• Liverpool v Watford, Saturday, 4.30pm: Top v bottom, champions in waiting v Championship in waiting, 40 goals scored against 30 conceded. Watford have a new manager in Nigel Pearson. How generous of the club to appoint him just in time for a debut at Liverpool. I suppose they can't complain too much if Watford don't bag three points. AFP PREDICTION: Liverpool 3 Watford 0
    Liverpool v Watford, Saturday, 4.30pm: Top v bottom, champions in waiting v Championship in waiting, 40 goals scored against 30 conceded. Watford have a new manager in Nigel Pearson. How generous of the club to appoint him just in time for a debut at Liverpool. I suppose they can't complain too much if Watford don't bag three points. AFP PREDICTION: Liverpool 3 Watford 0
  • Burnley v Newcastle, Saturday, 7pm: So all of a sudden, Newcastle are strolling along in 11th place, level on points with three teams above them, and only two behind the Europa League position. All credit to Steve Bruce. He's galvanised the team and made them hard to beat, even getting some faint praise from the supporters. Can they keep it going? Reuters PREDICTION: Burnley 1 Newcastle 1
    Burnley v Newcastle, Saturday, 7pm: So all of a sudden, Newcastle are strolling along in 11th place, level on points with three teams above them, and only two behind the Europa League position. All credit to Steve Bruce. He's galvanised the team and made them hard to beat, even getting some faint praise from the supporters. Can they keep it going? Reuters PREDICTION: Burnley 1 Newcastle 1
  • Chelsea v Bournemouth, Saturday, 7pm: Tammy Abraham has become the first English player to score 13 competitive goals for Chelsea in a single season since his boss Frank Lampard in 2012-13. There is plenty of potential to add to that tally with more than half of the season remaining. A blossoming talent and a blossoming manager. EPA PREDICTION: Chelsea 3 Bournemouth 1
    Chelsea v Bournemouth, Saturday, 7pm: Tammy Abraham has become the first English player to score 13 competitive goals for Chelsea in a single season since his boss Frank Lampard in 2012-13. There is plenty of potential to add to that tally with more than half of the season remaining. A blossoming talent and a blossoming manager. EPA PREDICTION: Chelsea 3 Bournemouth 1
  • Leicester v Norwich, Saturday, 7pm: Brendan Rodgers says Leicester are happy to go under the radar with another unlikely title surge. Some disguise, going eight wins in a row, more points at this stage than any time in their history, and Jamie Vardy scoring for eight consecutive games. What a performance. Reuters PREDICTION: Leicester 4 Norwich 0
    Leicester v Norwich, Saturday, 7pm: Brendan Rodgers says Leicester are happy to go under the radar with another unlikely title surge. Some disguise, going eight wins in a row, more points at this stage than any time in their history, and Jamie Vardy scoring for eight consecutive games. What a performance. Reuters PREDICTION: Leicester 4 Norwich 0
  • Sheffield United v Aston Villa, Saturday, 7pm: When there are winners, there are casualties. Villa's 4-1 home trouncing by Leicester was their heaviest home league defeat for three and a half years. Suddenly they are looking vulnerable again and with Premier League games against Southampton and Norwich after this, it's a season-defining month. Getty PREDICTION: Sheffield United 1 Aston Villa 0
    Sheffield United v Aston Villa, Saturday, 7pm: When there are winners, there are casualties. Villa's 4-1 home trouncing by Leicester was their heaviest home league defeat for three and a half years. Suddenly they are looking vulnerable again and with Premier League games against Southampton and Norwich after this, it's a season-defining month. Getty PREDICTION: Sheffield United 1 Aston Villa 0
  • Southampton v West Ham, Saturday, 9.30pm: Manuel Pellegrini claimed after the latest West Ham defeat - home to Arsenal - that he's not worried about the prospect of relegation. One suspects that might not be entirely true. The Hammers are one point above the drop zone and it's not likely to get much easier for Pellegrini. AP PREDICTION: Southampton 2 West Ham 0
    Southampton v West Ham, Saturday, 9.30pm: Manuel Pellegrini claimed after the latest West Ham defeat - home to Arsenal - that he's not worried about the prospect of relegation. One suspects that might not be entirely true. The Hammers are one point above the drop zone and it's not likely to get much easier for Pellegrini. AP PREDICTION: Southampton 2 West Ham 0
