Good day everyone,
I hope you are all well and had an excellent week, welcome to CryptoGod-1’s blog on all things sports. This weekend will see each team play their third league game in a week, and we will get to witness Manchester United test themselves against Iraola's side, Wolves host Forest, Emery will be up against his old club Arsenal, Everton host Chelsea, while Spurs battle it out against Newcastle.
Fixtures — Times are shown as U.K. Time
This weeks round of fixtures will see the games spread out across two days, from Saturday morning until Sunday evening.
Saturday 9th December 2023
Crystal Palace - Liverpool 12.30pm KO
Brighton - Burnley 3pm KO
Manchester United - Bournemouth 3pm KO
Sheffield United - Brentford 3pm KO
Wolves - Nottingham Forest 3pm KO
Aston Villa - Arsenal 5.30pm KO
Sunday 10th December 2023
Everton - Chelsea 2pm KO
Fulham - West Ham 2pm KO
Luton - Manchester City 2pm KO
Tottenham - Newcastle 4.30pm 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.
Crystal Palace - Liverpool
Palace currently sit in fourteenth with 16 points as they host second place Liverpool, who have 34 points, at Selhurst Park.
Hodgson had to bite back at his booing fans following their 2-0 home defeat to Bournemouth during the week, as he claimed the fans expected too much of this side. The Eagles have only managed a single point from their last four league games and are slowly slipping down the table towards the relegation battle. The club are winless in five at Selhurst Park and rumours are abound that Hodgson could soon be completing his second spell in charge of the club, as the veteran's position is being linked with other names in a potential bid to upturn the clubs form.
The Reds overcame Sheffield United during the week to keep on the tails of Arsenal and maintain their title bid. A win here would be their fourth win in a row in all competitions, while their clean sheet away to the Blades was their first Premier League away clean sheet of the season. Liverpool's famed attacking threat failed to light up against the Blades but the fact their defence and midfield is chipping in with goals shows the overall threat and quality this side has. With a final Europa League group game around the corner, Klopp will want to get maximum points here for a side looking to challenge on four fronts.
Palace will be without Doucoure, Rak-Sakyi, Holding, Henderson, and Eze, while they also have doubts over Mitchell. Liverpool will be without Thiago, Matip, Robertson, Jota, Alisson, and Bajcetic, while Mac Allister is a minor doubt.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LWLLDL
Away: WDWDWW
These sides played out a 0-0 at Selhurst back in February while their game at Anfield ended 1-1 back in August 2022. Prior to that Palace were winless in ten encounters with the Reds, and I expect Klopp's men to return to winning ways against the Eagles here. The early kick-off will somewhat have Liverpool fans feeling nervous, but Liverpool's attack combined with Palace's injuries means Hodgson's men will be under immense pressure to perform here. I feel Liverpool will pick them apart and record another clean sheet in the process.
Final score: 0-3
Brighton - Burnley
Brighton are currently eight with 25 points as they host nineteenth placed Burnley who have 7 points.
The Seagulls managed to record a home win over Brentford last time out and will hope to follow that up with another win here. Following their loss to Chelsea this was a perfect response from De Zerbi's side, and they will look to build on that here. Sitting only two points off fifth, Brighton will look to consolidate themselves as a European contender. They have now scored and conceded in each of their last 19 Premier League games. That includes their previous 11 games at the Amex Stadium which has seen them go undefeated in their last six at home.
Kompany witnessed his side lose 1-0 against Wolves during the week following their heroics in thrashing Sheffield United 5-0 last weekend. It was their 12th defeat in their 15 league games so far including loses in each of their last five away games. Sitting three points off safety, Burnley also remain only two points behind Luton in eighteenth. Their two wins this season have been against their fellow promoted sides as the Clarets record run of home loses and their overall inability to step up to the mark has cost them so far this campaign.
Brighton will be without Estupinan, Lamptey, Fati, Enciso, Welbeck, and March, while Webster is a doubt. Burnley meanwhile will be missing Koleosho, Foster, and Cork, with Cullen needed to be assessed for fitness.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: DDDWLW
Away: LLLLWL
Burnley emerged from the Amex Stadium with a 3-0 victory back in February 2022, but Brighton did secure a 2-1 win at Turf Moor back in August 2021. Brighton's firepower should be too much for Burnley here, although I do believe that Burnley should have enough about them to get a goal even though Brighton should comfortably outscore the visitors in this one.
Final score: 3-1
Manchester United - Bournemouth
Manchester United sit in sixth with 27 points as they host fifteenth placed Bournemouth, who have 16 points.
