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.

 

[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. 

[THUNDERCLINT]

Who fucking cares we were relegated on Saturday.

[Mad Ferret]

Burnley v Newcastle United: Home win
Chelsea v A. F. C. Bournemouth: Draw
Nottingham Forest v Everton: Home win
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion: Draw
Arsenal v Aston Villa: Draw
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Draw
Crystal Palace v Fulham: Home win
Liverpool v Leeds United: Draw
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur: Away win
Sunderland v Manchester City: Away win