Preview of Premier League GameWeek 18

Oladipupo Mojeed Sports 12/01/2021

Football action resumes with Premier League GameWeek 18 after a week’s break for domestic cup fixtures.

Manchester City will now slug it out against Tottenham Hotspurs in the Carabao cup final. Both teams, alongside, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United also advanced to the next round of the Emirates FA cup.

Now that the cup fixtures are over, Matchday 18 opens with back-to-back games for 10 days straight.

Read Also: Super Eagles Stars Abroad Display Admirable Skill

Sheffield United vs Newcastle United

The Blades had their first competitive win of the season in their FA cup encounter with Bristol City. They will look to build on that as they struggle to stay up in the Premier League.

They are 12 points adrift safety and would need to gain as many points as possible in the coming weeks.

Sheffield United looking for their first Premier League win (Image: Premier League)

Newcastle is winless in 7 games after their defeat to the Gunners on Saturday. Their victory over the Blades last season would make them favourites but they aren’t in much better form than their opponents.

Goals are expected to be scarce in this clash and a draw wouldn’t be a surprise either.

Burnley vs Manchester United

Back to Premier League duties after their FA cup win, Sean Dyche’s men will look to continue their decent form in the game against Manchester United.

They’ve been very solid lately, especially with the return of Ben Mee to the at the back having a positive impact.

Burnley planning to end Manchester City’s unbeaten run (Image: Premier League)

Manchester United are unbeaten in 10 league games of which they had 10 victories. They will therefore look to continue their impressive form in the match against Burnley.

United are favourites to win this fixture based on quality of the squad and recent form. Plus, they have an added incentive to win as victory will take them top of the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Everton

Nuno Espirito Santo will be keen to end a 4 match winless run in the league as they host the Toffees at the Molineux.

It will be an uphill task as they have the likes of Marcal, Daniel Podence, Jonathan Castro Otto, Willy Boly and Raul Jimenez all sidelined through injury.

Everton has been decent in the league despite their injury concerns. They picked up 10 points from a possible 12 in their last 4 outings.

Since some of their injured players are now back to fitness, Wolves will be welcoming a much improved Everton squad on Tuesday.

Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Recent history and form suggest Manchester City are clear favourites to come out with all 3 points in this fixture. Pep Guardiola hasn’t overseen a defeat since November – a run consisting of 13 games in which they’ve won their last 5 in all competitions.

Manchester City celebrate goal against Birmingham in the FA Cup (Image: Premier League)

They’ve also won their last 7 meetings with the Seagulls in which they’ve conceded just twice. Considering Brighton’s recent form in which they’ve won just 1 out of their last 16 games, history looks bound to repeat itself.
Prediction: 3-0

Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham

A COVID-19 outbreak at the Cottagers’ camp prevented this fixture from being going on last month. The match is rescheduled for this week as the Villains who were also suffering the same fate.

Vinicius went with home with the ball after scoring a hat-trick against Marines
(Image: Premier League)

Spurs have been in good form lately, winning 4 of their last 5 games in all competitions. They will look to have more of those wins in the league as they try to get back in the thick of the title race after some bad results.

Fulham is notorious for drawing games. They have been able to do so against strong sides such as Liverpool but will need more than a point to get out of the relegation zone. However, a draw against Spurs won’t be so bad.

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

The Gunners are now on a four-game winning streak in all competitions after their victory over Newcastle in the FA cup. The gloom and doom that engulfed them previously seems to have lifted.

They have turned a corner with a series of positive results and will look to continue their winning run as they climb towards the top half of the table.

On the other hand, Palace will hope to bring the Gunners crashing back down. However, they have been in poor form, winning just 1 of their last 7 games which came against bottom side Sheffield United.

Their 2 games unbeaten run should serve as a source of hope going into this encounter.