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SATURDAY
BURNLEY vs EVERTON (1230 ko)
It's one of those strange quirks of football statistics that Everton have not kept a clean sheet at Burnley since 1958. The onus is on deadly-dull Burnley to keep a clean sheet today, as they’re bottom but one and have scored just four goals all season. Everton haven’t kept a clean sheet since September, but will surely see this as an opportunity to get back to winning ways after a disappointing last couple of months. Away win.
MANCHESTER CITY vs FULHAM (1500)
Has Fulham’s star finally risen? They came away from Leicester last time out with all three points, something that some may have wished for but nobody of sane mind had expected. Three weeks before that, they gave us a tough game and were probably unlucky to have left emptyhanded. City are a different proposition, though, and normal service is likely to be restored. Home win.
WEST HAM UNITED vs MANCHESTER UNITED (1730)
This will be a test, whatever Man U’s current predicament. They’ve won their last eight games on the road and the dangerous Bruno Fernandes is on fire. Despite advancing years, Cavani’s predatory instinct presents a constant threat that our defence will have to guard against from the first second of his appearance. Antonio’s hamstring again rules him out, while Yarmo may be in contention. We’re in good form, confidence is high (as are, increasingly, expectations), and we’re good enough to win, depending on which West Ham and which Man U side turn up. A great opportunity for Haller to show what he’s made of. As for who leaves with the points, as Solomon said: let them be divided.* Draw.
CHELSEA vs LEEDS UNITED (2000)
Historically, two of football’s naughty boys meet at Stamford Bridge. Both sides are capable of playing an entertaining game and, with luck, will serve up a feast this evening. It’s hard to see anything other than a home win.
SUNDAY
WEST BROMWICH ALBION vs CRYSTAL PALACE (1200)
What a boring sounding game. Home win.
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs LEICESTER CITY (1425)
The Blades have lost their cutting edge. A quarter of the way through the season, they sit firmly at the bottom of the pile with just one point to show for their endeavours thus far and six points off the safety of seventeenth which is currently occupied by an abject Fulham side. The Foxes will want to consolidate their top-four spot, but will have their work cut out at Bramall Lane. Discipline’s the name of the game. Away win.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs ARSENAL (1630)
They’ve been going on about this already for a week or more. The hosts are in unaccustomed territory at the top of the table, while Arsenal languish four places above the drop zone. The winter heat will radiate ever stronger at Mikhel Arteta should his side play like we did in the first half at Spurs. Expect much smugness at the Tottenham Stadium or whatever it’s called at full time. Home win.
LIVERPOOL vs WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (1915)
The pick of the day’s games sees a meeting of two decent footballing sides. But also of two contrasting managerial styles. There’s the zen-like philosophy of the greater-bearded Nuno Espirito Santo and the Wenger-like bad loser spirit of the lesser-bearded and currently much-aggrieved Jurgen Klopp. It’s that quality of Klopp’s, however irritating it may be, that seems to be a key component in the character of successful Premier League managers. Just ask Fergie. Home win.
MONDAY
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs SOUTHAMPTON (2000)
The influential Danny Ings remains sidelined by injury, but the Saints have done pretty well without him. “we trained and played with the same style,” recalls Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross of his time under the Austrian at FC Ingolstadt 04. “Really aggressive, trying to press and force mistakes, then quick balls into the strikers when the defence is not organised to get some chances." He has instilled a strong sense of purpose at St Mary’s. As has Graham Potter at Brighton, which suggests that organisation and discipline will the hallmarks of this game. But with the wind firmly in their sails, you wouldn’t fancy Southampton to drop points this evening. Away win.
* No pedantry please, Ron. It’s poetry, of sorts.
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