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By Geoff Reid

Tuesday
Wolves vs Norwich City from Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Mick McCarthy’s Wolves side have lost four of their last five matches and it’s fair to say they are desperate for a victory today against the promoted Norwich City. After the latest defeat, a 2-1 loss to Stoke City, the Wolves fans showed their displeasure towards the team, and McCarthy. The canaries on the other hand are currently riding high in ninth place, and making all the pre-season critics eat their words and predictions. Paul Lambert’s side have only lost once in their previous four matches.
Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Norwich City

Blackburn Rovers vs Bolton Wanderers from Ewood Park, Blackburn
This is certainly the first time that anyone can remember this Lancashire derby had so much riding on it. Both sides sit in the bottom three, and the pressure is on equally for Rovers boss Steve Kean, which never seems to go away, and Wanderers manager Owen Coyle. For Kean, not only are the supporters calling for his head, but the local press is also printing it’s time for him to go. Coyle may be sleeping a little better having a proven track record in management, but a loss for either side will leave one of the clubs bottom of the table by the festive period, and that usually means the bottom side going into the new year means guaranteed relegation.
Prediction: Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Bolton Wanderers

Wednesday
Aston Villa vs Arsenal from Villa Park, Birmingham
Two sides that are coming off weekend losses, and will be looking to bounce back from. Starting with Aston Villa, their performance against Liverpool on Sunday was awful to say the least. The amount of goals Villa have conceded from corners is astounding, and certainly without the injured Darren Bent, and suspended Gabriel Agbonlahor, the front line lacks punch. Arsenal on the other hand can count themselves unlucky for not coming away from the Eithad with a point against league leaders Manchester City. Arsene Wenger believes his side are too far off the pace of City now to challenge for the Premier League now, but but a top four position is still well within reach.
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal

Manchester City vs Stoke City from the Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Roberto Mancini’s team responded in the perfect way after losing to Chelsea by beating Arsenal 1-0 on Sunday. This next period of games will determine how strong City’s strength in depth is if they want to remain at the top of the table come May. With the citizens not playing in the Champions League in the new year, one wonders whether that will help their title challenge. Stoke have been up and down this season mainly due to their Europa League games during the week. Manager Tony Pulis will look to see his side climb the table during this period of games, and will no doubt give the big spending opposition a run for it’s money in this one.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Stoke City

Newcastle United vs West Brom from Sports Direct Arena, Newcastle
After surprising everyone, including their own coaching staff, the magpies are dropping down the league, but still it’s remarkable how well they’ve done so far and credit to Alan Pardew and his coaching staff. One of the reasons why they’ve been successful this season is the starting lineup has been consistent, but now that will have to change with so many games in a short period of time, and losing Demba Ba to the African Nations Cup will not help things come the new year. West Brom are coming off a nice 2-1 away win at Blackburn on the weekend, with two simply stunning goals that we won’t see for a long time.
Prediction: Newcastle United 2-1 West Brom

Everton vs Swansea City from Goodison Park, Liverpool
Twice in the matter of days Everton are hosting promoted sides that will frustrate them. On the weekend, Norwich took the lead, and while the toffees eventually equalized, were held 1-1 at home. Expect Swansea to do the same and the Welsh side have been very good defensively away from home, and will no doubt be looking for more of the same against a goal shy Everton team at this moment in time.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Swansea City

Fulham vs Manchester United from Craven Cottage, London
The cottagers had a nice win over bottom side Bolton at home 2-0 over the weekend, and while the opponents will be a lot harder then the previous ones were, manager Martin Jol is confident of his side picking up more points and climbing the table, especially since their Europa League challenge is over. For the defending champions, their second visit to west London in three days should pick up three points, although Fulham will be tougher compared to newly promoted QPR. Another big question for Sir Alex Ferguson is will be spend during the transfer window after their Champions League exit?
Prediction: Fulham 1-3 Manchester United

QPR vs Sunderland from Loftus Road, London
While QPR have had a steady season in returning to the top flight, they’ve only collected one point from their last possible 12, and manager Neil Warnock admits that his squad needs reinforcements come January. If that doesn’t happen, it could be a very long second half to the season, and a dogfight battle to stay up in the Premier League. Sunderland themselves are going to have to fight to stay in the division, and new manager Martin O’Neill knows this, and one thing his teams always do is fight and scrap until the end. In O’Neill’s first two games they’e played far better then under Steve Bruce, and if they continue to do the same, they should be okay the rest of the way.
Prediction: QPR 1-1 Sunderland

