PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS (DECEMBER 3RD - 5TH)

Manchester City v Chelsea – Saturday 1230

Positions: Man City 3^rd, Chelsea 1^st

Form (league matches only – earliest matches first):

Man City DDWDWW (12pts)

Chelsea WWWWWW (18pts)

• With things so close at the top of the table, any match between the top four is nothing less than absolutely crucial right now. City are unbeaten in six, but they have on occasions struggled to put teams away, so maybe you think Chelsea, with seven straight wins to their name and only one goal conceded in the process, may have the edge.

Crystal Palace v Southampton – Saturday 1500

Positions: Crystal Palace 17^th, Southampton 10^th

Form:

Crystal Palace LLLLLL (0pts)

Southampton WDLLDW (8pts)

• It’s difficult to find positives for Palace right now. Despite leading 4-3 against Swansea heading into the dying minutes, they still contrived to go down to their sixth successive defeat. In these circumstances, you have to fancy Southampton here, despite their own inconsistencies. Press reports suggest manager Alan Pardew could be sacked if Palace lose, with former England boss Roy Hodgson being linked with the role.

Stoke City v Burnley – Saturday 1500

Positions: Stoke 11^th, Burnley 13^th

Form:

Stoke WWWDLW (13pts)

Burnley LWDWLL (7pts)

• Burnley have a very poor away record since their promotion to the Premier League, so the favourites here have to be a Stoke side that have won four of their last six.

Sunderland v Leicester City – Saturday 1500

Positions: Sunderland 20^th, Leicester 14^th

Form:

Sunderland LLLWWL (6pts)

Leicester LWDLLD (5pts)

• Although last week’s results sent Sunderland back to the foot of the table, they may still have reasons to be optimistic about this match. The Black Cats had won two in succession before their defeat to high-flying Liverpool, and Leicester have still gained only one point on the road this season. Less good news for Sunderland is that Conor Wickham requires surgery ona cruciate ligament injury.

Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City – Saturday 1500

Positions: Tottenham 5^th, Swansea 19^th

Form:

Tottenham DDDDWL (7pts)

Swansea LDLLDW (5pts)

• Tottenham lost their unbeaten Premier League record last week, and are now looking at a record of one win in six league matches, or one in ten if all competitions are included. Swansea finally got the monkey off their back last week with their first win since the opening day of the season, and may feel they can get at least a draw from this encounter.

West Bromwich Albion v Watford – Saturday 1500

Positions: West Brom 9^th, Watford 8^th

Form:

West Brom DLLWWD (8pts)

Watford WDWLWL (10pts)

• Potentially a tight match but West Brom may have the momentum to see them to what would be a third win in four.

West Ham United v Arsenal – Saturday 1730

Positions: West Ham 16^th, Arsenal 4^th

Form:

West Ham WWLDLD (8pts)

Arsenal WDWDDW (12pts)

• West Ham produced a resolute performance to draw with Manchester United last weekend, but Arsenal’s long unbeaten league run, going back to the second week of the season, continued as they beat Bournemouth. Arsenal were beaten in midweek in the League Cup, but that was with a much-changed team selection. Despite worries over who will play at right back – Mathieu Debuchy has joined Hector Bellerin on the injured list, and Carl Jenkinson has failed to convince – the Gunners must start as favourites. West Ham are also starting to pick up injuries, with Diafra Sakho, Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell all forced to leave the field during their recent matches.

Bournemouth v Liverpool – Sunday 1330

Positions: Bournemouth 12^th, Liverpool 2^nd

Form:

Bournemouth WDLLWL (7pts)

Liverpool DWWWDW (14pts)

• Bournemouth continue to defy expectations, and certainly matched Arsenal for most of the match last weekend. However, Liverpool are now unbeaten in 11 league matches and must be favourites. Liverpool forward Philippe Coutinho injured his ankle last week and will miss six weeks of football.

Everton v Manchester United – Sunday 1600

Positions: Everton 7^th, Man Utd 6^th

Form:

Everton DLWLDL (5pts)

Man Utd DLDWDD (7pts)

• After a good first few matches, both sides will be disappointed with their current form. United’s 20 points from 13 matches is their second worst start to a Premier League season. With neither side winning many matches lately, does this mean this match could be a draw? United are without the suspended Wayne Rooney and maybe Luke Shaw with injury as well, but neither player has started recent league matches in any case.

Middlesbrough v Hull City – Monday 2000

Positions: Middlesbrough 15^th, Hull 18^th

Form:

Middlesbrough LDWDLD (6pts)

Hull LLLWLD (4pts)

• A meeting of one side who are in the relegation zone, and another who stand just above it, so both sides could be targeting this one for three vital points. Again neither side has won many matches lately,’Boro have the second worst home record in the league and Hull the third worst away record, so should you back a draw here as well?

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