Good day everyone,
I hope you are all well and had an excellent week, welcome to CryptoGod-1’s blog on all things sports. The Premier League is back following the final international break of 2023, and we will be straight back into the action with some excellent matches. We start with a massive game when Manchester City host Liverpool, while Newcastle welcome Chelsea later in the day. Arsenal will try navigate past Brentford, with Manchester United travelling to Everton and Tottenham hosting Emery's impressive Aston Villa.
Fixtures — Times are shown as U.K. Time
This weeks round of fixtures will see the games spread out across three days, from Saturday morning until Monday evening.
Saturday 25th November 2023
Manchester City - Liverpool 12.30pm KO
Burnley - West Ham 3pm KO
Luton - Crystal Palace 3pm KO
Newcastle - Chelsea 3pm KO
Nottingham Forest - Brighton 3pm KO
Sheffield United - Bournemouth 3pm KO
Brentford - Arsenal 5.30pm KO
Sunday 26th November 2023
Tottenham - Aston Villa 2pm KO
Everton - Manchester United 4.30pm KO
Monday 27th November 2023
Fulham - Wolves 8pm KO
Predictions
Now for the most exciting part, as I go through the latest info regarding each team to make an attempt at predicting the results for this week matches. Remember this is just my fun analysis and should not be taken as advice or a guarantee.
Manchester City - Liverpool
Manchester City sit top of the table with 28 points and will be certain of an intense battle as they welcome second placed Liverpool, sitting on 27 points, to the Etihad.
The Citizens were held to a 4-4 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before the international break, ending the clubs five game winning run. The result means Pep's men sit only a single point above Liverpool and Arsenal going into this and two clear of Spurs. City are in good form goalscoring wise, having scored at least three in each of their last five games. They are also on a 15 game Premier League home winning run at the Etihad and their home winning streak is 23 games in all competitions. Another record is on the line as a win here would see City match Sunderland's record of 24 successive home wins set between 1890 and 1892.
The Reds comfortably beat Brentford in the league last time out, although their form had been mixed considering they were beaten by Toulouse in the Europa League prior to that, and drew with Luton prior to that. Klopp will be more than used to seeing his side chasing down City but knows this will be their toughest test yet this season. With only one win in their last five away from home and without a Premier League clean sheet since May, the Reds need to improve their away form to maintain a title challenge this season. Rectifying things at the Etihad, where Liverpool have not won since 2015, will be the priority for Klopp this weekend.
Pep will be missing De Bruyne while there are fitness concerns for Haaland, Ederson, Kovacic, Ake, and Sergio Gomez. Klopp meanwhile will be missing Thiago, Robertson, and Bajcetic, but the club have been boosted by the return to training of Gravenberch, Jones, Konate, and Gomez, but will still need to assess them all before the match.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLWWWD
Away: LDWWDW
The last two encounters at the Etihad saw Man City knock Liverpool out of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win in December 2022, while the Citizens won 4-1 against the Reds last April. Both sides are likely to show their tiredness following the international break and the early kick off here, but I still think it will be a top notch game. Chelsea showed that Man City can be gotten at and Liverpool are scoring for fun. The Reds need to bee more solid at the back but I think they will show their serious title credentials with a strong showing and a share of the spoils here.
Final score: 2-2
Burnley - West Ham
The Clarets currently sit bottom of the pile with a miserable return of 4 points and will be welcoming ninth placed West Ham, on 17 points, to Turf Moor.
Burnley are currently on a six-game losing streak and are yet to register any points at home this season. With only four points on the board after 12 games Burnley have officially endured the worst start in Premier League history. They are bottom of the pile, level on points with Everton following their points deduction. Since beating Luton they have lost five league games and conceded 24 in the process, and not since 1895 have Burnley lost six successive top-flight games. Another loss at Turf Moor here would see Burnley become just the second-ever English team to lose their first seven league games at home following Newport County in the fourth tier in 1970-71.
