Christmas and the New Year have come and gone, and we’ve played more than half of the season’s fixtures (unless you live on Merseyside). Over the Christmas period, Chelsea became the unfortunate example reminding us just how quickly things can change in this league—and I’m sure they will not be the only ones in the next 5 months to demonstrate this. Fingers crossed that it’s Arsenal next. Matchweek 20 plays host to a selection of interesting fixtures, with Liverpool and United the headliners on Sunday afternoon. Settle in, kick your feet up, let dry January start next week, grab a pint, and get stuck into some matchweek 20 predictions.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Newcastle United
12:30, Saturday, January 4th, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The Saturday half-twelve kickoff sees two sides in polar opposite veins of form. Newcastle have been flying in recent weeks, hammering Villa 3-0 on Boxing Day before going to Old Trafford and making Joshua Zirkzee cry. The Toon have now climbed to fifth in the table following a rocky start to the campaign and will sense the opportunity to continue the climb as they face a vulnerable Spurs side on Saturday. A late Wolves equalizer saw two more points dropped for Ange Postecoglou’s side last weekend, as pressure on the manager seemingly continues to mount. Spurs are now 11th in the league, and you feel that there simply has to be a positive response at the weekend if Spurs wish to kick on from here.
Prediction: 2-2
First Goal Scorer: James Maddison
Anytime Goal Scorers: Alexander Isak, Joelinton, Dominic Solanke
Bournemouth vs. Everton
15:00, Saturday, January 4th, Vitality Stadium
Who could forget the entertainment and unbridled hilarity that this fixture brought us earlier in the season? The Cherries currently sit in 7th, following draws with Fulham and Palace on the back of the 3-0 demolition at Old Trafford prior to Christmas. Everton were dreadful last weekend in a 2-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, but Dyche’s side had played some decent football prior to the setback. Bournemouth have appeared a bit less bulletproof at home in recent weeks, and I truly wouldn’t be surprised to see Everton come away from this game with something. I’m almost certain that the Toffees won’t score, but then again, I’m not all too convinced that Bournemouth will either.
Prediction: 0-0
Aston Villa vs. Leicester City
15:00, Saturday, January 4th, Villa Park
Villa are another side that simply has had a very difficult time finding consistency in results through the Christmas period. A victory at Villa Park over City prior to Christmas preceded a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Newcastle, before conceding a late equalizer to Brighton last weekend in a game that Emery’s side controlled for long periods. Leicester, on the other hand, have struggled to find any form of footing following Steve Cooper’s sacking, and the Foxes appear as though they may be sinking. Two consecutive losses to Liverpool and Manchester City have Van Nistelrooy’s side firmly in the relegation places, and I don’t foresee an improvement of fortunes this weekend.
Prediction: 2-0 Villa
First Goal Scorer: Ollie Watkins
Anytime Goal Scorer: Amadou Onana
Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea
15:00, Saturday, January 4th, Selhurst Park
Chelsea are coming off the back of two heartbreaking defeats, first at home on Boxing Day at the death against Fulham, and then a 2-0 defeat at Portman Road—Ipswich’s first Premier League victory at home in nearly 23 years. As strange as it may sound, I didn’t think that Chelsea were particularly poor in either game—especially Ipswich, with a dubious (at best) penalty putting the Blues 1-0 down early doors. They simply could not score—and on another day, they may have easily had 4 or 5. Omari Hutchinson’s late dagger put the game to bed, but Maresca will certainly be looking to rebound this weekend at Selhurst Park. While Palace have greatly improved in recent weeks, with the exception of the 5-1 hammering at the hands of Arsenal several weeks ago, I can’t see them taking anything from this game as Chelsea re-discovers their footing.
Prediction: 2-0 Chelsea
First Goal Scorer: Nicolas Jackson
Anytime Goal Scorer: Noni Madueke
Manchester City vs. West Ham United
15:00, Saturday, January 4th, The Etihad
City seem to have remembered how to win a game of football after dispatching Leicester 2-0 last weekend in the Midlands. It seems to have gone from bad to worse for the Irons, as it’s been confirmed that Jarrod Bowen suffered a foot fracture during the 5-0 drubbing Lopetegui’s side received from Liverpool last Sunday. After witnessing in person just how poor West Ham can be five days ago, I simply can’t conceive of a reality in which they walk away from the Etihad with anything to show for it. Outside of Kudus, they are grim—that’s the simple reality.
