New Delhi: Matchday 20 of the Premier League kicked off with a bang, with some big wins and tight contestants. There were shifts in the table, as Manchester City won successive games, thrashing West Ham 4-1 at home for the first time since October. Chelsea and Arsenal played a 1-1 draw against Brighton and Crystal Palace, respectively. Brentford delivered a masterclass, defeating Southampton 5-0 to mark their first away win of the season.
The most anticipated match of the weekend is still to come, with league leaders Liverpool facing Manchester United. A win for Liverpool would extend their lead at the top of the table to a commanding eight points. However, before that crucial clash, Fulham will first host Ipswich Town. So, before the action starts, let’s take a closer look at which team holds the upper hand over the other.
Fulham vs Ipswich Town (7:30 pm IST)
Our 2025 starts in the capital. 👊#FULIPS | @Nustone_UK pic.twitter.com/FilP8xvCbd
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) January 5, 2025
Fulham and Ipswich Town will kick off their 2025 campaign with a Premier League contest at Craven Cottage. The Cottagers aim to eye up the European places, while the Tractor Boys are bidding to climb out of the relegation zone as they avoid dropping to the second tier. Fulham are currently eighth in the standings with 29 points and are unbeaten in their seven league fixtures, with five ending in draws. They beat Chelsea 2-1 on Boxing Day and then held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth last weekend.
On the other hand, Ipswich Town are currently in the 18th spot with 15 points, having won three games in 19 league matches. After bouncing back with a 2-0 home victory on Tuesday, they returned to scoring goals and winning. However, they have lost five out of their last seven matches. The clouds of relegation still loom over the Tractor Boys, and are just one point adrift of safety. Ipswich Town concluded 2024 on a winning note and will look to continue the same in the upcoming fixture.
Fulham: Leno; Diop, Andersen, Bassey; Castagne, Pereira, Lukic, Robinson; Wilson, Jimenez, Iwobi
Ipswich Town: Walton; O’Shea, Greaves, Wolfenden, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap
Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Ipswich Town
Liverpool vs Manchester United (10 pm IST)
🔴 MATCHDAY 🔴
Kicking off 2025 by taking on Manchester United at Anfield ✊#WalkOn | #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/kOxKRWKFiA
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 5, 2025
Anfield prepares for a blockbuster clash as Premier League leaders Liverpool host a faltering Manchester United. Arne Slot’s relentless Reds have been near-flawless this season, holding a commanding 23-point lead over their northern rivals. Last weekend, Liverpool demolished West Ham 5-0 and extended their unbeaten streak to 23 matches. Key players like Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are firing on all cylinders. The Reds have scored at least twice in their last 11 fixtures, maintaining their status as the league’s top-performing home team.
In stark contrast, Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United are enduring a nightmare campaign this season. A 2-0 loss to Newcastle marked their fourth consecutive defeat, leaving them languishing in 14th place, just seven points clear of the relegation zone. The Red Devils are at risk of losing four straight games without scoring for the first time in 116 years, and they have never been beaten in four consecutive games in a single season of the Premier League.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz
Manchester United: Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dalot; Diallo, Fernandes; Hojlund
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Man United
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest (1:30 am IST)
2025 begins at Molineux. 🐺 pic.twitter.com/4Oh5ezOuLn
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 3, 2025
A nostalgic homecoming awaits Nuno Espirito Santo as his high-flying Nottingham Forest visits Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers. Santo, who once famously led Wolves from the Championship to the Europa League, now has Forest dreaming of Champions League football, sitting comfortably in third place after a stunning 2-0 win over Everton. Forest’s remarkable five-game Premier League winning streak includes three consecutive clean sheets, and are in third place in the standings. With 15 first goals in 19 games this season, Santo’s side is setting the pace early and aiming for their first six-match top-flight winning run since 1967.
Meanwhile, Wolves have shown resilience under new boss Vitor Pereira. They snatched a late 2-2 draw against Tottenham last weekend and are unbeaten in their last three games, remaining a tricky proposition at Molineux. Though they also hover just above the relegation zone, Wolves have not lost to Forest in their previous five league encounters. Monday’s clash will promise a fascinating battle between Forest’s European aspirations and Wolves’ fight for survival.
Wolves: Sa; Doherty, Bueno, Dawson; Semedo, Doyle, J. Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Hwang, Guedes; Larsen
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odd
Prediction: Wolves 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Where to watch Premier League Matchday 20 fixtures?
As Premier League Matchday 20 gets underway, fans can enjoy all the action either on television or by streaming. The matches will be available on the Star Sports network and those who prefer to stream can catch the games live on Disney+ Hotstar.
Check out the detailed preview and predicted lineups of Premier League Matchday 20 remaining fixtures, where top teams prepare for intense battles. Also, find out where to watch the Premier League’s matchday 20 fixtures. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
