The Premier League enters the 15th gameweek this season and the drama and tension is set to resume. The weekend’s opening fixture will be at Vicarage road with Watford taking on Everton before a host of fixtures gets underway.
League leaders Chelsea play on Sunday and will have the advantage of knowing what result will be enough to ensure their stay at the top with contenders City and Arsenal playing on Saturday. Liverpool finish off this weekend’s fixture as they welcome West Ham United to Anfield. The Reds themselves will look to bounce back after their defeat at Bournemouth where they let slip a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3.
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However, all eyes will be on Manchester United as they welcome Spurs to Old Trafford, knowing that anything less than a victory is sure to be met with more fierce criticism. Six points separate the sides and both teams have already fallen out of the Champions League places. A victory for either side will be a shot in the arm ahead of the hectic Christmas period.
#1 Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Carrick holds the key in a tight fixture
Known for his passing ability, Michael Carrick still controls games from midfield even at the age of 35, and it should be a matter of concern for United when two of their best performing players in the squad are both 35, i.e. Ibrahimovic and Carrick.
United are a completely different team with the presence of Carrick in midfield and the points average and win ratio increases when Carrick starts games.
However, Pochettino’s side, which prefers the high-press, is sure to disturb Carrick’s passing style, and it will be interesting to see whether Mourinho starts with the Englishman. Carrick was rested for the Europa league tie and Red Devils fans will hope that Carrick’s incisive forward passes will be on display and will be able to counter the hard-pressing, relentless running of the Spurs team.
Match Prediction: Manchester United 1 v 2 Tottenham Hotspur
#2 Arsenal vs Stoke City: Potters have new verve
From being the long-ball team, Stoke City have come a long way. Having established themselves as a side which relied on long balls and set pieces for their attacking inputs, the team now has the likes of Shaqiri, Bojan and Arnautovic for creativity and goals.
The Potters have become more of a threat from open play and the improvement in attacking terms is noticeable as they finished with 39 goals from open play last season. Mark Hughes has been instrumental in this transformation and his side will travel to the Emirates knowing that the Gunners are susceptible to the occasional defensive lapse.
However, Arsenal’s blistering form will make them favourites for this fixture and Arsene Wenger will hope that the high of topping their Champions League group rubs off on their performance. The Gunners will play ahead of Chelsea this weekend and anything less than a win is sure to get tongues wagging at the Emirates.
Match Prediction: Arsenal 3 v 1 Stoke City
#3 Watford v Everton: Koeman desperate for a victory
Everton’s failure to win any of their last 4 fixtures means that Ronald Koeman’s side have slid down the table after an impressive start to their campaign. However, the nadir of this slide was the 5-0 loss at Stamford Bridge, which left the team clueless and helpless.
Since then, confidence has been gradually restored and the late rally by Everton to grab a draw against Manchester United should be a morale-booster for the squad. Koeman will hope that he can channel that positive display into a win when they visit Vicarage Road on Saturday.
The Hornets, who were bullied into submission by West Bromwich Albion last weekend, will hope to make use of familiar territory to get a better result. Although both sides are separated by just 2 points, it is the Hornets who seem to be enjoying their football far more this season than their visitors this weekend.
Match Prediction: Watford 1 v 1 Everton
#4 Leicester City vs Manchester City: Champions look to arrest appalling slide
The Foxes were humiliated in Europe this week after Porto thrashed them 5-0 on the night. After the game, the genial Italian, Claudio Ranieri shouldered the blame for his team’s poor performance stating, “I decided to change the team - the result is my fault. I have no regrets because I wanted to give an opportunity to all my players.”
The Foxes are now without a win in their last 5 fixtures and last weekend’s defeat against Sunderland leaves them only 2 points above the relegation zone. While their European campaign has been superb, it is the league form which should worry Leicester City fans.
And to make matters more challenging, they welcome Manchester City, who themselves are looking to strike back after an ill-tempered 3-1 defeat to Chelsea last weekend. Ranieri, who rested key players against Porto will hope that his teams A lister’s such as Vardy and Mahrez are up to the task if they are to avoid further acrimony.
Match Prediction: Leicester City 1 v 2 Manchester City
#5 Swansea City vs Sunderland: Moyes’s charges have the opportunity to pull away
The Black Cats' impressive run of form which includes 3 victories from their last 4 matches has enabled them to rise up from the bottom of the table. And this weekend’s fixture at the Liberty Stadium provides them further opportunity to pull away from the relegation zone as well.