The Red Devils recorded a morale boosting home win over Chelsea during the week and in doing so Ten Hag's side sit a mere three points away from fourth placed Manchester City. McTominay is leading the way for United, having now scored six league goals, more than the total of 4 by all of United's strikers combined. With one eye on their must win Champions League clash with Bayern Munich next week, United will look for another morale-boosting win here. Rumours of discontent continue to emerge from the club but getting the results on the pitch will ensure to keep the squads harmony together as they enter a crucial period of their season.
The Cherries continued their good run of form with a 2-0 win away to Crystal Palace during the week and Iraola will be hoping to add a big scalp to his list here as they visit Old Trafford. Having taken 10 points from their last 4 games, the sides attack-minded philosophy is beginning to take shape as they look to maintain their positive run of recent form. Their early season form under Iraola is a distant memory as long as they continue to produce, and their attacking flair is beginning to show its worth.
Manchester United will be without Malacia, Casemiro, Martinez, Eriksen, Sancho, and Amad Diallo Traore. Varane will require a fitness assessment ahead of this one. The Cherries meanwhile will be missing Adams, Scott, Kelly, Aarons, Hamed, Fredericks, Marcondes, and Randolph.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LWWWLW
Away: WLWWDW
United are unbeaten in their 10 clashes to date with Bournemouth at Old Trafford, but they did lose the first ever encounter between these sides by a 2-1 scoreline back in December 2015. Since then the Cherries have managed a mere four points across their last 11 encounters while conceding 25 times. However, Iraola's side will be more than capable of giving United a test here. I feel with all the furore around the club that Bournemouth could take advantage here, and therefore I will back United to slip once again and only manage a draw at home with the Cherries.
Final score: 2-2
Sheffield United - Brentford
The Blades are propping up the table with a mere 5 points as they welcome eleventh placed Brentford, who have 19 points, to Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United brought Chris Wilder back as manager before the last round of games but the Blades still lost 2-0 at home to Liverpool. They put up a solid performance and on another night could have gotten a point, but they remain five points off Everton in seventeenth and are on a run of three loses in a row. They have now conceded over 40 goals this season and 21 of which they have seen go in at Bramall Lane. Similarly they have only managed to score 11 goals this season, although 7 of them have been scored in front of their home fans.
Brentford lost 2-1 against Brighton during the week to make it three defeats in their last four games. Frank side remain just outside the top four but are now five games without a clean sheet and will be looking over their shoulders. Twelve points clear of the relegation places mean they can remain comfortable for now, and only goal difference keeps them out of the top half, but getting the club back to winning ways and maintaining form must be the priority. They have beaten newly-promoted sides five times in a row at home in the Premier League and will look to continue that run here.
Wilder will take charge without Basham, Norrington-Davies, Egan, Davies, Jebbison, Brewster, McBurnie, and Baldock. Frank meanwhile will go into this one without Henry, Hickey, Mbeumo, Toney, Schade, Ajer, and Collins, with fitness doubts over Jensen and Dasilva.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LWDLLL
Away: WWLLWL
These sides last faced off in the Championship back in 2018/19, with Sheffield United winning 2-0 at Bramall Lane in March 2019 and securing a 3-2 win away from home back in November 2018. Things have changed majorly for both clubs since then, and Brentford have to be the favourites going into this one. While the Bees have been patchy of late, the Blades have been awful and unless Wilder produced miracles in his limited training sessions, this should be another defeat for Sheffield United.
Final score: 0-2
Wolves - Nottingham Forest
Wolves are currently thirteenth with 18 points as they welcome sixteenth placed Nottingham Forest, who have 13 points, to Molineux.
Wolves managed a narrow win over Burnley during the week to end a run of three league defeats in four games. Currently sitting eleven points clear of the drop zone, Wolves will have little worries of entering the relegation scrap just yet. A win here could see them move into the top half as they sit a single point off tenth place Chelsea, while they also managed to keep their first clean sheet since August in the win over Burnley. O'Neil has seen them go unbeaten in their last five at Molineux and with a little luck from VAR they could have been much higher in the standing by now.
Forest were humiliated by Fulham in a 5-0 defeat at Craven Cottage during the week. They have now lost their last four Premier League games while conceding 12 goals in the process as Cooper beings to feel the pressure. The fans are behind the manager, but the Tricky Trees are very much in a relegation battle as they sit four points above the dotted line. Only Sheffield United have done worse on their travels this season and Forest have won just two of their 20 away fixtures across all competitions throughout 2023.
Wolves will be missing Hodge, Pedro Neto, and Otto, while they also have fitness doubts over Ait Nouri and Sa. Forest will be without Awoniyi and Boly.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: DLWLLW
Away: LWLLLL
Forest have only managed one win in their last six top flight encounters with Wolves, with these sides playing out a 1-1 draw at the City Ground last April and Wolves managing a 1-0 win at Molineux back in October 2022. The win for Forest came in a 2-0 Championship win at Molineux back in January 2018 and they will need something similar here to get the three points. Wolves should be too strong at home for Forest, especially given their lack of confidence, and Wolves should score for the 17th successive game to ensure the home win.