Wigan Athletic vs Liverpool from the DW Stadium, Wigan
After a horrible stretch of games where Wigan couldn’t collect any points or score goals, the lactics now seem to have a little confidence about them after some positive results. How long will it last for is the question with a lot of games coming up thick and fast. Liverpool currently sit in sixth place, level on points with fifth place Arsenal and three behind Chelsea who sit in the last Champions League qualification position in forth. No doubt two clubs will be disappointed not to finish in the top four, but there is a lot of football to be played the rest of the season, and Liverpool will be in the mix.
Prediction: Wigan Athletic 0-2 Liverpool

Thursday
Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea from White Hart Lane, London
A London derby with big consequences. Both clubs sit in third and forth respectively, and both will be looking to win to close the gap between themselves and the Manchester clubs, as well as get a bit of the lead over the other and the chasing pack. Tottenham themselves were on a nice run until their defeat at Stoke, and then exiting the Europa League the following week. They rebounded with a 1-0 home win over Sunderland on Sunday, but confidence has been struck on Harry Redknapp’s side when you see them play. Chelsea are now picking up points in key games, and beating Manchester City was a big moral booster for Andre Villas-Boas. They will be disappointed however that they conceded a late equalizer to Wigan over the weekend.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Chelsea

By Geoff Reid

Saturday
Blackburn Rovers vs West Brom from Ewood Park, Blackburn
Last weekend ended up being a real kick in the teeth for Blackburn and manager Steve Kean, who were winning 1-0 away at Sunderland up until the 84th minute when they conceded two late goals losing 2-1 in Martin O’Neill’s debut at the Stadium of Light. It was a defeat that put more fuel on the fire for Rovers fans towards their manager, who has been under intense pressure since he took over from Sam Allardyce last season. Their opponents, West Brom, have been in a bad run of form having picked up only one point from their last three league games. Defeat for Roy Hodgson’s boys will put Rovers within two points of the baggies at the final whistle.
Prediction: Blackburn Rovers 1-2 West Brom

Everton vs Norwich City from Goodison Park, Liverpool
The big news coming out of Everton Football Club this week has obviously been the return of Landon Donovan on loan until the end of February. No doubt the US all time leading goal scorer will help a very weak Everton attack at current, but they’ll have to make do without him until the new year, and with only 15 league goals scored this season, he can’t come over soon enough. Norwich on the other hand have been impressing of late, and so far this season in general, but have struggled away from Carrow Road. This is the time of the season where Paul Lambert will see how strong his squad are with the run of games coming thick and fast.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Norwich City

Fulham vs Bolton Wanderers from Craven Cottage, London
This is a contest between two sides that are struggling at the moment. For the Cottagers, getting knocked out of the Europa League in the fashion they did on Wednesday will have hurt Martin Jol, and the club conceding two late goals to Odense and drawing 2-2 instead of hanging on for the win. The good news is now they can fully concentrate on the league and pull away from the relegation zone, and that is currently where Bolton sit, at the bottom of the league. Since the 5-0 win over Stoke City, Wanderers have lost four in a row, and a fifth loss in west London could end Owen Coyle’s spell at the Reebok.
Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Bolton Wanderers

Newcastle United vs Swansea City from the Sports Direct Arena, Newcastle
After such a great start, you were wondering when the wheels were going to fall off for Newcastle, and that may have very well just have happened. The magpies currently sit seventh in the table, after losing their last two league games and conceding seven goals in the process. No doubt manager Alan Pardew will see this contests against the Welsh side. For Brendan Rodgers and Swansea, while they have impressed with the start they’ve made, they still haven’t won away from home this season. This match will be the perfect opportunity to end that statistic.
Prediction: Newcastle United 2-1 Swansea City

Wolves vs Stoke City from Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Mick McCarthy’s Wolves sit just outside the relegation zone, and will look to use this match as a springboard over the festive period to move away and get closer to safety. Stoke City have had it tough this season with trying to balance the league, and treading in new territory in the Europa League. Now that the potters will be taking part in the knockout rounds in the new year, Tony Pulis can fully concentrate on domestic matters. Pulis’ actually rested a lot of first team players away at Besiktas, so the full side should be back and raring to go. This clash should be a good, old fashioned English physical battle.
Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Stoke City

