THE VERY BLUNT PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS (WEEK 21)
If you thought things were getting back to normal after the Christmas break and the third round of the FA Cup, you can think again…
This weekend will mark the beginning of the winter break - how does that work? Simple. Half of the league will sit it out once over the next two weekends, it’s as simple as that.
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?
Burnley vs Luton Town
19th take on 18th in a bona fide six-pointer, probably more so for Burnley if we’re being brutally honest. The Clarets are four points adrift of Luton and five behind 17th place Everton. Defeat to Spurs in the FA Cup saw Vincent Kompany’s side suffer their fifth loss in seven matches, if anyone is selling goals in the transfer window, Burnley will buy them - only Sheffield United have scored fewer in the league.
Two wins from their past three top-flight outings represents a solid return for the Hatters who were shafted with their December fixture list. Arsenal, Man City, Newcastle and Chelsea all visited Kenilworth Road last month, all were decided by one goal, Luton were on the right side once against the Magpies. Easier home games await, Rob Edwards will be targeting those fixtures, it might be their best shot at survival.
Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Luton Town
Chelsea vs Fulham
Trying to assess the pure dysfunction of Chelsea would be an impossible task, though they have won three of their past four Premier League games (albeit against Luton, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United). Losing to Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup will be forgiven should they overturn the tie in two weeks’ time at Stamford Bridge, that will likely be their greatest chance of lifting silverware this season.
Fulham began December in god mode with consecutive 5-0 victories, then three defeats followed. A spirited 2-1 win over Arsenal saw Marco Silva’s side end 2023 on a high, but what chaos awaits the West London club for the rest of the season? A place in the EFL Cup Final is still on the table, despite losing 2-1 at Anfield. Nine points clear of the relegation zone, securing safety shouldn’t be a tall order.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham
Newcastle vs Manchester City
Newcastle have been punched in the face, and they haven’t fought back. Five defeats in their past six league outings has all but ended their chances of consecutive seasons in the Champions League in the midst of a crippling injury bug. It really doesn’t get any easier for the Magpies with fixtures against City up next before a trip to Villa Park, by the time February rolls around any form of European football would be welcomed.
December was a true test of City’s squad depth with nine fixtures across three competitions. The phrase ‘damage limitation’ springs to mind, and yet Pep Guardiola’s side sit just five points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand. A trip to St. James’ Park is a daunting proposition for most, but Newcastle have won just one of their past 32 Premier League games against City - happy hunting ground?
Prediction: Newcastle 2-3 Manchester City
Everton vs Aston Villa
Everton responded to their 10-point deduction by rattling off four consecutive victories in the top-flight when December began. That momentum ground to a halt as the Toffees ended the month with three straight defeats. It has been a tough run against Spurs and City with Aston Villa to come. Everton are waiting to see whether their takeover will be confirmed this week, that might provide the necessary shot in the arm to secure survival in the coming months.
There is no reason why Aston Villa cannot finish the season in the top four, a smaller squad relative to the other title hopefuls is a cause for concern, but so far so good. Consecutive home victories over City and Arsenal in December rubber stamped Villa’s credentials, when the going gets tough, Unai Emery’s side have responded. If you’re looking at the recent history of this fixture, Villa have won the past three league meetings between the teams.
Prediction: Everton 1-3 Aston Villa
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Just a the one league win in their last five fixtures, nevermind, the Ratcliffe era has begun. United will have little wiggle room to operate in the January transfer window, that said, the rest of the 2023/24 season will be more of a fact finding exercise for the Ineos group that anything else. ten Hag’s team are just eight points adrift from a Champions League place and have won 13 of their past 17 Premier League meetings with Spurs at Old Trafford.
An injury bug derailed an otherwise perfect start to the season for Spurs, but crucially they have kept pace with the other title challengers. Just six points behind leaders Liverpool, Ange Postecoglou has moved quick to reinforce his squad with the loan signing of Timo Werner and have won the race to sign Romania centre-back Radu Dragusin from Genoa. The capture of Werner in particular is timely, given captain Son Heung-min is away with South Korea for the Asian Cup until the end of January at least.
Prediction: Manchester United 0-0 Tottenham
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