Final score: 2-1
Aston Villa - Arsenal
Emery's side are currently sitting in third with 32 points as they host league leaders Arsenal, who are four points better off.
Villa are flying high at the moment following their win over Manchester City and will hope to put a dent in Arsenal's title challenge here. Emery has turned Villa from midtable mediocrity under Gerrard into realistic Top 4 contenders, while they will also be favourites to win the Europa Conference League. Their win over City was their 14th Premier League home win in a row, and making Emery's former club Arsenal number 15 would be an early Christmas present for the Spaniard. Currently sitting just 4 points off Arsenal, Emery's side also ended a ten game run without a clean sheet when they overcame the treble winners.
Arteta's side managed a 4-3 late win against Luton during the week as their title push continues, although they will be weary of Liverpool and Manchester City being hot on their tails. They are on a winning run of six games in all competitions, but with Liverpool playing the early game the Gunners may be sitting in second when they kick off here. They cannot underestimate their opponents even Arsenal have become synonymous with exhilarating injury-time comebacks given the harsh atmosphere Arsenal should expect to encounter here with the Lions fans still on cloud nine from their midweek win.
Villa will be missing Buendia, Mings, and Bertrand Traore. Arsenal meanwhile will be without Vieira, Tomiyasu, Partey, Smith-Rowe, and Timber.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WLWWDW
Away: WLWWWW
The last time these sides met it was Arsenal who emerged with a 4-2 victory, mainly thanks to a bizarre own goal from Martinez, back at Villa Park in February this year. That was the last time Villa lost at home but they have made their home a fortress since. Arsenal will have plenty to do if they wish to overcome the surprise top four challengers, and therefore I think Emery's side should fancy themselves to get a point out of this one.
Final score: 2-2
Everton - Chelsea
The Toffees are currently sitting in seventeenth with 10 points as they welcome tenth placed Chelsea, who have 19 points, to Goodison Park.
Dyche oversaw his side beat a tired Newcastle 3-0 during the week to move the club out of the relegation zone mere weeks after their 10 point deduction. For now they are clear of the dotted line although both Luton and Burnley could overtake them if results go against the Toffees this weekend. With five wins and a single defeat in their last seven, it seems form and results have been with Everton thus far. They would be in the top half without the points deduction, a point above Chelsea, but they have only managed two wins at Goodison Park this season as their away form has carried the club to date.
Pochettino's side fell to a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford during the week and the club are without a clean sheet in eight Premier League games. They conceded more than once in six of those games as the club are still firmly adjusting to the Boehly billionaire regime. They were lacking energy against the Red Devils as Pochettino looks for a way to get his side clicking long term. For now they are very much a midtable club lacking direction, but only seven points separates them from seventh placed Newcastle in the European places.
Everton will be without Alli while they also have fitness concerns over Onana, Garner, Coleman, Pickford, and Gomes. Chelsea meanwhile will be missing Wesley Fofana, Chilwell, Chalobah, Ugochukwu, and Chukwuemeka. They will also need to assess the fitness of Madueke, Nkunku, Malo Gusto, and Lavia.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WDWLWW
Away: LWDLWL
These sides played out a 2-2 draw in March at Stamford Bridge, while Chelsea managed a narrow 1-0 win at Goodison Park back in August of 2022. Before that Everton had been on a four game winning run against the London club and Dyche would love a return to those results. Chelsea are looking haphazard, as one week they produce the goods and the next are out on their feet. I could really see either side winning this one depending of whether they turn up, so therefore I will put this one down as draw.
Final score: 1-1
Fulham - West Ham
Fulham sit in twelfth with 18 points as they face off against ninth place West Ham with 24 points.
The Cottagers managed a huge 5-0 home win over Forest during the week and will be hoping to follow that up with another strong performance here. The club have struggled upfront since Mitrovic left for Saudi Arabia over the summer, but have found the scoring touch with 11 goals in their last 3 league games. It was their second win in their last three and means Fulham are only a point off the top half, and comfortably nine points clear of the relegation places. They will also be looking to make it three home Premier League wins in a row for the first time since 2012.
The Hammers overcame Spurs away from home in their midweek game, making it the first time in 39 attempts that Moyes overcame a traditional 'Big Six' team away from home. Although Spurs ran the Hammers ragged in the first half, they wasted chances and West Ham made them pay. Its now five wins from their last six in all competitions, and they remain only four points off fifth placed Spurs. With a gap of 15 points to the relegation places, Moyes side are once again primed to push for a European finish this season, although they are still waiting for their first away clean sheet of the Premier League season.
