Premier League Matchday 14 PREVIEW

As we officially enter a stacked winter schedule, the Premier League will certainly steal centre stage this weekend.

With a heavyweight schedule from across England’s elite, it will certainly be Tottenham’s trip to Manchester City that has most of the focus.

Likewise, on a Sunday schedule that includes both Aston Villa and Liverpool, we have taken an in-depth look at some of the Premier League matches this weekend.

Wolves vs Arsenal

Wolves continued their hectic season on Monday night with a disappointing 3-2 loss against struggling Fulham, handing the Cottagers their first win in the Premier League in five games.

And that’s been Wolves’ story for many seasons now, able to play both up and down respective to their level of competition, securing wins against the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City, but then losing outright against both Sheffield United and Fulham in subsequent games.

They face an Arsenal team on Saturday however who have just gone top of the Premier League table yet again after a competitive 1-0 road win against Brentford at the weekend, and one who also owns the league’s best defensive xGA numbers at home this season as well.

That Brentford win was far from convincing though, and despite the Gunners’ recent solid form in the league, the fact their last three wins have come against Brentford, Burnley, and Sheffield United still leaves a few question marks in terms of their overall ability to win this game convincingly

Giving Arsenal's win at home to Lens at midweek (and it was decidedly not a struggle). It won’t be easy, but it might be simple at the Emirates.

Arsenal 2-1 Wolves.

Newcastle vs Manchester United

With the UEFA Champions League hopes of Newcastle United and Manchester United hanging by a thread following midweek draws, both sides will be desperate to boost their chances of qualifying for the next edition of that competition. They enter Matchday 14 five and four points adrift of the Premier League’s top four respectively

Things have been different in the Premier League, however. United have won five of their last six league games, with the last three – victories over Fulham, Luton Town and Everton – coming by a 5-0 aggregate scoreline.

Newcastle also returned to England after being denied a vital Champions League win on Tuesday, with their frustrations focused on the controversial decision to penalise Tino Livramento for handball as Kylian Mbappé’s stoppage-time penalty cancelled out Alexander Isak’s opener in a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain.

Saturday’s game comes just over a month after the teams last met, with Newcastle thrashing United 3-0 in the EFL Cup on November 1. Miguel Almirón, Lewis Hall and Willock scored on that occasion as a much-changed Magpies team humiliated Ten Hag’s men at Old Trafford.

United have certainly improved on a shaky away record lately. Having only won three of their first 12 games on the road in the Premier League this calendar year (D2 L7), they have won each of their last four. They last won more consecutively between June and December 2020, enjoying a 10-match winning run on their travels.

Newcastle, though, have won their last five home league games since August’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, and they are looking to win six in a row on home soil for the first time since last April.

Newcastle 2 Manchester United 2

Chelsea vs Brighton

A relentless December schedule commences on Sunday for Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion, who square off at Stamford Bridge in an intriguing Premier League encounter.

The Blues were subjected to a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United last weekend, while Roberto De Zerbi's men are into the Europa League knockout rounds thanks to a 1-0 beating of AEK Athens on Thursday.

With captain Reece James also being banished from the field for two bookable offences, a downcast Mauricio Pochettino who watched on from the stands owing to a touchline ban - admitted that Chelsea's horror show was their "worst game" of the season so far, and the Blues are still unable to escape the indifference of mid-table.

Tenth place in the rankings is theirs with a third of the season gone, and Chelsea remain closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots points-wise, despite the defeat at St James' Park marking only their second loss from their last nine matches across all tournaments.

Achieving just one win from their last 14 Premier League home games - a 3-0 beating of newly-promoted Luton Town - is simply unacceptable for a club of Chelsea's calibre, and the Blues welcome Brighton to West London having amassed just two points from the last 15 on offer at Stamford Bridge, shipping 10 goals in the process.

