New Delhi: Matchday 14 began with plenty of drama and goals. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi wore an armband inscribed with ‘Jesus Loves You,’ defying an FA warning. Meanwhile, Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy refused to wear the rainbow armband due to religious beliefs. Crystal Palace emerged victorious with a 1-0 win. In another fixture, Ruud van Nistelrooy kicked off his managerial career with Leicester City on a positive note, securing a 3-1 victory over West Ham.
With midweek fixtures on the horizon, the intensity of the Premier League shows no signs of abating. Today’s fixtures promise even more excitement, as Manchester City seeks to break their seven-match winless streak. The highlight of the day will be the clash between Arsenal and Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United.
But before the action kicks in, let’s take a look at which teams hold the edge heading into today’s fixtures.
Southampton vs Chelsea ( 1 am IST)
Wednesday football. 🫶#CFC | #SOUCHE pic.twitter.com/DbW8cHBQL6
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 4, 2024
Southampton are set to lock horns with in-form Chelsea at St.Mary’s stadium. Enzo Maresca are currently third in the standings, levelled with second-placed Arsenal with 25 points. They continued their eye-catching run at the weekend as they beat Aston Villa 3-0 and will look to maintain the momentum. The Blues won six consecutive games across all competitions having claimed four wins and two draws since a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle in the EFL Cup.
On the other hand, Southampton are sitting at the bottom of the table. They turned in a resilient team display in their last fixture against Brighton when they fought back from behind to draw 1-1 at the American Express Stadium. However, the Saints are winless from the last three games and have managed to win only a single match in their 13 league matches this season. They are just four points away from safety.
Southampton: Lumley; Sugawara, Walker-Peters, Wood, Stephens, Manning; Fraser, Aribo, Mateus Fernandes, Armstrong; Archer
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Prediction: Southampton 1-4 Chelsea
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest ( 1 am IST)
COME ON, CITY! ✊#ManCity | #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/9BoDJjkqc3
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 4, 2024
The defending champions currently out of the Champions League picture have a seven game winless run to end when they host Nottingham Forest at the Etihad. City are just one point above the visitors and outside the top four in the Premier League standings. Pep Guardiola’s men could not stop leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday as they lost 2-0. They have lost four consecutive league games and seven across all competitions, losing six and claiming just one draw with Southampton. The Citizens have picked up 23 points in the 13 matches and will look to stop the rot on the home turf.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest edged out Ipswich Town 1-0 on the weekend to get back to winning ways. The Tricky Trees are currently sixth in the Championship and will be heading into the match with a renewed sense of confidence after ending their two-match losing streak. Forest has impressed this season, particularly with their away form, which ranks them joint-third in the Championship. However, their recent trips to the Etihad have been challenging, but they will be hoping to turn the tide this time around.
Manchester City: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; B. Silva, Gundogan; Savinho, Grealish, Doku; Haaland
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Dominguez; J. Silva, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Newcastle United vs Liverpool ( 1 am IST)
It’s MATCHDAY 🔴
The Reds head to St. James’ Park to take on Newcastle United 👊#NEWLIV | #WalkOn pic.twitter.com/QwBwWEGqI2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 4, 2024
Newcastle United will host leaders Liverpool at St. James Park. Newcastle are 11th in the standings as they drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace in the final moments. Despite being just a point behind seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur, inconsistent form has plagued Newcastle, with only two wins in their last nine Premier League games. The Magpies have won just two games in their last nine Premier League matches and have failed to score in their last three home games.
Liverpool are riding high in a one-way street to Premier League glory after they knocked out Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City with a 2-0 triumph. The Reds have a comfortable nine-point lead over the second-placed Arsenal. No team in Premier League history with at least a six-point lead after 13 games has failed to win the title, and many believe that the race for glory is already a foregone conclusion. Each of their last eight matches has seen Slot’s side net multiple goals, and the former Feyenoord boss is yet to suffer his first road defeat since stepping into Klopp’s shoes, having suffered just one minor away aberration in October’s stalemate with Arsenal.
