Premier League Boxing Day Predictions

BOXING DAY:

BRENTFORD V TOTTENHAM

Brentford wen into the World Cup break off the back of beating Man City with Ivan Toney scoring twice just days after being left out of England's World Cup squad. He certainly proved a point in that game and will be looking to do so here with the World Cup finally over.

It's been a decent season so far for Thomas Frank's side as they went into the break in 10th. They've shown no signs of suffering the second season syndrome and like last season have been very strong at home.

Before the World Cup Spurs were starting games slowly but ending them strongly. They've been behind in their last 8 games in all competitions and in 4 of them they've managed to come from behind a get a result. Antonio Conte has hopefully used the break to find ways of getting his team to start games better.

Some Spurs fans before the break were unhappy with Antonio Conte and his style of play. I can understand their frustration but on the plus side they're still in the top four and if they finish there it would represent a good season.

A lot of eyes will be on Harry Kane in this game after his crucial penalty miss against France at the World Cup and I wonder what kind of performance he'll put in. I'm confident that he'll bounce back as he's a top player and he'll surely put his sole focus on playing for Spurs.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I'm going to back Brentford to win here as I can see them coming out the blocks putting Spurs on the back foot straight away. With Kane likely not to be himself after his penalty miss at the World Cup, I think the Bees will make the most of a rusty performance from the Spurs man.

CRYSTAL PALACE V FULHAM

Crystal Palace have had a solid season so far which is probably what we expected. I do however feel that they should have more points on the board as they haven't had the results that some of their performances have deserved.

They should feel reenergised and refreshed going into this one as barely any of their players went to the World Cup. Joachim Andersen and Jordan Ayew were the only players from their squad that took part in Qatar whereas Wilfried Zaha has had over a month to fully rest and recover.

Fulham conceded very late goals in their final two games before the World Cup against Man City and Man United with both games ending in defeat. They are having a decent first season back in the top flight but they need to see games out better if they're to stay roughly where they are.

Marco Silva's side will be more than happy with the season they're having as they're currently 9th which represents a very good season for them. The second half of the seaso will be tougher for them though and they're going to need to keep Mitrovic fit if they're to keep themselves a good distance away from trouble.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I fancy Palace to win this one as they'll arguably be feeling more refreshed as only two of their players went to the World Cup. Six Fulham players went to the finals in Qatar and Palace having fewer players at the finals could give them the advantage here.

EVERTON V WOLVES

The pressure was building on Everton boss Frank Lampard going into the World Cup break after a poor run of results including two heavy defeats to Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup and the league. Some of their fans started turning on Lampard following those defeats and the World Cup break has given Lampard a chance to find ways of improving his sides' form.

The Toffees had the best defence in the league for much of the first half of the season with Conor Coady and James Tarkowski forming an excellent partnership in defence. They'll need to get back to being tough to play against if they're to improve their league position.

Julen Lopetegui got off to a winning start as Wolves boss with their Carabao Cup win over Gillingham in midweek. The win will give his side confidence as they need wins to push themselves off the foot of the table. But for much of the contest it was deja vu for them as they missed a lot of chances.

Lopetegui will have used the World Cup break to watch back Wolves' previous games to see what he needs to fix and what kind of players he has in his squad. He's had a few weeks to work with them and get them drilled into the way he want his team to play. It will take the players time to get used to it with it being much different from the counter attacking style they've played for the last few seasons.

But will he get that time as Wolves are in need of points and the Premier League being such a ruthless league.

PREDICTION: 0-0

These two sides have the same problem. Scoring goals. I might've gone with Everton to here had Dominic Calvert Lewin been fit but he's out till new year. Because of that I'm going for a draw and a goalless one as I think both sides will keep clean sheets. But I also think that they'll be wasteful in front of goal.

LEICESTER V NEWCASTLE

These two sides were arguably the in-form teams going into the World Cup and both will be eager to continue where they left off.

Leicester looked much improved going into the break after a disastrous start when they were conceding goals left, right and centre. The signing of Wout Faes has been a massive part of their improvement defensively and he'll be eager to prove a point after not featuring once during Belgium's disastrous World Cup campaign.

James Maddison was in great form going into the World Cup break and he was later rewarded with a long awaited England call up. Like Faes he didn't play a single minute in Qatar and will want to prove a point to Gareth Southgate that he should've played.

Newcastle were flying going into the World Cup break and will be heading into this one with a lot of confidence after some good performances in their mid-season friendlies. The players will be determined to carry those performances into their coming games.

There is a much better feeling around the club than there has been in the past and manager Eddie Howe has been at the forefront of it. He's improved almost every single individual in his team and has taken them from relegation certainties to Champions League contenders.

PREDICTION: 2-2

I can see this being a very close game as both sides have some very good attacking players and will both want to carry on from where they left off. Both sides are strong defensively but with the attacking players they have and the way they both play, I can see this one being a score draw.

SOUTHAMPTON V BRIGHTON

Southampton got Nathan Jones in before the World Cup and he had the chance to get to know his players. He would've learnt a lot from his opening game in charge against Liverpool and he's hopefully used the break to come up with ways to help his side improve.

The Saints got their first win under Jones in midweek against Lincoln in the Carabao Cup. I felt that they were fortunate to win that game as their first goal was offside but in the end they got the win and it will give them a lot of confidence.

It's been a good season for Brighton when you look at the league table but their form going into the World Cup break was not great. They've won just twice since Roberto De Zerbi took replaced Graham Potter back in October and their old problems are still there.

The Seagulls have been that team for last few seasons who are great to watch but aren't clinical enough in front of goal. Some of the games they haven't won this season they probably should've given the amount of chances they had in those games and how dominant they were.