Prediction: 3-0 City
First Goal Scorer: Erling Haaland (x2)
Anytime Goal Scorer: Kevin De Bruyne
Southampton vs. Brentford
15:00, Saturday, January 4th, St Mary’s
We’re halfway home and Southampton remain 5 points off of Derby County’s record 11-point season tally. While I think they may just about get there in the end, do not let that distract you from how poor this football team is—it’s just such a difficult watch. Thomas Frank’s side have run into some injury troubles in recent weeks; however, I can’t see it being a factor in this one. The Bees are winless in their last four league games, but there’s not a better fixture imaginable than this one at this point in time to help you find your form once more.
Prediction: 2-1 Brentford
First Goal Scorer: Bryan Mbuemo
Anytime Goal Scorers: Yoanne Wissa, Tyler Dibling
Brighton vs. Arsenal
17:30, Saturday, January 4th, The Amex
After squeaking by a depleted Brentford side on Wednesday evening, we’ve all been reminded by Arsenal supporters why they are the greatest team to grace the planet this century, despite winning next to nothing meaningful in the last 20 years. It’s far eclipsed United levels of delusion, and I pray that Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls find a way to stop some of the utter madness that I’ve been subjected to reading on social media over the past 48 hours. Rest assured, if Brighton do find a way to take points from this game, it will not be the fault of anyone employed by Arsenal Football Club—rather it will certainly be the fault of corrupt officials or injuries, as these have been the culprits in every instance that Arteta has dropped points in the last 24 months.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: Gabriel
Anytime Goal Scorer: Simon Adingra
Fulham vs. Ipswich Town
14:00, Sunday, January 5th, Craven Cottage
Kieran McKenna and Ipswich were able to round out 2024 in style, with a resounding 2-0 win at Portman Road over then 2nd-placed Chelsea. While the Tractor Boys remain 2 points adrift of safety, this result is surely something that may be used as a springboard or boost of confidence as the season wears on. Fulham, on the other hand, currently sit in 8th place after defeating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, before drawing 2-2 with Bournemouth in their final fixture of 2024. While on paper this match may seem straightforward for Fulham, particularly when looking at their performances in recent weeks against larger clubs, I think that it may just be a bit closer than expected. Fulham have struggled in these types of matches at times this season, and given the new wave of confidence that Ipswich will be riding, I wouldn’t be shocked to see them come away with a point.
Prediction: 1-1
First Goal Scorer: Sammie Szmodics
Anytime Goal Scorer: Alex Iwobi
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
16:30, Sunday, January 5th, Anfield
United have been so comically poor over the last month that I fully expect them to transform into 2002 Brazil come Sunday. The two teams were in similar form when they met at Anfield last season, and the most one-sided 0-0 draw I’ve ever seen that followed nearly gave me an aneurysm—I could do without that come Sunday. We really don’t need to overcomplicate things: use Anfield, and quite literally put them to the sword. Get an early goal, let their heads drop, and relentlessly attack them. Form always seems to go out the window in this fixture, don’t let it this weekend. Remind United why they’re 14th from the first kick, and don’t stop running until they’ve retreated to the buses and fucked off back up the M62. Into these.
Prediction: 2-0 Liverpool
First Goal Scorer: Dominik Szoboszlai
Anytime Goal Scorer: The Egyptian King
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Nottingham Forest
20:00, Monday, January 6th, Molineux
We’ve made it to 2025 and the Forest unstoppable force gimmick is still alive and well—who would have thought it? I’m fairly certain that I picked Forest to go down in my preseason predictions, and I think I may just have massively fucked that one up. Nuno’s Trees remain in third, just 2 points off Arsenal in 2nd place, and in all honesty, I’ve never been more pleased to be so incorrect. I think Nuno Espirito Santo is a wonderful human being, and what he’s done with the likes of a side that was all but written off is truly admirable. Wolves have been picking up results lately as well—and have finally clawed themselves from the relegation zone. The Molineux in the dead of winter is never a pleasant place; I think they will give Forest problems, but I think, in the end, the Tricky Trees are just a tad too tricky.
Prediction: 2-1 Forest
First Goal Scorer: Mattheus Cunha
Anytime Goal Scorers: Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White
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