. Moeen strikes. Bangladesh collapse. Advantage England.
- Will Rosberg take the title this weekend? Unlikely.
- Pulis commits future to West Brom. Interesting.
- Big Sam to Wolves? Stranger things...
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