Arsenal’s future not Crystal clear, Manchester United’s 100 club omen and Chelsea without their Spanish Armada: The Premier League weekend ahead
Gunners could well be without Alexis Sanchez as he closes in on a sensational move to Manchester United
Hello again and welcome to our weekly Premier League preview.
Now, last week we staked what’s left of our reputation on Liverpool ending Manchester City’s unbeaten start to the season and, lo and behold, Jurgen Klopp’s men duly came up trumps.
Obviously we didn’t put any money on it though. We’re not that clever.
So we go again and Matchweek 24, as the Premier League likes to call it, begins at lunchtime on the south coast at the lovely Amex Stadium…
BRIGHTON v CHELSEA
For a team that’s struggling at the moment Brighton must have watched Chelsea’s FA Cup replay with Norwich as it went into extra-time, then to penalties and then witnessed Pedro and Alvaro Morata getting sent off and thought their luck was finally in.
The Blues will now be without the suspended Spaniards at the Amex while Brighton will be hopeful of taking advantage of the visitors’ very average form at the moment.
They certainly need to.
Now in 16th place and just three points above the drop zone, Chris Hughton’s men have just one win from their last 12 league games and have only scored seven goals in that run. It’s further evidence, if it were needed*, that they really need to break the bank to land a striker of two in the transfer window.
(* It’s really not needed)
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
NEIL ASHTON Alexis Sanchez has done the dirty on Pep Guardiola by picking Man Utd
ARSENAL v CRYSTAL PALACE
If you look at the hard facts then you’d be mad not to lump on Arsenal strolling to victory against Palace here. They have, after all, never failed to score in 17 home league games the Eagles, bagging an impressive 39 goals at an average of 2.3 per match.
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The Gunners have also scored in every one of their last 25 home league games too and that’s their longest run since a 29-match streak between April 2007 and November 2008.
But this is a different Palace side they’re up against here.
When these two sides last met over Christmas it was Arsenal that nicked the points with a 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park but there’s a spring if not in Roy Hodgson’s step then his squad’s at the moment thanks to a run of form that’s taken them from rock bottom all the way up to 12th place.
And after losing eight consecutive away league matches, Palace are now unbeaten in their last five on the road (W2, D3).
Only Liverpool (six) are on a longer run without defeat away from home.
SUNSPORT PREDCITION: DRAW
BURNLEY v MANCHESTER UNITED
The Boxing Day game between these two was a cracker, ending in a 2-2 draw but Burnley rode their luck that day and having one just won of their last 24 matches against United in all competitions (W1, D10, L13) they’ll be up against it here again, especially as United are unbeaten in their last five away league games (W4, D1).
But here’s an omen that Clarets fans can cling to like a girlfriend that you don’t want to split up with; this will be Sean Dyche’s 100th Premier League match as a manager and the last three bosses to reach that milestone against Manchester United all won!
Hope springs eternal then.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
EVERTON v WEST BROM
West Brom finally ended their 20-match winless run in the league with a 2-0 win over pushovers Brighton last weekend and another victory here and it’ll be the first time they’ve won back-to- back games in the Premier League since the second week of the season.
Let’s just hope we don’t see any Alan Pardew dancing if they do though.
Though they’ve not won in five in the league, Everton have a strange and strong hold over the Baggies, losing just one of their last 10 league games against them (W5, D4, L1).
Add to that the fact that Everton gaffer Sam Allardyce has never lost a home league match to West Brom (W2, D6) and you get some sense of the task facing the Midlanders.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
LEICESTER v WATFORD
The Foxes are flying again, aren’t they?
Yes, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth when Claude Puel was appointed as their new manager but he’s done a sterling job and they could go three games without conceding a goal for the first time since April 2016 if they shut out Watford here.
There’s every chance too. Leicester have won seven of their last nine home league games against the Hornets (W7, D1, L1) and they’ve also got Riyad Mahrez back in fine form (just in time for the transfer
window).
He’s scored in each of his last four league games against Watford. Leicester City have won seven of their last nine home league matches, including play-offs, against Watford (D1 L1), beating them in each of the last two in the Premier League.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
STOKE v HUDDERSFIELD
And it’s a warm welcome back to the Premier League for Paul Lambert as he takes charge of struggling Stoke City.
The big question, as the Potters sit mired in the relegation zone, is will they get the new manager bounce they so badly need?
It’s going to be a close call.
Back on Boxing Day in the reverse fixture, it took the only goal of the game from Tom Ince to give Huddersfield the points at the John Smith’s Stadium but the Terriers don’t travel well, winning just two away games all season.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
WEST HAM v BOURNEMOUTH
Managerial genius that he is, David Moyes has not only dragged West Ham up to 11 th place in table but he’s also managed to get a tune out of Marko Arnautovic who now has a frankly remarkable six goals and three assists in his last seven Premier League games.
It’s one day short of a year since West Ham last won successive games in the Premier League when the beat Palace and Middlesbrough but we’re banking on the Hammers doing it again here.
Like Sean Dyche, this will also be Eddie Howe’s 100th Premier League match as a manager and at just 40 years and 52 days he’ll be the third-youngest English manager to reach this milestone after Glenn Hoddle and Gareth Southgate.
Nice.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
MANCHESTER CITY v NEWCASTLE
After their first league defeat of the season against Liverpool last week, City will be looking to get back on track against a Newcastle side that are performing remarkably given the takeover turmoil off the field.
All the evidence points to a City stroll.
They’re unbeaten in their last 20 league games against the Magpies (W17, D3) and that’s the longest unbeaten streak in their entire league history.
But Rafa Benitez has a habit of frustrating City at the Etihad and he’s kept four clean sheets there as a manager.
In fact, only Sir Alex Ferguson, with five, has notched more as an away gaffer.
Not that that will count for much this weekend.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: HOME WIN
SOUTHAMPTON v SPURS
Saints’ slide down the table continues apace. That’s what happens when you don’t win any of your last 10 games.
They’re also winless in the last five home meetings with Spurs since they returned to the Premier League in 2012 (D1, L4) and since he left St Mary’s in 2013, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has yet to lose at his old employers (W2, D1).
It all points to another tough afternoon for Saints and with Harry Kane just two goals away from 100 in the Premier League, you can be sure that he’ll want to make another milestone mark as soon as possible. SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
SWANSEA v LIVERPOOL
How’s this for a contrast.
Bottom of the table Swansea have scored the fewest home goals in the division this season with just six while visitors Liverpool, with 29, have plundered the most away goals this term.
Foregone conclusion then?
Pretty much, yes.
Liverpool can’t stop scoring at the moment and they’ve scored at least twice in each of their last six Premier League away matches.
The Swans also need to keep Roberto Firmino quiet too. Easier said than done but the Brazilian has scored five times in his last three league appearances against Swansea, including braces in each of the last two.
Ironically, Firmino doesn’t need braces. He has lovely teeth.
SUNSPORT PREDICTION: AWAY WIN
