PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS SATURDAY DECEMBER 5 – MONDAY DECEMBER 7

Stoke City v Manchester City – Saturday 1245

Positions: Stoke 12^th, Man City 1^st

Form: (League matches only – earliest matches first):

Stoke

WLDWWL (10pts)

Man City

WDWDLW (11pts)

• Stoke stand only one point behind City in the form table, but their knack of winning by one goal (which is the case for all five of their league wins this season) will be sorely tested by the league leaders and highest scorers. Off the field this week, new investment from China has provided a boost for City.

Arsenal v Sunderland – Saturday 1500

Positions: Arsenal 4^th, Sunderland 17^th

Form:

Arsenal

WWWDLD (11pts)

Sunderland

LWLLWW (9pts)

• Recent results may not quite be enough to make Sunderland favourites, but if you are seeking a potential upset in this round of matches, is this the one? Sunderland have won the last two while Arsenal have no win in three, and Arsenal’s injury list has grown, with additional concerns over Santi Cazorla, Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sanchez after last week’s failure to see off lowly Norwich.

Manchester United v West Ham United – Saturday 1500

Positions: Man Utd 3^rd, West Ham 8^th

Form:

Man Utd

WDDWWD (12pts)

West Ham

WWLDLD (8pts)

• West Ham’s good start appears to be fading. They have no win in four, and a trip to Old Trafford, where United have still conceded just one league goal this season, is a daunting prospect. An injury to Diafra Sakho is being assessed, and if he joins Dimitri Payet in facing a lengthy absence, it will be a major blow to the Hammers.

Southampton v Aston Villa – Saturday 1500

Positions: Southampton 10^th, Aston Villa 20^th

Form:

Southampton

DDWWLL (8pts)

Aston Villa

LLLDLL (1pt)

• If Aston Villa stay up, they will be the first team in Premier League history to achieve this after only getting five points from their first 14 matches. Optimists amongst the Villa faithful will note that Southampton have lost their last two league matches, and were thrashed in the League Cup, but there is little in Vila’s own form to provide much cause for hope.

Swansea City v Leicester City – Saturday 1500

Positions: Swansea 15^th, Leicester 2^nd

Swansea

LWLLDL (4pts)

Leicester

DWWWWD (14pts)

• After this match, Leicester face a tough December programme that could go a long way to demonstrating whether they really can challenge for honours. For now, they take their unbeaten away record to struggling Swansea, and all eyes will again be on Jamie Vardy. After claiming outright the Premier League record of scoring in 11 consecutive matches, he now needs to score here to equal the all time top flight record of 12 matches, achieved by Sheffield United’s Jimmy Dunne in 1931-32.

Watford v Norwich City – Saturday 1500

Positions: Watford 11^th, Norwich 16^th

Form:

Watford

LWWLLW (9pts)

Norwich

LLLWLD (4pts)

• Norwich are not in good form when we look at their last six matches, but they were at least as good as their more illustrious opponents in drawing with Arsenal, and the trip to Watford is certainly winnable if they can continue the form they showed last Sunday.

West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur – Saturday 1500

Positions: West Brom 13^th, Tottenham 5^th

Form:

West Brom

WWLLWD (10pts)

Tottenham

DWWDWD (12pts)

• Tottenham have been tough opponents for everyone this season. They are still unbeaten when goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has played, and the all-Belgian centre back pair of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are also in excellent form. West Brom may find chances hard to come by against the club with the second best defensive record, and may need to summon up the same spirit they showed to beat Arsenal two weeks earlier.

Chelsea v Bournemouth – Saturday 1730

Positions: Chelsea 14^th, Bournemouth 18^th

Form:

Chelsea

WLLLWD (7pts)

Bournemouth

LLLLDD (2pts)

• For all their problems this season, Chelsea have to be favourites here. Bournemouth have conceded an average of three goals per game in their last six and have not won in nine, and the Cherries’ best hope might be the fact that they showed enough spirit to twice come from behind in drawing with Everton last week.

Newcastle United v Liverpool – Sunday 1600

Positions: Newcastle 19^th, Liverpool 6^th

Newcastle

WLDWLL (7pts)

Liverpool

DDWLWW (11pts)

• The Sky cameras have been a regular presence at this match ever since the clubs served up two 4-3 matches in the mid 1990s. A repeat for the Sunday TV audience looks unlikely, as since scoring six against Norwich, Newcastle have mustered just two goals in five matches. Their defensive effort in last week’s 5-1 defeat by Crystal Palace was perhaps their most worrying performance yet, and in-form Liverpool will fancy their chances.

Everton v Crystal Palace – Monday 2000

Positions:

Everton 9^th, Crystal Palace 7th

Form:

Everton

LLWDWD (8pts)

Crystal Palace

LLDWLW (7pts)

• A difficult match to predict between two inconsistent sides. Either side could take the points if they play to their full potential, but a draw may be more likely. Everton’s two wins in their last seven have been against bottom four clubs, while Palace’s two wins in the last six have been against lowly Newcastle and a Liverpool side fatigued by a Europa League jaunt.