The season continues as we enter the festive interval with gameweek 17, which has implications for each ends of the desk.
This weekend’s matches are unfold throughout two days, starting with internet hosting the struggling champions, . The motion wraps up with an thrilling fixture between and league leaders , who need to preserve their distance from Enzo Maresca’s .
We’ve checked out all 10 matches from gameweek 17 and given our predicted scores.
Aston Villa vs Manchester Metropolis
Aston Villa gained this precise fixture 1-0 final season, however they haven’t recorded consecutive house league victories in opposition to Manchester Metropolis since April 1993. Nonetheless, they might really feel optimistic as Metropolis have misplaced 5 of their final seven Premier League matches (with one win and one draw), which is as many losses as they’d of their earlier 67 video games mixed (51 wins and 11 attracts).
The final time Metropolis misplaced extra matches in a single league season was in 2020-21, once they misplaced six occasions. Unai Emery’s facet needs to be cautious, although, as a wounded champion will be harmful. Metropolis have had the best variety of pictures in England’s high division this season (282), however their shot conversion fee is simply 9.9%, their lowest in a single season since 2006-07 when it was 6.4%.
Latest historical past signifies that one group is extra more likely to win this match, as stays unbeaten of their final 4 Premier League encounters with , tallying two wins and two attracts. Brentford have additionally secured victories in each house video games in opposition to Nottingham Forest within the league.
Since their return to the Premier League in 2022, Nottingham Forest have struggled away from house, profitable solely one among their 16 league matches in opposition to London groups (with 4 attracts and 11 losses). Their sole victory got here in opposition to Chelsea with a rating of 1-0 in September 2023.
Alternatively, Brentford have confronted challenges just lately; since defeating Manchester Metropolis on the ultimate day of the 2022-23 season, they’ve misplaced 9 of their final 10 Premier League video games in opposition to groups that had been within the high 4 on the time, managing only one draw. This consists of all 4 house matches throughout that span.
Additionally, count on that each defences will likely be busy. There have been a complete of 40 objectives scored in Brentford’s eight house Premier League video games this season, with Brentford scoring 26 and conceding 14. This averages to 5 objectives per recreation, the best goals-per-game fee for any venue in a single Premier League marketing campaign within the competitors’s historical past.
Ipswich vs Newcastle
That is the primary league assembly between and since April 2017 within the Championship, the place Ipswich secured a 3-1 victory at Portman Highway. In England’s high division, Newcastle have misplaced simply one among their final 22 Premier League matches in opposition to promoted groups (W13 D8), profitable their final 4 consecutive video games in opposition to such sides. The final time they gained extra consecutive video games in opposition to promoted groups was between October 2013 and November 2014, once they achieved seven victories in a row.
It’s vital to notice that each of Ipswich’s Premier League wins this season have occurred away from house, whereas they continue to be winless of their final eight matches at Portman Highway this season (D4 L4). Traditionally, solely two sides have didn’t win any of their first eight house video games in a Premier League marketing campaign and managed to keep away from relegation: Middlesbrough in 2000-01 (first 8) and Brighton in 2020-21 (first 10).
West Ham vs Brighton
Momentum is step by step returning for , who’ve earned 10 factors of their final 5 house Premier League matches (three wins, one draw, one loss). This is identical variety of factors they gathered of their earlier 11 video games on the London Stadium (2 wins, 4 attracts, 5 losses).
have struggled in opposition to groups within the backside half of the desk, profitable solely one among their seven encounters (4 attracts, two losses). They have to stay vigilant as a result of all 5 of West Ham’s current Premier League objectives have come from set items: two from corners, one from a direct free kick, one from a free kick, and one penalty.
This season, solely Everton (43% – 6 out of 14 objectives) scored a decrease proportion of their objectives from open play in comparison with West Ham (57% – 12 out of 21 objectives).
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
will search quick revenge after being eradicated from the EFL Cup by midweek. A victory on this match can be important as it is going to imply back-to-back Premier League victories for the primary time since a three-match profitable streak in Might.
Alternatively, Arsenal are unbeaten in all 9 of their Premier League London derby matches in 2024 (with seven wins and two attracts). The final group to go unbeaten in such matches over a full calendar 12 months was Chelsea in 2005 (with 9 wins and one draw), whereas Arsenal final achieved this feat in 2004 (with seven wins and three attracts).
This match may also flip right into a non-open play scoring affair, as Arsenal have scored extra set-piece objectives than another group within the Premier League this season, with a complete of 9 (excluding penalties). In the meantime, 35% of Crystal Palace’s 17 Premier League objectives this season have come from set items (once more, excluding penalties), with solely Everton (57%) having the next proportion of objectives from set items.
