The final round of Premier League fixtures prior to Christmas are played over a three day period this weekend and there are some big matches to come.
My personal focus over the last week was concluding up at work until the New Year, but more importantly was the big news coming out of Old Trafford. I am going to write my latest 'United Corner' about the events at Manchester United over the last couple of days and I want that posted either Saturday morning or Sunday morning which is looking more likely.
I've just needed a few days to digest the way things have gone for my club and what lies ahead after the draw for the Champions League Last 16 was made earlier this week- honestly that feels like it was made months ago because of the Tuesday morning breaking news and even the football this weekend is taking second spot to everything happening at Manchester United.
I didn't post a thread for the Weekend Football games last week as I had a very busy final full week at work. In this thread I will have also have a look at the Fantasy players who could be making an impact over the three days this weekend and remember that is an early deadline this week.
Wolves v Liverpool Pick: In the last few weeks there have been a number of times that Liverpool have had to play catch up to Manchester City, but the players have been able to deal with the pressure and the wins have kept coming. This time Liverpool have a chance to get on the field first and create a gap between themselves and the defending Champions, but it won't be a walkover when they visit Wolves in the live Friday night offering from the Premier League.
A couple of weeks ago Wolves fans may have approached the fixture with some trepidation as their team had seemingly lost form and were struggling for results. Things look much better off the back of 3 straight Premier League wins though and Wolves will know they have pushed some of the best teams in the Premier League already this season.
In fact Liverpool will be the last of the six clubs ahead of Wolves in the League table that Nuno Espirito Santo's men will face in the 2018/19 season. So far Wolves have drawn with both Manchester clubs and Arsenal, while beating Chelsea and giving Tottenham Hotspur a torrid time in a narrow defeat to them here.
They have shown they can clearly step up their level when playing the better teams in the Premier League and most importantly Wolves are not afraid to take them on. Against Manchester City they were willing to press the ball and Wolves will likely look to do the same against Liverpool and try and expose what could be a soft underbelly considering the injuries Jurgen Klopp's team have at the back.
Both teams have been able to score in every Wolves game against the other top six clubs this season and I expect that could happen here too. Wolves will give it a go against Liverpool and have quality players in the final third who can make key passes and show composure in front of goal.
It is also hard to see how Wolves keep Liverpool out considering the latter have scored ten goals in their last 3 away Premier League games and Wolves have only kept one clean sheet against teams in the current top ten with Liverpool the one they have yet to play.
The last couple of Wolves games here against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have both seen at least three goals shared out and I think that will be the case on Friday night too. Only a deluge prevented more goals being scored when Wolves hosted Bournemouth last Saturday, but it should be better conditions for this fixture and I will back at least three goals to be shared out.
Fantasy Star: Mohamed Salah- I hate being boring with some of these choices, but the Liverpool front three are led by the Egyptian and Salah did score three times in his last away game.
Alternative: Raul Jimenez- this player has been a favourite of mine all season. He is a cheap striker in the official FPL game and has scored in home games against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. Main Wolves danger man.
Arsenal v Burnley Pick: Back to back losses have been a setback for Arsenal but they have every chance of bouncing back here even if they have not been at their most convincing in recent weeks.
Defensive injuries have not really cleared up as Unai Emery would have liked, but Arsenal are going to be allowed to get on the front foot by a Burnley team who are expected to play similarly to how they did against Tottenham Hotspur last week.
It was a battling display that brought back memories of the successes they had last season, but the underlying stats suggest Burnley were fortunate. Better finishing from Tottenham Hotspur would have made it a much more comfortable day and this Arsenal team have shown they know where to find the back of the net.
Some will point to the close win over Huddersfield Town as the blueprint for Burnley to follow. I agree they will likely try to replicate that, but Arsenal created a lot of chances that day and I think Emery is going to pick an attacking line up that can continue their dominance over Burnley.
Defensively there are some real problems for Arsenal to resolve, but I am not sure Burnley will show enough intensity going forward to expose those. If they do take chances, that should only work in the favour of Arsenal who can counter very quickly and I think the home team can be backed to win and cover the Handicap in this one.
Fantasy Star: Alexandre Lacazette- Arsenal will get chances against Burnley and it may be the Frenchman's time to start having seen Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lead the line in the last two games without scoring.
