THE VERY BLUNT PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS (WEEK 17)
Buckle up, the next fortnight will be an intense period where fixtures come around faster than Manchester United’s exit from European football.
Every week we’ll be giving you our blunt takes and predicting each Premier League match featured in our Pick 10 league along with any other big fixtures - will you take our advice?
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
Manchester City better hope come January they can channel their inner Thanos, “I am inevitable". With one victory in their last five league outings, Pep Guardiola has seen his side fall four points behind leaders Liverpool. With games against Crystal Palace, Everton and Sheffield United to come, December could be a chance to reignite their title ambitions - then again they also have the Club World Cup to contend with.
One question Palace, what happened!? It only felt like a month ago you were beating United at Old Trafford and breezing into mid-table security. Now you have the worst record in the league over the past five league games with defeats to Luton, Everton and Bournemouth. How exactly you’re still seven points clear of the relegation zone is astonishing, congratulations - now you have to face an angry squad of champions.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Crystal Palace
Newcastle vs Fulham
Yes you were ravaged by injuries, but all you had to do was beat AC Milan inside a deafening St James’ Park and you were through to the Champions League knockouts, instead? You lost and finished bottom of the group, congratulations Newcastle. The crazy thing is that is might actually be a blessing in disguise, a relatively trouble-free run of fixtures over Christmas could springboard Eddie Howe’s side back into the UCL places.
Three wins in four, consecutive 5-0 triumphs, are you okay Fulham? You might have started the season with a whimper, but mid-table security looks achievable again. A trip to St James’ Park will be tough, but fixtures against Burnley and Bournemouth come over Christmas - with that, two opportunities to make a 5-0 scoreline their new characteristic.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Fulham
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Judging recent results, losing away at Villa Park isn’t the end of the world, but it’s very difficult to believe whether or not this Arsenal side actually have what it takes to stay the course and lift silverware. Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson blow hot and cold, beyond the starting front three of Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli is there enough depth? January incomings needed.
Are people being overcritical of Brighton? Maybe, but it’s their own fault for raising the bar. European places are still firmly in the Seagulls sights, but crippling inconsistency is costing Roberto De Zerbi’s team. The emergence of 18-year-old hometown prospect Jack Hinshelwood must be gratifying, but Brighton have lost a step in the leadup to the new year. Get your act together.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Liverpool vs Manchester United
For a team that has largely competed for the title over the past six seasons, it’s amusing how little belief there is in league leaders Liverpool to go all the way this time around. Only Aston Villa have matched the form of Jurgen Klopp’s squad over the past five games. A crunch game against Arsenal at Anfield takes place two days before Christmas, but yeah expect a mauling of United this weekend.
A lowly embarrassing Champions League exit is the least of Erik Ten Hag’s worries with half the squad in the treatment room and Bruno Fernandes suspended ahead of Sunday’s visit to Anfield. With matches against West Ham and Aston Villa over Christmas, United are in a precarious situation as the battle for European places intensifies. The score in this fixture earlier this year was a resounding 7-0 victory for Liverpool, there is a genuine possibility of recent history repeating itself.
Prediction: Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United
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