FRIDAY - Everton v West Ham (9.30pm kick-off UAE): Carlo Ancelotti's side appear to have recovered from their mini-slump following a superb start to the season. Four wins on the spin have put them back in the top four, the last being a 1-0 win over Sheffield United United courtesy of Gylfi Sigurdsson's strike. The Hammers are proving draw specialists at the moment with three matches in their last five finishing all square. Everton to maintain their win-streak here. Prediction: Everton 2 West Ham 1. Getty
FRIDAY - Everton v West Ham (9.30pm kick-off UAE): Carlo Ancelotti's side appear to have recovered from their mini-slump following a superb start to the season. Four wins on the spin have put them back in the top four, the last being a 1-0 win over Sheffield United United courtesy of Gylfi Sigurdsson's strike. The Hammers are proving draw specialists at the moment with three matches in their last five finishing all square. Everton to maintain their win-streak here. Prediction: Everton 2 West Ham 1. Getty
Manchester United v Aston Villa (midnight): His finishing can safely be described as erratic - heading over from a few yards out with the goal at his mercy against Leicester recently, a prime example - but there's no doubt Marcus Rashford is a serious goal threat for United. His injury-time winner against Wolves on Tuesday was his 14th goal in all competitions, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side currently sit just three points behind leaders Liverpool. Villa are just four points and three places behind the Red Devils in fifth place and are unbeaten in five games. Prediction: Man United 3 Aston Villa 1. Reuters
Manchester United v Aston Villa (midnight): His finishing can safely be described as erratic - heading over from a few yards out with the goal at his mercy against Leicester recently, a prime example - but there's no doubt Marcus Rashford is a serious goal threat for United. His injury-time winner against Wolves on Tuesday was his 14th goal in all competitions, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side currently sit just three points behind leaders Liverpool. Villa are just four points and three places behind the Red Devils in fifth place and are unbeaten in five games. Prediction: Man United 3 Aston Villa 1. Reuters
SATURDAY - Tottenham v Leeds (4.30pm): Stuttering Spurs are in need of a lift after taking just two points from a possible 12 and then seeing their last match against Fulham cancelled hours before kick-off due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the Cottagers. While familiar accusations of Mourinho setting up his teams too negatively have resurfaced of late, no such complaints could be levelled at Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds. Attack is the best form of defence for the Argentine and it will be an interesting clash of cultures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Prediction: Spurs 1 Leeds 0. Getty
SATURDAY - Tottenham v Leeds (4.30pm): Stuttering Spurs are in need of a lift after taking just two points from a possible 12 and then seeing their last match against Fulham cancelled hours before kick-off due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the Cottagers. While familiar accusations of Mourinho setting up his teams too negatively have resurfaced of late, no such complaints could be levelled at Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds. Attack is the best form of defence for the Argentine and it will be an interesting clash of cultures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Prediction: Spurs 1 Leeds 0. Getty
Crystal Palace v Sheffield United (7pm): After conceding 10 goals in two games - losing 7-0 and 3-0 to Liverpool and Villa, respectively - Palace managed to plug the gaping holes at the back with a 1-1 draw against Leicester in their last match. Wilfried Zaha grabbed his eighth of the season against the Foxes, the same amount of goals the entire Sheffield United team have managed so far this campaign. Two points from 16 games is a catastrophic haul from the Blades and the winless run is set to continue at Selhurst Park. Prediction: Palace 3 Sheffield United 0. EPA
Crystal Palace v Sheffield United (7pm): After conceding 10 goals in two games - losing 7-0 and 3-0 to Liverpool and Villa, respectively - Palace managed to plug the gaping holes at the back with a 1-1 draw against Leicester in their last match. Wilfried Zaha grabbed his eighth of the season against the Foxes, the same amount of goals the entire Sheffield United team have managed so far this campaign. Two points from 16 games is a catastrophic haul from the Blades and the winless run is set to continue at Selhurst Park. Prediction: Palace 3 Sheffield United 0. EPA
Brighton v Wolves (9.30pm): Brighton will certainly be hoping that 2021 brings them some home comforts after a disastrous 12 months at the Amex Stadium that has seen them win just once in 17 attempts. And manager Graham Potter will need to solve that major issue quickly as the Seagulls sit one place and two points outside the relegation zone. Wolves have their own problems as they struggle to cope with the loss of striker Raul Jimenez to a fractured skull. The are now down in 12th place, after one win their last six games. Prediction: Brighton 1 Wolves 1. Reuters
Brighton v Wolves (9.30pm): Brighton will certainly be hoping that 2021 brings them some home comforts after a disastrous 12 months at the Amex Stadium that has seen them win just once in 17 attempts. And manager Graham Potter will need to solve that major issue quickly as the Seagulls sit one place and two points outside the relegation zone. Wolves have their own problems as they struggle to cope with the loss of striker Raul Jimenez to a fractured skull. The are now down in 12th place, after one win their last six games. Prediction: Brighton 1 Wolves 1. Reuters
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal (midnight): A mighty reality check for new Baggies manager Sam Allardyce last time out as they were humiliated 5-0 at home by Leeds. Big Sam admitted the performance, coming straight after a morale-boosting draw at Liverpool, was "dreadful" and showed that he has a "tougher challenge" to keep the struggling club up than he thought. Arsenal managed to end their awful form with two consecutive wins but still find themselves languishing down in 13th place. Prediction: West Brom 1 Arsenal 2. Reuters