Alternative: Mesut Ozil- the German playmaker looks to be leaving in six months time, but injuries should mean he gets the start here in a game where Arsenal are expected to dominate the ball.
Bournemouth v Brighton Pick: There is no doubt that some of the confidence and swagger that Bournemouth had been playing with has disappeared in recent games as they have been on a prolonged run of losing games. 7 losses from 8 games in all competitions will hurt any team, but Eddie Howe may well be reminding his players of the difficulty of the schedule that has been negotiated.
It doesn't get much easier for them over the festive period with visits to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to come over the next eight days, but this game on Saturday has to be seen as one Bournemouth can win.
They may have lost 3 of their last 4 games here, but those have come against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool and Bournemouth were competitive in the first two of those games. Now they face a Brighton team who are not the best travellers in the Premier League and a team who have lost 3 of their last 4 away games.
For the most part Brighton have offered an attacking threat though which will make them dangerous, but Bournemouth will look at the defensive issues Brighton have had and look to expose those. With Shane Duffy suspended, Brighton might be a little weaker at the back than they have been and I can see the home team being in a position to create chances and score goals.
Brighton can also play their part and both League games between these clubs ended with three or more goals shared out last season. With both teams likely to have some opportunities to score goals, I think that could be the case here again with the confidence of the players likely to mean more mistakes and I will back at least three goals to be shared out.
Fantasy Star: Joshua King- has not been in the best of form, but due a turnaround and could be the main threat if Callum Wilson still a little tender from an injury he has been dealing with.
Alternative: Glenn Murray- been scoring plenty of goals for Brighton and should have chances to score against his former team.
Chelsea v Leicester City Pick: The win over Manchester City will have given the Chelsea players a real belief in the system that Maurizio Sarri is trying to instil in the club and they have not taken a backwards step since that win.
There had been some blips going into the fixture which had seen Chelsea lose at Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves, but the win over Manchester City shows they can compete with the very best in the Premier League. It also has helped strengthen the chances of finishing in the top four and Chelsea have to take advantage of what looks to be a favourable stretch of their schedule.
Beating Leicester City at home won't be easy as Chelsea have found with 2 draws from the last 3 League games against them at Stamford Bridge. However Chelsea have won 4 in a row at home in all competitions and are unbeaten in 18 in front of their own fans which means they are rightly fairly strong favourites to win this fixture.
It is entirely possible they are facing Leicester City at the right time considering they have lost back to back Premier League games without scoring. Jamie Vardy is back, but the players have never really been fully behind Claude Puel and there is pressure on the manager to get the results turned around.
Leicester City can be a tough team to break down when they are really at it and I think that makes them a dangerous prospect for the home team, but Chelsea are playing well of late. The Blues have been creating plenty of chances in recent games and I think they may have enough in the final third with Eden Hazard back amongst the goals.
I will look for Chelsea to get the better of a team who may be focusing on the next home game where they can play for revenge against Manchester City who knocked them out of the League Cup on Tuesday. The first goal will be crucial, but if Chelsea can move ahead in the first half I think they win this comfortably enough on the day.
Fantasy Star: Eden Hazard- scored in back to back games and a midfielder who will likely be leading the line in a 'false nine' position.
Alternative: Pedro- the Spaniard has been in decent form and always gets a couple of half decent chances per game. Cheaper option compared with Hazard.
Huddersfield Town v Southampton Pick: There should be plenty of tension around the John Smith's Stadium as they watch their home team Huddersfield Town take on a relegation rival Southampton.
Neither team will want to give the other too much Christmas cheer in what could be a vital game- Huddersfield Town have lost all momentum with 4 straight losses sending them hurtling towards the bottom of the table, while Southampton are chasing back to back Premier League wins for the first time since April 2017.
There is not much time to recover from results during the hectic festive period and that only increases the pressure on the two teams to deliver a result that can move them out of the bottom three in time for Christmas dinner to taste all the better.
Picking a winner is difficult- Huddersfield Town have struggled for goals throughout the season, but they are facing a Southampton team who have been defensively shocking. On the other hand The Saints have really found it tough to find away results, while Huddersfield Town have not exactly pulled up trees at home.
Something has to give in this one, but what that is is difficult to predict.