Wigan Athletic vs Chelsea from the DW Stadium, Wigan
For Wigan and manager Roberto Martinez it’s been tough this season, and their last home game was a 4-0 hammering against Arsenal. However, that performance was sandwiched in between two impressive away victories away to Sunderland and West Brom. If Martinez can get his troops organized like in those games, the lactics should cause Chelsea some problems. For the blues, after two successive victories including one over leaders Manchester City, the pressure has been lifted a little over Andre Villas-Boas. This will be another one that Chelsea will look to collect all three points.
Prediction: Wigan Athletic 0-3 Chelsea

Sunday
QPR vs Manchester United from Loftus Road, London
The hoops are winless in their last three games with the latest contest a 1-0 defeat away to Liverpool. Neil Warnock’s side currently sit in mid table which they would have taken at the start of the season. Manchester United on the other hand are running thin in the midfield, with Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher the latest to experience a long term injury layoff. The win over Wolves last weekend was the perfect response for Sir Alex Ferguson’s team having crashed out of the Champions League at the group stages. The league will be the top priority for the rest of the season, and in January we should see some new reinforcements at Old Trafford.
Prediction: QPR 1-2 Manchester United

Aston Villa vs Liverpool from Villa Park, Birmingham
With a win away at Bolton last weekend, Alex McLeish and his Aston Villa side will look to build on that positive result. It does not however seem to bring the manager and the Villa faithful closer together due to his previous managerial position, at Villa’s bitter rivals Birmingham City. McLeish has made a solid, but perhaps unspectacular start to his Villa career collecting 19 points from his first 15 games. Liverpool have dropped points this season when they could have gotten all three, but more of those have been at home. It’s only a matter of time left before the chances that are being created start turning into goals.
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland from White Hart Lane, London
Spurs’ impressive run of form ended last week with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke City, and left manager Harry Redknapp fuming over some of the refereeing decisions. Redknapp’s future has been uncertain in recent days with the 64 year old being linked with the England job after Euro 2012. The club say that he isn’t interested though, as Spurs believe they can mount a serious title challenge next term. For Sunderland, this will be Martin O’Neill’s second game in charge, and after the gutsy effort last weekend against Blackburn, expect the same in this one from the black cats.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Sunderland

Manchester City vs Arsenal from the Etihad Stadium, Manchester
It’s not been the best of times recently for Manchester City and Roberto Mancini having been knocked out of a tough Champions League group, and suffering their first league defeat of the season away to title rivals Chelsea on Monday. While their lead at the top has been cut to two points, in form Arsenal come visit and this is by no doubt the match of the weekend. The gunners were made to work for their win over Everton on Saturday, and Robin van Persie in superb form scoring what is one of the goals of the season last weekend. If Arsene Wenger’s side can win this one, they will only be six points off City, and after their terrible start to the season, that would be an amazing achievement.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal

By Geoff Reid

Saturday
Arsenal vs Everton from the Emirates Stadium, London
After the 3-1 defeat away to Olympiakos in the Champions League during midweek where Arsene Wenger used largely reserve players, the gunners should be back to using the first team with the visit of Everton. Having already topped their group, it gave a chance for the senior players to have a much needed rest ahead of what’s always a busy holiday schedule. Everton have not been very consistent so far this season, and a 1-0 home loss last weekend to Stoke City showed that. A point would be considered good for the toffees since Robin van Persie, and Arsenal are firing on all cylinders.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Everton

Bolton Wanderers vs Aston Villa from the Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Here’s a match where two managers are under a lot of pressure, but for very different reasons. Owen Coyle has seen his Bolton side get off to the worst of starts, and it’s not been helped with injuries, and a very unkind opening 10 fixtures. Now is the time for Wanderers to start picking up points though, and climb out of the bottom three. Villa’s Alex McLeish on the other hand was the last choice the fans wanted as their next manager deciding to jump ship from city rivals Birmingham, and their style of football hasn’t been welcomed either. His side are sitting in a comfortable position though at the moment, and a win for either manager would do a great deal of good.
Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Aston Villa