PREDICTION: 1-1

These two sides have similar problems. They're both not clinical enough in the final third. They'll both give it a good go as they're both attack minded sides but with the amount of draws this fixture has produced in recent season, I'm going for that result here. Especially as they're not the most prolific in front of goal.

ASTON VILLA V LIVERPOOL

Aston Villa got off to a good start under Unai Emery before the World Cup winning both of his opening games in charge against Man United and Brighton. Those wins somewhat kick started their season as they went into the World Cup break in 12th after facing the possibility of a relegation battle a few weeks prior.

They looked more like a team with an identity before the World Cup break which you could probably tell with the performances they put in. They didn't really have a clear way of playing under Steven Gerrard but under Emery they look like a team who know what they're doing.

Liverpool found a bit of form going into the World Cup break with wins over Spurs and Southampton in their final two league games.

They'll hopefully come back a refreshed team as they looked tired and leggy for much of the first half of the season. They'll certainly feel refreshed going forward as Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino didn't go to the World Cup. They're still without Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota but with Salah and Firmino having a full month to properly recover and refresh, they'll hopefully have much more energy in them.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I fancy Villa to win this one as I have a feeling that they might nick this one. With Liverpool missing some players through injury, I think Villa might win here.

ARSENAL V WEST HAM

Arsenal went into the World Cup break five points clear at the top which has arguably given the the advantage in the title race. Their title credentials will very much be put to the test over the next few months as the games will be coming thick and fast and the pressure will be building. Will they be able to live up to that pressure?

The injury to Gabriel Jesus is no doubt a massive blow for them given the impact he's had this season. Eddie Nketiah is capable of stepping up having done so towards the end of last season but not having Jesus there may affect the way that the Gunners play.

It's been a tough season for West Ham so far and the pressure was starting to build on David Moyes before the World Cup. He'll be under pressure to get results more than saving his job mainly because of the job he's done since he's been in charge.

The World Cup break will have given him the chance to look back at his sides' performances and see where they can improve going into the second half of the season. His players have hopefully carried out in methods in training over the past few weeks and Moyes will hope that they can carry that work onto the pitch.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I'm backing Arsenal to win here as I think they'll have enough quality to win the game. They might be without Jesus but they still have other players who are more than capable of stepping up.

TUESDAY:

CHELSEA V BOURNEMOUTH

After a strong start under Graham Potter Chelsea went into the World Cup not in good form having gone into the break with three straight defeats. Potter has surely used the break to look back at his sides' recent performances and see what they can improve on.

The pressure will be on Potter to get results but Chelsea should still give him time. He's still working out what his best team is and was brought for the longer term.

Bournemouth fans will have felt optimistic during the World Cup after the appointment of Gary O'Neil as permanent manager and the arrival of new owners. They have the right to feel optimistic about their new owners mainly because of the plans they have in store.

It was good to see O'Neil get the job full time because of of the job he did as a caretaker. But when you get the job full time after impressing as the caretaker, the results can easily go in the opposite direction.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I'm going for Chelsea to take the win here as they should have more than enough quality to win the game. Having Reece James back will be a massive boost as he was a huge miss for them going into the World Cup break. With Potter having a month to find ways of improving his sides' results, I can see him lead his side to victory here.

MAN UNITED V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Man United will be expected to kick on now that they got Cristiano Ronaldo out the door and hopefully the dressing room will be a much happier place. Erik Ten Hag handled the situation very well and he'll now be looking to the future as he continues to build his own team.

It's been an inconsistent season from United so far which is understandable as they're a team in transition. There has been progress in terms of the way they're adapting to his style of play but a lot of work still needs to be done if they're to be competing with Man City.

It's been a tough first season back in the top flight for Nottingham Forest and you can understand why as they brought in 20 players in the summer. Steve Cooper has hopefully used the World Cup break to work out what his best team is but it might still be a while till he does given how ruthless this league is.

Their win over Crystal Palace before the break moved them off the bottom of the league and will surely give them something to build on. There would've been a lot of pressure on them had they not won that game but as they did they'll go into this one with some confidence on board.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I'm backing Man United to win this one because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. With Forest having an atrocious away record, I can see this being a comfortable game for Erik Ten Hag's side.

WEDNESDAY:

LEEDS V MAN CITY

Leeds have had a mixed season so far as they had a decent start followed by a barren run of form before crucial wins over Liverpool and Bournemouth. They've been great to watch with the intensity they play at but their gung-ho way of playing has cost them at times.

Their previous game against Spurs was an enjoyable one as they went 3-1 up before losing the game 4-3. They got their tag back as the most entertaining team to watch after that one but in this one they may need to be more cautious.

Man City went into the World Cup break 5 points behind leaders Arsenal after losing to Brentford in their final game. They'll be feeling confident that they can overcome that deficit as they have the experience of winning titles plus they've also been in this situation before on a couple of occasions.

Erling Haaland will be refreshed and fully recovered having not gone to the World Cup unlike most of his teammates. He's pretty much got the golden boot wrapped up with the amount of goals he's already scored and he'll be eager to bag many more with the amount of time he's had off.

It was business resumed for City against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup in midweek where Kevin De Bruyne looked back to his best after a surprisingly underwhelming World Cup with Belgium. He certainly proved a point with his performance and will be looking to do exactly that in this one as well.

PREDICTION: 0-5

I've got to back City here as I think they'll be too strong for Leeds. They're far superior in quality and have a striker in Haaland who is raring to go after a month off. If he's in the mood and his team are on the same wavelength, it could be a sorry evening for Leeds.