Last weekend Newcastle United showed a slightly more clinical display in front of goal which allowed them to beat Huddersfield Town here. With Danny Ings and Charlie Austin amongst the goals last week Southampton may feel they have enough firepower to do the same so I will look to back the visitors on the Asian Handicap to at least avoid defeat and potentially nick the three points here.
Fantasy Star: Danny Ings- scored twice last week and likely the biggest threat for either team in this game.
Alternative: Any Defender- I really don't know how to separate the defenders but picking one from either team must have a high chance of securing a clean sheet.
Manchester City v Crystal Palace Pick: Winning a game without Wilfried Zaha has been impossible for Crystal Palace in recent seasons and in fact they had lost 14 straight before managing to earn the three points against Leicester City last time out.
However winning with Zaha may be an even bigger ask this weekend as The Eagles fly to the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City have been in rampant form at home since their defeat to Lyon and they have been scoring plenty of goals. That doesn't bode well for a Crystal Palace team who have conceded at least three goals at Chelsea, Brighton and West Ham United in their last 4 away games and the exception against Manchester United won't inspire enough confidence to take on the defending Champions.
It has been a match up that has really worked for Manchester City and they have now scored 22 goals in their last 5 home games against Crystal Palace with at least three scored in each of those games. Under Pep Guardiola Manchester City have beaten Crystal Palace 5-0 in back to back games here and the squad looks healthier this weekend compared with last.
Both Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero were back in League Cup duty during the week while the likes of Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva are well rested. It all adds up to what is expected to be a comfortable win for the home team and I am not sure Crystal Palace can offer enough resistance to prevent that happening.
In a week where cross town rivals Manchester United are searching for yet another new manager, Manchester City can keep their high standards up and I will look for them to record a comfortable win over a defensively suspect opponent.
Fantasy Star: Raheem Sterling- Crystal Palace have taken a couple of maulings from Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and Sterling should be well rested.
Alternative: Leroy Sane- same principle applies to Sane as it does to Sterling and also well rested.
Newcastle United v Fulham Pick: This is a huge game for both Newcastle United and Fulham ahead of the start of a difficult festive period and both managers have to be targeting the three points here.
You have to think Aleksandr Mitrovic is going to be fired up for this fixture having been sold by Newcastle United to Fulham, but the in-form striker looks to be Solomon Rondon who was the main replacement for him.
That could prove to be the difference on the day with Newcastle United playing with a little more confidence after winning at Huddersfield Town last week. They also have found goals a little easier to come by in recent weeks and now they face a Fulham team who have to be feeling really low even under a new manager.
Fulham just don't look good enough at either end of the pitch and the lack of intensity in the second half of their 0-2 defeat to West Ham United last weekend would have hurt Claudio Ranieri. The Italian needs to find answers very quickly as Fulham are in what looked to be a decent portion of their schedule, but results have not been there and it is hard to see that changing at St James' Park.
Like I said, perhaps Mitrovic fires Fulham up and they can surprise, but Newcastle United look to be playing with enough belief to win this one. Fulham's away record is pretty atrocious and they concede far too many goals so I will back the home team on the Asian Handicap which will return half the stake in the event of a draw.
Fantasy Star: Solomon Rondon- has provided a spark in front of goal for Newcastle United and surely has one or two great chances against this poor Fulham defence.
Alternative: Aleksandr Mitrovic- would anyone be surprised if the former Newcastle United striker hurts his former team?
West Ham United v Watford Pick: The weather looks to be decent enough in London this Saturday to allow West Ham United and Watford to produce a good game for those heading to the London Stadium.
Both are coming in off positive results and the good feelings extend to how well they have been playing in front of goal in recent games. Watford have scored at least twice in back to back games, but defensively they will have to be a lot better when facing a West Ham United team who have scored 11 goals in their last 4 League games overall and who have hit at least three goals in 3 of their last 4 at the London Stadium.
I am expecting to see goals on Saturday when these teams meet in East London, and my slight lean goes towards a West Ham United win. Outside of the very best teams in the Premier League it can be very difficult to put wins together as West Ham United have, but they have played well and they have been clinical in front of goal to do that.
You have to respect Watford because of the performance they produced in the 2-2 draw at Everton, but they have not quite been the same in recent weeks and that result was something of an outlier. Defeats at Newcastle United and Leicester City sandwiched a controversial draw at Southampton and I think West Ham United may have too much for them.
However this is a fixture with two attacking teams and the best selection may simply backing at least three goals to be shared out with both teams likely to hit the net at least once.
