Each week, The National Deputy Sports Editor Thomas Woods predicts the outcomes of the English Premier League. Here are his results for the season.
Manchester United 2 Manchester City 1
Why? Earlier this week I wrote that United need a win more than City in this derby and I think home advantage combined with the absence of Sergio Aguero and David Silva here will result in a United win. A lot rests on the performance of United's back four and how they negate the pace of Raheem Sterling and Jesus Navas. United to win, but still City's title to lose.
Aston Villa 0 Swansea City 1
Why? This could be Tim Sherwood's last game in charge of a Villa side who haven't won since the first game of the season. Even though Swansea arrive on a five-game winless streak, they have far more quality in attack and should be able to keep out a Villa attack that has scored just seven times this season and only twice in the last four games.
Leicester City 1 Crystal Palace 1
Why? Leicester are certainly defying expectations this season. Jamie Vardy must stop scoring, right? They will at some point slip back into the bottom 10, right? A couple of things suggest Leicester's form is not sustainable. First, they've outscored the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, with 19 goals, but they've also conceded 17. And they have relied on several late comebacks to grab points. It shows fighting spirit, but they won't be able to keep it up.
Norwich City 1 West Brom 2
Why? Norwich have a point to prove after their 6-2 drubbing at Newcastle last week, but they are starting to look like a team who will be going back down to the Championship come the end of the season. They are conceding too many, having let in two or more goals in six of their nine games. Norwich need to make Carrow Road a tougher place to take points away from if they are to stay up, but West Brom arrive in decent enough form with Saido Berahino getting back to his best up front.
Stoke City 1 Watford 0
Why? Until last week, when Arsenal put three past them, Watford have been solid defensively but have scored just six times. Until manager Quique Sanchez Flores corrects that issue it is hard to see them winning any away game, especially one against a Stoke side with three wins in a row.
West Ham 1 Chelsea 1
Why? Chelsea beat Aston Villa 2-0 last week but they still have plenty of areas to improve. The breakthrough in that game came from a Villa mistake and Chelsea weren't exactly creating chance after chance before that. They could struggle against West Ham, who have a team packed with difference makers such as Dimitri Payet. If Jose Mourinho leaves Eden Hazard on the bench again, Chelsea won't win.
Arsenal 1 Everton 0
Why? This is a game for Arsenal to cement their title credentials in. It screams dropped points – tough opponent four days after a Champions League game – and in the past Arsenal would probably have stumbled. But Everton's form has been erratic, with seriously impressive displays mixed in with a couple of stinkers. And Arsenal's attacking players – Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott – are all on top form right now. They should earn a tight victory.
Sunderland 0 Newcastle 0
Why? There's not been a goalless draw between these two since 1989 in the old Second Division, but there's too much at stake for attacking football to dominate on Sunday. Local pride and points in a relegation scrap suggest it will turn into a dogfight. Lee Cattermole to be booked for Sunderland might be the easiest prediction here.
Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 2
Why? Bournemouth are missing Callum Wilson's goals after he suffered a season-ending injury. They are hovering above the relegation zone and have a brutal December schedule on the horizon, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in the space of five games. So they need to start winning now, but it will be difficult against a Spurs side who are unbeaten since the opening day of the season.
Liverpool 0 Southampton 1
Why? It seems like there is a fair bit of blind faith flying around Liverpool about how quickly Jurgen Klopp might turn them into a top-four side. Long term, the future seems rosy, but Klopp has been hindered by the fixture list and injuries up front. Belgian youngster Divock Origi is likely to lead the line again on Sunday. He managed just nine goals in 44 games for Lille last season. After this, Liverpool face Chelsea (away), Crystal Palace (home), Manchester City (A), Swansea (H). It could be post-Christmas before we see Klopp's stamp on this side and the visit of Southampton is primed for an upset, as the onus will be on Liverpool, scorers of just eight goals so far, to push forward.
