Premier League Matchday 18 Preview

Aston Villa vs Sheffield United

Aston Villa will aim to maintain their unlikely Premier League title charge when they host struggling Sheffield United at Villa Park on Friday.

12 wins from their opening 17 games has Unai Emery’s men heading into Matchday 18 third in the league table, just a point behind leaders Arsenal.

Sheffield United, meanwhile, are propping up the division with just eight points from their 17 matches, already six points off safety.

Villa’s excellent home form has spearheaded their success, winning each of their last 15 Premier League home games.

It’s the longest such run in their league history, while only three sides have won more consecutively at home in the Premier League – Liverpool (24 between 2019 and 2020), Manchester City (20 between 2011 and 2012) and Manchester United (19 between 2010 and 2011).

Watkins has nine goals this season and has 10+ goals in all three seasons for Villa so far – the last player to score 10+ goals in four consecutive top-flight seasons for the club was Peter Withe (1980-81 to 1984-85).

Sheffield United already have it all to do if they are to preserve their top-flight status after winning promotion last term.

The Blades have won just two of their last 33 Premier League away games (four draws, 27 defeats), winning 2-1 at Man Utd in January 2021 and 1-0 at Everton in May 2021. They’re the only Premier League side without a win on the road so far this season (one draw, seven losses).

Villa have won their last two Premier League games played on a Friday, as many as they had in their first 12 such games (four draws, six defeats). They will be a little shorthanded for this week’s game, though, with a number of injuries to worry about.

Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 14 home league games against Sheffield United (eight wins, six draws) since losing 2-0 in January 1966.

Sheffield United have kept three clean sheets in their last four Premier League games against Aston Villa (two victories, one draw, one defeat), losing the other game 1-0 in September 2020.

Prediction: Aston Villa to win and over 1.5 at 1.32

Tottenham vs Everton

After five games without a win – and four defeats in that run – Tottenham have hit back in the last two matches, with Ange Postecoglou recovering a few players from injury and suspension.

Spurs followed up their 4-1 home thrashing of Newcastle United by dispatching Nottingham Forest 2-0, despite having Yves Bissouma sent off.

While Spurs have got back on track in their hunt for UEFA Champions League qualification, Saturday’s home meeting with Everton could have represented a clash with a European hopeful – given Everton would be in ninth going into Matchday 18, level on points with Brighton, should they not have been handed that 10-point deduction last month for a breach of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

As it is, Everton head into the weekend in 16th in the league table on 16 points, seven clear of the relegation zone, but their form is not to be scoffed at; they have won their last four league games, keeping a clean sheet in each of them. Indeed, since losing to Liverpool on 21 October, the Toffees have lost just one league match, going down 3-0 to Manchester United in late November.

After beating Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea and Burnley, the Toffees are looking to win five consecutive top-flight away games for the first time since April 1970, a season in which they won the league title. They had last won four Premier League matches in a row back in December 2020, while they last won four straight top-tier games without conceding in 2002, under David Moyes.

Having failed to win a single Premier League game in London in both 2021-22 (D1 L5) and 2022-23 (D4 L3), Everton have won all three trips to the capital so far this season. They last won four consecutive league games in London between April 1911 and September 1912, with three of those victories coming against Tottenham.

Prediction: Tottenham win or draw and over 1.5 at 1.50

Liverpool vs Arsenal

With Manchester City not in action on the final Premier League matchday before Christmas due to their involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup, Liverpool and Arsenal have a huge chance to make more headway in an absorbing title race when they face off in Saturday’s headline fixture. Who will end the festive weekend top of the tree?

Unless Aston Villa rout Sheffield United on Friday to overturn Liverpool’s superior goal difference, a victory for either side will ensure they lead the way on Christmas Day.

Arsenal’s defensive solidity has been key to their title charge so far, facing the fewest shots on target (43) and allowing the fewest expected goals against (13 xGA) in the Premier League. Their backline will be tested on Merseyside, however, with Liverpool attempting the most shots (314) and creating the second-highest xG total (35, behind only Newcastle United’s 35.2) in the division.

Jürgen Klopp’s men failed to find a route to goal against Manchester United last Sunday, however, firing off 34 shots in an underwhelming goalless draw at Anfield. That result ended their run of scoring in 26 consecutive Premier League games, but they haven’t failed to net in back-to-back league matches at Anfield since a run of three between February and March 2021.

Saturday’s game will be a monumental test of Arsenal’s title credentials, particularly given their dismal record at Anfield.

Indeed, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 home Premier League games against the Gunners (W7 D3), falling behind in five of those matches before recovering to avoid defeat, including in a thrilling 2-2 draw in this exact fixture in April.

Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 15 Premier League games against Liverpool, conceding 43 times across those fixtures. Since that run began after a goalless draw in August 2015, they have conceded more goals to the Reds than against any other opponent.

Liverpool’s goalless draw with Man Utd last week represented the first time they had failed to win at Anfield in any competition this season.

Klopp’s team won their first 11 home games of 2023-24 in the Premier League, UEFA Europa League and EFL Cup, scoring a total of 35 goals in those contests.

Prior to Sunday’s stalemate, they recorded league wins against Fulham, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace to go top of the table, before the draw with United sent them back down to second.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have won five of their last six Premier League matches, including recent victories against Wolves, Luton and Brighton, though their one defeat in that run came on their last road trip, at Aston Villa on December 9.

They have won 24 of their 39 league games in 2023, drawing eight and losing seven. Arteta’s men managed 25 league victories in 2022, and with three matches to play before New Year’s Day, they are looking to post 25 wins in consecutive calendar years for the first time in their league history.

Prediction: Both teams to score at 1.56

Others: West Ham vs Man Utd: Man Utd win or draw at 1.46

Wolves vs Chelsea: Chelsea win or draw at 1.24