Liverpool v Cardiff
Anfield Road
21-12-2013 @ 14.35 UK
Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan; Lucas, Allen, Henderson; Sterling, Suárez, Coutinho.
Injuries: Sebastián Coates (Knee), Enrique (Knee), Steven Gerrard (Knee), Daniel Sturridge (Ankle). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
Cardiff City (4-3-3): Marshall; Théophile-Catherine, Caulker, Turner, Taylor; Whittingham, Medel, Mutch; Cowie, Campbell, Odemwingie.
Injuries: None. Doubts: Graig Bellamy (Knee). Bans: None.
Liverpool can with a win put them first in the Premier League should Arsenal lose against Chelsea. The opponent is Cardiff who are currently fifteenth in the table with seventeen points after winning 1-0 against West Brom last week. Both sides are likely to stick with the starting XI as last round, which means Sterling, will start in the attack for Liverpool again. Liverpool is currently unbeaten in their last three Premier League matches before Saturdays meeting with Cardiff which in they will be favorites. The last meeting between the two sides was a Capital One Cup match in 2012 which Liverpool won 5-4 after penalties.
Manchester United v West Ham
Old Trafford
21-12-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Cleverley, Jones; Valencia, Kagawa, Januzaj; Rooney.
Injuries: Michael Carrick (Achilles), Robin van Persie (Thigh). Doubts: Marouna Fellaini (Back), Javier Hernández (Knock), Shinji Kagawa (Illness), Chris Smalling (Knock), Nemanja Vidic (Knock). Bans: None.
West Ham United (4-3-3): Jääskeläinen; Demel, Tomkins, Collins, McCartney; Diamé, Morrison, Noble; Cole, Maiga, Jarvis.
Injuries: Andy Carroll (Foot), Stewart Downing (Achilles), Mladen Petric (Calf), Winston Reid (Ankle), Ricardo Vaz Te (Shoulder). Doubts: None. Bans: Kevin Nolan.
Manchester United have a good take on West Ham with seven victories to one in the last ten matches. However, the last meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-2 draw at Upton Park. Manchester are unbeaten in their last two matches and are currently eight in the Premier League while West Ham are seventeenth after their draw against Sunderland last week. The seat is hot under Sam Allardyce, and he will hope that his side can create a result against a Manchester United struggling to find their form. That said, Manchester will go into this match as favorites.
West Bromwich v Hull
The Hawthorns
21-12-2013 @ 15.00 UK
West Bromwich Albion (4-2-3-1): Myhill; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Brunt; Long.
Injuries: None. Doubts: Nicolas Anelka (Illness), Victor Anichebe (Illness), Ben Foster (Lack of match fitness). Bans: None.
Hull City (3-4-1-2): McGregor; Chester, Davies, Bruce; Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Figueroa; Meyler; Graham, Sagbo.
Injuries: Sone Aluko (Achilles), Stephen Quinn (Hamstring). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
West Brom sacked Steve Clark after six matches without victory, and this will be the first without a manager for the side. With only two points from the relegation zone, the Baggies are in need of a victory against Hull on Saturday. However, Steve Bruce and his side will give them a hard time as they with a win and other results going their way can go two positions up in the table. Bruce will most likely stick with the same side that have drawn in the last two matches. However, they should get three points this time.
Sunderland v Norwich
Stadium of Light
21-12-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Sunderland (4-4-2): Mannone; Bardsley, O'Shea, Brown, Dossena; Larsson, Ki, Colback, Giaccherini; Altidore, Fletcher.
Injuries: Carlos Cuéllar (Hip), Keiren Westwood (Knock). Doubts: Jack Colback (Illness). Bans: None.
Norwich (4-4-2): Ruddy; Whittaker, Turner, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Johnson, Howson, Fer; Elmander, Hooper.
Injuries: Elliott Bennett (Knee), Mark Bunn (Ankle), Anthony Pilkington (Hamstring), Robert Snodgrass (Knee), Alexander Tettey (Ankle). Doubts: Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Foot). Bans: None.
Sunderland might have gotten a boost after winning against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup last night. However, they have still only won two matches in the Premier League this season placing them last in the table. The opponent on Saturday, Norwich, are unbeaten in their last two matches after winning against West Bromwich and drawing against Swansea last week. Looking at the table, Norwich are favorites, but the last ten matches have been equally shared with four wins for both sides and a single draw. Norwich are still without Ricky van Wolfwinkel and will have to put their trust in Hooper for this match. However, it is time for the former Celtic striker to shine for Norwich.
Stoke v Aston Villa
Britannia Stadium
21-12-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; Whelan, N'Zonzi; Walters, Ireland, Arnautovic; Crouch.
Injuries: Robert Huth (Knee). Doubts: Matthew Etherington (Lack of match fitness). Bans: None.
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan; Bacuna, Clark, Baker, Luna; Westwood, El Ahmadi, Sylla; Weimann, Kozák, Benteke.
Injuries: Charles N'Zogbia (Achilles), Jores Okore (Knee). Doubts: Joe Bennett (Back), Chris Herd (Facial), Ron Vlaar (Calf). Bans: Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Stoke and Aston Villa have a history of draws as six of the last five matches between the two sides have ended without a winner. However, Villa won the last meeting 3-1 and are favorites against the Potters on Saturday. Stoke are unbeaten in their last two matches while Villa haven't lost in three, but only one point is separating them before this match. Stoke might make a change in their starting lineup ahead of a busy winter period meaning Wilson Palacios could replace Steven N'Zonzi. Aston Villa will have to do without Agbonlahor as he is out with a ban, making room for Kozák.
