Hazard-led Chelsea thrash Hull, Tottenham pile more misery on Man City: Premier League predictions

Ahead of the latest round of Premier League fixtures, Thomas Woods provides his predictions for each match and his reasons why.

Liverpool 4 Swansea City 0

Why? With Philippe Coutinho back in the side and a rampant Chelsea to keep up with, Liverpool will let loose against a very poor Swansea team. They will keep a rare clean sheet too. Divock Origi has hardly set the world alight recently, so Daniel Sturridge could be given a chance up front.

Bournemouth 3 Watford 0

Why? Watford are in woeful form. They haven't won in six games, losing four. They have only managed to score twice in that stretch and one of those was a scrappy last-minute goal in the 4-1 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Bournemouth should win — in eight of their nine past games one of the teams involved has scored three goals. It is unlikely to be Watford this time.

Crystal Palace 1 Everton 2

Why? In their last four games, Everton have been on fire. There was a 2-2 draw at Hull City which they should have won, but the other three matches have seen them score eight times without conceding. Sam Allardyce has not had a big impact on Palace thus far and the home side will struggle to find a victory.

Middlesbrough 0 West Ham United 0

Why? Middlesbrough's last two games have ended goalless and they are definitely a side who take few risks. West Ham's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace last week was a bit of an anomaly — they won't create much against the defensively-minded home side.

Stoke City 0 Manchester United 1

Why? United will bounce back from what was a disappointing performance against Liverpool on Sunday. Paul Pogba in particular was really out of sorts and has a point to prove. Stoke have been an unpredictable team this season, but they tend to beat the teams below them and lose to the bigger sides.

West Bromwich Albion 2 Sunderland 0

Why? The Africa Cup of Nations has deprived Sunderland of two key players in Didier N'Dong and Lamina Kone. It has made an already struggling team worse and their defence will not be able to keep West Brom out.

Manchester City 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Why? Spurs pulled off a win at the Etihad Stadium last season and they will do it again. They are in far better form and will be able to dominate the ball in midfield, against Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure. Up front, it's hard to see a defence that let in four at Everton depriving Harry Kane of chances, with the England striker on fire at the moment.

Southampton 1 Leicester City 1

Why? Leicester won't get a first away win of the season, but they will still fancy their chances of taking a point from a Southampton team who have lost their last four games. Claude Puel's team may have an eye on the return leg of their League Cup semi-final with Liverpool too.

Arsenal 1 Burnley 0

Why? Burnley can do a job in keeping the scoreline down against Arsenal, but Arsene Wenger's side are on a terrific goalscoring run and will find the net at some point. They have scored 25 goals in their last nine games — a rate of almost three goals per game.

Chelsea 3 Hull City 0

Why? Hull's main chances rest in the set piece delivery of Robert Snodgrass but at the other end they are unlikely to be able to cope with Chelsea's front free. If Eden Hazard plays as a No 9 — instead of Diego Costa — it will actually make it tougher for Hull's centre-halves who are used to being able to do a close marking job on the opposition striker. Hazard will drag the Hull defence all over the place and will run the show.