Liverpool vs QPR from Anfield, Liverpool
After Monday night’s 1-0 defeat away to Fulham, Liverpool will look to get things back on track and shoot for that top 4 position where they currently are five points adrift. This week has been dominated by Luis Suarez and his actions at Craven Cottage, and manager Kenny Dalglish has backed his Uruguayan striker to the end saying he’s been getting the short end of the stick. QPR themselves are sitting fairly comfortably in the league, but a draw and defeat in their last two games has brought their bright start to a halt.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 QPR

Manchester United vs Wolves from Old Trafford, Manchester
All eyes will be on Manchester this weekend to see what the reactions will be like from United and City after both clubs got knocked out of the Champions League and were dumped into the Europa League instead. That’s not the only concern in the United camp, as captain Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury. This is where Sir Alex Ferguson’s side’s depth will be tested, and against a fiery Wolves team who came from behind to defeat Sunderland at home would have lifted spirits for Mick McCarthy’s side.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Wolves

Norwich City vs Newcastle United from Carrow Road, Norwich
Paul Lambert’s squad will be looking to put things right after losing 5-1 away to Manchester City last weekend. Putting that game aside, the canaries have been very impressive in their return to the top flight so far. With only two league defeats at home this season, they will be difficult to beat at Carrow Road. Newcastle can count themselves unlucky after the 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea last weekend. The scoreline does not tell the full story by any means after having some refereeing decisions go against them, but they do sit comfortable in sixth place currently which manager Alan Pardew would have taken at this time at the start of the season.
Prediction: Norwich City 1-1 Newcastle United

Swansea City vs Fulham from the Liberty Stadium, Swansea
The Welsh club fell to defeat away to Blackburn last weekend, and while manager Brendan Rodgers would not have been happy with that, this is a good chance to put things right as they have only suffered one home defeat in the league this term to Manchester United. Fulham picked up a nice win over Liverpool on Monday night, and Martin Jol will no doubt be looking to use that as a springboard to really get moving up the league table after a difficult start to the season.
Prediction: Swansea City 2-1 Fulham

West Brom vs Wigan Athletic from the Hawthorns, Birmingham
The baggies will see this fixture as one where three points should be a must after their inconsistent season so far. Playing against a side that is firmly at the bottom of the table, Roy Hodgson knows how important a win will be. Wigan have only collected nine points from a possible 42 this season, and manager Roberto Martinez’s relationship with owner Dave Whelan is the only reason keeping him in a job at the moment. Deciding to stay on at the DW Stadium instead of leaving to take the Aston Villa gig is looking more and more like the wrong decision. Martinez did work wonders last season in keeping Wigan in the Premier League, but a repeat of things don’t look likely.
Prediction: West Brom 3-1 Wigan Athletic

Sunday
Sunderland vs Blackburn Rovers from the Stadium of Light, Sunderland
All the focus will be on Martin O’Neil’s Sunderland debut as manager. and it couldn’t come in a more important game in all honesty. After the sloppy defeat away to Wolves last weekend, O’Neil will be looking to install some positivity into his players. Their opponents from Lancashire are one spot below them in the standings, and while the 4-2 victory over Swansea did some to quiet his critics, Blackburn manager Steve Kean knows he needs to build on that result, otherwise they’ll be out in full force once again.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur from the Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Tony Pulis’ Stoke City have been inconsistent this season due to their Europa League commitments, but on the back of successive wins, they should expect to collect all three points at home which has been their fortress over the last few seasons. It won’t be easy though, as a visiting Tottenham come in currently in third place, and are on an excellent run of form. This week manager Harry Redknapp dismissed talk of his side challenging for the league title, but at the moment, they are certainly in the hunt.
Prediction: Stoke City 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Monday
Chelsea vs Manchester City from Stamford Bridge, London
The clash of the weekend comes from west London where Andre Villas-Boas will be facing his toughest assignment so far going up against Roberto Mancini and table topping Manchester City. The home side can breathe a little easier after securing passage to the knockout round of the Champions League and winning the group. If the blues don’t get a result in this one, the pressure will be back again on Villas-Boas. Some pressure is also now on Mancini after City got knocked out of the Champions League this week, even though they finished on 10 points in their group. That could either work in their favor by concentrating solely on the league from now until May, or it could be a major setback, and we’ll find out soon enough which one it’ll be.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-2 Manchester City