Matchday 17 Premier League Preview and Prediction

Chelsea vs Sheffield United

Having recently looked to be on the road to recovery, a run of one win in five Premier League games has Chelsea preparing to enter the festive period languishing in 12th, leading Mauricio Pochettino to declare his side are “missing something” and hint that further spending is needed. With bottom club Sheffield United visiting Stamford Bridge on Saturday, can they get back to winning ways?

Another toothless attacking performance saw Chelsea beaten 2-0 at Everton on Sunday, four days on from another demoralizing defeat against fellow fallen giants Manchester United.

Sheffield United showed signs of life in their second game since Chris Wilder’s return last Saturday, beating Brentford 1-0 courtesy of a stunning strike from James McAtee. That was their first shutout victory in the Premier League since the final game of the 2020-21 campaign (1-0 versus Burnley), though they remain five points adrift of safety due to Everton’s win over Chelsea.

Chelsea have a strong record against Sheffield United, winning five of their last seven Premier League meetings. Both exceptions came in 2019-20 as the Blades clinched a surprise top-half finish, winning 3-0 at home and earning a 2-2 away draw.

Sheffield United have not kept a clean sheet in their last 29 away league games against Chelsea, conceding a total of 64 goals in those matches.

Prediction Chelsea to win at 1.30

Manchester City vs Crystal Palace

Manchester City have a title race on their hands. After four Premier League games without a victory, Pep Guardiola’s men did what champions do last Sunday, fighting back for a 2-1 win over Luton Town to remain within touching distance of Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa. However, with City likely to lose ground next week when they head to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup, three points is a must here, as they face Crystal Palace in their final league game before Christmas.

Guardiola will certainly want City to shake their habit of slow starts, having watched his team concede first in three successive league games for the first time since November 2019, during the last season which saw them fail to win the title.

City have been without leading goalscorer Erling Haaland for their last two games, and though he was due to return to training this week after sustaining a foot injury, Guardiola may opt against risking him here. With Jérémy Doku also doubtful, Julián Álvarez could again spearhead a fluid frontline, with the likes of Silva, Grealish and Phil Foden playing off the Argentine.

Palace have sometimes been awkward opponents for City in recent years, with only Manchester United (three) winning more Premier League away games against the Citizens than Palace (two) since Guardiola’s 2016 appointment. However, the Eagles approach Saturday’s contest winless in five Premier League matches, losing four of those to leave Roy Hodgson under pressure.

Palace threatened an upset last Saturday when Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty – controversially awarded for Jarell Quansah’s challenge on the striker – put them 1-0 up against Liverpool. However, two contentious second-half bookings for Jordan Ayew saw the striker sent off before goals from Salah and Harvey Elliott broke Palace hearts in a 2-1 win for the Reds, causing Hodgson to say he was “disillusioned” with the sport in a remarkable post-match interview.

City are unbeaten in their last 18 Premier League home games, winning 15 and drawing three. However, their last two matches at the Etihad have both finished level, against Liverpool (1-1) and Tottenham (3-3).

Palace have only won one of their last nine matches overall (two draws, six losses), with only Burnley (four) earning fewer than their five Premier League points since that run began on Matchday 8.

Prediction: Man City to win and Over 2.5 goals at 1.50

Liverpool vs Man Utd

Liverpool welcome bitter rivals Manchester United to Anfield in another huge Premier League clash.

The last time the Red Devils made the short trip to one of European football’s most iconic grounds, Jurgen Klopp’s side romped to an historic 7-0 win.

Amazingly, that result came during a particularly difficult campaign for the Reds. Back top of the Premier League table heading into this weekend’s action, they will feel confident of inflicting yet more damage on United.

Erik ten Hag's team, dumped out of Europe this week by Bayern Munich, have lost 12 of their 24 games in all competitions this season.

Toothless up front, porous at the back and with a lengthening injury list, it is difficult to find any positives for the visitors ahead of Sunday's game.

Thanks in part to the inconsistency of the teams around them, United still find themselves sixth in the Premier League, just three points behind Tottenham and six behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

But they will travel to Anfield full of trepidation. With the exception of last season's 2-1 win at Old Trafford, United's recent record against Liverpool is dire -- they have lost four of the past five meetings, conceding 21 goals in the process.

Liverpool are everything that United are not -- sharp in front of goal, full of self-belief and with a never-say-die attitude that has helped them win 18 points from losing positions this season.

Ten Hag has urged his side to focus on finishing in the top four to qualify for the Champions League next season but if results do not go their way this weekend, they could be nine points off fourth spot and slipping out of the picture.

Prediction: Liverpool to win at 1.31