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 weekends sees half the teams on their winter break, with only five games taking place. These will include Chelsea facing Fulham in a London Derby, Newcastle hosting Manchester City, Everton face Villa, while United welcome Spurs to Old Trafford. The relegation battle sees Burnley hosting Luton.
Fixtures — Times are shown as U.K. Time
This weeks round of fixtures will see the games spread out across three days from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon.
Friday 12th January 2024
Burnley - Luton 7.45pm KO
Saturday 13th January 2024
Chelsea - Fulham 12.30pm KO
Newcastle - Manchester City 5.30pm KO
Sunday 14th January 2024
Everton - Aston Villa 2pm KO
Manchester United - Tottenham 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.
Burnley - Luton
This relegation battle sees nineteenth placed Burnley, with 11 points, host seventeenth placed Luton who have managed 15 points so far.
The Clarets lost 3-2 at Villa Park last time out in the league before they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Tottenham. Kompany noted his side had shown clear signs of improvement in their last two outings, albeit with nothing to show from them. With no other distractions left the club can now solely focus on the Premier League, but regardless of the result here they will remain in the relegation zone as they sit five points from safety. Since they beat Sheffield United at home in December Burnley have lost both home league games since, and another loss here would make it ten home defeats in their opening eleven Premier League games at Turf Moor this season.
Luton were beaten 3-2 by Chelsea in their last league clash before they secured a 0-0 draw at Kenilworth Road against Bolton in the FA Cup. It was not the desired result against the League One side, and Edward's side will now forfeit their mid-season break to complete the replay. Sitting a point off safety Luton will look to make it three league wins from four games following victories over Newcastle and Sheffield United. The Hatters also have a game in hand over those around them but are still without an away clean sheet in the Premier League this campaign.
Burnley will be without Ekdal and Koleosho, while they also need to check the fitness of Taylor, Beyer, and Foster. Luton will be missing Kabore, Lockyer, and Marvelous Nakamba, while they also need to check on the availability of Burke, Potts, and Morris.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LDLWLL
Away: LLLWWL
Burnley managed a 2-1 win at Kenilworth Road back in October, while Burnley also won 1-0 there last season in the Championship, while these sides played out a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor in August 2022. Kompany's side are unbeaten in their last seven against Luton and will be hoping to extend that run here, although Luton should be the more confident going into this. Neither side can afford to drop points so I expect it to be a tight game which should end with the points shared.
Final score: 2-2
Chelsea - Fulham
Chelsea sit in tenth with 28 points while Fulham are in thirteenth with 24 points.
Pochettino's men managed to win 3-2 at Kenilworth Road in their last league game and will want to build on their back-to-back league wins. They followed that up with a solid 4-0 win over Preston North End in the FA Cup but suffered a 1-0 loss away to Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup Semi Final. Pochettino will be focused on trying to make it three Premier League wins in a row following slender one goal wins over Luton and Crystal Palace. The club has managed to win their last three league games at Stamford Bridge, having won just three times at home in the league during 2023 prior to December. Moving up the standings, with the club sitting three points off seventh, has to be the focus going forward as they look to get back into Europe next season.
Fulham were 2-1 victors over Arsenal at Craven Cottage last time in the league as Silva's side ended a run of three league defeats in a row. A 1-0 home win over Rotherham in the FA Cup was followed up by a 2-1 away defeat against Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup Semi Final. They have lost each of their last four away games in the Premier League and conceded at least three times in each of those games. The Cottagers have not won on the road in the league since their opening weekend win over Everton, but have a healthy nine point cushion over the relegation places.
Chelsea will be missing Wesley Fofana, James, Cucurella, Lavia, Sanchez, Ugochukwu, Chalobah, and Jackson. They will also need to check on Nkunku, Chukwuemeka, Badiashile, and Chilwell. Fulham will be missing Adama Traore, Bassey, Ballo-Toure, and Iwobi, while they also need to check on the fitness of Ream.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLWLWW
Away: WWLLLW
Chelsea beat Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage back in October, extending a run of 45 years since Fulham beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. They played out a 0-0 at Stamford Bridge last season but Chelsea did suffer a 2-1 defeat in the away fixture in 2022/23. The pressure will be on both sides to produce a good result following their recent Carabao Cup Semi Final first leg defeats, and it should make a thrilling game. Fulham have the second worst defence on the road, but Chelsea are far from prolific in front of goal which should give Fulham confidence. It should be a close game, but I am going for a Fulham win to end their Stamford Bridge hoodoo.
Final score: 0-2
Newcastle - Manchester City
Newcastle occupy ninth with 29 points while Manchester City are third with 40 points.
Howe's men were beaten 4-2 by Liverpool last weekend to make it four league defeats in a row. The Reds recorded the Premier League's highest ever expected goals in the process, and Howe will know he needs more from his side. They did record a morale boosting win over rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup but a run of four league defeats in a row has them up against it to qualify for Europe next season. Howe will be looking to avoid their tenth league defeat of the season, which would be twice as many as they suffered last year. Sitting 14 points off fourth, sorting out his sides injury issues along with a potential signing this month may be the key to turning their season around.