West Ham entered the international break having won three of their last four games in all competitions. This followed on from a miserable October where the club went on a four-game winless run. The club sit three points off of Newcastle United in seventh and four behind Manchester United in sixth. The Europa Conference League winners will be looking to push themselves back into the European places once again and Moyes will know they can close that gap while also extending their records of having won each of their last seven Premier League meetings against promoted teams. They have also won each of their last ten against teams starting the game bottom of the table.
Kompany will be without Foster while he will also need to check on the fitness of Al-Dakhil. Moyes meanwhile will be missing Antonio while Bowen needs to be checked before the game.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WLLLLL
Away: WDLLLW
The last time these sides met it ended in a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium in April 2022, while these sides played out a 0-0 at Turf Moor in December 2021. West Have have failed to score in three of their last four visits to Turf Moor, The Hammers have been poor on the road this season, losing each of their last three, but this is the game to turn their form around. The Clarets have been awful at home and Moyes's men should have few problems outscoring the host's to take the three points.
Final score: 1-3
Luton - Crystal Palace
The Hatters are currently seventeenth with 6 points and will be in for a tough test against thirteenth placed Palace, who have 15 points so far.
Luton suffered a narrow 1-0 loss away to Manchester United last time out, but their last home league game saw them secure a point against Liverpool and the club will be brimming with confidence. The club have the second worst goals scored in the league with only 10 and are just above the relegation zone by a point. The club have managed to score in four of their five league matches at home this season but are yet to win at Kenilworth Road in the Premier League, although they have managed to pick up two points in front of their own fans thus far.
Palace enter this game having lost at home to Everton last time out and Hodgson's side now have only managed two victories in their previous nine league games. Although they have dropped into thirteenth, the club remain ten points clear of the relegations places and only five points off the top seven. They have also won five of their last eleven away league games as only Manchester City have won more away league fixtures than Palace since last April.
Luton will be without Andersen, Potts, Lokonga, and Burke, They will also need to check the fitness of Woodrow, Doughty, Kabore, Ogbene, and Bell. Palace will be missing Rak-Sakyi, Tomkins, and Henderson.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLDLDL
Away: WDLLWL
These sides meet for the first time in any competition since the 2006-07 Championship season when both these sides won the home contest by a score of 2-1. Of the last eight between these sides Luton have managed three wins with Palace getting four, although the Eagles have not won at Kenilworth Road since a 1-0 victory back in April 1994. Luton will see this as a great chance to add more points to the board but Palace will have their main attackers back meaning Hodgson's side is likely to prove too much for the Hatters.
Final score: 1-3
Newcastle - Chelsea
The Magpies are in seventh with 20 points as they welcome a rejuvenated Chelsea, sitting in tenth with 16 points, to St. James Park.
Newcastle will return from the international break looking to improve their form having lost against Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund in their two games before the break. The loss against the Cherries ended their seven-game unbeaten league run as injuries begin to derail their season. The break may have allowed some stars to rest up ahead of a tough schedule as they look to close the six point gap on the top four. The Magpies will be happy to play at home once again having won their last four in the league on home soil and looking to make it five for the first time since February 1907.
Chelsea managed a very respectable 4-4 draw at home to Manchester City before the international break and Pochettino will be looking to push them up the table and continue their good form having also beaten Tottenham. They may have only managed four wins from their opening twelve league games but Pochettino's men have only lost one of their last eight games across all competitions. They have also scored 20 goals in the same period as they look to create some form and stability. Ensuring they claim a back-to-back league win for only the third time since October 2022, doing so in March and October 2023, will be the priority for the side.
Howe will be missing the suspended Tonali along with Murphy, Burn, Wilson, Anderson, Manquillo, Botman, Barnes, Hall, and Targett. They also have fitness concerns for Almiron, Schar, Longstaff, and Isak. Pochettino meanwhile will be missing Wesley Fofana, Chilwell, Chalobah, and Chukwuemeka. They will also need to check the fitness of Nkunku, Gusto, Colwill, and Lavia.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WDWDWL
Away: WWDLWD
Chelsea lost 1-0 when they visited St. James Park last season and their record against Newcastle in the Premier League shows 13 loses on the road. However, this will be a much different test. These sides have seen two goals or less have scored in seven of the last eight meetings between these clubs and ensuring things are tight at the back will be a priority for both. While the home crowd could play its part, I have a feeling these sides will cancel each other out and a share of the points will be the reward.
