New Delhi: Matchday 16 in the Premier League comes after some decent performances from the top-flight clubs of the English teams in the Champions League. While the top teams of the Champions League had their fixtures on Saturday, it is one of the big days in the Premier League as Sunday sees the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.
The last few weeks have been full of rumours about the sacking of both Gary O’Neil and Julen Lopetegui. Despite escaping that scare for now, it is an important game for West Ham as a lot can be said for how the side’s season will look as the halfway point of the competition approaches.
Brighton vs Crystal Palace
Previously against Palace… 🤩💫 pic.twitter.com/kRyCFqM3jt
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 13, 2024
Though Brighton and Hove Albion have been one of the most impressive sides in the season, they come to week with one of their longest winless streak under new manager Fabian Hurzeler. Staying three games without a win in the Premier League means they are now placed seventh in the table. In their last outing at home, Brighton managed a 1-1 draw against Southampton. For Seagulls, keeping a clean sheet would go a long way to help their cause.
Crystal Palace are at the top of the relegation spot and are trying their hardest to get themselves away from the 17th position. While the other sides in the relegation lost the previous week, Palace were able to hold Manchester City for a 2-2 draw. There is little doubt that the team is on the correct path. However, their away form isn’t the best. However, they have been unbeaten in their last three away outings.
Predicted lineup
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze
Prediction: Brighton 2-0 Crystal Palace
Manchester City vs Manchester United
Made in Manchester 🩵🦅 pic.twitter.com/QQC0g9DQWu
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 13, 2024
Two sides who have fallen slightly from their grace are going to face each other at Etihad Stadium in a different rhythm to that old rivalry. Despite being a home game, Manchester City is on the back foot, having won just once in 11 games across the competition. After a dominating 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, City shared points with Crystal Palace, coming back from a two-goal deficit, followed by a 2-0 loss to Juventus in the Champions League.
Manchester United’s life under Ruben Amorim had started well, with a draw against Ipswich Town and a 4-0 win against Everton. However, they have since lost their way a little, with a 2-0 loss against Arsenal and a 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest. However, their Europa League performance against Viktoria Plzen will add to their confidence as they face the defending champions. While the criticism on the behind-the-scenes hierarchy of United grows, Amorim would be doing everything to replicate the 4-1 loss he handed to City as the boss of Sporting City in the November fixture of the Champions League.
Predicted lineup
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol; De Bruyne, Kovacic; Silva, Foden, Nunes; Haaland
Manchester United possible: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
Prediction: Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur
⏮️ Saints 3-3 Spurs
Our last meeting in 2023 🍿 pic.twitter.com/lg7fplzSI1
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 14, 2024
It is the clash of the bottom-placed team of the Premier League table against the most inconsistent team of the season. No matter what the result is, Southampton will finish the season at 20th place owing to their 12-game losing streak from the 15 games that have been played this season. Against Aston Villa, Southampton were defeated 1-0 as the Villan found a new footing in the league.
After handing Manchester City a humiliating 4-0 loss, Tottenham have lost twice and drawn once. Their inconsistent performance has led them to drop to 11th place in the Premier League table. Tottenham haven’t had much success in the away games n 2024, maintaining just a 25% winning percentage in those games. However, this is the team they are unbeaten against in the last 13 top-flight games.
Predicted lineup
Southampton: Lumley; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Bednarek, Manning; Downes, Fernandes; Dibling; Armstrong, Onuachu
Tottenham Hotspur: Forster; Spence, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Kulusevski, Sarr, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Son
Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea vs Brentford
We welcome Brentford to Stamford Bridge next. ✊ pic.twitter.com/3e5G6xLsDK
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 14, 2024
Chelsea start the week in the second place of the table, although their home form is worrying, securing just three wins from their last games at the Stamford Bridge. They have scored just 12 times at home out of their 35 goals of the season. They have enjoyed a four-game winning streak since their 2-1 win against Leicester City and are going to be a confident bunch when they step out against Brentford.
Brentford stands in ninth place, having won seven games this season. They have accumulated 23 points from the season, having made one of the best start to their Premier League season ever. Though they handed a 4-2 defeat to Newcastle United last week, their previous away game ended in an easy 3-1 win for Aston Villa. Winning just three games on the road in the last 13 months, their away results have been of concern lately.
Predicted lineup
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Brentford: Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Van den Berg; Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Wissa
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Brentford
Bournemouth vs West Ham
A stunning volley against Monday’s opponents 😍@ComAve_Official 🎁 pic.twitter.com/yyp4DB5Q1V
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) December 14, 2024
Placed at eight, Bournemouth have, for the first time, taken 24 points from their opening 15 games. In their last outing, they handed a 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town. It shows how much Andoni Iraola has improved the team since joining in 2023. The results he has produced are certainly going to help him improve his cause for a long-term contract at the club.
West Ham is above the relegation zone with a good amount of points in between. After suffering heavy defeats against Arsenal and Leicester City, the Hammers managed to turn their fortunes around after a 2-1 win against Wolves. Having done well against Bournemouth in the EFL Cup earlier this year, they will be keen to repeat their performance.
Predicted lineup
Bournemouth: Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson
West Ham: Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Cresswell; Soucek, Alvarez; Kudus, Soler, Summerville; Bowen
Prediction: Bournemouth 3-2 West Ham
As matchday 16 gets underway, here’s a look at the fixtures and their predicted results from Sunday’s game of the Premier League. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
