Manchester United look to extend wining form as week 12 of the Premier League kicks off

Manchester United vs. Arsenal

To some it’s the game of the season in English football, but to some of us it’s just the game of the weekend. This weekend’s early kick off fixture is one of the most popular rivalry fixture here in Uganda that has seen some Ugandans take their lives after disappointing outcomes from their clubs.

Manchester United vs. Arsenal has been the most anticipated fixture any Premier League football fun would not want to miss for years now. Arsenal travel to Old Trafford this weekend to face Manchester United with a lot of history behind, but not only with Manchester United as a club, also with the current United coach Jose Mourinho.

Its not news that Mourinho appears threatening looking at the past years but, that has not been the case with him ever since he joined United and if Arsenal can afford a strong mental pitch battle than good football display, Manchester United could be facing the hardest Arsenal side ever since the days of the Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera.

I have a few reservations on the Arsenal team whose almost all the first team players have been engaged in international duties and this fixture could find them a little fatigued but that won’t be an excuse, every team goes through this and top teams like Man United and Arsenal are expected to have planned for such activities.

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez was at the beginning of the week feared to be injured but, he managed to play for Chile and even scored twice on Tuesday. I am hopeful he is fit for even this encounter. Man United will be without Ibrahimovic after picking up a fourth yellow card in their last game against Swansea that automatically suspends him for the next game.

It’s good for Arsenal that they happen to have been the next in queue. Arsenal is away which gives United an upper hand but, also an opportunity for Arsenal to shine after all they have less to lose as visitors. The visitors are currently in 4th position with 24 points just 2 points away from the table leaders but, they are 6 points ahead of United and its up to both teams to either bring the gap closer or broaden it even more but, Manchester United needs the three points more than any team in the league at the moment and the more reason why it will be an interesting game.

The problem with Jose Mourinho has been team selection but, I hope he will get it right this time, Mata, Pogba and Herrera feature well playing together other than fielding Fellani with these two, Damian, Carrick and Rashford are also most likely to start now that Ibrahimovic is ruled out but, I think for me the man to look out for in this game is Pogba because he has been extremely hungry to score more goals and there is no best chance to score in any game than against Arsenal.

On the other side, Arsenal has the class and the quality to handle United but, I think Arsenal players luck the mental resilience and physical character to hold their nerves and concentration in a game like this against United for 90 minutes and that could be the only difference in this game, in a such a fixture any tem can come and win but, I am going for the home team in this one with many goals, I will go for Manchester United 3- 1 Arsenal.

Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City

Crystal palace host Manchester City this weekend who are potential title contenders this season.

Manchester City are 3rd on the table but, could have been on top of the table by now if they had managed to win their last game against Middleborough, unfortunately that game ended in a 1-1 draw.

The hosts suffered a late winning goal from their opponents in the last minute of the added time when Barnes tapped Burnley’s last chance into the net, Crystal Palace have not won in their last five games with four loses and just a draw of 1-1 against Everton back in September, they host Manchester City who clearly understand the importance of keeping their title dreams alive by just keeping your position in the top four and whose biggest recent lesson was a draw against Middlesbrough.

Man City are the visitors in this game but, you don’t want to lose points again at such a timing in the season, if Crystal Palace gets a point out of this it will be very surprising, but, it won’t make any news Manchester City winning this comfortably.

I will go for a confortable away win, Crystal Palace 0-3 Manchester City

Southampton vs. Liverpool

Southampton is playing at home this weekend against table leaders Liverpool on Saturday evening.

Southampton lost their last game away to Hull City by (2-1) but, they had earlier managed to get a win against Inter Milan in the Europa League but, could not hold unto that form.

They host Liverpool, one of the heaviest opponents in the League now. Liverpool have scored a total of 14 goals in their last 4 games which is nearly an average of four goals per game, they come into this game without Adam Lallana who has been confirmed to be out of this game but, that now comes as an opportunity for Daniel Sturridge to be given a chance to feature into this game.

