2018/19 English Premier League
Matchday 20
The annual Boxing Day feast of
football in the English Premier League served up some festive treats and delivered serious knockout blows to one or two of the title challengers and UEFA Champions League chasers.
2018/19 English Premier League fixtures:
Saturday, December 29th
Watford vs Newcastle
Brighton vs Everton
Tottenham vs Wolves
Fulham vs Huddersfield
Leicester vs Cardiff
Liverpool vs Arsenal
Sunday, December 30th
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea
Southampton vs Man City
Burnley vs West Ham
Man United vs Bournemouth
WATFORD VS NEWCASTLE UNITED – VICARAGE ROAD
Despite an almighty effort from Javi Gracia’s men, they were ultimately undone by an Eden Hazard suckerpunch as their midweek encounter ended 2-1 to the visitors Chelsea who ended the Hornets three-match unbeaten run in the process.
Newcastle United are coming off the back of a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the league leaders Liverpool – their sixth successive match in the division without a win. Rafa Benitez’ side currently occupy 15
th place on the table, just five points ahead of the dreaded drop zone.
Since the pair were reunited in the Premier League back in 2015, Watford have won four of the five subsequent encounters including consecutive 2-1 wins at Vicarage Road. Andre Gray added to a Roberto Pererya strike in the first-half – the English forward’s second goal in as many matches against the Toon.
Writer’s Pick: Watford Win
FULHAM VS HUDDERSFIELD – CRAVEN COTTAGE
A real relegation battle is on the cards on Saturday as the Premier League’s bottom two sides lock horns at Craven Cottage. Fulham had seemingly turned a corner after the appointment of Ranieri, picking up only their second win of the campaign in just his first game in charge. Since then though, they have suffered three defeats and notched up three draws, with their most recent meeting ending 1-1 against Wolves.
Huddersfield have endured six successive defeats since picking up their only two wins of the season - from their three matches played in November – a run which leaves them rooted to the foot of the table. A win this weekend though would see the Terriers leapfrog Fulham and potentially even end the weekend outside of the bottom-three, depending on results elsewhere.
This will be the duo’s second-ever Premier League affair following Huddersfield’s 1-0 win at home last time out – their first victory over Fulham from their last 12 attempts since 1993.
Writer’s Pick: Fulham Win/Draw
CRYSTAL PALACE VS CHELSEA – SELHURST PARK
The Eagles dealt the ultimate KO ahead of Boxing Day as they stunned the entire watching world, not least the seemingly invincible Manchester City, when they came away from the Etihad with a hard-fought 3-2 win. They followed that up with a goalless draw at home to Cardiff despite mustering 31 attempts on goal during the 90 minutes.
Chelsea struggled for all three points at Watford on Wednesday but Maurizio Sarri’s men bounced back to winning ways following the Blues shock 1-0 defeat at home to Leicester City last weekend, who have now fallen 11 points behind the Reds at the summit.
Crystal Palace will be in confident mood heading into this clash, having won three of the last six meetings against their cross-capital rivals including a 2-1 win the corresponding fixture last season. Wilfried Zaha netted the winner that day on their own turn in front of their own fans however the Ivorian has failed to find the back of the net in any of his last 12 outings in the division.
Writer’s Pick: Crystal Palace Win/Draw
MAN UNITED VS BOURNEMOUTH – OLD TRAFFORD
The Ole Gunnar Solskjaer effect is already clear for all to see after just two games at the helm. The Red Devils followed up that emphatic 5-1 win at Cardiff with an equally comfortable 3-1 win over Huddersfield in Ole’s first match in charge in front of the Old Trafford faithful.
Bournemouth on the other hand, after all their superb early-season effort, the Cherries find themselves amidst an unfamiliar slide and on a run that has seen them pick up just three wins from their last 13 matches in all competitions.
Eddie Howe’s men will have it all to do on Sunday if they are to come away with anything from a ground where they have been subjected to two defeats from three Premier League visits since promotion in 2015. United have won five of their last six meetings with Bournemouth including a 1-0 win in the corresponding fixture last season.
Writer’s Pick: Man United Win
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