Liverpool @ Aston Villa: Sat, Jan 17- 10:00 am
Aston Villa enter this match coming off a 1-0 loss to last-place Leicester City. They have recently signed 22-year-old Spanish midfielder Charles Gil from Valencia, who is sure to add some creativity to the midfield and has a lot of potential. Liverpool beat Sunderland last weekend 1-0 with a goal from Lazar Marković. Liverpool will hope he can produce again as they are still without injured striker Daniel Sturridge.
Prediction: Liverpool win 2-0
Crystal Palace @ Burnley: Sat, Jan 17- 10:00 am
Both teams won 2-1 last weekend, but Burnley lost midweek in their FA Cup Round 3 replay against Tottenham 4-2. Crystal Palace have added young former Arsenal striker Yaya Sonogo. This should help the team as they have not scored many goals this season. Both Burnley and Crystal Palace are only one point out of relegation zone, so a win would be crucial to either side.
Prediction: Crystal Palace win 2-1
Stoke City @ Leicester City: Sat, Jan 17- 10:00 am
Leicester are still in last place but have won their last two games (1-0 vs Newcastle in the FA Cup and 1-0 to Aston Villa in league competition). On the other hand, Stoke lost to Arsenal last weekend 3-0 and are hoping to bounce back and enter the top half of the table. Leicester have added experienced 42-year-old goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and young Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric so far this transfer window. Kramaric will not be with the team for this game as he is in the process of getting his work permit.
Prediction: Draw 1-1
Manchester United @ Queens Park Rangers: Sat, Jan 17- 10:00 am
QPR are the first team Man United beat this season. Back in the days when Swansea was fighting Chelsea for first place and Manchester United beat QPR 4-0 for their first win 4 games into the season. A lot has changed in the standings since then, but don't expect a much different end result this game. Man United, despite no wins in their last three league games, remain in 4th place and QPR are in 19th. QPR's new signing Mauro Zarate says he is fit to play this weekend, but will that be enough for QPR to get any points against this top 4 club?
Prediction: Manchester United win 3-1
Chelsea @ Swansea City: Sat, Jan 17- 10:00 am
The last game between these two was the aforementioned Week 4 matchup when both teams were 3-0-0 and first place was on the line. Chelsea won that game and have still not moved from first place while Swansea has slowly sunken down to 9th place. Although he is currently playing in the Africa Cup of Nations and would not have played this game anyway, Swansea fans will surely be disappointed to have lost arguably their best player, Wilfried Bony, to Man City. The manager expects Bafetimbi Gomis to step up and fill Bony's role as striker. Gomis plays a similar style as Wilfried Bony and is spectacular at holding up the ball from defenders. They also signed another striker, Nelson Olveira on loan from Benfica as a backup for Gomis. After last weekend, Chelsea are two points ahead of Man City for first place.
Prediction: Chelsea wins 3-1
Sunderland @ Tottenham: Sat, Jan 17- 10:00 am
Sunderland traded American striker Jozy Altidore to Toronto FC this week in exchange for former Premier League striker Jermain Defoe. This was not a surprise, as Altidore has not played well for Sunderland and said he wanted to leave this transfer window. Jermain Defoe was dissatisfied with Toronto FC despite playing well this season in MLS. And as one American leaves the Premier League, another joins as speedy right back DeAndre Yedlin is now fully situated with Tottenham and should start playing soon, although this game is unlikely. Sunderland are in 16th while Tottenham fell to 6th after losing to Crystal Palace last weekend. However, before that, they beat Chelsea 5-3 on New Year's Day. Sunderland have only won one of their last eleven games.
Prediction: Tottenham wins 4-2
Southampton @ Newcastle United: Sat, Jan 17- 12:30 pm
Southampton are coming off a big win against Manchester United which brought them into 3rd place. Newcastle have climbed up and down the table this year and are currently right in the middle, 10th place. After a 4 game losing streak, Southampton have 4 wins and 1 draw. Newcastle have not shown much to be proud of recently and are without striker Papiss Cisse, so I do not expect a win this weekend.
Prediction: Southampton wins 1-0
Hull City @ West Ham United: Sun, Jan 18- 8:30 am
West Ham played an FA Cup replay on Tuesday, a thrilling win in penalty kicks against Everton. This game went all the way down to the goalies shooting in penalty kicks, so fatigue may be an issue. West Ham are in 7th place and drew Swansea last weekend. Hull City lost to West Brom and are in 17th place, needing at least a point to possibly exit relegation territory. West Ham recently signed 21-year-old Canadian center back Doneil Henry from Apollon Limassol in Cyprus. He previously played for Toronto FC as well.
Prediction: West Ham wins 2-0
Arsenal @ Manchester City: Sun, Jan 18- 11:00 am
Big match between 2nd and 5th place teams pits a Man City team who may move into first place with a win and Arsenal who can move into the top 4 with a win. The other meeting between these teams this season was a 2-2 draw in Week 4. Last week, Manchester City could only draw Everton, who have been struggling this season. They will be looking for redemption in this game.
Prediction: Man City wins 3-2 (3rd goal in stoppage time)
West Bromwich Albion @ Everton: Mon, Jan 19- 3:00 pm
These teams are both in the bottom half of the table, Everton in 12th and West Brom in 14th. Everton have had a very rough season so far and to make it worse, their star American goalkeeper Tim Howard is injured. Everton managed to draw Manchester City last weekend but then lost in that previously mentioned FA Cup match vs West Ham on Tuesday. West Brom beat Hull in their last game 1-0.
Prediction: Draw 2-2
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