The Regular, Widely Anticipated, Weekday, Pre-January Window PL games thread for 30th December & 1st January

[Mike Oxsaw]

Tuesday, 30 December 2025 19:30
Burnley v Newcastle United
Venue: Turf Moor
League Positions: 19 v 14
Current Forms: 9 v 14

Burnley could move above us this evening. That'll fuck up Sullivan's assumption that they're already gone, as are Wolves, and we "just" have to catch/match whoever is in 17th and better whoever is in 18th place at any given time.  I'm tempted for a cheeky away win here, but:

Prediction: Draw


Tuesday, 30 December 2025 19:30
Chelsea v A. F. C. Bournemouth
Venue: Stamford Bridge
League Positions: 5 v 15
Current Forms: 19 v 9

Chelsea will be smarting after Villa turned them over at home. Bournemouth didn't enjoy their last day out in west London and I don't think this one will be any better for them.

Prediction: Home Win


Tuesday, 30 December 2025 19:30
Nottingham Forest v Everton
Venue: City Ground
League Positions: 17 v 13
Current Forms: 15 v 14

Oh! How the fates hate us. All of them. We need David Moyes to do us a favour and pull a rabbit out of a hat at the City Ground. Is that what you wanted? 'cos that's what you got. They should manage the trick, but probably more as a Tommy Cooper tribute act.

Prediction: Away Win.


Tuesday, 30 December 2025 19:30
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Venue: The London Stadium
League Positions: 18 v 12
Current Forms: 3 v 6

Can't see the beach-hugging bum boys lubing up and bending over for a bunch of fairies supported by some right tastey (sic) proper geezers. More protests? Nah! Too fucking cold for all that malarkey, matey-boy. A Ham that is more wimp than West at the moment. (NB - see the entry for Burnley, above (which they could well be, later)):

Prediction: Away Win.


Tuesday, 30 December 2025 20:15
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Venue: Emirates Stadium
League Positions: 1 v 3
Current Forms: 45 v 45

Now. Is this the sparkler to end the year on? 1st v 3rd - league positions Sullivan seems determined to ensure we will never, ever occupy. Cats & pigeons spring to mind at the thought of a Villa victory. Sadly won't be the case. Arsenal are not Chelsea. Even hoping for a draw would be stretching it, in my opinion.

Prediction: Home Win


Tuesday, 30 December 2025 20:15
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Venue: Old Trafford
League Positions: 6 v 20
Current Forms: 25 v 0

Wolves. The gift that simply keeps giving. This time their donation is to Manchester United's bid to play in Europe again next season, which will be gratefully accepted. Best that can be said is that after tonight we'll have (a little) less chance of finishing bottom of the league.

Prediction: Home Win


Thursday, 1 January 2026 17:30
Crystal Palace v Fulham
Venue: Selhurst Park
League Positions: 9 v 10
Current Forms: 2 v 33

Two teams that are sleeping together in the league, but have separate current form rooms. Fulham will be on a high (I think they won over the weekend). Palace should have (easily) beaten Spurs, but that's football. Funny old game, innit? I think that what beckons is an:

Prediction: Away Win


Thursday, 1 January 2026 17:30
Liverpool v Leeds United
Venue: Anfield
League Positions: 4 v 16
Current Forms: 43 v 25

Santa brings what seems like a late present to Anfield. Leeds turned on a good show against Sunderland so let's hope, for our sake, they don't turn out to be 'pool party poopers, if only to give us another team more catchable (are there any?).

Prediction: Home Win


Thursday, 1 January 2026 20:00
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur
Venue: Brentford Community Stadium
League Positions: 8 v 11
Current Forms: 29 v 24

Brentford/Spurs? We all want Brentford to win, don't we, children? Once upon a time, in...   ...actually not that easy to predict, this one. A storming home win so that Spurs fans get a minuscule feel for what it's like to follow West Ham at the moment/most of the time, but after they stole the points at Selhurst Park they'll be on a high. Sadly:

Prediction: Away Win


Thursday, 1 January 2026 20:00
Sunderland v Manchester City
Venue: Stadium of Light
League Positions: 7 v 2
Current Forms: 19 v 45

Sunderland strong, City (with impeccable current form) stronger. The Black Cats will be seething at throwing points away at home against Leeds, but I don't feel that will turn into anything tangible:

Prediction: Away Win

Will be looking to change the colours in this post's titles  now that Christmas has been, come & gone; suggestions always welcome.

Call that an acca? THIS is an acca, mate:

Manchester United (@ Home to Wolverhampton Wanderers 3/10 )
Liverpool (@ Home to Leeds United 1/2)
Chelsea (@ Home to A. F. C. Bournemouth 8/15)
Brighton & Hove Albion (Away @ West Ham United 11/10)

Total stake: £11.00
Potential returns: £37.72

...and a very Happy New Year to ALL West Ham fans (without exception), wherever you may be.

 

[Massive Attack]

Massive Arsehole,

Have you ever considered having a day off of here?



 

Coming from you, ya West Ham obsessed odd Spurs cսnt with over 2,000 posts?!

Wouldn't dream of wasting my time posting on a Spurs Forum, let alone over 2,000.

[Mad Ferret]

Massive Arsehole,

Have you ever considered having a day off of here?

