Arsenal are taken to further enhance their Premier League title aspirations with a hard-fought victory over Brighton at Amex Stadium. Albion will provide the pacesetters with a solid test but do tend to come up just short when taking on the top teams.
Liverpool made it three straight Premier League victories by winning at Aston Villa and are expected to comfortably account for Leicester. The Foxes were off the pace and especially sluggish at the back during a home loss to Newcastle, so the Reds are hard to oppose here.
Brentford returned to action in typically entertaining fashion and can be expected to adopt a positive approach again at West Ham. The Bees did the double over the Hammers last season, netting twice on each occasion, and look capable of hurting United up front again.
As the domestic seasons around Europe resume following the World Cup, it won’t be long before the 2023 January transfer window opens. We’ve analysed the squads and performances of every club in the big five European leagues to work out who needs what.
Chelsea will be hoping to make a fresh start to their Premier League campaign following the World Cup break when entertaining Bournemouth. The Blues need to get back on track quickly after losing their last three games in this competition and should be fired up for this return.
Burnley are blazing a trail at the top of the Championship table and are unbeaten at home, so they are worthy favourites to see off Birmingham. However, the Clarets have only kept four clean sheets from 12 outings at Turf Moor and City are coming off a 3-2 victory over Reading.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest TV viewers will be treated to an entertaining encounter when Reading host Swansea. The Royals are coming off a 3-2 loss at Birmingham, while the Swans drew 3-3 at Coventry, plus it was 3-2 to City when these teams met in mid-October.
Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland will be even more fired up than usual for Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Leeds. The 22-year-old Norway international returns to the place of his birth, with his dad Alfie having played for the Whites from 1997 to 2000.
It will be back to business for most of Tottenham’s World Cup players when they take on Brentford on Boxing Day. Harry Kane will look to move on from England’s World Cup heartbreak after missing a penalty in the last-eight defeat by France.
Aston Villa were rejuvenated by the arrival of Unai Emery before the World Cup break and are fancied to give Liverpool a tough test. The Midlands outfit memorably thrashed the Reds 7-2 at this venue two seasons ago and have been competitive in three narrow defeats since.
Luton have been draw specialists at Kenilworth Road this season and another stalemate could be on the cards when they entertain Norwich. The Hatters have shared the spoils in a Championship-high seven home matches, including the last three fixtures played at this venue.
QPR returned to form last time out and have a great record against Cardiff, so they look a value bet. Rangers beat the Bluebirds 3-0 on home turf in October to make it five wins from six head-to-head meetings, including two straight victories when visiting Wales.
Southampton need to hit the ground running after the international break but past history points to a close encounter with Brighton. Since the Seagulls secured promotion to the Premier League, four of the five stagings of this fixture at St Mary’s have ended in stalemate.
Two teams desperate for a win for Christmas meet at Goodison Park when Everton host Wolves. The Toffees are hovering just above the relegation zone after just three wins this season but that is one more than their opponents who are rooted to the foot of the table.