The battle to be number one at Christmas intensifies this week with two matchdays in the Premier League. There’s another programme of midweek matches ahead of the last round of action before Christmas day at the weekend. But for now we’re focusing on matchday 17 and who will end up top of the league with just two points separating Man City in first to Chelsea in third.
Man City vs Leeds United – Tuesday 14th December, 9pm
History seems to be repeating itself with Man City on another winning streak to put them on course to defend their Premier League crown. Raheem Sterling scored the only goal against Wolves on the weekend to give Pep Guardiola’s men a sixth league win in a row, and keep their place at the top of the table. It was at the same time last year that City started their incredible 15 match winning run in the league and right now it’s hard to see who will stop them, especially when you consider they’ve only conceded nine goals so far in the 2021/22 season.
Leeds can count themselves slightly unlucky after conceding a 94th minute penalty at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, falling to a narrow 3-2 defeat to Chelsea. It’s a result which will also upset Man City, who could’ve gained more ground on Chelsea if it wasn’t for Jorginho’s last gasp winner. Inconsistency has led to an indifferent season so far for Marco Bielsa’s side, who have recorded just three wins so far this campaign. Having Patrick Bamford back fit will make a big difference to Leeds’ fortunes, as his stoppage time equaliser against Brentford showed. Let’s also not forget that Leeds did beat Man City 2-1 at the Etihad last season, even if circumstances have changed pretty dramatically since.
Bet9ja prediction: Man City win
Arsenal vs West Ham – Wednesday 15th December, 9pm
After losing the first three matches of the Premier League season, all the talk was about Arsenal being a club in “crisis” with Mikel Arteta on borrowed time. However, fast-forward four months and the Gunners have turned their fortunes around to put themselves in contention for a top four finish. A comfortable 3-0 win against Southampton puts Arsenal sixth and just two points off West Ham going into Wednesday’s meeting, although Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s disciplinary breach which led him to being dropped against the Saints will be seen as a worry. The Gunners have been strong at home since losing to Chelsea in August, with the second best record in the league.
A disappointing 0-0 draw at Burnley on Sunday makes it just one win in five for West Ham, but David Moyes’ men are still sitting pretty in fourth. They may have tailed off after a dream start but still have victories over Chelsea and Liverpool in the past six weeks. With the Hammers already in the Europa League last 16 and the League Cup quarter-finals, fighting on all fronts could take its toll. However, let’s not forget that West Ham have been formidable away from home, currently boasting the fourth best record in the Premier League.
Bet9ja prediction: Draw
Leicester City vs Tottenham – Thursday 16th December, 20:30pm
Providing any last minute COVID postponement, Tottenham’s trip to Leicester will be their first match in any competition for more than 10 days. Spurs have been hit by a COVID outbreak which has affected up to 10 first team players and caused matches against Rennes in the Europa Conference League and Brighton in the Premier League, to be postponed. Although recent form has been good with three league wins on the bounce, it remains to be seen what side Antonio Conte will be able to field and how rusty Spurs will be.
Leicester’s 4-0 victory over Newcastle on the weekend lifted the Foxes to eighth but it’s been a very inconsistent season for them so far. Brendan Rodgers’ men have won just twice in their past five league matches and suffered the ignominy of dropping into the Conference League after failure to make it out of their Europa League group. However, with Jamie Vardy and James Maddison both in fine form, the Foxes will be a tough nut to crack at home, especially against a potentially makeshift Spurs side, giving them the slight edge.
Bet9ja prediction: Leicester win
Chelsea vs Everton – Thursday 16th December 20:45pm
Recent form might not have lived up to the heights of the first three months of the season but Chelsea are still very much a strong contender in the Premier League title race. Thomas Tuchel’s men left it late to beat Leeds on Saturday with a last gasp Jorginho penalty securing the three points. Goals have been flowing all season, with 38 making the Blues the second-top scorers in the league so far but conceding five goals in the past two Premier League matches will be a slight worry.
However, you could argue that if there’s any time to play Everton, that time is now. Despite the 2-1 victory against Arsenal last Monday, the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday was their fourth in the past five league matches and leaves Rafa Benitez’s team with just one win in 10. Being 14th at this point of the season is the last thing the owners would’ve had in mind when appointing Benitez, and with a team looking clearly disjointed, it’ll be interesting to see how much longer Rafa will be at the helm for.
Bet9ja prediction: Chelsea win
Liverpool vs Newcastle United – Thursday 16th December, 9pm
Mo Salah’s second-half penalty was enough to give Liverpool all three points against Aston Villa on Saturday, and make it five Premier League wins in a row for Jurgen Klopp’s men. The Reds seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time, and have now closed the gap to Man City to just a point. It’s going to be key for Liverpool to continue their fine form, when you consider the league’s top scorer Salah, and Sadio Mane, will be absent in January. You’d expect that form to continue for the visit of Newcastle, especially when you consider the Magpies haven’t beaten Liverpool at all since 2015 and the last time they were victorious at Anfield was back in 1994.
Newcastle’s feel good factor lasted just barely a week after beating Burnley to secure their first Premier League win of the season at the 15th time of asking. Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing at Leicester shows how much work Eddie Howe has got on his hands and it won’t get any easier with home matches against Man City and Man Utd following the trip to Anfield.
Bet9ja predictions: Liverpool win