The Swans, on the other hand, have stuttered, and barring the freak win against Crystal Palace, haven’t shown what it takes to stay in the Premier League this season. Bob Bradley, the American manager drafted in to save Swansea is trying his best to keep his team afloat.
However, given his lack of experience in the Premier League, one hopes that he quickly figures out his best team before further gaps open up between the relegation places and the safe zone.
Match Prediction: Swansea City 2 v 2 Sunderland
#6 Hull City vs Crystal Palace: Tigers battling the odds
For their entire endeavour, Hull City have been unable to chalk up results which would have kept them outside the relegation zone. But Phelan’s team continues to battle and grind it out this campaign. The Tigers have consistently punched above their weight this campaign and have put on displays which have been noteworthy.
However, football is a result-based business and in that context, the gains haven’t been that much. Palace, on the other hand, cut their losing streak against Southampton last weekend and will arrive on the back of some much-needed confidence.
Benteke was fortunate to bag a brace last weekend and the Belgian will once again need to be at his best if Palace are to create distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Match Prediction: Hull City 1 v 0 Crystal Palace
#7 Burnley vs Bournemouth: Home form the key to survival for Dyche
As far as home form goes, Burnley has been impressive, to say the least. Both sides who square up against each other on Saturday understand the importance of home form if they are to ensure survival this term.
Burnley have picked up a solitary point on their travels this season and this makes them over-reliant on their home form which has so far yielded the rest of the points. This fixture also sees a battle between the English managers Dyche and Howe, who are arguably the finest English coaches currently.
Howe will hope to take the momentum of last weekend’s comeback victory over Liverpool into this fixture as his side looks for their second win on their travels this season.
Match Prediction: Burnley 2 v 1 Bournemouth
#8 Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion: Pulis’s sides are no more boring
Tony Pulis has always been noted for his defensive organisation of his teams than their attacking displays. But growing discontentment among fans meant that Pulis has had to shake things up a little when it comes to team selection.
Rondon, a lonesome figure last season now has Phillips, Morrison and Brunt for company up front, which is keeping out the likes of Chadli. Pulis understands the need for attacking football and hopes that this attacking persona of his team will attract more players. Speaking after last weekend’s victory against Watford, Pulis stated, “It gives us a chance now to hopefully get a couple [of players] in the window.”
It is highly unlikely that they will set up as an attacking unit against Chelsea as the Blues know a thing or two about attacking. However, the recent styles of play of both teams suggest we might just be in for one of the most open matches this weekend.
Match Prediction: Chelsea 3 v 1 West Bromwich Albion
#9 Southampton vs Middlesbrough: Saints look to put European disappointment behind them
Claude Puel’s men seemed distracted last weekend as Crystal Palace blanked his side 3-0. The Saints may have had their mind on the Europa League game against Hapoel Be’er Sheva which would have ensured their progress into the round of 32.
Unfortunately, things haven’t worked out for them and now they find themselves out of Europe and are now in line with a tie against a resurgent Middlesbrough side. Puel speaking after the game summed up the disappointment of the exit stating, “Tonight it’s difficult to find a good word. It’s a big disappointment for the club, the fans and the players also.”
Puel though will hope that his side can bounce back from this defeat if his side is to entertain European football at St. Mary’s next campaign. Puel did have words of encouragement for his players as he stated, “We need to come back with a good spirit and it’s a strong challenge now to give a good answer. Many teams are eliminated and come back with a strong spirit. It’s disappointing for the staff and players, we were ambitious for this competition and now our mission is in the Premier League.”
Match Prediction: Southampton 1 v 1 Middlesbrough
#10 Liverpool vs West Ham United: Klopp will not entertain any excuses
Slipping up against Bournemouth after taking a 3-1 lead is not what Klopp had in mind when he visited the south-coast club last Sunday. However, defensive errors once again undermined the attacking riches that are present at Liverpool.
After the game, Klopp refused to play the blame game and instead defended his keeper Karius who looked jittery all evening. Klopp’s frustration was evident in the aftermath as he stated, “We gave the game away, and the boys know that”
And Klopp’s boys will surely look to make it up as they welcome West Ham United on Sunday. The Hammers are having their own season of horrors as they look for their first win in 5 games. Bilic has set his team a top-ten target this season and stated recently, “We are in a position we are not happy with and where we have to bite our nails. We are not directly talking about relegation but straight after your game you have to look at the results here and the results there. It's not ideal.”
The Croat has the support of the board and he knows it, however, if results don’t pick up soon, then Bilic may be shown the exit door.
Match Prediction: Liverpool 4 v 2 West Ham United