Final score: 1-1
Nottingham Forest - Brighton
The Tricky Trees sit in fourteenth with 13 points as they face De Zerbi's side sitting in eight with 19 points.
Forest enter this game having lost away to West Ham before the international break, but the club had managed to beat Aston Villa at the City Ground prior to that. Forest remain right points clear of Luton in eighteenth and sit three points off the top half. However they have only managed one win in their previous eight games and will need to make immediate improvements in that regard. The solace for Forest is the fact they are unbeaten at the City Ground in seven league games and avoiding defeat here would make it only the second time the club have gone unbeaten in their first five home Premier League games.
Brighton were held to a draw at the Amex against Sheffield United before the international break as the club remain without a league win since September. A run of six league games without a win has been eased by a pair of wins in the Europa League over Ajax but the club are unbeaten in their last five in all competitions while they have also scored in 28 successive Premier League matches. Finding a balance between Europe and the league is important for the club by De Zerbi has worked magic thus far and will retain plenty of backing from the fans and club alike.
Cooper will be without Awoniyi and Hudson-Odoi while fitness test will be required for Murillo, Felipe, Elanga, Danilo, and Montiel. De Zerbi meanwhile will need to manage without March, Welbeck, Enciso, Lamptey, Estupinan, Milner, Dunk, and the suspended Dahoud. Both Mitoma and Ferguson are also doubts.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: DDDLWL
Away: LDLDDD
Coopers men managed a 3-1 at home against Brighton last April, and the sides played out a 0-0 back in October at the Amex. Prior to that both clubs managed 3-0 home wins against each other in the 2016/17 season when they were both in the Championship. While Brighton should be considered the stronger side here, Forest have proven time and again they are more than capable of cutting it in the top flight. Home advantage will help but injuries will impact both sides and therefore I expect this to end in a stalemate.
Final score: 0-0
Sheffield United - Bournemouth
The Blades are sitting in eighteenth with 5 points as they faced a Cherries side having recently found their winning touch and sitting in sixteenth with 9 points.
Sheffield United managed a respectable 1-1 draw against Brighton before the international break and Heckingbottom will look for a continuation of their recent upturn in form. The club managed four points from their last two league games have only managed a single point in the ten games prior to them. They sit a point from safety with Everton moving below them after the points deduction but the club still face an uphill battle, They are without a Premier League clean sheet this campaign and there will be fears that the international break may have stemmed the flow of their momentum.
Bournemouth managed to beat Newcastle 2-0 before the international break and Iraola will hope to see his side continue to push up the table. They sit four points clear of the relegation places but have failed to win any of their last seven top-flight away games. The club lost six of those while conceding 17 goals and this represents the worst record in the division. Solanke is the main man upfront and his goals will be crucial to the club staying up this season, but with Iraola's side finally looking like they are playing his style there could be surprises ahead for the Cherries faithful. Being more clinical in front of goal to put points on the board will be imperative but the signs are beginning to look positive.
The Blades will be missing Basham, Lowe, Norrington-Davies, Brewster, Jebbison, Egan, and Davies. They will also need to check on the fitness of Ahmedhodzic. The Cherries meanwhile will be missing Adams, Scott, Fredericks, Marcondes, and Randolph. Both Billing and Aarons will also need a fitness check ahead of this one.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLLLWD
Away: LLLWLW
These sides drew 0-0 at Bramall Lane back in April 2022 while Bournemouth beat the Blades at home in October 2021. Back in 2020 it was Sheffield United who managed a home win in the league while these sides managed to draw in the reverse fixture. This game has goals written all over it with neither side instilling much confidence with their defences. I think it will be a close game and while either side could steal the win, it will likely end in a draw.