Fulham v Manchester City
Craven Cottage
21-12-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Fulham (4-3-3): Stekelenburg; Riether, Hughes, Senderos, Riise; Karagounis, Parker, Sidwell; Dejagah, Berbatov, Kacaniklic.
Injuries: Matthew Briggs (Hernia), Brede Hangeland (Leg), Hugo Rodallega (Groin). Doubts: Fernando Amorebieta (Knock). Bans: None.
Manchester City (4-4-2): Pantilimon; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Kompany, Clichy; Nasri, Touré, Fernandinho, Silva; Dzeko, Negredo.
Injuries: Sergio Aguero (Calf), Matija Nastasic (Calf), Micah Richards (Hamstring), Richard Wright (Knock). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
Manchester City can go into top three before the tight Christmas programme with a win against Fulham on Saturday. Fulham is still struggling in the bottom of the table, and their chances for a win are not any better on Saturday. The Cottagers have not won against City since 2009 and given their opponents form this will end in a win for the visitors. Amorebieta might return for the Fulham side and push Senderos out on the bench while Aguero is out with an injury for City.
Crystal Palace v Newcastle
Selhurst Park
21-12-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Speroni; Mariappa, Gabbidon, Delaney, Ward; Puncheon, O'Keefe, Jedinak, Bannan; Jerome, Chamakh.
Injuries: Adlene Guédioura (Rib), Jack Hunt (Ankle), Glenn Murray (Knee), Jerome Thomas (Groin). Doubts: Dean Moxey (Hamstring). Bans: None.
Newcastle (4-4-2): Krul; Debuchy, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon; Sissoko, Tioté, Anita, Gouffran; Ameobi, Remy.
Injuries: Ryan Taylor (Knee). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
After two wins Crystal Palace lost the London derby against Chelsea last week, and will get in trouble against Newcastle on Saturday. The Toons have won the last five matches against Crystal Palace dating all the way back to 2002. Newcastle have come back from their poor start of the season, and especially Loïc Remy is a pleasure to watch on the pitch. The French will be a key player on Saturday in what should be a comfortable win to the Toons.
Southampton v Tottenham
St Mary's Stadium
22-12-2013 @ 13.30 UK
Southampton (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Cork, Ward-Prowse; Lallana, Davis, Rodriguez; Osvaldo.
Injuries: Artur Boruc (Hand), Nathaniel Clyne (Knock), Kelvin Daniels (Knock), Guilhermo Do Prado (Knee), Daniel Fox (Knock), Victor Wanyama (Leg). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Rose; Sandro, Dembélé; Lennon, Holtby, Chadli; Soldado.
Injuries: Emmanuel Adebayor (Knee), Younes Kaboul (Thigh), Harry Kane (Back). Jan Vertonghen (Ankle). Doubts: Vlad Chiriches (Knock). Bans: Paulinho.
Despite winning the last two matches against Southampton, Tottenham are in my eyes not favorites in this match. They have just sacked their manager, which can be a good thing, but I don't see them changing their play in a week. That said, Southampton have not won since November and with their current form this could easily be the third draw in a row. However, as both sides needs three points to be even close to the top of the table they will have to come out and play some attacking football. Osvaldo and Lallana are the two players with most potential for goals in my opinion why Tottenham will have to mark them tightly. If they are capable of during so, the Saints will have problems in front. I expect this match to end as a draw, possibly 2-2.
Swansea v Everton
Liberty Stadium
22-12-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Swansea (4-2-3-1): Vorm; Tiendalli, Williams, Chico, Davies; De Guzmán, Cañas; Routledge, Shelvey, Hernández; Michu.
Injuries: Leon Britton (Toe), Nathan Dyer (Ankle), Garry Monk (Knee), Alan Tate (Hamstring), Álvaro (Knock). Doubts: None. Bans: Angel Rangel.
Everton (4-3-3): Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Oviedo; Barkley, McCarthy, Barry; Mirallas, Lukaku, Pienaar.
Injuries: Leighton Baines (Toe), Gerard Deulofeu (Hamstring), Darron Gibson (Knee), Tony Hibbert (Knee), Arouna Koné (Knee). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
Everton are unbeaten in impressing nine matches before visiting Swansea at Liberty Stadium on Sunday. Kevin Mirallas is expected back in the starting Xi after Gerard Deulofeu picked up an injury last week. For Swansea, the season have been a mix of up and downs, and they are currently positioned 10th in the Premier League. However, according to the two clubs past meetings the Swans shouldn't expect to get three points on Sunday as they have not won against Everton since 2002.
Arsenal v Chelsea
Emirates Stadium
23-12-2013 @ 20.00 UK
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Monreal; Arteta, Ramsey; Walcott, Ozil, Cazorla; Giroud.
Injuries: Abou Diaby (Knee), Ryo Miyaichi (Hamstring), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Knee), Yaya Sanogo (Back). Doubts: Laurent Koscielny (Knee). Bans: Jack Wilshere.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Lampard; Schürrle, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
Injuries: Ryan Bertrand (Knock), Gary Cahill (Thigh), Tomas Kalas (Leg), Marco van Ginkel (Knee). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
A clash between the two London giants is what we can expect on Monday. After the defeat against Manchester City, last week Arsenal have to get three points against Chelsea if they want to keep the rivals and Liverpool in a distance. With Jack Wilshere out with a ban Theo Walcott is expected to start on the wing while the rest of the team probably will be unchanged. Chelsea lost against Sunderland last night but are expected to come to Emirates with a better starting lineup. This is one of the big tests for Arsenal and will show if they are contestants for the trophy this season.
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