A feast of holiday Premier League football to savour
THE dust has barely settled from the turbulent derby day and yet all 20 Premier League clubs will have to go again in midweek matches. After 14 fixtures, Manchester City lead the pack and are ahead of Liverpool who, just like the Citizens are still unbeaten this season.
The Reds are two points behind City thanks to a last-minute goal from Divock Origi at the Merseyside derby on Sunday. They visit Burnley tonight, who beat Jurgen Klopp’s men once, two years ago. Liverpool on Saturday visit Bournemouth in the early kick-off. The Cherries lost their last four matches and beat Liverpool once in 2016.
Chelsea, meanwhile, recovered from their defeat at Spurs with victory over West London rivals Fulham last weekend. They will head to Wolves tonight, a team they’ve only lost to once, in 2011. Their difficult test will come on Saturday evening when they host the champions at Stamford Bridge. This mouth-watering encounter will put City’s unbeaten run on the line and offer the Blues the chance to move within four points of the top.
In fourth place are Unai Emery’s Arsenal, just one point behind Chelsea going into tonight’s pick of the fixtures at Old Trafford against Manchester United. The Gunners pulled off a derby-day win against Tottenham on Sunday after falling behind 2-1. League top scorer PierreEmerick Aubameyang fired in a brace to inspire Arsenal to a famous win.
A win for the Gunners tonight at United would ensure their spot in the top four until the weekend when they host Huddersfield at the Emirates stadium.
The Red Devils have not been in the greatest form recently, having won only two of their last five matches, but they will show up a different team against the Gunners. The good news for them is they stay at home for the weekend, welcoming Fulham to the Theatre of Dreams.
Rounding off the top six are Spurs and Everton. The Lilywhites will want to put that defeat to Arsenal out of their minds when they meet Southampton tonight, while they will travel to the King Power Stadium in Saturday’s latest kick-off to take on Leicester City.
The Toffees host Newcastle at Goodison Park this evening and will only be in action next Monday at home against their new signing Richarlison’s old club, Watford.
A double whammy week of Premier League football marks the beginning of an entertaining Christmas period. Some managers have been asking for a break during this period, but the Football Association doesn’t seem like they will be considering that. Look forward to many more like these with each club playing six times in the space of four weeks. It’s going to be a holly, jolly Christmas.
Byron David is a Radio Presenter/ Producer for LotusFM