Barclays Premier League Boxing Day Previews and Predictions

Another festive season is upon us and we can truly say we won’t be able to enjoy this period as much without a feast of Premier League fixtures. It makes us wonder how the other countries around Europe can cope when there is no football during the Christmas period. Certainly, there are arguments being thrown on whether teams in England should have a festive break as well but if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. This is what we football fans live for, and this weeks Boxing Day fixtures serves another bunch of crackers.

Here are my Premier League Boxing Day previews and predictions:

 

Fulham kept their first clean sheet of the season against Newcastle on Saturday in what was very solid display. If that doesn’t show the slow progress Claudio Ranieri is making to a Fulham defence that has already shipped 40 odd goals in 18 games then I don’t know what will. They do say, if you have a solid base at the back then you are more likely to win games and that’s the foundation Ranieri should build on going into the new year. Though a clean sheet against Wolves looks very unlikely. Nuno Santo’s Wolves side have looked very good in their first season back in the top flight, their defeat to Liverpool was no surprise but they sure did put on a hell of a fight and that will surely have inspired Santo going into this one.

Fulham need the victory more than Wolves so I’m going for Fulham to just about edge this one.

 

Brighton are a very different kettle of fish on their own turf although they did put up a really good showing against Bournemouth at the Vitality at the weekend and you can’t bet against them to put in the same kind of performances against Unai Emery’s side who will be buoyant after Chelsea’s defeat to Leicester, now the race for the top 4 is looking well and truly on.

Arsenal to gain a hard fought victory in this one.

 

 

Defeat to Leicester was humble surprise for Maurizio Sarri and his Chelsea squad which went to show that you cannot take an Premier League game for granted especially at this crucial stage in the season. A few weeks ago, Chelsea were well in the title picture now how times have changed, they are scrapping for a top four spot with Tottenham overtaking them in the title picture along with City and Liverpool. That loss will have now opened the door to Manchester United amongst others.

This game comes at the wrong time for Chelsea because Watford under Javi Garcia are a force to be reckoned with when they turn on the style, their win over West Ham was hugely impressive considering West Ham’s good form at the London Stadium. Physically brilliant and technically adept, Chelsea will have to battle to the death to try and rack up the 3 points here. Though, Watford have had some inconsistent spells, one game they’re brilliant to watch, the next they flatter to deceive.

You’d expect Chelsea to overcome this test.

Match Prediction: Watford 1-2 Chelsea

 

Burnley vs Everton

December 26, 2018, 3:00pm

We don’t know the reason for Burnley’s sour league position right now, or what it has come down to but if you know Sean Dyche, you’ll know that Burnley are always in good hands. Yeah, they are in a bit of a slump but the defeat to Arsenal over the weekend will have given Dyche more cause for optimism. With the January window coming up too, Dyche will be wanting to add more players to squad to provide him with the options needed to mount an assualt to avoid relegation.

Everton on the other hand, were outplayed, outclassed and out thought against Tottenham in their 6-2 defeat. It was an embarrassment on their part and they’ll be looking to put things right when they travel to Turf Moor on Boxing Day.

We don’t know how this one will turn out.

Match Prediction: Burnley 1-2 Everton

 

Crystal Palace vs Cardiff

December 26, 2018, 3:00pm

What a performance from Palace on Saturday. Absolutely magnificent. When you score like Townsend did, you just have to be on the winning side and boy did they win, emphatically. Every single player made a telling contribution and the win was no more than they deserved. What made the victory all the more impressive is how dangerous they were even without a recognised striker but that has more than been made up for with Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha as their two leaders up front, you can’t back against them causing riot to the opposition. Pacey, skilful and and intelligent movement off the ball, who needs a striker eh?

Palace will be expected to pick up another 3 vital points against Cardiff on Wednesday, who were all over the shop against Manchester United. Certainly, United’s football was mesmerising but it made soo much easier by Cardiff’s shambolic defending. Home win.

