SATURDAY:
ASTON VILLA V MAN CITY
Aston Villa won this fixture last season and they'll be looking to do the same again this season. Especially with the current form City are in.
I think we can now officially say that Man City are in a crisis with the form they're in and I would also say that they're out of the title race. Their slump was seen as a blip initially, but now it's a full blown crisis.
They were in control for much of the game against United last weekend, up until the final few minutes when they gave United a way back into the game. What Matheus Nunes was doing when he gave away the penalty I will never know.
Villa will have Ollie Watkins back for this one after missing the Forest defeat due to injury, I fancy him to score and cause City problems with his pace. In fact, I'm backing him to score twice and Villa to win.
PREDICTION: 2-0
BRENTFORD V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Brentford made a number of changes against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup in midweek and they came back to bite them.
Going out of that competition will feel like a missed opportunity for Thomas Frank's side as they don't anything to play for in the league.
The Bees will be glad to be back at home for this one because of the record they have at home. They surely won't lose here because of their home form.
Nottingham Forest used to be terrible away from home but their record on the road this season has been very good.
Nuno's side come into this game inside the top four and you have to say that they are European contenders. It will be interesting to see how long they can stay in around those spots.
Forest have lost this fixture in each of the last two season, but I don't see them losing this one because they're a completely different team now.
Because of Brentford having such good record at home, I think the points will be shared here.
PREDICTION: 2-2
IPSWICH V NEWCASTLE
Ipswich got a much needed win last weekend against Wolves which was a result I predicted correctly. But I'm not sure if they'll follow it up in this one as they're still without a win at home.
They'll definitely be in the game like they have been all season, but as usual I don't see them getting it over the line.
Newcastle were very good against Brentford in the Carabao Cup in midweek off the back of a convincing win against Leicester.
Consistency has been the Magpies' main problem this season as they haven't been able to string a run of results together.
But after two convincing wins in their last two games, I think they will build on them with another win in this one.
PREDICTION: 1-2
WEST HAM V BRIGHTON
West Ham have only beaten Brighton once in the Premier League with that win coming at the AMEX last season.
It's been a frustrating season for the Hammers so far and I think those frustrations will continue in this one.
Brighton haven't won any of their last four games and were well beaten by Crystal Palace last weekend.
But they have been a good team to watch this season and unlike West Ham, they play with a clear identity.
Because of that and the energy they have in their side, I think they'll come out on top here.
PREDICTION: 1-3
CRYSTAL PALACE V ARSENAL
These two sides met in the Carabao Cup in midweek with Arsenal coming out on top courtesy of a Gabriel Jesus hat trick.
Crystal Palace's five game unbeaten run has seen them climb clear of the relegation zone and it looks like most of their new signings have settled in.
Gabriel Jesus's hat trick in midweek will do his confidence the world of good and if he scores again in this one and the next few you, maybe people will start saying that Arsenal don't need a striker.
Palace will definitely have chances like they did in midweek, but I think Arsenal will have enough quality to see this one through.
PREDICTION: 0-2
SUNDAY:
EVERTON V CHELSEA
The Everton fans should be feeling optimistic ahead of this game following the arrivals of their new owners who will hopefully lead the club into some better times.
They needed a change of ownership because the club has been a mess for the last few years and the way it's been run has had a big impact on the team's performances.
They had to dig deep to get a draw at Arsenal last weekend and Sean Dyche will want more of the same in this one against another title challenging team.
I have to say that Chelsea are officially title contenders with the form they're in, but I don't see them going the full distance because their squad is young and lacks experience of being involved in a title race.
Everton won't make it an easy game for them here as they're a tough side to break down. But with the form Chelsea are in and the way they've been playing, I think they'll have enough to come out on top here.
PREDICTION: 0-2
FULHAM V SOUTHAMPTON
Fulham really went for it against Liverpool last weekend like they have done whenever they've taken on the big teams. Antonee Robinson impressed in that one and I even asked the question if he could be Andy Robertson's long term replacement.
The Cottagers have a strong record at home but the last time they faced a side near the bottom of the league at home, they got beaten 4-1 by Wolves.
I don't see a repeat of that in this one because Southampton are out of form and without a manager following the sacking of Russell Martin..
The Saints did give Liverpool a good game in the Carabao Cup in midweek and interim manager Simon Rusk will want his side to take the positives from that game into this one.
But I don't see it happening as I think Fulham will be too strong for them due to the quality of players they have in their attack.
PREDICTION: 3-0
LEICESTER V WOLVES
Leicester were hopeless defensively against Newcastle last weekend and if there one position that Ruud Van Nistelrooy is looking to address in January, it's the defence.
They have struggled a bit in attack as well, but they still have some good options in that department and I think they can punish Wolves in this game.
Wolves will have Vitor Pereira in charge for the first time in this one and like Leicester, the defence will be the area that he'll be looking to address the most as his new team have the worst defence in the league.
Pereira arrives at Wolves with bags of managerial experience after managing in various countries across the world. But I've also heard that he arrives with a mixed reputation.
I'm not expecting him to hit the ground straightaway a he hasn't had a lot of time with the team. Because of that, I think Leicester will come out on top here.
PREDICTION: 2-0
MAN UNITED V BOURNEMOUTH
Some Man United fans may have thought that their win in the Manchester Derby last weekend was going to be a turning point in their season. Only to go out of the Carabao Cup a few days later to Spurs.
Marcus Rashford has been talked about a lot this week after firstly being left out of the team for United's last two games and secondly, for saying that he's ready for a "new challenge".
If he wants to go, United should let him leave as they don't want an unhappy player in the dressing room. From Rashford's point of view, I think he should leave because he needs to be somewhere where he can enjoy his football again.
Bournemouth crushed United 3-0 in this fixture last season and with the form they've been in this season, they'll no doubt fancy themselves to do something similar in this one.
They've already got the better of three big six sides this season in Arsenal, Man City and Spurs and I think they'll get the better of another on here.
PREDICTION: 1-2
TOTTENHAM V LIVERPOOL
Spurs' win over Man United in the Carabao Cup in midweek was a game that summed them up. They played some good football on the day but they allowed the opposition back into the game.
You just never know what to expect from Ange Postecoglou's side and I'm feeling like that heading into this one.
Liverpool were given a good game by Southampton in midweek but they did enough to get the job done on the night.
They should've won this fixture last season because Luis Diaz had his goal wrongly disallowed for offside when he was clearly in an onside position. I was pulling my hair out when I saw that.
Fulham made it tough for the reds last weekend and I think Spurs will do the same as they're a high intensity team who can make it uncomfortable for teams.
But I still think the reds can get a result though as Spurs are bound to kick themselves in the foot again.
PREDICTION: 2-2
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