Success in the Europa League succeeded an equally nerve-wracking Premier League triumph over Nottingham Forest last weekend, which saw De Zerbi's team snap a dismal six-game winless streak in the top flight to remain in a healthy eighth position, within touching distance of Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Chelsea were actually the last team to prevent De Zerbi's men from making the net bulge, prevailing 1-0 in September's EFL Cup third-round tie, but the Blues are winless in their last five Premier League meetings with Brighton, who spoiled Frank Lampard's Stamford Bridge homecoming with a 2-1 success in this fixture seven months ago.

With two enforced defensive changes required, Pochettino will be desperate to have Malo Gusto back in the fold following a tendon injury - the Frenchman's chances of playing are thought to be strong - while Levi Colwill should get the nod over Ian Maatsen in place of Cucurella.

De Zerbi and Pochettino can empathise over losing their captains to suspension, as Lewis Dunk received two yellow cards within a matter of seconds against Nottingham Forest for inexcusably using some choice words towards referee Anthony Taylor, incurring a two-game ban in the process.

Dunk joins Mahmoud Dahoud on the naughty step for the Chelsea clash as the midfielder serves the second of a three-game domestic suspension for his red card against Sheffield United, and given the visitors' perpetual injury crisis, 18-year-old Jack Hinshelwood may be required to step in at centre-back as James Milner deputises in a full-back role.

Chelsea 2 Brighton 2

Liverpool vs Fulham

Although Liverpool might have come under plenty of scrutiny last season as they missed out on a top-four finish, Jurgen Klopp’s men have certainly come roaring back this time around. Putting in a routine Europa League performance earlier in the week as they breezed their way to a 4-0 romp against LASK, Sunday’s hosts should find the mood in their camp at a continued high.

With many around Anfield starting to believe that their side could mount a genuine title charge this season, the former Borussia Dortmund boss has seen his superstar squad gain a string of plaudits.

Collecting 28 points from their first 13 Premier League appearances, Liverpool have also gained a real reputation for their continued domestic success in the red half of Merseyside.

Including a 3-0 romp against Brentford prior to November’s international break, Klopp’s men have won all of their first six Premier League fixtures at Anfield by an aggregate score of 17-2.

With attacking talisman Mohamed Salah firing on all cylinders, Liverpool will be looking to cash in on a Fulham squad that have shown some extended inconsistencies.

While the Cottagers might have snatched a hugely controversial 3-2 win against Wolves earlier in the week, Marco Silva’s side almost find themselves sat in top-flight limbo.

Without a win from any of their previous six Premier League showdowns away from Craven Cottage – a run that stems all the way back to the opening weekend – Fulham will certainly face a heavyweight challenge here.

Likewise, losing four of their last five trips to Anfield, Silva’s side are rightfully tipped as a landslide underdog this weekend.

Liverpool 3 Fulham 0

Manchester City vs Tottenham

While Manchester City might have lost their spot at the top of the Premier League table last weekend, the Sky Blues still find themselves tipped as a standout contender to make more history this season. Mounting a stellar Champions League comeback earlier in the week as they eventually secured a 3-2 victory against German outfit RB Leipzig, Pep Guardiola’s superstar squad will be looking to make another statement here.

Becoming the first English club since 1999 to be crowned treble champions last season, the former Barcelona boss has seen his side enjoy another European romp this time around.

Winning each of their opening five Champions League appearances and breezing their way to the knockout stage without breaking much of a sweat, the Sky Blues have also continued to shine on home soil.

Despite having to settle for a 1-1 stalemate against bitter rivals Liverpool when returning from November’s international break last weekend, City have not suffered a single competitive defeat at the Etihad over the past 12 months.

On the flip side, while Tottenham might have enjoyed a stunning start to life under new boss Ange Postecoglou, Spurs have come crashing back down to earth on either side of the fortnight interval.

Suffering a collapse in north London last weekend as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa, Sunday’s guests have lost each of their previous three Premier League appearances.

Dealing with what has quickly become a major injury crisis, it should also be noted that Tottenham have collected just a single victory at the Etihad since way back in May 2010.

Manchester City 3 vs Tottenham 2