Final score: 1-1
Brentford - Arsenal
The Bees are currently sitting eleventh with a total of 16 points while Arsenal are in third with 27 points.
Brentford were comfortably beaten at Anfield before the international break, but the Bees had managed to overcome Burnley, Chelsea and West Ham before that loss. Although they sit just inside the bottom half, Frank's men are mathematically closer to the top four than the relegation zone. While their form of 4 wins, 4 draws, and 4 defeats in the league is mid table standings, they are out to score for the 20th league game in a row at the Gtech Community Stadium. Only three teams have come to the Gtech since the start of last season and left with three points, although Arsenal was one of them.
Arteta's side come into this game having beaten Burnley last time out in the league. They put to rest the demons from their loss against Newcastle and ended a two-game domestic losing run. Sitting a point off Manchester City and knowing the two ahead of them are battling it out in the early kick off, Arsenal could move top if results go their way. While the club started with an excellent four clean sheets and four wins in their first four away league games this campaign, they have only managed one win in their last five away fixtures. A loss here would make it three away loses in a row for the first time since December 2021.
Brentford will be without the suspended Toney, while they will also be missing Henry, Schade, Hickey, Damsgaard, Dasilva, and Collins. The club will also need to assess the fitness of Lewis-Potter. Arsenal will be without Raya, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, and Timber, while there are fitness doubts over Soares and White.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: DLWWWL
Away: WWDWLW
Arsenal managed a 3-0 win here back in September 2022 while they also beat Brentford in the Carabao Cup back in September of this year. However, the Bees did manage their first ever Premier League win when they overcame Arsenal at the Gtech back in 2021. Both Frank and Arteta will be confident going into this, but its Arsenal's defensive strength and control of midfield which should see narrowly over the line in what will be a tight affair.
Final score: 1-2
Tottenham - Aston Villa
Spurs find themselves in fourth with 26 points and will have a tough challenge against fifth place Villa, who have 25 points.
Spurs return from the international break hoping to put the club back on track having lost against Wolves and Chelsea in their previous two league fixtures. The wheels have somewhat come off for Postecoglou's side after seeing their unbeaten start to the season long gone at this stage, although despite the defeats and injuries they still remain in the top four and two points off the top. They have managed to score in every home game since January and are on a run of 24 games in a row in which they have scored in the Premier League. Ange has plenty to rectify but they need their comprehensive performances back immediately.
Emery will be hoping his side can continue where they left off when they overcame Fulham before the international break. Although Emery will be disappointed about the loss to Forest at the end of last month, his side are showing they are back to their best and a win here would see them leapfrog Spurs into the top four. Their domination is at Villa Park, but on the road they have only won two of their last ten in the league. With Manchester United four points behind them Villa know they wont be overtaken regardless of the result, but a win against Chelsea will give the Lions hope of overcoming the Lillywhites.
Spurs will be missing Perisic, van de Ven, Maddison, Sessegnon, Solomon, Whiteman, Bissouma, Romero, and Richarlison. They will also need to check the fitness of Udogie. Villa meanwhile will be without Ramsey, Buendia, and Mings. They will also need to assess the fitness of Diego Carlos, Cash, and McGinn ahead of this clash.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WWWWLL
Away: WDWWLW
Villa managed to record a league double over Spurs last season, winning the away fixture 0-2. Of course this is a very different Spurs side this season, but their recent drop is form will give Villa plenty of confidence going into this one. Emery knows his side need to improve on the road, but they have already beaten a big six side in London this season and I am backing them to inflict a third defeat in a row on Postecoglou's side.
Final score: 2-3
Everton - Manchester United
The Toffees sit in nineteenth with 4 points following their points deduction but Dyche's side will hope to bounce back and cause issues for the Premier League's inform team when sixth placed Manchester United, with 21 points, visit Goodison Park.
