Liverpool vs. Norwich
Liverpool played well in the last half of their match at Old Trafford last week but they let United dominate for the most part. If you let them do that, then of course they'll punish you with their quality, so it'd be wrong really to say that the Reds deserved a point. On the whole though Liverpool are in good form, because they'd won three straight matches before that, and I don't think defeat to a team like Man United will disrupt their rhythm too much.
Norwich needed their point against Newcastle to stop the rot after 4 league defeats, but after that result they've got to play Liverpool and Tottenham, which may not help their confidence going into some of their more winnable games. I'd be surprised if they got dragged into a relegation battle, I'm going to put this down to a poor patch of form which every club inevitably goes through.
I can't see past a comfortable Liverpool win. They've been in much better form than Norwich over the past few weeks and look to be climing the table, and at the moment I wouldn't be able to see the Canaries stopping them getting a 4th win from 5. 2-0.
Del says: 2-0
Carl says: "what will Suarez admit to this time?" 1-1
Kingsley says: 3-1
Man City vs. Fulham
This is equally as straightforward a home win prediction for me. I was about to say that Fulham are in poor form, having recorded just 1 win from their last 7 league matches, but then again they're also unbeaten in 2013, so it's not all bad for them. Jol bravely decided to rotate a large proportion of his team for the FA Cup replay against Blackpool in preparation for this match - which was perhaps a necessary measure if he wanted to have the best chance of getting something from it - but I still don't reckon they will.
Man City are looking strong at the moment and have won 6 of their last 7 games which may have softened the blow of losing at home to Man United in December, but I don't reckon they'll catch them. Still, they're playing with a sparkle at the moment and the win at Arsenal was probably an important reminder to everyone that the title race is still on.
I'll go for 3-1 Man City. Berbatov was rested in midweek for Fulham and he's always a threat, plus Fulham have the best 'goals for' record in the bottom half of the table so a goal for the Cottagers isn't out of the question, but that goal will be simply outweighed by the number City can score with their quality.
Del says: 3-0
Carl says: 3-0
Kingsley says: 2-0
Newcastle vs. Reading
That win for Reading last week at least gives them some hope. My money would still be on their relegation, but the result should give the team a belief that they can come from behind, which may be useful later in the season. Whatever happens in the next few weeks, you'd have to give Brian McDermott some credit, because when they lost 5-2 to Arsenal I had them down as goners, but they've picked up some crucial points since then, so they're still in with a shout.
I was sure that Newcastle were going to sign Remy, but until they sign an established goalscorer I will worry for them, hopefully they can persuade Coloccini to stay until the summer, but they also need to get Ben Arfa and Cabaye back to full fitness pronto. It may be that they can keep Coloccini on a short-term basis, they probably will sign a new striker in the remain two weeks of January and Cabaye made the subs bench against Norwich. Until those three main problems are sorted out though, I'm just not sure how Newcastle can gain confidence. 0-1
Del says: 0-2
Carl says: "Not sure who will get the goals! 2-0"
Kingsley says: 2-1
Swansea vs. Stoke
Swansea are at an exciting time in their season, in the top half of the Premiership and they would have to be the favourites to win the Carling Cup. I'd love to be a Swansea fan at the moment, after suffering years of being at the bottom of the fourth tier, but I have a feeling that the number of midweek games they'll have had to play this month will catch up with them at some point. They were very lucky to hold onto a point at Everton, so maybe they're due a defeat.
Hats off to Jonathon Walters, who put a hapless performance against Chelsea last week behind him by scoring two in the cup against Crystal Palace and the 4-1 win also wasn't a bad way for Stoke to put an end to 3 successive games without a goal. Although Crystal Palace are a division below, they are in the upper quarter of the Championship so it will have been a confidence boosting result.
I just think that because Stoke have had more time to rest after their midweek game than Swansea, and having won that match, their in a better position than the Swans physically and mentally. The teams' league positions point towards a draw but looking at it more closely, I reckon Stoke might just have a bit too much muscle for Swansea, so I think they'll win 0-1.
Del says: 0-1
Carl says: 2-2
Kingsley says: 1-1
West Ham vs. QPR
People have been saying that West Ham are in bad form at the moment, but I'm not sure they are. They only real disappointment for them was losing 3-0 to Sunderland last week, but other than that they've been doing alright- they were expected to lose to Man United really and did quite well to keep the score so close over 2 games.
QPR have made a big statement of intent in signing Loic Remy, and that does tip my relegation prediction for the Rs into the balance. To be able to attract a player like Remy, who was playing in the Champions League last season, is a big signing for them. I just worry whether the club would run out of money if they failed to stay up- he's on a long-term contract and the fact he chose QPR over Newcastle suggests he'll pick up a more than substantial pay packet.
I think Remy will get off to a good start as QPR's new signing with a goal and West Ham don't score many, so I'll go for a 0-1 away win. I can see Harry's mini-revival of the Rs continuing, partly on the grounds that they need the points considerably more than West Ham do.
