Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 17

FRIDAY:

WEST HAM V BRENTFORD

This is a must win game for West Ham as they're just a point above the relegation zone and on a run of four straight defeats. They have some winnable games coming up and a good result should give them the confidence to get wins from those games and push themselves up the league.

With no European football till February, the hammers should put their sole focus on the league and getting results to steer themselves away from trouble.

One reason for the Hammers' struggles this season could be that they're not clinical enough in the final third. David Moyes mentioned something similar to this after his sides' defeat to Arsenal on Boxing Day where again they did not take their chances.

Brentford played well against Spurs on Boxing Day and were unlucky not come away with the win as they were arguably the better side. They kept Spurs on the back foot for the majority of the first half with the way they started the game but they weren't able to see it out.

The Bees haven't been that great on the road this season but they did win their last one on their travels against Man City. That has been their only away win of the season so far and they'll be determined to grab another one here.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I fancy Brentford to win this one as West Ham are not in the best of form at the moment. The Bees did the double over the Hammers last season and they'll go into this one with more confidence after their draw with Spurs.

LIVERPOOL V LEICESTER

Liverpool were criticized at times before the World Cup for starting games slowly as they were going behind early on a number of occasions. They might've addressed that having gone ahead early in their win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day. They did ahead in their games leading up to the World Cup but might have still used the World Cup break to find ways of helping his side start games better.

New signing Cody Gakpo could be at this game to watch his new team and I think he will so he can see how they play ahead of his first game next month. He's definitely a player that the reds' needed as they're without Luis Diaz till March and Diogo Jota till February. It's also looks like a very good signing for them as he'll bring more goals to their attack and improve their strength in depth there once Diaz and Jota are back.

Leicester's Boxing Day defeat to Newcastle was more like the Leicester we saw at the start of the season. Open defensively and poor from set pieces. Two of the goals were poorly defended and in particular the third which came from a set piece. The Foxes' Achilles heal last season and at the very beginning of this season.

There is an argument that they missed James Maddison in attack as they didn't offer enough going forward. He's likely to be out of this one as well and if he is I can see the Foxes struggle here like they did against Newcastle.

PREDICTION: 3-1

I'm backing Liverpool to win here because they're at home where they look strong and Leicester are of course going to be without James Maddison. With the Foxes' set piece issues coming back to bite them against Newcastle, I can see the same happening here with the reds also being a threat from set pieces.

SATURDAY:

WOLVES V MAN UNITED

Wolves have made a good start under Julen Lopetegui after wining both of his opening two games in charge against Lincoln in the Carabao Cup and of course Everton in the Premier League on Boxing Day. The win over Everton was huge as it moved them off the foot of the table ahead of some very tough games coming up.

They will have gained a lot of confidence from the win over Everton but Lopetegui will still know that he has a massive job on his hands with the fixtures his side have coming up. Man City and two games against Liverpool in three of their next seven in all competitions is a tough start for him.

Man United looked comfortable throughout in their win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and they probably should've won by more. The performances of Marcus Rashford and Casemiro were encouraging with Rashford being a threat throughout and Casemiro controlling the game in midfield.

That result moved them to within a point of the top four and if they're to finish there, Erik Ten Hag will want his side to show consistency on a regular basis.

PREDICTION: 0-1

Both sides have had problems when it's come to taking their chances this season so I shouldn't expect this to be a high scoring game. I think United will win though as they should have the quality to do so but I think Wolves will make it a tough game for them.

BOURNEMOUTH V CRYSTAL PALACE

Bournemouth never really offered much against Chelsea up until the final few minutes where they had one or two good chances. They probably weren't expecting to get anything from that game but Gary O'Neil still would've liked to have seen more attacking endeavour from his side.

There should be a good atmosphere in side the stadium for this game with it being Bournemouth's first at home since the new ownership. The stadium may not be the biggest but with the new owner likely to be at this game, there should be a loud atmosphere. Particularly from the home fans.

Crystal Palace was very unlike their usual selves against Fulham on Boxing Day where they simply did not turn up. They weren't helped by the two sending offs which no doubt changed the game but throughout the contest they never looked like scoring.

Patrick Vieira described that result as one of the worst days during his tenure and he'll want a better performance from his team in this one. But given how off it they were, it might take time for the Eagles to find their form again as it was their first match in a while.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I fancy Bournemouth to win here as I feel that the atmosphere inside the ground will spur them on with it being their first home game since their new owners arrived. The players will be eager to make an impression and I can see them very much do that.

FULHAM V SOUTHAMPTON

Fulham were clinical against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day where they were excellent from start to finish. They may have ended the game with two extra players but they still put in a convincing enough performance which they had to.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was excellent throughout that game with his all round game as he lead the line well and caused Palace all sorts of problems. I can see him having that sort of game here against an out of sorts Southampton defence.

I'm worried about Southampton now they're at the foot of the table and especially after their Boxing Day defeat to Brighton. Their performance was very poor in both departments like it has been for much of the season and they're looking like a side who are going to be down there fighting.

I'm not surprised they're struggling because they were one of my favourites for relegation at the start of the season. Nathan Jones has one massive job on his hands to keep the Saints in the Premier League.

