Liverpool v Cardiff, 12:45
It’s been a lovely week for Liverpool really, with the destruction of Tottenham and the toothy wonder signing a new contract as well and the chance to round it all off against Cardiff is something of a bonus for the Reds. Of course there is a chance that the away side will respond to the turmoil and trouble at the club by playing a blinder in support of the manager, but Brendan Rodgers knows that City and Chelsea are just around the corner and he can’t afford to see his side drop points here. For safety I’d recommend Luis Suarez in the score/win double, at 6/11 with BWin, but you knew that already.
Liverpool are still without Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and defender Jose Enrique, but will fancy their chances after winning last week with the same squad. Cardiff await news on whether Craig Bellamy will be fit, but other than that Malky Mackay has a fully fit squad to select from.
Crystal Palace v Newcastle, 15:00
Palace legend Alan Pardew brings his Newcastle team to London this afternoon knowing that a win for the Magpies could put the home side in huge trouble after an initial upturn in form. Newcastle need a victory to keep pace with the top five, if that is their aim for the season but after the way last year went for them you suspect the fans will have mixed feelings about the potential for qualification for the Europa League. An away win seems possible, and at 10/11 with William Hill I reckon both teams will score.
Crystal Palace have Kagisho Dikgacoi, Stuart O’Keefe and Jonny Williams all facing late fitness tests, but Dean Moxey is fit again. Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye will return after a one-match ban, making Ryan Taylor the only absentee for Pardew’s side.
Fulham v Man City, 15:00
A couple of weeks back City away was one of those games a manager might think they have a chance in, but after beating Bayern in Munich it seems like the 2012 Champions have remembered how to dominate sides home and away. Fulham are firmly ensconced in the bottom three and have already made one managerial change this season, so their options for improvement seem to be limited to praying or spending in January in an effort to stop this season being a disaster. Bet365 have 10/3 on City winning by a 2-goal margin, with 3-1 a score they’re not unfamiliar with.
Fulham defender Fernando Amorebieta is a doubt while Brede Hangeland and Hugo Rodallega also remain out with a sciatic nerve problem and groin injury respectively. Manchester City right-back Pablo Zabaleta is unavailable and Edin Dzeko could play with Sergio Aguero.
Man Utd v West Ham, 15:00
With a ten-point gap to make up on the league leaders, Manchester United need to have a very good Christmas just to make sure they still have a hope of making the top four when the season gets down to the sharp end. West Ham are just one single point above the relegation zone at the moment, and with the owner making funny noises about players signed in the summer that he feels were a mistake you do wonder if Sam Allardyce might be under a bit of pressure for his job if they lose heavily today. Victor Chandler reckon 2-0 is the most likely scoreline, at 13/2, and you suspect it’ll take a bit of magic from the Hammers to break United down.
Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic are both doubtful for the home side while Michael Carrick and Robin van Persie are out. West Ham skipper Kevin Nolan is suspended, and the Hammers also have Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Mladen Petric, Winston Reid and Ricardo Vaz Te all injured.
Stoke v Aston Villa, 15:00
It seems like these two sides have put enough distance between themselves and the bottom three not to have that stressful of a New Year to look forward to, but with the matches coming thick and fast over the Christmas period things can change fast, and trouble can sneak up on a team. After a good run of five matches without losing Villa had a predictable loss to United and a rather more surprising defeat at Fulham put a dent in their momentum, and a 1-1 at 6’s with BetDaq would at least put an end to the defeats.
Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross could miss out with a groin problem and Stephen Ireland is ineligible to face his parent club. Fabian Delph returns from suspension for Aston Villa but Gabriel Agbonlahor serves a one-match ban and Ron Vlaar is still a major doubt with a calf problem.
Sunderland v Norwich, 15:00
We’re sixteen games into the season now, and Norwich have collected twice as many points as their hosts, a statistic to embarrass Gus Poyet and embolden the away side in their quest for survival. Three wins in their last half-dozen league games is great news for the Canaries but they must still be careful here with Sunderland coming in off the back of a win over Chelsea in the League Cup that could well give them a big momentum boost. It’s a bit of a risk, but Sunderland to win by a 1-goal margin is 14/5 with Ladbrokes, and the win over Chelsea could see them come in on a high.
Sunderland could have striker Steven Fletcher and midfielder Jack Colback back from a sickness bug. Norwich City striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel and midfielder Robert Snodgrass are fit again after both missed significant periods through injury.
West Brom v Hull, 15:00
In some ways it is a bit odd to see West Brom languishing near the foot of the Barclays Premier League table, and that is a mark of how much they improved under the management of Steve Clarke, albeit with a degree of help from some remarkable men in the scouting department. The need to maintain their Premiership status has led to the Baggies moving Clarke on, much to the dismay of some of his players and many fans but a win today and a positive appointment in the week would change all that. Unfortunately for the home team, Hull are stubborn, hard-working and tactically flexible, meaning it could well be a draw, with Victor Chandler having 13/2 on a 1-1 or 20’s on 2-2.
Goalkeeper Ben Foster could return to the West Bromwich Albion, and caretaker boss Keith Downing has no fresh injury concerns ahead of his first match in charge. Hull City’s top goalscorer Robbie Brady is sidelined, and joins Sone Aluko and Stephen Quinn on the physio table for Christmas.
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