Everton managed to overcome Crystal Palace in a 3-2 win at Selhurst Park prior to the international break, but the club were hit with a 10 point deduction for breaching financial fair play and now sit second from the bottom on goal difference alone. The news rocked the club and has put them into the relegation zone, but they boast a far superior goal difference compared to those around them. They are unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions while they have also emerged with victory in six of their last nine. Dyche will be keen to see his side win here and possibly get straight out of the relegation zone.
Manchester United secured a narrow 1-0 home win over Luton before the international break as Ten Hag looks to push his side up into the Champions League places. Off-field antics regarding ownership have disrupted the club but Ten Hag has his side sitting five points off the top four and seven points off the top of the league. They have not been exciting but three 1-0 wins have propelled the club up the league and eased any fears over their campaign domestically. A win here would make it four away league wins in a row but their tally of 13 goals is the worst in the top half and needs dire improvement.
The Toffees will be without Ali and Gomes while they also need to assess the fitness of Onana and Coleman. Manchester United meanwhile will be without Casemiro, Martinez, Evans, Eriksen, Malacia, Sancho, and Amad Diallo Traore. They will also need to check on the fitness of Hojlund, Wan-Bissaka, Onana, Shaw, and Pellistri.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LWLWDW
Away: LWWLWW
A 1-2 away win for Manchester United at Goodison was part of three wins over the Toffees last campaign, with a home league win and home FA Cup win added to the list. Everton will want to give their fans something to shout about given the awful recent news but they will need to ensure they don't allow United to take control of them game. Even with United lacking in the final third this will be a close game, and therefore I can see it ending in a draw.
Final score: 1-1
Fulham - Wolves
The Cottagers are currently fifteenth with 12 points and will be in for a tough battle against twelfth placed Wolves who have 15 points.
Fulham lost away against Aston Villa before the international break and Silva will know they are struggling with only a single point in their last four league games. Their only win since the beginning of October was against Sheffield United and a lack of goals is holding them back with only ten scored in the Premier League this campaign. With lynchpin Palhinha banned they will need to galvanise together to get through this encounter but they are still comfortable sitting eight points clear of the bottom three.
Wolves secured a surprise win over Spurs last time out as the club and have only lost once in their previous five. They sit five points off seventh placed Newcastle and will be full of confidence with their recent form. Many had tipped them for a relegation battle but O'Neil is guiding them comfortably through the league so far. Two wins and three defeats on the road in the league leaves them needing more away from home if they want to push themselves into the top half. Given they have overcome Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Newcastle already this season, Wolves will hold little fear in any encounter.
Fulham will be missing Diop, Muniz, and the suspended Palhinha. They will also need to check the fitness of Adarabioyo. Wolves meanwhile will be without Neto, Dawson, and Hodge, while the fitness of Semedo needs to be assessed.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LWLDLL
Away: WDWDLW
These sides played out a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage last February while they also played out a 0-0 at Molineux back in August 2022. Wolves are unbeaten in their past six games against Fulham but have also conceded in 12 of their 14 games across all competitions this season. There will be goals in this one, and I feel like it could end in a draw but I will back Wolves to steal the points.
Final score: 1-2
Match Prediction Summary
Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool
Burnley 1-3 West Ham
Luton 1-3 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Brighton
Sheffield United 1-1 Bournemouth
Brentford 1-2 Arsenal
Tottenham 2-3 Aston Villa
Everton 1-1 Manchester United
Fulham 1-2 Wolves
International Football
With the final international break of the year having taken place, below is a summary of the play-off semi-final draw for UEFA Euro 2024, with the draw having taken place in Nyon on Thursday the 23rd of November 2023.
Path A
Poland v Estonia
Wales v Finland
Path B
Israel v Iceland
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Ukraine
Path C
Georgia v Luxembourg
Greece v Kazakhstan
Play-offs finals
Path A: Wales/Finland v Poland/Estonia
Path B: Bosnia-Herzegovina/Ukraine v Israel/Iceland
Path C: Georgia/Luxembourg v Greece/Kazakhstan
Check out my 2023/24 Season Predictions here: Predictions 23/24 Season
Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the preview of the matches and get to see the games.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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