Newcastle: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Tonali, Guimaraes; Gordon, Wilson, Barnes
Liverpool: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Nunez
Prediction: Newcastle United 0-2 Liverpool
Everton vs Wolves ( 1 am IST)
Under the Goodison lights. UTT! ✊ pic.twitter.com/AjNYUYc3RF
— Everton (@Everton) December 4, 2024
Both Everton and Wolves will come into this midweek Premier League clash with a lot to prove following heavy defeats at the weekend as the Toffees welcome Wolves at Goodison Park. Everton’s dismal 4-0 loss to Manchester United on Sunday has increased pressure on manager Sean Dyche with many fans now questioning his future. The Toffees have only 11 points from 13 matches and face a tough December schedule with away trips to Arsenal and Manchester City, plus home games against Chelsea and league leaders Liverpool. The team’s failure to score in four matches has highlighted their struggles, and they are currently the lowest-scoring team in the league. Dyche will need to find a way to turn things around fast with Everton only two points above the relegation zone.
On the other hand, Wolves come into the game with mixed form. After a solid 4-1 win over Fulham, Gary O’Neil’s side were humbled 4-2 by Bournemouth, snapping their four-game unbeaten run. Wolves have been struggling defensively, conceding 32 goals this season which marks the most in the Premier League, and they are yet to keep a clean sheet away from home since January. Despite a solid record at Goodison Park, where they have won three consecutive visits, Wolves will need to improve defensively to get a result in this crucial fixture.
Everton: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Doucoure; Harrison, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
Wolves: Johnstone; Lemina, Bueno, Dawson; R Gomes, J Gomes, Andre, Ait-Nouri; Sarabia, Strand Larsen, Cunha
Prediction: Everton 0-1 Wolves
Arsenal vs Manchester United ( 1:45 am IST)
A midweek trip to the capital awaits 🚆#MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/1e6VrILJW3
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 3, 2024
Ruben Amorim after winning his first game with Manchester United at old Trafford faces the biggest threats as they travel to London to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are second in the standings, nine points behind the league leaders Liverpool. The Gunners crushed West Ham 5-2 in last weekend’s derby and alongside Brentford and Brighton they are one of just three teams with an unbeaten home record still intact.
Meanwhile, Manchester United also put four past Everton last weekend. The Red Devils have earned eight points from their last four Premier League games, lifting them to ninth place just four points behind Brighton for a Champions League spot. However, their away form remains troubling, with a six-match winless streak in all competitions including five draws. Their recent record against Arsenal is also poor, having lost their last three Premier League encounters at the Emirates, with their last win dating back to January 2019 in the FA Cup at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Manchester United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire; Diallo, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dalot; Zirkzee, Fernandes; Hojlund
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
Aston Villa vs Brentford ( 1:45 am IST)
Tonight. Villa Park under the lights 💫 pic.twitter.com/kdYHqhPbm1
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 4, 2024
Aston Villa will be looking to end their troubling eight-match winless run as they host Brentford tonight. After a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, Villa dropped to 12th in the Premier League with manager Unai Emery enduring his worst spell since taking charge. Villa’s attacking struggles were evident in their recent loss and despite some resilience at home they have drawn their last three games at Villa Park. However, they remain unbeaten in their last four league meetings with Brentford and will hope to find a spark in this crucial clash.
On the other hand, Brentford are flying high having recently brushed aside Leicester City 4-1 to extend their unbeaten run to four matches. Kevin Schade’s first senior hat-trick helped secure a club record of four consecutive home wins in the Premier League. Despite their impressive home form Brentford have struggled on the road winning only once so far this season. They will look to break their Villa Park hoodoo, having never won there in nine previous attempts and continue their solid campaign with another positive result.
Aston Villa: Olsen; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Barkley, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins
Brentford: Flekken; Van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Brentoford
Check out the detailed preview and predicted lineups of Premier League Matchday 14 Wednesday fixtures where top teams prepare for intense battles. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