PREDICTION: 4-0

I've got to go with Fulham here because I can see them cause Southampton all kinds of problems with the attacking players they have. With the Saints defence being an absolute shambles like it was against Southampton, I can see the Cottagers win this one rather handsomely.

MAN CITY V EVERTON

Man City had to be patient against Leeds last night but they did find a way and when they did they had the confidence to score more and win the game. The goal before half time from Rodri was crucial and it enabled them to play with a freedom in the second half.

Erling Haaland scored twice in that one and he looked like a player refreshed and determined to score goals after missing out on the World Cup. He'll got into this one with the same mind-set which is the same mid-set he takes into pretty much every game he plays.

Worrying times for Everton at the moment. One point above the relegation zone and scored just 12 goals all season with only Nottingham Forest and Wolves conceding fewer. Their current form also is worrying having lost their last three and won just once in eight games.

The pressure is no doubt on manager Frank Lampard and you ouwld worry for them going into this game. Especially with it being against a top class side like City.

PREDICTION: 3-0

I'm going for a City win here becuase they'll have more than enough quality to win the game and Everton are clearly out of form. With Haaland in the mood after his double against Leeds, this one could be a difficult game for the Toffees.

NEWCASTLE V LEEDS

Newcastle continued where they left off with their result and performance against Leicester on Boxing Day and some toon fans will probably be dreaming about a title challenge. That is possible considering the form they're in but we have to wait and see later in the season if they're still in and around their current position.

It's been one incredible 2022 for the Magpies considering where they were this time last year. Eddie Howe has done an incredible job since he's been in charge and he and his players will be determined to end this calendar year on a high.

Leeds were in the game for the majority of the first half against Man City last night mainly thanks to their keeper Ilan Meslier who made some crucial saves. Jesse Marsch would have been encouraged by his sides' first half performance and one he'll be looking to carry into this game.

Leeds have some winnable games coming up in the new year and they'll certainly be games they should target in terms of getting points. They're only two points above the relegation zone and if they're to avoid being in another relegation scrap, they need to win those games so they can pull themselves away from danger.

PREDICTION: 3-0

I'm backing Newcastle to win here mainly because they've got a lot of confidence on board and I can see them carry that confidence into this game. They're stronger in every department and because of that they should have no problems in winning this game.

BRIGHTON V ARSENAL

Brighton beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup before the World Cup break and they'll surely be feeling confident that they can do so again here. But Roberto De Zerbi's side will very much be expecting a tougher game this time round with Arsenal likely to play a much stronger team than they did the last time these two sides met.

It can an excellent all round performance from the Seagulls against Southampton on Boxing Day and one that will give them a lot of encouragement going into the rest of the season. They were helped by some poor Southampton defending but they still had to show up and they did.

It was business as usual for Arsenal after their Boxing Day win over West Ham where they again showed signs of being title challengers. They showed character to come from behind like they did in some of their games before the World Cup break and they put in a very convincing performance.

They might make some changes here with their next game being three days after this one. It would be understandable if they did as they have some tricky fixtures coming up with Newcastle, Spurs and Man United in their next three in the league.#

PREDICTION: 1-1

I think Brighton could unsettle Arsenal here as they're a front footed team who are capable of causing any team multiple problems. They did this to Liverpool and Chelsea earlier in the season and I can see them do the same to Arsenal. But I can only see them claim a draw as I can see them miss a number of chances.

SUNDAY:

TOTTENHAM V ASTON VILLA

Spurs have the same problem they had before the World Cup break in starting games slowly before upping their performances levels later on. This happened in their draw with Brentford where they went behind before coming back to nick a draw.

We might've thought that Antonio Conte might've addressed this during the World Cup break but clearly he hasn't.

Aston Villa had their chances against Liverpool on Boxing Day but they weren't able to take them. Their wastefulness in front of goal would've been a reminder to Unai Emery that their goal scoring issues still exist.

Goals were their main problem under Steven Gerrard and it's what lead to his downfall. They have two very good strikers in Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins who are both more than capable of scoring goals. But Emery may still want to bring in a centre forward to solve his side's goal scoring problems.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I'm backing Spurs to win here only because they have a striker who knows where the back of the net is. They'll probably start the game slowly as they have done recently but once they up the tempo, Harry Kane will take his chance like he does.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V CHELSEA

Nottingham Forest simply did not turn up against Man United on Tuesday night. Defensively they were poor like they have been for most of the season and going forward they never really offered anything. This very much looks like a side who are set for relegation.

Before the World Cup break Forest picked up some vital results at home as they were beginning to turn the City Ground into a fortress. They got those results by being difficult to beat and dogged defensively and they'll need to put in that kind of performance here. Steve Cooper will certainly be hoping so.

Chelsea picked up a much needed win on Tuesday against Bournemouth with their performance also much improved after a run of poor results. But the result was unfortunately overshadowed by another injury to Reece James.

The blues are set to be without James for another month which is a massive blow for them as he gives them so much going forward as well as defensively. I think the Blues are a better team when he's available.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm going for a Chelsea win here because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. Forest were good at home going into the World Cup break but they might lose the momentum they had. Chelsea will miss Reece James but they still have players in other positions capable of winning them a match.