Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland –
Saturday 1245
Positions:
Tottenham 4th, Sunderland 18th
Form (last
six matches – League only – earliest matches first):
Tottenham
LWWWDL
(10pts)
Sunderland
LLLLWW
(6pts)
Sunderland
have scored seven – with Jermaine Defoe getting five of them – in winning their
last two matches. However, those were against other sides near the bottom, and
scoring against the league’s best defence will be a much harder task. Tottenham
have suffered two of their three defeats this
season in their last six matches, but are likely to start as favourites
given Sunderland’s failure to keep a clean sheet in seven matches.
January
transfer window new signings:
Sunderland
– Dame N’Doye (forward, Trabzonspor, loan) – awaiting work permit
Bournemouth v Norwich City – Saturday
1500
Positions:
Bournemouth 16th, Norwich 15th
Form:
Bournemouth
WWDLDL
(8pts)
Norwich
DWLWWL
(10pts)
Two
inconsistent sides meet here, and after three wins on the bounce, the Cherries
gave gone four without a win. But will this be the match in which their new
forward signings will come to the fore, and will Norwich suffer?
January
transfer window new signings:
Bournemouth
– Benik Afobe (forward, Wolves, £9m), Lewis Grabban (forward, Norwich, £7m),
Juan Iturbe (forward, Roma, loan)
Norwich –
Ivo Pinto (defender, Dinamo Zagreb)
Chelsea v Everton – Saturday 1500
Positions:
Chelsea 14th, Everton 11th
Form:
Chelsea
LWDDWD
(9pts)
Everton
DLWLDD
(6pts)
We
may still not be seeing vintage Chelsea, but they are now unbeaten in five for
the first time this season. Everton remain inconsistent, but grabbed a
creditable point at Manchester City on Wednesday, and the smart money might be
on another draw here.
January
transfer window new signings:
Everton -
Shani Tarashaj (forward, Grasshoppers, £3m), loaned back for rest of season
Manchester City v Crystal Palace –
Saturday 1500
Positions:
Man City 3rd, Crystal Palace 8th
Form:
Man City
WLWDWD (11pts)
Crystal
Palace
WWDDLL
(8pts)
City
will be disappointed not to have broken down Everton’s resistance on Wednesday,
but their home record remains excellent, and they will fancy three points
against Palace, who are now four without a win after their loss to bottom club
Aston Villa.
Newcastle United v West Ham United –
Saturday 1500
Positions:
Newcastle 19th, West Ham 5th
Form:
Newcastle
WDLLLW
(7pts)
West Ham
DDDWWW
(12pts)
Despite
their lowly position, Newcastle occasionally demonstrate what they are capable
of, and Tuesday’s performance against Manchester United was encouraging.
However, West Ham are on a run of eight matches unbeaten – the last three all
wins – and stand just one point off the Champions League places. The Hammers
must start as favourites.
January
transfer window new signings:
Newcastle
– Henri Saivet (midfielder, Bordeaux), Jonjo Shelvey (midfielder, Swansea,
£12m)
Southampton v West Bromwich Albion –
Saturday 1500
Positions:
Southampton 12th, West Brom 13th
Form:
Southampton
LLWLLW
(6pts)
West Brom
DLLWWD
(9pts)
Southampton
won on Wednesday, just three matches after their thrashing of Arsenal. The
enigmatic Saints side have however lost six of their last nine. West Brom are
proving themselves more difficult to beat, so unless Southampton’s stars turn
it on again, the points may be heading for the Midlands.
Aston Villa v Leicester City –
Saturday 1730
Positions:
Aston Villa 20th, Leicester 2nd
Form:
Aston
Villa
LDDLLW
(5pts)
Leicester
WWLDDW
(11pts)
Villa
finally ended their 19 match winless run this week, but they will need many
more wins if they are to stand a chance of survival. Can a local derby
atmosphere drive them to another success here? The form book suggests it is
unlikely – it was suggested Leicester’s flying start was fading after they went
three without a win, but Wednesday’s win at Tottenham has put them level on
points at the top once again.
January
transfer window new signings:
Leicester
– Demarai Gray (forward, Birmingham, £3.7m)
Liverpool v Manchester United – Sunday
1405
Positions:
Liverpool 9th, Man Utd 6th
Form:
Liverpool
DLWWLD
(8pts)
Man Utd
LLLDWD
(5pts)
United
are now unbeaten in three, but still look far from perfect – defensive problems
were evident at Newcastle even though they played a much more exciting brand of
football. Liverpool showed against Arsenal that they can score goals, so can
they score another few here?
January
transfer window new signings:
Liverpool
– Marko Grujic (forward, Red Star Belgrade, £5.1m), loaned back for rest of
season; Steven Caulker (defender, QPR, loan)
Stoke City v Arsenal – Sunday 1615
Positions:
Stoke 7th, Arsenal 1st
Form:
Stoke
DLWWLW
(10pts)
Arsenal
WWLWWD
(13pts)
Once
again the live TV cameras will be present at this fixture. In the days of Tony
Pulis this used to be regarded as the ultimate clash of footballing
philosophies - a kind of beauty and the beast encounter! Stoke play in a
different way now, but they still have a superb home record, and will be
seeking another scalp here. Arsenal lead both the overall league table and the
six game form table, but still sometimes look far from convincing – it’s that
sort of a season in the Premier League! Expect Arsenal to find this tough, but
they will start as favourites.
January
transfer window new signings:
Arsenal –
Mohammed Elneny (midfielder, FC Basel, £5m)
Swansea City v Watford – Monday 2000
Positions:
Swansea 17th, Watford 10th
Form:
Swansea
LDWDLL
(5pts)
Watford
WWDLLL (7pts)
After
a hugely disappointing loss to Sunderland, Swansea remain low on confidence and
in considerable trouble at the foot of the table. Watford however are
themselves on a poor run, and this could be an excellent chance for the Swans
to record a morale boosting win.
Tipster Street.
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