Chelsea thrash Stoke, Man City make it 19 wins in a row and Liverpool too good for Leicester: Premier League predictions

Ahead of the 21st round of games in England's top flight, here is a look at the fixtures and what to expect.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Chelsea - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - November 18, 2017   Chelsea's Eden Hazard celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Alvaro Morata   Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra    EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
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It is the third set of fixtures in the Premier League's hectic festive period.

There are only nine games in this round of games owing to Tottenham Hotspur postponing their game with West Ham United until January 4.

It is the last games of 2017 for the teams and there are plenty of narratives at the top and bottom of the table.

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs West Ham United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - December 26, 2017   Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe applauds fans after the match   REUTERS/Peter Nicholls    EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe. Peter Nicholls / Reuters

Bournemouth 1 Everton 2

Why? It is worrying times for Eddie Howe's side. Bournemouth are without a win in nine games and in the relegation zone. Going up against a confident Everton, who are unbeaten under Sam Allardyce is not a good match-up and this could be more misery for Howe.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 26, 2017   Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata scores their first goal         Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley    EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.
Alvaro Morata scored against Brighton on Tuesday. John Sibley / Action Images via Reuters

Chelsea 3 Stoke City 0

Why? Stoke are struggling under Mark Hughes and Chelsea are finding their consistency again after a mixed start to the season. Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard will be too much for the Stoke backline to handle.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26:  Jeff Hendrick and Jonathan Walters of Burnley look dejected after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford on December 26, 2017 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Burnley were disappointed to draw 2-2 with Manchester United but they can bounce back at Huddersfield. Alex Livesey / Getty Images

Huddersfield Town 0 Burnley 2

Why? Sean Dyche's Burnley continue to surprise with their tenacity and they were seconds away from a famous win at Manchester United on Boxing Day. The goals of Ashley Barnes have kept their momentum up and they will be confident of another three points at Huddersfield.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Swansea City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 26, 2017   Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring their second goal with Mohamed Salah       Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine    EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.
Roberto Firmino, right, and Mohamed Salah, left, are in great form for Liverpool. Carl Recine / Action Images via Reuters

Liverpool 3 Leicester City 1

Why? After a promising upturn in form under Claude Puel, Leicester have had a poor festive period with two losses. What ever you think of Liverpool defensively, their goal threat is immense with 12 goals in their past three games. With Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho in great form, more goals should come here.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27:  Rafael Benitez, Manager of Newcastle United gives instructions with Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James' Park on December 27, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.  (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Rafa Benitez, left, could be happy with Newcastle United's efforts in their loss to Manchester City. Stu Forster / Getty Images

Newcastle United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0

Why? Newcastle could take heart from a gutsy effort in losing to Manchester City, and Rafa Benitez's men will look to build on that against low-scoring Brighton, who have not scored on their travels in their past four games.

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WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26:  Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford celebrates the own goal scored by Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester City with team mates during the Premier League match between Watford and Leicester City at Vicarage Road on December 26, 2017 in Watford, England.  (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
Watford won for the first time since November 25 on Tuesday. Henry Browne / Getty Images

Watford 2 Swansea City 1

Why? Watford ended a dismal run of one point from six games with a win over Leicester on Tuesday. They rode their luck in winning that game, but they still should have too much quality for bottom side Swansea, who have a new manager in Carlos Carvalhal.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United vs Burnley - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2017   Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku reacts       Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith    EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.
Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku had a frustrating time against Burnley on Tuesday and will hope for better against Southampton. Lee Smith / Action Images via Reuters

Manchester United 3 Southampton 0

Why? It is has not been a great December for Manchester United but they will fancy their chances of putting a few past an out-of-form Southampton. Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal when the sides met earlier in the season and he will be confident of adding to his goal tally here.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James Park on December 27, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Manchester City's win at Newcastle was their 18th in a row. Ian MacNicol / Getty Images

Crystal Palace 1 Manchester City 3

Why? There seems to be no sign of City slowing down. They are on 18 wins in a row and there is no reason why No 19 does not come on Sunday as while Palace have improved under Roy Hodgson, they are unlikely to be able to cope with Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal celebrates with Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on December 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Alexis Sanchez scored twice in Arsenal's win over Crystal Palace. Catherine Ivill / Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion 0 Arsenal 2

Why? Alexis Sanchez scored twice in Arsenal's 3-2 win at Crystal Palace on Thursday and the Chilean's return to goalscoring form is potentially bad news for West Brom, who have not won in the league since August 19 and that run will not change on Sunday.