PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS SATURDAY DECEMBER 19 – MONDAY DECEMBER 21

Chelsea v Sunderland – Saturday 1500

Positions: Chelsea 16^th, Sunderland 19^th

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

Chelsea

LLWDLL (4pts)

Sunderland

LLWWLL (6pts)

• Life after Jose Mourinho begins here, so how will Chelsea’s players react? With the halfway mark of the season approaching, champions Chelsea really are just one point above the relegation zone. This match represents one of their best chances of a win, but with Chelsea’s results this season, anything is possible.

Everton v Leicester City – Saturday 1500

Positions: Everton 10^th, Leicester 1^st

Form:

Everton

WDWDDD (10pts)

Leicester

WWWDWW (16pts)

• The Leicester fairytale continues after their Monday night win over Chelsea. However, Everton are building an unbeaten run – albeit one consisting largely of draws – and the Foxes may find them a tough nut to crack

Manchester United v Norwich City– Saturday 1500

Positions: Man Utd 4^th, Norwich 18^th

Form:

Man Utd

DWWDDL (9pts)

Norwich

LWLDLD (5pts)

• Norwich remain on a poor run of results, and United must be favourites. However, again United will go into the game short on confidence, with no win in three, goals in short supply and a significant injury list.

Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur – Saturday 1500

Positions: Southampton 12^th, Tottenham 5^th

Form:

Southampton

WWLLDL (7pts)

Tottenham

WDWDDL (9pts)

• Tottenham’s 14 match unbeaten run ended last week, but they have had a free week this time around, whereas for the Newcastle match they had a tough Europa League encounter just three days previously. This means Mauricio Pochettino’s team are probably favourites against a Southampton team with no win in four.

Stoke City v Crystal Palace – Saturday 1500

Positions: Stoke 11^th, Crystal Palace 6^th

Form:

Stoke

DWWLWD (11pts)

Crystal Palace

DWLWDW (11pts)

• Both sides go into the match brimming with confidence, with Stoke having recorded six wins in the last ten, in spite of being the joint lowest scorers in the league. With both sides tough to beat, maybe a draw is the most likely outcome here. It may also not be a goal fest, with both teams looking solid at the back.

West Bromwich Albion v Bournemouth – Saturday 1500

Positions: West Brom 13^th, Bournemouth 14^th

Form:

West Brom

LLWDDD (6pts)

Bournemouth

LLDDWW (8pts)

• A change in fortunes for these sides in recent weeks has seen Albion fall to 13^th, and Bournemouth rise to 14^th. A few weeks ago, things looked gloomy down on the south coast, but after their wins over Chelsea and Man Utd, Bournemouth will be confident of more success here.

Newcastle United v Aston Villa – Saturday 1730

Positions: Newcastle 15^th, Aston Villa 20^th

Form:

Newcastle

DWLLWW (10pts)

Aston Villa

LDLLDL (2pts)

• Aston Villa may now need to win almost half of their remaining matches to reach the normal 40 points safety mark. On one hand, this marks the start of a run of games against other teams from the lower reaches of the table, but with Newcastle’s improved form, Villa may be struggling to get anything from this match.

Watford v Liverpool – Sunday 1330

Positions: Watford 7^th, Liverpool 9^th

Form:

Watford

WLLWWW (12pts)

Liverpool

WLWWLL (9pts)

• For all the optimism Jurgen Klopp has brought to Anfield, his team actually have an identical record in the eight matches he has taken charge of when compared to the first eight matches of the season. Two defeats in the last two have left them 11 points off the pace and five short of the Champions League places. Watford are of course another of the teams who are exceeding early season expectations, and a tough game is in store for Liverpool, but the Reds certainly have the players to win this match.

West Ham United v Swansea City – Sunday 1600

Positions: West Ham 8^th, Swansea 17^th

Form:

West Ham

LDLDDD (4pts)

Swansea

LLDLLL (1pt)

• West Ham’s good start to the season appears to be fading, but it would still be a brave person who backed Swansea. Garry Monk has paid the price for the worst form in the division, and the Swans go into this game without a replacement at the time of writing. Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa is now spoken of as the favourite to take over.

Arsenal v Manchester City – Monday 2000

Positions: Arsenal 2^nd, Man City 3rd

Form:

Arsenal

WDLDWW (11pts)

Man City

WDLWLW (10pts)

• Both teams have suffered badly with injuries, in spite of their favourable league positions. A thrilling encounter could be in store, but City have a markedly worse record when Vincent Kompany is absent, so can the in-form Olivier Giroud and his team mates exploit this weakness and claim the points? Both Kompany and Sergio Aguero may return for City, but a late decision will be made here.