Manchester City secured a routing 2-0 home win over Sheffield United last time out in the league before thrashing Huddersfield in the FA Cup. Pep has gotten his side back to winning ways after recording back-to-back league wins, and now sit five points off the top of the table. They have a game in hand over leaders Liverpool and although the end of 2023 saw the Citizens stutter, they have now won their last five in all competitions with a score of 17-1. They face their favourite Premier League opposition in this one, having kept more clean sheets (22), scored more goals (98), and secured more top flight victories (30) over Newcastle than any other side.
Howe will be without Tonali, Pope, Targett, Murphy, Barnes, Wilson, Willock, Anderson, and Manquillo. Joelinton will also need to be assessed. Pep meanwhile will be missing Stones, Silva, Carson, and Phillips, while Haaland and Akanji will need to be assessed ahead of the game.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: LLWLLLL
Away: DLWDWW
Manchester City beat Newcastle 1-0 at home back in August, but lost 1-0 at St. James Park in the Carabao Cup back in September. The only time Newcastle have managed a top flight win over Manchester City in their last 32 meetings was a 2-1 win at St. James Park in January 2019. Unfortunately for Newcastle fans I cannot see anything other than a Manchester City win here, even though Newcastle should put up a good fight and make it an entertaining encounter.
Final score: 2-3
Everton - Aston Villa
The Toffees are currently seventeenth with 16 points, while Villa sit in fourth with 42 points.
The Toffees were comfortably beaten by Wolves last time out in the league but at least managed a draw away to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup to force a replay at Goodison. They are now without a win in their five games in all competitions and have lost four of them, having not won since beating Burnley in mid December. At Goodison they have won two and lost two in their last four in front of their own fans and now sit a mere point above the relegation zone, with Luton having a game in hand on them. Dyche will need his side to rediscover that motivation and form that appeared once the points deduction was handed down to ensure they propel themselves back up the standings and away from the relegation scrap.
Villa were 3-2 winners over Burnley at Villa Park in their last Premier League game while they secured a narrow away win over Middlesborough in the FA Cup. Those back-to-back wins have gotten Emery's side back on track, and they are already nearly 20 points better off than they were at the same stage last season. Sitting second in the standings was never anticipated and its been their strong home form, which saw wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, that's gotten them this far. Only Manchester City have outscored them in the league this season, while Emery's side also boast the joint fourth best defence in the division.
Dyche will be without Alli, Young, McNeil, and Gueye, while they also need to check on the fitness of Doucoure. Aston Villa will be without Buendia, Mings, Digne, Olsen, and Bertrand Traore. They will also need to check on Tielemans and Torres.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WWWLLL
Away: WWWDLW
Villa thrashed Everton 4-0 at Villa Park back in August, although the Toffees did manage a 2-1 Carabao Cup win at Villa Park back in September. Everton have not beaten Villa in the Premier League since a 3-1 away win back in March 2016. Form wise Villa have to be the favourites here, and Emery will want his side to seize the opportunity to draw level on points with league leaders Liverpool by recording a comfortable win here.
Final score: 1-3
Manchester United - Tottenham
Ten Hag has his side currently in eight with 31 points while Postecoglou has seen his side take hold of fifth with 39 points.
Manchester United lost 2-1 away to Nottingham Forest last time out in the league but followed it up with a 2-0 win over Wigan in the FA Cup. Its been a season to forget so far for the Red Devils, out of Europe and sitting nine points off the top four. They have struggled in front of goal, with only 22 scored in their 20 league games. It makes them the only top half side with a negative goal difference, and only the bottom two in Burnley and Sheffield United have scored less this campaign. Ten Hag will look to build some consistency and had made more bold moves by sending Sancho off on loan to Dortmund. His decision will define him and putting in a performance against another 'Big 6' side at Old Trafford is the minimum required here.
Spurs secured a resounding 3-1 win over Bournemouth at home in their last Premier League game and are now unbeaten in their last 5 Premier League games. In the FA Cup they beat Burnley at home to progress into the fourth round. Ange's side had a dip in form earlier in the campaign but seem to have found their feet once again, winning four of their last five to leave them only a point off fourth and six off league leaders Liverpool. While exceeding expectations since the departure of Kane has been a nice surprise for the fans, they will want to push on and show they are a real contender. With only 5 clean sheets in the league so far, tightening up at the back will be the first port of call, while a win at Old Trafford would see them move above Arsenal until they play next weekend.
Manchester United will be missing Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Mount, Malacia, Amrabat, and Lindelof. They will also need to check on the fitness of Maguire, Amad Traore, Antony, Saw, and Eriksen. Spurs will be missing Perisic, Veliz, Romero, Solomon, Maddison, Sarr, Son, Dier, and Bissouma. They will also need to check on the fitness of Lo Celso and Davies.
Form Last Six League Games:
Home: WLDLWL
Away: LWWWLW
Spurs beat United 2-0 at home back in August, while they drew at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium last season and United managed a 2-0 win over Spurs at Old Trafford in October 2022. The pressure is on Ten Hag, with his side underwhelming this season and needing a spark to ignite their season. A win would see them have realistic chances of getting into Europe, while a defeat could spell disaster for their campaign. United will be slight favourites going into this one and I expect plenty of goals. Onana will need to be in good form to deal with the Spurs attack, while even United's struggling attack should managed to score here. I am going to back a narrow United win.
Final score: 2-1
Match Prediction Summary
Burnley 2-2 Luton
Chelsea 0-2 Fulham
Newcastle 2-3 Manchester City
Everton 1-3 Aston Villa
Manchester United 2-1 Tottenham
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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