Liverpool also might twist their line up a little having had their key players travel long distances last week for their international duties, players like Mane, Firmino, Coutinho traveled long distance and played two games each in just a period of less than six days, most times you don’t expect them to perform to their fullest, they might play but, maybe play fewer minutes and the likes of Origi and Sturridge can now get a chance to prove themselves, but, the highlight of this game for me will be seeing these three players going back to play against their former club.

Senegalese international Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne will be looking out for this game as they all return to St. Mary's Stadium their former club and the atmosphere would have been even more exciting if their other former player Adam Lallana was fit to play as well, I don’t expect Liverpool to get an upset on this game, most times, it is tricky when you are on top of the table because of the pressure you get to maintain the lead but, Klopp Liverpool’ s manager is fully aware of what it takes and I think Liverpool will treat this game seriously hoping they can they extend their lead.

I will go for an away win on this, Southampton 1-4 Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Ham United

Tottenham is currently the only unbeaten Premier League team now after elven games and they are at White Hart Lane this weekend playing a determined West Ham who are in 17th position just one position above the relegation zone.

If they lose to Tottenham this weekend, they could see Hull City take their position, both teams drew their previous league games but, West Ham was at home against stoke and just a point from such a fixture is not enough, on the other side, Tottenham managed to get an away point against Arsenal which was a big boost for them.

As they come into this game, Tottenham have not lost any game in the League but, this does not reflect on the table standings, they are sited in 5th position with 5 points behind the table leaders which is a big margin in a competitive football league and this is as a result of too many draws. Pochettino and the Tottenham coaching staff must find a solution to this and the earlier they do, the better. Harry Kane is back in the team and he managed to score a penalty against Arsenal in their last game.

Tottenham haven’t won any game in their last five games, they lost Liverpool in the League Cup and to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and then drew against Bournemouth, Leicester and Arsenal. Surely, the West Ham game should give them three points, no matter how hard Allan Pardew can be but, Tottenham should win this.

I will go for a home win, Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 West Ham United

Watford vs. Leicester City

Watford host Leicester City at Vicarage Road Stadium this weekend as they hope to recover from the shame of 6-1 result they suffered against Liverpool last weekend.

They welcome Leicester City who also suffered a 2-1 loss to West Bromwich last weekend at the King Power Stadium and now both teams come into this fixture with hopes to recover from such a bad experience, but, surprisingly Watford is ahead of Leicester City by 6 positions in 8th Position while Leicester City is number 14 with 12 points and Watford at 15 points.

This will be a hard game for both teams with Leicester City missing their number one goal keeper Kasper Schmeichel but, you expect Leicester City to put up a good show for such a fixture but, they haven’t been impressing lately in the League despite registering massive success in the Champions League, they have some better players in their squad than Watford definitely, players like Siliman, Musa, Vardy and Maherez can change the game and get you a result you deserve but, all hasn’t been well for them and even this fixture is no guarantee.

I think Watford will fall victim of Jamie Vardy after his excellent display for the England side in their international friendly game against Spain on Tuesday. I will go for Leicester City to win, Watford 1-3 Leicester City

Everton vs. Swansea City

Everton play again this Saturday hoping to comeback from last weekend’s 5-0 humiliation by Chelsea, they host Swansea City who also suffered 3-1 loss against Manchester United but, also this Swansea City side has only won once since the beginning of the season.

They have already changed their coach and new manager Bob Bradley is yet to get his first win with this Swansea side after a couple of games, Everton haven’t been promising these days but, they are at home this time and Goodison Park is not somewhere you just visit and get three points for a struggling team like Swansea that is just second last on the table with 11 goals deficit.

I know they will stage a very huge wall in defense for Everton to climb but, also, it will be hard for them to get a win away.

On a good day, Lukaku and Bolaise can be terrorizing but, Everton’s defense will not be able to keep a clean sheet as well, a draw for me looks very possible. I will go Everton 1-1 Swansea City

Sunderland vs. Hull City

Sunderland got their first win of the season last weekend; I remember tipping them as my surprise win of the weekend because, it was long overdue for them to win.

They have been playing well but, unfortunately getting poor results at the end and I think that is coming to an end. Moyes and his Sunderland team will want to build their confidence from the win they got last week against Bournemouth even when they were playing with 10 men after Steven Pienaar was sent off in the 59th minute after getting a second booking of a yellow card.

