New Delhi: Matchday 17 of the Premier League is here on the weekend before Christmas, as the game week starts with the clash of the titans when Aston Villa host Manchester City. It is also the start of a packed two weeks as three game weeks will get completed in a matter of ten days.
The matchday will see both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton being led by new faces, with Wolves having signed Vicor Pereira as their new permanent manager. Overall, five games are to be played for Saturday’s fixture. This is an important timeframe in the top tier of English football as the league approaches the middle of the season.
Aston Villa vs Manchester City (6:00 PM IST)
Early kick-off… let’s get it 😤 pic.twitter.com/ZXeOebG2XJ
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 21, 2024
Aston Villa and Manchester City came into the draw with a loss the previous weekend. Aston Villa had gone 1-0 against Nottingham Forest in the 63rd minute only to lose the game in the stoppage, with two goals coming from the Forests within six minutes of each other. The loss meant they have now lost four of their last seven Premier League fixtures. Villa are currently placed seventh, having taken 25 points from 16 games and are behind Bournemouth based on goal difference.
Manchester City were similarly outdone in the Manchester derby last weekend at the Etihad Stadium. Until the 88th minute, it looked like Man City might just cruise past their city rivals Manchester United. However, two goals in the dying minutes of the game saw them be pushed to fifth place. Pep Guardiola’s City has now managed just one win in their last 11 games across competitions.
Predicted lineup
Aston Villa: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins
Manchester City: Ortega; Walker, Stones, Gvardiol, Lewis; Kovacic; Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City
West Ham vs Brighton (8:30 PM IST)
Julen’s thoughts pre-Brighton 🔜#TalkingPoint with @LycamobileUK 📞 pic.twitter.com/q5QhKJFurW
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 20, 2024
West Ham are still searching for their first win against Brighton and Hove Albion at their home. Placed at number 14th, the Hammers were in the touching distance of a win thanks to Lucas Pateta’s 87th-minute penalty, only for Enes Unal to draw the game for Bournemouth in the 90th minute. While it wouldn’t have affected their place in the points table, it would have been the first time this season that they would have had successive wins.
Brighton and Hove Albion may have taken just two points from their last four Premier League games, but the Seagulls are still placed ninth as they enter the matchday and are just divided by three points from the fifth-placed Manchester City. They have now scored and conceded in their last nine matches across competitions. Though last weekend’s score came from an own goal by Marc Guehi, it does mean that Brighton have now scored in their last 14 in the Premier League and EFL Cup combined.
Predicted lineup
West Ham: Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus; Fullkrug
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, O’Riley; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Brighton
Ipswich Town vs Newcastle (8:30 PM IST)
Saturday’s matchday programme for the visit of Newcastle United. 💙📚#IPSNEW pic.twitter.com/XHLFZKnxNA
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) December 20, 2024
Ipswich Town won a last-minute thriller against Wolverhampton Wanders in the previous week, having won just their second game of the season. They are placed 18th, just two points behind Leicester City, and are closest to being out of the relegation spot in the league. They have struggled throughout the season but continue to maintain their faith in the core team that helped them finish second in the Championship.
Newcastle were on a four-game winless streak before their 4-0 dominating win over Leicester City last week. On top of this, they come to the draw after a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in the EFL Cup quarterfinal. Sitting on the 12th, they are now closing in on a 69-year drought of no domestic glory. The sensational Nottingham Forest, placed fourth in the table, are just five points away, and that would mean a few good performances could turn their fortunes around.
Predicted lineup
Ipswich Town: Muric; Clarke, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Chaplin, Hutchinson; Al Hamadi
Newcastle United: Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock; Murphy, Gordon, Isak
Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-3 Newcastle
Brentford vs Nottingham Forest (8:30 PM IST)
🏡❤️
Together tomorrow. 🐝 pic.twitter.com/Ilgz0tVsTC
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 20, 2024
High flying Nottingham Forest travel to the capital to get ready for their Premier League matchup with Brentford. With impressive recent wins over Manchester United and Aston Villa showcasing their grit and quality, the Midlands team enters the weekend in fourth place following an incredible start to the season under Nuno Espirito Santo. At the other end, they have one of England’s most productive center-forwards, Chris Wood, and one of the greatest defensive records in the division.
The journey to west London won’t be easy, though. Surprisingly, Brentford has won seven of its eight games at the Gtech Community Stadium and drawn one, giving them the greatest home record in the Premier League this season. On the road, the Bees have only achieved one point, but at home, they are a whole different animal, scoring 26 goals, six more than any other team.
Predicted Lineup
Brentford: Flekken; Ajer, Mee, Collins; Roerslev, Norgaard, Janelt, Lewis-Potter; Mbeumo, Schade; Wissa.
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Morato, Moreno; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
Prediction: Brentford 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal (11:00 PM IST)
Matchday at Selhurst 🤌#CPFC // #CRYARS pic.twitter.com/L2JLkBlJHM
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 21, 2024
The second meeting between Crystal Palace and Arsenal in as many days is scheduled for Saturday night at Selhurst Park. Going into this match, the Gunners are the overwhelming favorites. Arsenal just defeated them 3-2 at the Emirates in their EFL Cup quarterfinal match. Mikel Arteta is counting on this victory to give his team a boost of confidence going into their Premier League match in Croydon.
After two consecutive draws, the Gunners are now six points behind the league leaders, so avoiding any more losses is essential if they want to stay in the running. Crystal Palace, on the other side, wants to extend their stellar five-match divisional winning streak. Last Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Brighton gave Oliver Glasner’s team a huge morale boost and moved them four points above the relegation zone. This rematch at Selhurst Park under the lights is sure to be a thrilling and competitive event, as both teams are keen to earn crucial points.
Predicted Lineup
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Hughes, Doucoure, Mitchell; Sarr, Kamada; Mateta
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-4 Arsenal
As matchday 17 gets underway, here’s a look at the fixtures and their predicted results from Saturday’s game of the Premier League. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
