PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS: SATURDAY JANUARY 16 – MONDAY JANUARY 18

Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland – Saturday 1245

Positions: Tottenham 4^th, Sunderland 18^th

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 16^th, Norwich 15^th

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 14^th, Everton 11^th

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 3^rd, Crystal Palace 8^th

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 19^th, West Ham 5^th

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 12^th, West Brom 13^th

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 20^th, Leicester 2^nd

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 9^th, Man Utd 6^th

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 7^th, Arsenal 1^st

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 17^th, Watford 10^th

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.