 

[goose]

Looks like Leeds will pick up at least a point tonight.
I don’t see us catching anyone aside from Forest.

the league table makes for grim reading.

We’ll likely be 1 point behind them going into the game on Tuesday night.

We’re not likely to beat anyone at the moment. It’s possible but far from likely.

[Massive Attack]

Leeds gain a point, 2 efforts on target with a goal disallowed by offside at Anfield. We couldn't manage a single shot on target at Home against them on the day Bonzo passed away. Tragic all round.

[Mad Ferret]

Looks like Leeds will pick up at least a point tonight.
I don’t see us catching anyone aside from Forest.

the league table makes for grim reading.

We’ll likely be 1 point behind them going into the game on Tuesday night.

[Massive Attack]

Looks like Leeds will pick up at least a point tonight.
I don’t see us catching anyone aside from Forest.

the league table makes for grim reading.

 

 

It's getting that way now. Can't believe we've kept with Nuno still. Almost like we want relegation it's that suicidal. 

[onsideman]

Yep they've been off the boil for sure. What Leeds have done well though is defend well enough at Anfield and have even had their chances to score themselves putting the ball in the back of the net ruled out for offside thankfully. Definitely haven't rested on their laurels and been gutless with a well earned draw at Anfield. We instead respect the 0-2 defeat at Home so we can keep the scoreline down. That's the sad difference of approach.

 

 

Yeah, they defended well, and they didnt have a Salah or an Isak to worry about, but not one player in red turned up.  Not one

[Fauxstralian]

Yes, the ‘Scouse’ train back to London will be quiet

[Fauxstralian]

Strong defensive performance by Leeds
That said Liverpool look flat and created nothing 
Klopp back next season

[onsideman]

Hands down the worst Liverpool performance I can remember.

Still, the upside is that 50 thousand scousers go home disappointed, which is nice

[Massive Attack]

Yep they've been off the boil for sure. What Leeds have done well though is defend well enough at Anfield and have even had their chances to score themselves putting the ball in the back of the net ruled out for offside thankfully. Definitely haven't rested on their laurels and been gutless with a well earned draw at Anfield. We instead respect the 0-2 defeat at Home so we can keep the scoreline down. That's the sad difference of approach.

[goose]

Looks like Leeds will pick up at least a point tonight.
I don’t see us catching anyone aside from Forest.

the league table makes for grim reading.

[onsideman]

Yeah, but to be fair regardless of recent results you can't possibly describe the Liverpool performance tonight as being that of an in form team

I wasn't meaning tonight's performance it had been there run of decent results prior to tonight. Leeds and Farke have reduced Liverpool to playing like wankers. All credit to them for doing that against the odds. Ominous signs for our hopes of staying up though.

Oh I absolutely agree the signs are ominous, but I don't think Leeds have had to do fuck all to nick a point here. At times Liverpool could barely clear their own lines for falling over each other and the Leeds keeper ain't made a save

[Massive Attack]

Yeah, but to be fair regardless of recent results you can't possibly describe the Liverpool performance tonight as being that of an in form team

I wasn't meaning tonight's performance it had been there run of decent results prior to tonight. 4 win run in all competitions including a win away at Inter Milan. Leeds and Farke have reduced Liverpool to playing like wankers. All credit to Leeds for doing that against the odds. Ominous signs for our hopes of staying up though.

[onsideman]

Yeah, but to be fair regardless of recent results you can't possibly describe the Liverpool performance tonight as being that of an in form team.  They've been absolute shite

[Mad Ferret]

Said it’d be a draw at Anfield, didn’t I.

Still, hoping the Kop suck a late winner in.

[Massive Attack]

In-form Liverpool are hanging on for a point against Leeds at Anfield. Whereas we rolled over like pathetic saps 0-2 against the same Team bang out of form at the time when we were at Home. The Nuno Effect.  

[Come On You Irons]

Yes, Liverpool have been woeful. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Leeds sneak a 0-1 win here.

[onsideman]

2 offensive subs by Leeds on 70 mins at 0-0
Imagine that

[onsideman]

Dreadful from Liverpool so far. Really dreadful

[Fauxstralian]

Liverpool slower with the ball, lots of side to side 
Not the team of last season
You can see Calvert Lewin coming off the bench & scoring

Mentioned on the other thread. Bradley stoops to head a waist high ball as Leeds try and kick it and is given the foul
 

[Come On You Irons]

Liverpool are not playing well at all against Leeds. Goalless at half time. I can see Leeds getting a result here.

[Mex Martillo]

Burnley v Newcastle United: Away Win
Chelsea v A. F. C. Bournemouth: agree Home Win
Nottingham Forest v Everton: agree Away Win (I hope so...)
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion: Home win
Arsenal v Aston Villa: Away Win (Villa for the league)
Manchester United v Wolverhampton: agree HomeWin
Crystal Palace v Fulham: agree Away Win
Liverpool v Leeds United: agree Home Win
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur: Draw
Sunderland v Manchester City: agree Away Win

Thanks Mike

[Sweep]

Gideon Kodua has found some form. 

Tonight's is his 8th goal in half a season. 

If we go down, he might come back into the reckoning. 

[twoleftfeet]

Gideon Kodua has found some form.