Premier League Week #17: Arsenal vs Manchester City & All The Upcoming Games
Each week, I preview the latest round of Premier League fixtures, provide where to watch your team, kick-off times, and a detailed analysis on what might happen.
Let me know in the comments if you think I’m way off or spot on!
Saturday
Liverpool vs Watford (12.30pm GMT, BT Sport 1 HD)
Liverpool find themselves in a patchy phase where the football isn’t the expected elegant play we have to come to expect from the Champions Elect.
The defence is leaking goals.
Before last Saturday’s 3–0 win at Bournemouth, the Reds had not kept a clean sheet since late September.
They made it two in three days at Salzburg on Tuesday night (goalkeeper, Alisson, explained to the Liverpool blog how the clean sheets have come back here) but it remains to be seen whether this defensive form will continue.
This does mean that the Watford game comes rather timely.
The Hornets remain bottom of the Premier League and the lowest scorers in the division.
Everything points to a Liverpool win and a Liverpool clean sheet.
Despite the patchy performances as a team, there have been some standout moments from individuals recently.
Mo Salah’s fine finish against the odds against Salzburg reminded us that he is still the Egyptian king.
Sadio Mane and Divock Origi continue to find the back of the net.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is enjoying a good amount of game time and Naby Keita looks a player reborn after scoring two in his last two.
Prediction: Liverpool 3–0 Watford
Burnley vs Newcastle United (3pm GMT, NBC Sports Gold)
Burnley and Newcastle have been the yoyos of the Premier League so far.
This is quite rightly reflected in their positions in the table.
Both teams average just over a goal per game but Newcastle’s top scorer is none other than Jonjo Shelvey with five from midfield, including last week’s controversial VAR goal at Sheffield United.
Allan Saint-Maximin, the striker bought in to solve Newcastle’s goal woes, remains out injured after coming off in the final minutes in the game prior, against Southampton.
Andy Carroll continues to get minutes but has never been prolific, even when fit.
So it really does lie with Jonjo Shelvey.
Burnley, on the other hand, suffer issues at the other end.
Up top, Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes have totted up six goals each this season in the Premier League.
At the back, the formerly dependable back five has been jittery.
Burnley have conceded seven in their last two games, and seventeen in their last six games.
Nick Pope, no doubt a highly talented keeper, appears low on confidence after leaking two goals that he would have saved 99 times out of 100.
But…
With shots being peppered at him at a rate of knots, due to the out of form Burnley defence being all at sea, a Newcastle team with a strikeforce boasting a combined total of 0 goals is a welcome sight to the Burnley stopper.
The Magpies lack of goal threat could bring welcome relief to the Clarets this weekend.
Prediction: Burnley 1–0 Newcastle United
Chelsea vs Bournemouth (3pm GMT, Chelsea TV Online)
Following standout performances from Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham against Lille in the Europa League this week, Chelsea will be firm favorites going into this weekend’s clash with out of form Bournemouth.
Since beating Manchester United at the beginning of November, the Cherries have suffered five straight defeats.
Goals aren’t the biggest issue at Bournemouth and the Chelsea defence isn’t exactly watertight at the moment so do expect goals.
Arguably their best defender this season, Fikayo Tomori is a major doubt again for this weekend.
Chelsea have only kept three clean sheet all season — even when he was in the team.
With goals going in at both ends for both teams, this seems a match fit for television viewing.
That said, it’ll probably be 0–0 now.
Prediction: Chelsea 3–1 Bournemouth
Leicester City vs Norwich City (3pm GMT, beIN Sports)
Leicester City are, without doubt, the most enjoyable team to watch in the Premier League right now — and they are flying!
Ben Chilwell has proven me wrong this season, bombing forward from the back and becoming an assist merchant.
They haven’t really really missed Harry Maguire.
James Maddison has looked like Cristiano Ronaldo at times.
Jamie Vardy has been Jamie Vardy.
Even Kelechi Iheanacho is banging in the goals.
So, what can Norwich do about it?
The answer in all likelihood is not a lot.
Norwich are short on firepower, low on confidence.
Only Southampton have conceded more (although there is the 9–0 anomaly/catastrophe against Leicester).
It could well be a repeat performance of the punishment that the Foxes dished out that day.
Prediction: Leicester City 3–0 Norwich City
Sheffield United vs Aston Villa (3pm GMT, Live Stream on bet365 for existing customers)
Sheffield United have done what many thought Aston Villa would do this year…well.