Sunderland will miss Pienaar but, they have more positive news to look at like their first win of the season last weekend.

Next up, they play a rough side in form of Hull City who are 5 points ahead of them and managed to win against Southampton last weekend a game I thought was going to be hard for Hull City.

These are always hard games and they could go either way when two teams fighting relegation, but, I will go with Sunderland to get another win for one reason. I have seen Hull City concede many goals and their defense crumble on teams like Bournemouth and I guess with this raising Sunderland, Hull City may fall into the trap of attackers like Defoe if it’s their day.

It will be a hard earned home win. Sunderland 3-1 Hull City

Stoke City vs. AFC Bournemouth

Stoke City will be hosting Bournemouth at Bet365 Stadium this Saturday looking forward to try and get at least three points after failing to break West Ham last weekend and they had to settle for just a point in a game that ended 1-1.

Stoke still have some key players ruled out for this game and it’s the only thing the Bournemouth side will be counting on to overcome them. Players like Shaqiri, Cameron, Ireland and Butland are all still sidelined but, Stoke has managed to get positive results even in such a state however, Bournemouth is a different size in the way they attack and Stoke City will have to be extremely disciplined in defense to condense the Bournemouth attacking force.

Players like Joe Allen and Winfred Bony can get the team a win and I think it’s high time stoke City adopted to play on their rhythm. It will be a hard game but, I think the home win is my take on this, Stoke City 2-1 AFC Bournemouth

Middlesbrough vs. Chelsea

Middlesbrough vs. Chelsea is the only Premier League fixture this Sunday at 7pm EAT.

Chelsea will have a chance to go top of the League but, that depends on how Liverpool will perform on Saturday against Southampton. Chelsea is on fire of late and they are only one point behind Liverpool.

They beat Everton 5-0 last weekend but, also before the Everton game, Chelsea had beaten Manchester United 4-0, Southampton 2-0 and Leicester 3-0.

That is 14 goals in four games without conceding and despite losing to West Ham 2-1 in the League Cup in the middle of all that, Chelsea’s defense has proved to be one of the hardest to go through lately.

Middlesbrough managed to draw with Manchester City last weekend and they can choose to do the same if they want to frustrate the Blues by staging a compact defense to stop the likes of Hazard, Costa and Victor Moses. Middlesbrough has done it before, but, that’s not all, they managed to beat Manchester United and got a goalless draw against Arsenal.

Chelsea is aware of this history and they will try to do their homework about this boggy team but, they can only succeed if they transfer their off pitch notes to the playground which in most cases doesn’t happen when it’s kickoff time. Chelsea is in scoring form at the moment and just a point away from the table leaders, it makes you think they should invest all their efforts to winning this game and I think they will, but, I won’t give them a win against Middlesbrough that drew against Arsenal and Manchester City and then beat Manchester United.

It’s a clear possible win for Chelsea but, I see this as the only surprise game of the weekend, to me its possible for Middlesbrough to win this game though I will go for a draw which also maybe surprising to many but, yes, a draw for me is more clearer though it maybe one of many goals this time. Middlesbrough 2-2 Chelsea

West Bromwich vs. Burnley

Monday Night Football is back from the international break, West Bromwich host Burnley and both teams managed to win their last League games but, I think West Bromwich’s win was more celebrated.

They traveled to King Power Stadium and managed to beat Leicester 2-1, Burnley won 3-2 at home against Crystal Palace but, they are playing away on Monday night a fixture that is likely to be hard for them.

Burnley is in 9th position and West Bromwich in 11th but, with just one point separating them and if West Bromwich can with this, it will definitely take them on top of Burnley and that’s the only immediate achievement the home team can look up to for motivation as they come into this fixture, but, also a win way and defending Champions Leicester is a big boost but I can’t undermine what Burnley is planning. I know Burnley is good at defending and they will be satisfied with just a point out of this fixture and it looks more achievable to me.

I will go for a draw between these two because, I think Burnley will travel to Hawthorns Stadium with just one mission - getting a point. West Bromwich 1-1 Burnley

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