Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 12

SATURDAY:

BURNLEY V CHELSEA

Burnley have been competitive in a lot of their games this season and especially at home where their better results have come.

I'm expecting them to give Chelsea a tough game here by being difficult to beat and getting men behind the ball.

I asked before the international break in my key points of the weekend post if Chelsea are title contenders after their win over Wolves moved them up to third and four points behind leaders Arsenal.

We were asking the same question of them around this time last season only for their form to drastically dip after Christmas.

The blues are an inconsistent team at the moment as they have two good results followed by a bad one and their recent form has shown that.

But I do think they'll get the win here though as I think they'll have just enough to come away the points.

PREDICTION: 0-2

BOURNEMOUTH V WEST HAM

Bournemouth hit their first dip in form before the international break following back-to-back defeats to Man City and Villa.

Those defeats won't phase them too much though as they're still having an incredible season and a dip in form was bound to happen at some point during the season.

West Ham went into the international break with some much needed confidence on board after recording back-to-back wins over Newcastle and Burnley.

Winning those games were massively crucial to them and Nuno Espirito Santo because they have a tough run of games between now and Christmas in Liverpool, Man United, Villa and Man City in four of their next five after this tough game.

The last four meetings between these two sides have all ended in draws but I think that run will end here as I'm backing Bournemouth to return to winning ways.

They're still unbeaten at home this season and I can see them keep it up in this one.

PREDICTION: 3-1

BRIGHTON V BRENTFORD

Brighton have been very strong at home this season as they quite often have been since they've been in the Premier League.

Brentford however have not been great on the road with their only away points coming when they beat West Ham last month.

This game should still be close though as they'll both be looking to play on the front foot.

But I fancy Brighton to come out on top because of their good home record and Brentford's poor away record.

PREDICTION: 2-1

FULHAM V SUNDERLAND

Fulham come into this game just a point above the relegation zone which is of course a worrying sign for them.

But they should still have enough to get themselves away from the bottom three and they'll be glad to be back at home for this one as their home form has been much better than their form on the road.

Sunderland are flying at the moment as they currently lie in 4th place but how long will they keep it up?

So-called lesser teams do hit a wall at some point during the season after starting so well and that period could soon be coming for Sunderland as they have some tough games coming up.

They have Liverpool, City and Newcastle in three of their next four games after this one and those games will no doubt test them.

Winning this game will certainly give them a lot of confidence heading into those tough games but with Fulham having a good record at home, I think the Black Cats may drop points here.

Both teams will go for it as they both like to play on the front foot, but I think the points will be shared.

PREDICTION: 2-2

LIVERPOOL V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Liverpool fans thought that they were turning a corner after beating Real Madrid in the Champions League only to be well beaten by Man City.

I do feel that the reds were hard done by in that one as Virgil Van Dijk's disallowed goal should never have been disallowed as Robertson was not in the keeper's line of vision.

But their performance was still terrible and Arne Slot will have hopefully used the international break to look back at that game and see where his side can improve before getting them to work on that improvement in training.

Forest got off the mark under Sean Dyche before the international break with their win over Leeds which will do their confidence the world of good.

Forest were the only team to win at Anfield last season and Dyche himself has won there once before when he was at Burnley.

But I don't see him repeating that result in this one as his side have been poor on the road this season and with Liverpool being strong at home, I'm backing them to return to winning ways here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

WOLVES V CRYSTAL PALACE

Wolves will have Rob Edwards in charge for the first time here and he has one massive job on his hands in trying to keep Wolves in the Premier League.

I personally don't think he should've taken the job in the first place because he was doing very well with Middlesbrough and had he stayed there, he could've developed more as a manager before taking a job in the Premier League.

It would be a miracle if he kept Wolves up because their team is so short on quality and confidence at the moment.

Palace should have Marc Guehi back in their defence after he pulled out of England duty due to an injury he picked up before the international break.

This should be a straightforward win for the Eagles as they're in much better form and a much better team than Wolves are at the moment.

They should win this one fairly comfortably.

PREDICTION: 0-2

NEWCASTLE V MAN CITY

Newcastle are a completely different team at home to what they are on the road which both the performances and the results can back up.

They haven't really got going this season with Europe arguably being the likely reason as they've performed better in Europe than they have in the Premier League.

Eddie Howe's side need to find some consistency and quickly if they're to rise up the table.

Man City made Liverpool look average before the international break where they looked very much like their old selves in the way they dominated the game.

They look like Arsenal's closest challengers at this moment in time but I won't call them serious title contenders just yet because there are still concerns over Rodri's fitness.

Nico Gonzalez has stepped up in the odd game when Rodri has been unavailable, but he's not Rodri or as influential as Rodri is when he's fit.

They'll be looking to deliver another statement in this one and I think they will as I can see them winning this one fairly comfortably with Erling Haaland once again among the goals.

PREDICTION: 1-3

SUNDAY:

LEEDS V ASTON VILLA

Leeds have been strong at home so far this season and their strong home form will give them confidence heading into this game.

Daniel Farke's side are however just a point above the relegation zone and they could soon find themselves in that bottom three with the games they have coming up.

They face Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool in their next three after this one so it's important that they get something in this one so they have some confidence to take into those tough games.

Villa have improved a lot since their poor start and are currently one of the in-form teams in the league after winning five of their last six.

Elland Road isn't an easy place to go to as teams have found out this season. But I do fancy Villa to come out on top here as they have players in their attack who can hurt Leeds' defence.

Ollie Watkins is one of them and I'm backing him end his goal drought and show a reaction to Thomas Tuchel for leaving him out of his latest England squad.

PREDICTION: 1-2

ARSENAL V TOTTENHAM

Arsenal will be without Gabriel for this one after he picked up an injury whilst playing for Brazil during the international break and his absence will be one massive blow for the Gunners because of how important he's become over the last few seasons.

Cristhian Mosquera will come into the team to replace him and he's more than capable of stepping up having done so for Saliba earlier in the season.

Spurs are unbeaten away from home this season but their record in this fixture is terrible having not won at the Emirates in the league since 2010.

They've looked disjointed in attack this season as the players in that department haven't connected or linked up with one another for much of the season.

They do have a lot of injuries with a good number of them being attacking players including Dominic Solanke, who was arguably been the bigger miss as they've lacked that clinical no.9 up top.

Arsenal will also be without their no.9 in Viktor Gyokeres who is still out with the knock he picked up before the international break.

But I still think the Gunners will have no problems in winning this game as they have players in other positions who can score goals and with Spurs no firing in attack, their defence should have a straightforward afternoon.

PREDICTION: 2-0

MONDAY:

MAN UNITED V EVERTON

Man United have definitely improved over the last month and I think their keeper Senne Lammens has arguably been the difference.

He's brought assurance to the defence by being a reliable shot stopper which has in turn give the defenders in front of him confidence.

His performances between the sticks have given the entire team confidence as well as just the defence knowing that they have a reliable keeper who can keep them in games.

Everton got a much needed win before the international break against Fulham which was a result they needed after a short dip in form.

But they still have their issues in front of goal as they have done for the last few years due to their lack of a no.9 that can consistently score goals.

They will make it difficult for United as they're a competitive and tough to beat side under David Moyes.

But I think United will come out on top as they're at home and have more goals in them than Everton.

PREDICTION: 2-0