Everton vs Chelsea
Sunday, twenty second December, 2pm
Preview: Everton vs Chelsea prediction, stats, ideas & group information
This upcoming match will characteristic groups positioned sixteenth and 2nd within the Premier League desk. Regardless of Chelsea’s present kind, their current historical past with has not been significantly beneficial. The Toffees have gained 5 of their final six house video games in opposition to Chelsea within the Premier League, with the Blues solely managing one victory throughout that stretch. This is identical variety of wins Everton achieved of their earlier 17 encounters at Goodison Park, which included 4 attracts and eight losses.
Nonetheless, Chelsea did safe a complete 6-0 victory of their final Premier League assembly with Everton. They haven’t overwhelmed the Toffees in consecutive matches since a streak of three victories between November 2016 and August 2017. On the constructive facet, Chelsea has been sturdy on the street this season, main the Premier League with six away wins, 19 away factors, and 23 away objectives.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea will face a revitalized Everton facet that struggled firstly of the season, shedding their first two house video games and conceding three objectives in every. Since these early losses, Everton has remained unbeaten of their final 5 house matches, reaching two wins and three attracts, whereas preserving three clear sheets and conceding solely twice.
Fulham vs Southampton
Sunday, twenty second December, 2pm
Preview: Fulham vs Southampton prediction, stats, ideas & group information
Whatever the consequence of this recreation, will discover themselves on the backside of the Premier League desk at Christmas for the primary time of their historical past. In the event that they lose, their complete of 5 factors would be the joint second lowest recorded by any group at Christmas in Premier League historical past, tied with Sunderland within the 2005-06 season; solely Sheffield United in 2020-21 had fewer factors (2) right now.
Moreover, no group has earned fewer factors away from house than Southampton this season, with just one level accrued on the street. The truth is, the Saints are winless of their final 15 away matches within the Premier League, with three attracts and 12 losses.
Even with new administration in place, it’s possible that Southampton will concede. , who didn’t rating of their opening Premier League match this season, have since discovered the again of the online in every of their final 15 video games. They at the moment maintain the longest energetic scoring streak within the league.
Leicester Metropolis vs Wolves
Sunday, twenty second December, 2pm
Preview: Leicester vs Wolves prediction, stats, ideas & group information
misplaced 2-1 to Ipswich of their final Premier League match. They haven’t misplaced consecutive matches in opposition to promoted groups since a three-game stretch within the 1983-84 season, throughout which they misplaced twice to QPR and as soon as to . With 9 factors and 40 objectives conceded, their efficiency after 16 matches is the worst for the reason that 1983-84 season, once they had simply seven factors and conceded 40 objectives.
That season marked the start of a troubling interval, main to a few consecutive relegations to the fourth tier. This match may additionally change into a low-scoring affair, because the six Premier League conferences between Leicester and Wolves on the King Energy Stadium have resulted in solely seven objectives. In distinction, the six encounters between the groups at Molineux have produced 21 objectives.
Manchester United vs Bournemouth
Sunday, twenty second December, 2pm
Preview: Man United vs Bournemouth prediction, stats, ideas & group information
If fail to win this recreation, it is going to mark the primary time they’ve discovered themselves within the backside half of the desk at Christmas for the reason that 1989-90 season, once they had been in twelfth place. Ruben Amorim’s males have been placed on discover, as Manchester Metropolis has had extra pictures within the Premier League this season (282) than (270).
Of their final match in opposition to West Ham, Bournemouth tried 29 pictures, their second-highest complete in a Premier League recreation, following the 32 pictures they took in opposition to Sheffield United in March 2024. Nonetheless, the Pink Devils do have the in-form Amad Diallo, who has both scored or assisted a aim in every of his final 5 Premier League begins, contributing one aim and 5 assists, together with the profitable aim in opposition to Manchester Metropolis of their most up-to-date match.
Prediction: Man United 2-2 Bournemouth ()
Tottenham vs Liverpool
Sunday, twenty second December, 4:30pm
Preview: Tottenham vs Liverpool prediction, stats, ideas & group information
Tottenham gained this precise fixture 2-1 final season, however they’ve misplaced 9 of their final 11 Premier League video games in opposition to groups that began the day on the high of the desk. The one exceptions had been away matches in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, the place they drew 2-2 in August 2019 and misplaced 3-2 in February 2022. Tottenham have additionally misplaced all 5 of their house video games throughout this run.
Alternatively, Arne Slot’s group is unbeaten away from house this season, with 5 wins and two attracts. They may have to be alert from the beginning, as Spurs have scored extra objectives within the opening quarter-hour of video games than another group within the Premier League this season, with 9 objectives, 5 of which got here of their final two matches.
If Liverpool wins this recreation, they are going to high the Premier League desk at Christmas for the primary time for the reason that 2020-21 season. Nonetheless, the Reds have solely gained the title in one of many final seven top-flight campaigns during which they had been on the high throughout Christmas, reaching this within the 2019-20 season.