Fulham will be missing Diop in this one, while Muniz and Adama Traore are both fitness doubts. West Ham meanwhile will be without Antonio while they also need to assess Areola.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: DLLWLW
Away: LLWWDW
West Ham left Craven Cottage with all three points last April thanks to a 1-0 win, while West Ham managed a 3-1 home win in October 2022. West Ham have five wins overall from their last six encounters with Fulham and Moyes would love to add another win to that list. His side have been impressive of late, but Fulham have been lethal in front of goal. I expect plenty of chances and goals in this one as Fulham should just about have enough to overcame West Ham at home.
Final score: 3-2
Luton - Manchester City
Luton are sitting in eighteenth with 9 points and will be up against it at Kenilworth Road as fourth placed Manchester City, with their 30 points.
Luton have been very impressive in their recent home games, having gotten a point against Liverpool before a narrow 1-0 defeat against Spurs. They looked to have gotten a point against Arsenal before a late 4-3 defeat against the league leaders. The result means Luton have lost ten of their 15 Premier League games this season so far although they are only a point away from safety. They are also without a clean sheet in the Premier League this season but have began to find their goalscoring touch having scored in six of their last seven league games.
City were beaten by Aston Villa during the week in a thorough performance by the Lions. Pep's side are now on a run of four Premier League games without a win, including three draws on the bounce before Villa beat them. City have fallen below Villa in the table into fourth and sit six points off Arsenal at the top. They have scored the most in the league with 36 strikes but Pep's men have looked a shadow of the treble winners from last season. Pep has said himself a losing run may be the motivation his side needs, but they wont want to fall too far behind the leaders and end up in the chasing pack.
Luton will be missing Potts, Andersen, and Burke, while they also need to check on the fitness of Woodrow, Lokonga, Marvelous Nakamba, and Lockyer. City will be without De Bruyne but will have both Rodri and Grealish back from suspension, while they have minor fitness doubts over Doku.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LDLWLL
Away: WWDDDL
Luton have lost against Manchester City in each of their last nine encounters, including their most recent games back in the old Division Two (nowadays League One) where Manchester City won their home game 2-0 but drew in the away leg. Although Manchester City have wobbled of late I think this is where they will bounce back, especially having Rodri back in the side. They should record a comfortable win, although Luton are capable of making it difficult if they get their tails up.
Final score: 0-2
Tottenham - Newcastle
Spurs are sitting in fifth with 27 points as the battle it out with seventh place Newcastle, who have 26 points.
Spurs made it five Premier League games without a win as they were defeated by West Ham at home. Postecoglou had set the league alight by taking more points than any previous manager in his first 10 games in the competition but now Spurs are a familiar sight with no win in their last five. They managed to go 1-0 in each of those games and became the first team to do so while not winning any of them. They have also lost three straight home games for the first time since September 2008. It was November 2004 when they last lost four in a row at home in the Premier League.
Newcastle were torn apart late on against Everton as the Geordies fell to a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park during the week. Howe's side have continued to struggle in away games this season, taking just two points from their last six away from home in the Premier League. Despite their struggles, Newcastle remain only four points off fourth placed Manchester City, and can overtake Spurs with a win here. With only one clean sheet in their last 16 away league games, coming in the 8-0 win over Sheffield United, a decimated Newcastle squad will need to be at their best here, while also keeping one eye on their Champions League clash with AC Milan next week with their European fate hanging in the balance.
Spurs will be without Perisic, Bentancur, van de Ven, Maddison, Sessegnon, Solomon, Dier, and Whiteman, while Son is also struggling to be fit for this one. Newcastle meanwhile will travel to London without Tonali, Pope, Murphy, Burn, Wilson, Anderson, Botman, Longstaff, Willock, Barnes, Manquillo, and Targett. Lascelles is also a fitness doubt.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WLLLDL
Away: DWLWWL
Newcastle thrashed Spurs 6-1 at St James Park back in April, while the Geordies also managed a 2-1 victory in London back in October 2022. Postecoglou's side may be playing Newcastle at the correct moment as the injuries pile up for both sides. Without European endeavours, Spurs should be the fresher of the two sides and although Newcastle are more than capable of a win, I feel Spurs will get their first league win in six attempts here.
Final score: 2-1
Match Prediction Summary
Crystal Palace 0-3 Liverpool
Brighton 3-1 Burnley
Manchester United 2-2 Bournemouth
Sheffield United 0-2 Brentford
Wolves 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
Everton 1-1 Chelsea
Fulham 3-2 West Ham
Luton 0-2 Manchester City
Tottenham 2-1 Newcastle
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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