Previewing the Premier League Big5 Boxing Day Bonanza!
After over a month since the last game, the Premier League is back on Monday, and so is Premier League Big5!
The first set of fixtures after Christmas Day can spring some real surprises and produce some real moments of drama. 1963 anyone?
Factor in the possible World Cup fatigue for some players, compared with the potentially overrested players who didn’t go to Qatar - here's looking at you Erling Haaland - and it might make it a dauting task picking out who could come out on top.
However, we’ve taken a closer look at the games to give you insight into your picks for Big5 to help you win part of a prize pool of over £1000!
The deadline is 2:45pm on Boxing Day, so make sure you're well rested from the Christmas Day shenanigans to make your picks to win big!
It was a difficult start to the season for Leicester, and there were real concerns over their inability to put points on the board. However, they have won five out of the eight games since the 6-2 defeat to Tottenham in September, winning their last two prior to the World Cup break. Newcastle are the in-form team at the moment, and are currently on a 10-game unbeaten streak, which has put them third, two points off second. Both sides won in the Carabao Cup in the week leading up to this fixture
On their last five visits to the King Power stadium, Newcastle have won three times, but they did lose this fixture 4-0 last season. The last meeting came at St James’ Park, where the Magpies won 2-1.
James Maddison has been pivotal for Leicester this season, with seven goals and four assists, and he played a big part in that 4-0 win last season with a goal and an assist. He didn't feature for England in Qatar, so should be raring to go on Boxing Day.
Unai Emery is most definitely enjoying the new manager bounce with Aston Villa, winning his opening two Premier League games against Brighton and Manchester United, though he did taste defeat in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford. Since beating Manchester City 1-0 in the league, Liverpool have won three of five, though the two other matches ended in defeat to teams in the bottom half of the table.
Villa’s last win over Liverpool was back in 2020 at Villa Park, a game they won 7-2. Liverpool have won eight of the last 10 meetings between these sides in the Premier League.
In his last five comeptitve games for Liverpool, Mohammed Salah has scored five goals and registered one assist. Furthermore, in his six league appearances against Villa, he has scored four times.
For the first time in 15 years, Arsenal will go into Christmas Day top of the Premier League table. They have won all six of their home league games this season and have only conceded seven goals in those six games. West Ham have only earned one win in their last five league games, losing four, and have lost five of their seven away matches.
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last six meetings with West Ham and the last time the Hammers tasted victory at the Emirates was back in August 2015.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, however, their highest goal contributor Gabriel Jesus will be out of action for a number of months. It is likely that Eddie Nketiah will lead the line in his place on Monday. The young forward is yet to start a league game this season, but in the Europa League, he started all six group matches, scoring twice and averaging 3.7 shots per game, and so could prove a real nusisance for the Hammers backline.
Chelsea are winless in their last five league games, losing the last three, but in their six league games at Stamford Bridge this season, they have only conceded six times. Bournemouth returned to winning ways prior to the domestic hiatus, beating Everton 3-0 before the World Cup break, but had lost the four in the league prior to that victory. They have also conceded more league goals (32) than any other team.
Bournemouth are actually unbeaten in their last three league meetings with Chelsea, though the last match up between the pair was back in 2020 in a 2-2 draw. But on their last five visits to Stamford Bridge the Cherries have scored five times, winning twice.
Marcus Tavernier has completed more dribbles (30) than any other player in the Premier League this season, and has contributed to six goals. If he is fit to play, he could cause Chelsea problems.
Manchester Utd vs Nottingham Forest
Only three teams have won more Premier League games than Manchester United this season, but their defensive resolve, or lack thereof, has been an issue. Indeed, they've conceded 20 goals in their 14 games and kept five clean sheets, while offensively; they have only scored nine league goals at Old Trafford this season. They will be relieved in one sense though as they come up against a Nottingham Forest side that have scored just 11 goals in their 15 games, with only Wolves (8) netting fewer. Forest have lost only once in their last five league games, however, that a 5-0 away defeat to Arsenal.
Since the Premier League's inception in 1992, United and Forest have faced off in the league 10 times, with United winning seven of those. The last meeting between these sides came all the way back in 1999, when United ran out 8-1 winners.
Casemiro has averaged 3.2 tackles per game, which is the joint fifth highest in the league, so will be tough to get the better of, while Marcus Rashford scored three times at the World Cup for England, so will be eager to add to his four-goal tally in the Premier League, with all four coming at Old Trafford.
Ready to make your picks?
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