Fantasy Star: Felipe Anderson- been a part of everything good happening at West Ham United during their strong winning run.
Alternative: Javier Hernandez- another cheap striking option in the official FPL game and someone looking to hold onto his starting place in the home line up.
Cardiff City v Manchester United Pick: There was definitely and inevitability about the way Jose Mourinho's reign would end at Manchester United and the manager didn't help himself with negative tactics coupled with fallen out with some of the big name players in the squad.
Player power is a fear for any top club and now the excuses are out of the way it is time for the players to show they have enough gumption to dare to wear the Manchester United shirt.
They owe it to the fans who have been divided by the decision to bring in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim manager for six months- no one will deny he has a place in Manchester United folklore, but one poor stint in the Premier League can't be forgotten and his Molde team concede plenty of goals which won't be music to the ears of those who worry about Manchester United's defence.
Solskjaer's previous time in England management came with, ironically, Cardiff City and he is sure to receive a 'warm' welcome from the locals. His time at Cardiff City was baffling to say the least and the fans were never convinced with someone whose tactics and starting elevens could never be predicted and resulted in relegation from the top flight and struggles in the Championship.
Manchester United just need Solskjaer to allow the players to produce with freedom but this is a tough ground to visit when you consider how well Cardiff City have been playing at home. Neil Warnock will have his players organised and he will look to exploit Manchester United defensively from set pieces as they look for the upset.
Cardiff City have won 4 of their last 5 games here, but the only team from the top half they have beaten is Wolves. An early sending off allowed Cardiff City to edge out Brighton and the other wins have come against Fulham and Southampton so there is a feeling that the home team have not really been able to cope with the better teams in the Premier League.
They have suffered heavy losses to Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, while Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have also beaten them this season. Defensively there are weaknesses in the home team and Manchester United have enough about them to think they can create chances and score goals, especially with the suggestion the new manager will take the handbrake off a team who had been scoring plenty of away goals under Jose Mourinho.
I am not sure there will be enough time to work on the defensive side of things at Old Trafford and Cardiff City have scored against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool with the last two of those games being away from home. Manchester United away games and Cardiff City home games have featured plenty of goals throughout the 2018/19 season and I will back at least three goals to be shared out here.
Fantasy Star: Paul Pogba- a chance to prove his worth with Jose Mourinho gone, this should be an ideal spot for the Frenchman to produce a big game.
Alternative: Calum Paterson- a defender/midfielder in a number of fantasy games, Calum Paterson will play up front for Cardiff City. Are Manchester United's defensive issues going to clear up days after Mourinho leaves? I am not sure and Paterson has been amongst the goals for The Bluebirds.
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The final Premier League game to be played before Christmas Day comes from Goodison Park and there is every reason to believe it could be a cracker.
Both Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are managed by attack minded coaches and they could really gel to produce a very good game of football.
I certainly expect Everton to be a lot more competitive than they were when they played Spurs last season having been beaten by at least three goal margins in both games. The recent home record against Tottenham Hotspur is disappointing and Everton have not been in the best of form when it comes to the results produced, but Marco Silva has to believe they will begin to convert some of the quality chances that have come their way.
They will certainly take the game to their visitors, but I think that will benefit Tottenham Hotspur too who have been very good away from home this season. Harry Kane has been needed to score goals in the last few games, yet the wins continue to be produced and the likes of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen have been pulling the strings for the team.
They have scored two or more goals in 5 of their last 7 away games and Everton have looked a little vulnerable defensively in their last couple of games here.
However I do really respect the way Silva has Everton attacking and they should be able to fashion some quality chances of their own in this fixture. With the two managers unlikely to settle for a point until the latter stages of the game, I can see these teams combining for an entertaining festive fixture and I will back at least three goals to be shared out.
Fantasy Star: Dele Alli- been in fine form for Tottenham Hotspur and scored a fabulous goal in the North London derby on Wednesday. Playing deeper than previous years, but always there or thereabouts in the opposition penalty box.
Alternative: Harry Kane- it's a mini-drought for the English striker, but hit four goals against Everton last season and his droughts never last too long.
MY PICKS: Wolves-Liverpool Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.72 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Bournemouth-Brighton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Southampton 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Newcastle United - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
West Ham United-Watford Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Cardiff City-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Everton-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
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