Match Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Cardiff 

 

Leicester City vs Manchester City

December 26. 2018, 3:00pm

Can Leicester City cause another upset this time, against Manchester City? Who knows, what’s for certain is that Pep Guardiola’s side will be out for blood. With Liverpool now three points clear and facing the prospect of gathering much more momentum as they face Newcastle (see below), City are in desperate need of the three points after their surprise home defeat to Palace over the weekend. Will Pep now start Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero after their injury lay offs?

Leicester were luck to beat Chelsea if we’re honest. Sarri’s side should have been out sight before Jamie Vardy spectacularly notched Leicester’s winner. They may have to ride their luck once again if they to pick up another surprising three points. Away win.

Match Prediction: Leicester City 1-3 Manchester City

 

Liverpool vs Newcastle United

December 26, 2018, 3:00pm

Wolves is a very tough place to go and Liverpool overcame that test with such consummate ease. Boy, do Liverpool look very impressive heading into festive period, their next run of games do look winnable but its on January 3rd where we will see just how good Jurgen Klopp’s side really when they come up against their closest challengers Manchester City. 3 points separate the two teams after City’s loss to Palace this weekend and Liverpool will be expected to dispatch of Newcastle come 5pm on Wednesday.

Match Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle

 

Manchester United vs Huddersfield

December 26, 2018, 3:00pm

Say what you want about United not wanting to play for Mourinho in the latter stages of his reign. Isn’t it the manager that creates the atmosphere around the club? Mourinho really wasn’t creating an aura where the players would enjoy themselves, express themselves and actually desire to play for the club. The impact of change certainly showed on Saturday as United ran riot against Cardiff. Solskjaer may only be at the helm for 5 or 6 months but his appointment had to be done to create a vibrant aura around the club again. United were expected to beat Cardiff regardless of Mourinho or Solskjaer, but it was the manner in which they dissembled and dismantled Cardiff’s defence told its own story. Solskjaer is the man for the job, if only temporarily.

Huddersfield are in a bit of a rut at the moment, and after their victory at Wolves, you would have thought they’d turned a corner but injury to their captain Aaron Mooy may hamper their prospects of boosting their points tally as we approach the festive period. The way United are playing at this moment, it may be a daunting task. Home win.

Match Prediction: Manchester United 3-0 Huddersfield

 

Tottenham vs Bournemouth

December 26, 2018, 3:00pm

Tottenham were brilliant in their 6-2 win over Everton. The job Mauricio Pochettino is doing at the club is truly remarkable which makes you wonder why he would ever ponder leaving a club with a huge future and he being key to those plans. Certainly, the pull of being Manchester United and Real Madrid coach may prove really tempting but why not be the man to take Tottenham to that next level providing he gets the financial backing by the clubs chairman Daniel Levy to further strengthen the squad and he successfully captures a trophy that has eluded Tottenham for nearly a lifetime. Who’s to say this Tottenham team can’t challenge City and Liverpool for the Premier League come May?

Another manager doing such an impressive job is Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe who has been touted to become Tottenham’s next manager if Pochettino swaps North London for Manchester. If that was to occur then Tottenham fans may not have any cause to be unhappy at Pochettino’s departure as Eddie Howe has shown season after season since Bournemouth’s arrival in the Premier League that he has what it takes to manage at the top level and Tottenham would be just the place to hit it off. Bournemouth always struggle when it comes to playing Tottenham, and that may continue on Wednesday.

Match Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Bournemouth

 

 

This should be a very good spectacle. Southampton look a reformed side under Ralph Hasenhüttl who has managed to change the vibrancy an positive aura in Southampton’s play and atmosphere. Back to back wins over Arsenal and Huddersfield has certainly changed the mood around the club, and a win against West Ham will Southampton’s confidence even more. West Ham, on the other hand, on the back of their defeat to Watford really need to pick up the points in this one. Pellegrini’s side were very unlucky in the game against Watford as they caught goalkeeper Ben Foster on a very good day. With West Ham’s quality, you can’t back against them spoiling Southampton’s run of form. I’m going for a score draw though.

Match Prediction: Southampton 2-2 West Ham