  • Manchester United v Everton, Sunday, 6pm: Amazing what confidence a derby win can inspire. Mind you, the win happened to be at Manchester City so is probably worth double the normal value. Even more encouraging than the result for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the manner; fast, counter-attacking football. Maybe they have turned a corner. Getty PREDICTION: Manchester United 2 Everton 1
    Manchester United v Everton, Sunday, 6pm: Amazing what confidence a derby win can inspire. Mind you, the win happened to be at Manchester City so is probably worth double the normal value. Even more encouraging than the result for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the manner; fast, counter-attacking football. Maybe they have turned a corner. Getty PREDICTION: Manchester United 2 Everton 1
  • Wolves v Tottenham, Sunday, 6pm: Take a bow Son Heung-Min. His goal against Burnley had everything a fan wants to see, with great pace, balance and skill. It will be a rare feat if there is a better one this season. Even his manager Jose Mourinho was humbled. Reuters PREDICTION: Wolves 1 Tottenham 2
    Wolves v Tottenham, Sunday, 6pm: Take a bow Son Heung-Min. His goal against Burnley had everything a fan wants to see, with great pace, balance and skill. It will be a rare feat if there is a better one this season. Even his manager Jose Mourinho was humbled. Reuters PREDICTION: Wolves 1 Tottenham 2
  • Arsenal v Manchester City, Saturday, 8.30pm: Ninth-placed Arsenal against third-placed Manchester City. Not what anyone predicted for this stage of the season. At least Arsenal stopped the rot with their win at West Ham. City will now surely be putting most of their efforts into the Champions League, but will so many goal-scorers in the team, could still make this uncomfortable for Freddie Ljungberg. Reuters PREDICTION: Arsenal 1 Manchester City 2
    Arsenal v Manchester City, Saturday, 8.30pm: Ninth-placed Arsenal against third-placed Manchester City. Not what anyone predicted for this stage of the season. At least Arsenal stopped the rot with their win at West Ham. City will now surely be putting most of their efforts into the Champions League, but will so many goal-scorers in the team, could still make this uncomfortable for Freddie Ljungberg. Reuters PREDICTION: Arsenal 1 Manchester City 2
  • Crystal Palace v Brighton, Monday, 11.45pm: A good point against Wolves to follow up Brighton's win over Arsenal has certainly improved their chances of a successful season. Neal Maupay's energy is having a big impact, and continuing to play in such a positive manner will bring rewards. Getty PREDICTION: Crystal Palace 2 Brighton 1
    Crystal Palace v Brighton, Monday, 11.45pm: A good point against Wolves to follow up Brighton's win over Arsenal has certainly improved their chances of a successful season. Neal Maupay's energy is having a big impact, and continuing to play in such a positive manner will bring rewards. Getty PREDICTION: Crystal Palace 2 Brighton 1

Football

Mohamed Salah could fill his boots against Watford, and more success for Solskjaer: Premier League predictions

A look ahead to the action in England's top flight on Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Dominic Hart

December 13, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

Relentless Liverpool up against the bottom club in the Premier League; look away now, Watford fans.

Jurgen Klopp is leading Liverpool to their first title since 1990 and new Watford manager Nigel Pearson can hardly be expected to be the man to slow their progress.

Just one glimmer of hope for the Hornets; Watford were relegated in the 1999-2000 season with a paltry 24 points. They won one game away from home all season. The venue? Anfield.

Liverpool v Watford is first up this Premier League weekend, with a 4.30pm kick-off on Saturday. Closest pursuers Leicester take on Norwich at 7pm, with Chelsea against Bournemouth at the same time. The 9.30pm Saturday match is Southampton against West Ham.

Sunday sees three games, Manchester United v Everton at 6pm, the same time as Wolves v Tottenham. Then the later game is at 8.30pm with Arsenal hosting Manchester City.

This round of matches is completed on Monday at 11.45pm with Crystal Palace against Brighton, a bitter derby even though the clubs are 41 miles apart.

Ahead of the games, Dominic Hart provides his predictions in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next image, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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