We’re into December, which means we have a month of mulled wine, mince pies and the overuse of the phrase “festive feast of football” to come.
Here is what’s to look forward to this weekend.
Game of the Weekend 💪
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
There was only going to be one pick for this weekend, the first north London derby of the season.
When Arsenal lifted the FA Cup in July it was all doom and gloom at Tottenham, with pessimism the order of the day ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
How quickly the picture has changed.
Spurs are top of the league going into the game while Arsenal are sat in 14th after their worst start to a season since 1981.
José Mourinho would love nothing more to rub salt into the wounds and another derby win to maintain their place at the top while piling the pressure on Mikel Arteta.
📊 Fun fact: Mourinho has lost just nine of his 72 London derbies as manager, winning two since his arrival as Spurs boss (against Arsenal and West Ham).
🔮 Our prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Arsenal
Potential upset 😨
West Ham v Manchester United
What is going on at West Ham? Was David Moyes actually right when he stated that “all (he) does is win” on his return to the Hammers?
The Scot has guided West Ham up to fifth in the table following the 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Monday and wouldn’t he really love to stick two fingers up at his former club?
West Ham took four points off United last season, including a 2-0 win at the London Stadium, cementing their status as the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s bogey team.
However, Solskjaer’s men will be buoyed from their remarkable comeback against Southampton last Sunday and despite their troubles at Old Trafford, they are in good form on the road.
Will The Chosen One come back to haunt United on Saturday evening?
📊 Fun fact: Man Utd haven’t lost away in the Premier League since the 2-0 defeat at Anfield on 19 January.
🔮 Our prediction: West Ham 2-2 Manchester United
Easiest 3️⃣ points
Manchester City v Fulham
Fulham found a way to beat Leicester 2-1 on Monday, suggesting that they’re not a lost cause in the battle to stay in the top flight after all.
Manchester City put any fears over their inability to be clinical to bed with their annual 5-0 win over Burnley last time out and it looks as if Pep Guardiola’s side are just starting to purr again.
Scott Parker might just have a fighting chance of being a Premier League manager next season but the only question heading into this game is how many times we’re going to see The Simpsons’ ‘stop it, they’re already dead’ meme.
📊 Fun fact: Pep Guardiola has won ten of his 12 home meetings with newly-promoted sides as Man City manager, with his teams scoring 32 goals.
🔮 Our prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Fulham
Too close to call 🤔
Chelsea v Leeds
Leeds continue to impress on their return to the league and sit just four points off a Champions League place going into the weekend.
We know exactly what we’re going to get from Marcelo Bielsa’s side and we’re correct to expect entertainment. We all deserve this game as the late, televised fixture on Saturday night after being subjected to West Brom v Sheffield United last weekend.
Don’t worry, this one will more than make up for that, especially because there’s always the added spice of spygate hanging over this fixture after what happened between Lampard’s Derby County and Leeds in 2019.
Chelsea’s firepower should just be enough to get them over the line but don’t be surprised if the Yorkshire side take their first big scalp of the season at Stamford Bridge.
📊 Fun fact: These sides have met 81 times in the past with Leeds the most successful side in the fixture, winning 34 times.
🔮 Our prediction: Chelsea 3-2 Leeds
🔥 Your Fantasy Football team’s captain should be …
Jamie Vardy
It’s eight goals in nine games for Vardy in the league so far this season and we expect him to keep up that good form against the bottom side this weekend.
Other predictions 🔮
Burnley 0-1 Everton
West Brom 1-1 Crystal Palace
Sheffield United 0-2 Leicester City
Liverpool 2-1 Wolves
