Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 18

BOXING DAY:

MAN UNITED V NEWCASTLE

Man United played quite well against Villa on Sunday despite losing the game which is quite rare as they usually get a lot of stick when they lose.

We're about to find out how they'll get on without Bruno Fernandes for a lengthy spell for the first time with their talisman set to be on the side-lines for a few weeks with a hamstring injury.

Fernandes has carried United pretty much ever since he arrived at the club and the difference he's made to them when he's in the team has been huge.

His absence could give Kobbie Mainoo the opportunity to impress his manager and I do hope he gets a chance whilst Fernandes is out because he's a talented player and someone who needs to play first team football.

Newcastle will no doubt be kicking themselves for letting a two-goal lead slip against Chelsea on Saturday and especially after looking comfortable and in control of the game in the first half.

Their record away from home is still poor and the last time they were on the road they put in an abject display against Sunderland in the Tyne Wear Derby.

But as United will be without Fernandes and a few other players at AFCON, I'm going for a rare Newcastle win on the road here.

PREDICTION: 0-2

SATURDAY:

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V MAN CITY

Forest won this fixture 1-0 last season courtesy of a Callum Hudson-Odoi goal and they would love another win like that in this one to push themselves further away from the bottom three.

I feel like they're missing Chris Wood up top because they're missing that focal point and goal scorer at the top end of the pitch.

Igor Jesus does work hard off the ball but he doesn't score enough goals and has missed a lot of chances throughout the season.

Man City are on a roll at the moment and are looking like the team we've been used to seeing over the last few seasons.

We're approaching that stage of the season where City usually turn it on and go on a brilliant run of form and it looks like they could do so again with the form they're in at the moment.

I'm not expecting Forest to make it easy for them here as they're a tough team to play against and going to the City Ground and getting a result is never easy.

But I do think City will come out on top because of the momentum and confidence they have at the moment.

PREDICTION: 0-2

ARSENAL V BRIGHTON

Arsenal come into Christmas at the top of the league and the question now will be whether they can stay there at the end of the season.

They've been top at Christmas four times but didn't win the title in any of those seasons and that is why that question is being asked.

Brighton have given the Gunners a tough game in the past including last season where they took points off them both home and away.

The Seagulls have already beaten Man City and Chelsea this season as well as pushing Liverpool close and their performances in those games will give them a lot of encouragement heading into this one.

They will look to cause Arsenal problems, but I think the Gunners will have enough to come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

BRENTFORD V BOURNEMOUTH

Brentford have a strong record at home this season like they had done ever since they've been in the Premier League as I have mentioned more than a few times.

Bournemouth on the other hand are out of form and still without a win since the end of October when they beat Forest.

I think their recent form is a reality check as very few people were expecting them to start so well after losing the players they lost in the summer.

I can see both teams scoring in this one because they both have goals in them, but I think Brentford will be the team that come out on top because of the brilliant record they have at home and the winless run Bournemouth are on.

PREDICTION: 2-1

BURNLEY V EVERTON

Burnley picked up a much needed point against Bournemouth on Saturday which brought an end to their seven match losing streak.

The Clarets have been competitive in a lot of their games this season including the ones they've lost and especially at home.

Everton have also been competitive this season and they made it Arsenal work for their win against them last weekend.

The Toffees are however missing some important players through either AFCON or injury including Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Because of this and their lack of a clinical goal scorer, I can see the points being shared here because I can see Burnley make it difficult for them here.

PREDICTION: 1-1

LIVERPOOL V WOLVES

Liverpool have more steadied the ship than turned a corner with the recent results they've had and I say that because they're tighter at the back and not as easy to play against.

It was so unfortunate for Alexander Isak to pick up that injury against Spurs and he's now set to spend the next couple of months on the side-lines.

He's been far from up to speed since joining Liverpool and that injury will no doubt hold him back from reaching full fitness and sharpness.

The reds do at least have Hugo Ekitike who is in fine form at the moment with 5 goals in his last 3 games and I can see him bag another goal or two in this one.

What is there to say about Wolves?

They're good as relegated and I don't see where they're going to get their next point from never mind their first win.

They showed very little fight against Brentford on Saturday which Matt Doherty stated in his post-match interview which I found very interesting.

I can only see one winner here and it has to be Liverpool who I can see win this game fairly comfortably.

PREDICTION: 3-0

WEST HAM V FULHAM

West Ham need to start winning games soon because the gap between them and safety is growing because of the teams above them picking up points.

The Hammers are without a win in in their last six games and are five points from safety and they won't want to let that margin get any bigger and especially with Leeds gaining momentum.

I still think they'll stay up though as they have the right manager to get them out of trouble in Nuno Espirito Santo and have a good enough squad to stay up.

Fulham got a much needed win against Nottingham Forest on Monday which moved them ten points from safety and I don't see them getting sucked back into the relegation battle.

Marco Silva's side have a poor record on the road this season with just two wins from eight away games which is identical to West Ham's home record.

But I think West Ham will return to winning ways to get their season back on track as they do have a decent record in this fixture.

PREDICTION: 1-0

CHELSEA V ASTON VILLA

Chelsea showed character to come from behind and nick a draw against Newcastle on Saturday after looking completely abject in the first half.

Enzo Maresca's side have arguably performed better in the bigger games than they have done against lesser opposition and I'm classing this as a big game because Villa are above them in the table.

Villa were not at their best against Man United on Sunday but they still got the win thanks to Morgan Rogers' two goals including a peach of a strike for his first one.

Rogers might be the Premier League's in-form player right now and as I mentioned in my key points of the weekend post, he has to be a contender for player of the season because of how influential and consistent he's been for Villa.

This game will definitely test Villa's title credentials with it being against a big club like Chelsea and I'm backing them to pass it because of the incredible run of form they're on.

PREDICTION: 1-2

SUNDAY:

SUNDERLAND V LEEDS

Sunderland are still unbeaten at home this season and their home form has been instrumental to the season they're having.

They finished below Leeds in the Championship last season having come up via the play offs, but they've been by far the best newly promoted team this season as the table shows.

Regis Le Bris' side are without a lot of players due to their involvement at AFCON and this could impact their progress as the majority of them have been key for them this season.

Leeds have been climbing the table during December and Daniel Farke deserves a lot of credit for turning things around as there were rumours about him being sacked and fans questioning his ability to manage in the Premier League.

One of the reasons behind his side's recent good results has been the return to form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has 6 goals in his last 5 games.

It's good to see him back scoring goals after a few injury plagued season at Everton and if Leeds can keep him fit, they have a good chance of staying up and he has a good chance of returning to the England squad.

I can see his purple patch coming to an end here as I'm backing Sunderland to win the game because of their impressive home record.

PREDICTION: 2-0

CRYSTAL PALACE V TOTTENHAM

This season has been a challenging one for Palace simply because of them being in Europe and the heavy schedule they've had as a result of it.

But they're actually doing pretty well when you look at the table as they currently lie in 8th which represents a very good season for them so far.

Spurs made it uncomfortable for Liverpool during the closing stages of the game and even after they went down to nine men which is never easy.

Whilst Thomas Frank may have been pleased with the way his side ended that game, it was another defeat for his side and they're now 14th in the table.

Palace are missing some important including Ismaila Sarr who is at AFCON and Daniel Munoz who is injured, but they still have players who can hurt Spurs and because of this I'm backing them to win this game.

PREDICTION: 2-0