PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS: TUESDAY JANUARY 12 – WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace – Tuesday 1945

Positions: Aston Villa 20^th, Crystal Palace 7^th

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

Aston Villa

DLDDLL (3pts)

Crystal Palace

DWWDDL (9pts)

·         Aston Villa’s chances of avoiding relegation have surely disappeared, and their next goal might be just to break their 19 match winless run, although they have a way to go to match the record of 32 matches without a win set by Derby in 2007-08. Despite not winning in three, Palace will expect to extend Villa’s misery. Micah Richards is expected to be fit after limping out of Villa’s cup match, and Connor Wickham could return for Palace.

Bournemouth v West Ham United – Tuesday 1945

Positions: Bournemouth 16^th, West Ham 6^th

Form:

Bournemouth

WWWDLD (10pts)

West Ham

DDDDWW (10pts)

·         West Ham (seven unbeaten) visit Bournemouth (one defeat in eight), so is a draw the most likely outcome? New forward signings Juan Iturbe (subject to international clearance) and Benik Afobe could make their Bournemouth debuts.

Newcastle United v Manchester United – Tuesday 1945

Positions: Newcastle 18^th, Man Utd 5^th

Form:

Newcastle

WWDLLL (7pts)

Man Utd

DLLLDW (5pts)

^·          Newcastle have lost the last three, but all by 1-0 margins. This suggests they still have some defensive qualities despite their lowly position, and United could struggle to break them down. Fabricio Collocini is expected to be fit for Newcastle, but the club are much less confident about Jack Colback and Vurnon Anita. Bastian Schweinsteiger misses out for United.

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion – Wednesday 1945

Positions: Chelsea 14^th, West Brom 12^th

Form:

Chelsea

LLWDDW (8pts)

West Brom

DDLLWW (8pts)

·         Things are looking up at last for Chelsea, who are unbeaten in four, scoring eight in the process. They start as marginal favourites despite the Baggies recording one goal wins in their last two matches.

Manchester City v Everton – Wednesday 1945

Positions: Man City 3^rd, Everton 11^th

Form:

Man City

LWLWDW (10pts)

Everton

DDLWLD (6pts)

·         Everton take on City’s excellent home record, and given that the Toffees defence is not always the soundest, the league’s leading scorers will fancy adding to their goal tally here.

Southampton v Watford – Wednesday 1945

Positions: Southampton 13^th, Watford 9^th

Form:

Southampton

DLLWLL (4pts)

Watford

WWWDLL (10pts)

·         Southampton continue to slide down the table, and two defeats have all but erased the memory of their win over Arsenal. Watford should be favourites here, as although they have lost their last two, these were against top ranked sides.

Stoke City v Norwich City – Wednesday 1945

Positions: Stoke 10^th, Norwich 15^th

Form:

Stoke

WDLWWL (10pts)

Norwich

LDWLWW (10pts)

·         Norwich may have won three of the last four, but none have been against in-form teams, and given Stoke’s excellent home record and Norwich’s poor away record, the Potters must be fancied here.

Swansea City v Sunderland – Wednesday 1945

Positions: Swansea 17^th, Sunderland 19^th

Form:

Swansea

LLDWDL (5pts)

Sunderland

LLLLLD (3pts)

·         A crucial match at the bottom of the table. Swansea will be far from confident, with an FA Cup exit to lower league opposition to add to their league woes. Sunderland recorded a vital win last time, but only over a forlorn Villa side, and given the Mackems’ continuing defensive problems, maybe Swansea will edge this one.

Liverpool v Arsenal – Wednesday 2000

Positions: Liverpool 8^th, Arsenal 1^st

Form:

Liverpool

LDLWWL (7pts)

Arsenal

WWWLWW (15pts)

·         Given the individual brilliance in certain positions in Liverpool’s team, and the fact that Arsenal are capable of losing 4-0 to Southampton, Jurgen Klopp’s team cannot be ruled out. But with Arsenal being much the more consistent, and Liverpool facing a defensive injury crisis, Arsene Wenger’s side must be favourites.

Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City – Wednesday 2000

Positions: Tottenham 4^th, Leicester 2^nd

Form:

Tottenham

DLWWWD (11pts)

Leicester

WWWLDD (10pts)

·         A potentially very exciting clash of two of the top four. Tottenham’s better form over the last few weeks may give them the edge. The FA Cup result between the teams will be of little relevance as both clubs are expected to return to their strongest line-ups, but Demarai Gray made an eye catching Leicester debut in the Cup match, and he stands a good chance of retaining his starting place.