They sit 8th in the Premier League table, having conceded the third-fewest goals in the division.
Villa have developed the habit of playing well without delivering an end result — a nasty habit that is seldom tolerated at the highest level.
With a tricky Christmas period approaching, it should be all hands to the pump at Villa and a big performance (that converts) has looked just around the corner in all their recent games.
With both also battling for the pride of the promoted teams, this looks to be a genuine battle of teams with completely different styles of play mixing in the Premier League.
Prediction: Sheffield United 1–1 Aston Villa
Southampton vs West Ham United (5.30pm GMT, Sky Sports Premier League)
Southampton have threatened to turn around their diabolical first half of the season, whereas West Ham seem to be rapidly going backwards.
Looking at the Premier League table, only the 9–0 drubbing by Leicester City separates Southampton from West Ham.
West Ham’s squad should see one or two individuals shine more often than we’ve witnessed but Southampton could be the ideal game to kick off a purple patch for the likes of Sebastien Haller, Felipe Anderson, and Michail Antonio.
Danny Ings isn’t shy of goals for the Saints this season and James Ward-Prowse can snap up any set piece opportunity so we could easily see goals at both ends.
Prediction: Southampton 1–3 West Ham United
Sunday
Manchester United vs Everton (2pm GMT, Sky Sports Main Event)
It would be tough to say that United have turned their season around without rolling your eyes.
But, their performance in the Manchester derby was nothing short of perfect for two thirds of the game.
If you remember the days of Phil Jones being touted as the best centre back in the world, he earned this short-lived reputation because he was given a clear instruction to go and mark a certain player out of the game.
This is how United setup against City and it paid dividends. They had a plan and stuck to it.
It is unlikely the same mentality will be applied against Everton, who do not pose the same attacking threat as City.
This could be United’s downfall.
Despite not possessing the attacking prowess of City, Everton arrive at Old Trafford off the back of an inspiring performance against Chelsea, and under the steer of Duncan Ferguson, will be in tremendously high spirits.
This one really could go either way with the form book totally out the window.
Prediction: Manchester United 1–1 Everton
Wolverhampton Wanders vs Tottenham Hotspur (2pm GMT, beIN Sports)
With a combined 49 goals in their last 6 games, you’ll feel shortchanged if this game doesn’t deliver.
Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are on fire for Spurs and Dele Alli is experiencing a new lease of life under Jose Mourinho.
However, Mourinho’s speciality, defence, is yet to feature in any of his teams’ performances since he took over.
With that in mind, and Wolves fresh from drubbing Besiktas 4–0 in the Europa League, I can’t really see anything other than goals.
Wolves’ defensive record is better at home but Spurs’ firepower should see them breakthrough more than once.
Prediction: Wolves 2–2 Spurs
Arsenal vs Manchester City (4.30pm GMT, Sky Sports Main Event)
City have scored 44 goals this season and this game should be no different.
Despite Gabriel Jesus confessing he is feeling the pressure of filling Sergio Aguero’s boots while the Argentine is out injured, the Europa League is proving a great confidence booster for the Brazilian.
Arsenal’s constant defensive woes shouldn’t do too much to dent Jesus’ confidence this weekend.
Without Jesus’ contributions up top, City still don’t have too much to worry about in the goals department. The attacking options in midfield like Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, and Riyad Mahrez should all prove too hot for Arsenal to handle.
Arsenal are undergoing a period of transition under caretaker, Freddie Ljunberg, and squad rotation is the only constant.
Gabriel Martinelli is the best news coming out of The Emirates Stadium right now, but this might be a step too far too soon for the youngster.
Prediction: Arsenal 1–2 Manchester City
Monday
Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion (7.45pm GMT, Sky Sports Main Event)
Palace are another one of those teams that looks like stringing some form together then capitulating.
After showing a spirited performance against Bournemouth with 10 men, a 2–0 loss at Chelsea and a goalless draw at home to Watford leaves a lot to be desired.
Brighton, on the other hand, showed great resolve in their 2–1 loss at Liverpool and were unfortunate not to earn at least point.
This was followed up by a solid point against a free-scoring Wolves team.
Neil Mapauy looks to have found his shooting boots and Brighton should go into this local derby without fear.
That said, Selhurst Park becomes a fortress of magnificent sound in derby games and the Eagles fans will provide a much needed 12th man.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1–1 Brighton & Hove Albion
See you next week.
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