Del says: 2-0
Carl says: 0-0
Kingsley says: 1-2
Wigan vs. Sunderland
Wigan got a decent point at Fulham, coming from behind as well, to propel themselves out of the relegation zone. It could still go either way for them with Villa only below the Latics on goal difference and QPR and Reading now coming into form, so this is a real opportunity for them to pick up some all-important points.
Sunderland got a great win over West Ham last week and they're now 6pts above the relegation zone, and playing with some confidence. A few weeks ago I really feared for them, but they've grown from strength to strength since then with a few win, and have began found their goals from other areas of the park than Steven Fletcher.
I've not had an easy time calling it, but in the end I've settled on a Sunderland win. Wigan will be without Ramis and Kone for this game, who'll both be big losses, but also Sunderland have got skilfull wingers in their team and Wigan have often been found playing 3 at the back. There should be a lot of space for Sunderland's wide men to do the damage. 0-2.
Del says: 1-1
Carl says: "Can only put Mackems for a loss! 2-0"
Kingsley says: 0-1
West Brom vs. Aston Villa
Neither of these sides are in good shape. West Brom are now without a win in 5 in all competitions, what's more, 4 of those matches have ended in defeats for the Baggies. No West Brom fan could have expected their wonderful run over November to go on forever, so I'm not surprised they've hit a bit of a lull. In many ways, Steve Clarke deserves great credit whatever happens. I thought West Brom would go down at the beginning of the season but I've calculated that to stay up, a team this season needs an average of just 35pts, and I think West Brom will reach that level today- not that they'll ever be worried about it.
For Villa it's a completely different story and their season is on a knife edge. I think their defence will improve once Vlaar comes back into the side, he should provide Villa with more experience, but this is a vital game. I don't like to say it's a game they 'can't afford to lose', because we're in January, not May, but every point counts.
I'm going to go for a draw, because neither team look in a position to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and win, but I think it'll be a score draw because both have shown questionable defending of late. Well, more than questionable in Villa's case. 1-1.
Carl says: "want to see Villa relegated.1-0" (you're not the only one, Carl!)
Kingsley says: 2-0
Chelsea vs. Arsenal
I can't believe Chelsea let a 2 goal lead slip against Southampton, that'll be really disappointing from Rafa Benitez's point of view, after brilliantly winning 4-0 at Stoke. I just get the feeling that eventually, the number of games they've had to play since going to the club world cup will affect them.
Arsenal's trophy hopes are still alive after they beat Swansea in midweek thanks to a Jack Wilshere goal, and I've got a feeling they'll make the FA Cup final. The Gunners will certainly be buoyed by the news that Theo Walcott has signed a new contract, an issue which has dragged on for a long time now.
I'm going to go with my instinct and say an Arsenal win. After such a congested run of matches Chelsea could become leggy at the back, and I could see Arsenal scoring a couple of classic counterattacking goals through Walcott. 0-2.
Carl says: 2-2
Kingsley says: 3-1
Tottenham vs. Man Utd
I would expect it to be a case of damage limitation for Tottenham this weekend. I would expect Everton to win at Southampton on Monday night, so Tottenham will want to reduce the amount of points to the Toffees gain on them by getting a result on the Sunday. Their best chance is probably by attacking the slightly inexperienced Rafael down the left through Gareth Bale, if they want to get to the heart of United's defence.
In his predictions which I've had a peak at, Mark Lawrenson said that Ferguson might take a point here. I'm not sure I agree, I think he'll set his side out to control the midfield and attack Tottenham, who haven't got the best of defences. Besides, it's rarely within Fergie's nature to settle for a point.
It'll be an interesting game because assuming Man City win on Saturday, United need to make sure they don't make up any ground, because a 4 or 5pt lead could change in a couple of weeks. I'm going to back them not to though, because I think they've got a matchwinner in their team in Robin van Persie.
Del says: 0-3
Carl says: 1-2
Kingsley says: 1-0
Southampton vs. Everton
I've got no idea why Southampton sacked Nigel Adkins- it was a ludicrous decision! He'd got them promoted twice in two seasons, the absolute maximum the board could have asked of him, and if they were to finish 17th this season it would be an achievement, and they're currently 15th! The other strange thing is the timing of the sacking, after the team came back from 2 down against Chelsea to get a point! His sacking defies reason- there's no logic to it at all.
If he hadn't have been sacked, I think I was inching towards an Everton win but I'm even more sure now. They were very unfortunate to only draw with Swansea, because they created some great chances which Jelavic would have finished on another day.
I'm going for a straightforward Everton win, because the appointment of Pochettino at Southampton will have unsettled the players and mystified the fans. I don't think that'll create an atmosphere capable of keeping a team like Everton at bay. 0-2
Del says: 1-2
Carl says: "why sack Adkins? 0-1"
Kingsley says: 1-3
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