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal (midnight): A mighty reality check for new Baggies manager Sam Allardyce last time out as they were humiliated 5-0 at home by Leeds. Big Sam admitted the performance, coming straight after a morale-boosting draw at Liverpool, was "dreadful" and showed that he has a "tougher challenge" to keep the struggling club up than he thought. Arsenal managed to end their awful form with two consecutive wins but still find themselves languishing down in 13th place. Prediction: West Brom 1 Arsenal 2. Reuters
SUNDAY - Burnley v Fulham (4pm): Whether this game actually goes ahead, after the Covid-19 outbreak that saw Fulham's last match against Spurs called-off, remains to be seen. Burnley will be hoping so after the recent double boost of a victory over Shefffield United followed by the completed takeover of the club by an American investment group. The new owners have already promised funds for manager Sean Dyche in this month's transfer window. A relegation 'six-pointer' if ever there was one as Burnley sit in 16th place, five points and two places ahead of the Cottagers. Prediciton: Burnley 1 Fulham 0. PA
SUNDAY - Burnley v Fulham (4pm): Whether this game actually goes ahead, after the Covid-19 outbreak that saw Fulham's last match against Spurs called-off, remains to be seen. Burnley will be hoping so after the recent double boost of a victory over Shefffield United followed by the completed takeover of the club by an American investment group. The new owners have already promised funds for manager Sean Dyche in this month's transfer window. A relegation 'six-pointer' if ever there was one as Burnley sit in 16th place, five points and two places ahead of the Cottagers. Prediciton: Burnley 1 Fulham 0. PA
Newcastle United v Leicester City (6.15pm): Under pressure Newcastle manager Steve Bruce saw his team battle to a hard-fought goalless draw with Liverpool on Wednesday, when goalkeeper Karl Darlow pulled-out several top-drawer saves to keep the champions at bay. They're back at St James' Park here and up against another top four side in Leicester who sit third in the table and should have top scorer Jamie Vardy back in their starting line-up after he was left on the bench until the last 25 minutes for the draw against Palace on Monday. Prediction: Newcastle 2 Leicester 1. AFP
Newcastle United v Leicester City (6.15pm): Under pressure Newcastle manager Steve Bruce saw his team battle to a hard-fought goalless draw with Liverpool on Wednesday, when goalkeeper Karl Darlow pulled-out several top-drawer saves to keep the champions at bay. They're back at St James' Park here and up against another top four side in Leicester who sit third in the table and should have top scorer Jamie Vardy back in their starting line-up after he was left on the bench until the last 25 minutes for the draw against Palace on Monday. Prediction: Newcastle 2 Leicester 1. AFP
Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm): A crunch clash between two sides surprisingly sitting outside the top five. Manager Frank Lampard criticised his team for “lacking energy and desire” after their recent loss to Arsenal and Chelsea (6th) have stumbled to just one win in five, including three defeats. City - eighth in the table but with two games in hand on Chelsea - are playing for the first time since beating Newcastle on December 26 having seen their last match against Everton called-off due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the camp. Prediction: Chelsea 2 Man City 2. AFP
Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm): A crunch clash between two sides surprisingly sitting outside the top five. Manager Frank Lampard criticised his team for “lacking energy and desire” after their recent loss to Arsenal and Chelsea (6th) have stumbled to just one win in five, including three defeats. City - eighth in the table but with two games in hand on Chelsea - are playing for the first time since beating Newcastle on December 26 having seen their last match against Everton called-off due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the camp. Prediction: Chelsea 2 Man City 2. AFP
MONDAY - Southampton v Liverpool (midnight): Jurgen Klopp's will be looking for a return to winning ways after two frustrating draws against teams they would expect to beat, in West Brom and Newcastle. Mohamed Salah in particular suffered a bad night in front of goal on Tyneside, missing chances he would normally finish in his sleep. The Saints are struggling for wins themselves with three draws and a defeat in their last four games. Prediction: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2. Reuters
MONDAY - Southampton v Liverpool (midnight): Jurgen Klopp's will be looking for a return to winning ways after two frustrating draws against teams they would expect to beat, in West Brom and Newcastle. Mohamed Salah in particular suffered a bad night in front of goal on Tyneside, missing chances he would normally finish in his sleep. The Saints are struggling for wins themselves with three draws and a defeat in their last four games. Prediction: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2. Reuters

Football

Manchester United, Spurs and Liverpool taste New Year victory: Premier League predictions

Top-flight clubs look for winning start to 2021 in latest round of fixtures

Gareth Cox

January 01, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

A New Year is underway with no let up in the Premier League fixture schedule.

Everton's home game against West Ham kicks off proceedings on Friday, followed by Manchester United against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

Saturday sees Tottenham take on Leeds and Crystal Palace entertain Sheffield United in the capital. Brighton face Wolves on the south coast while the action then switches to the Midlands as West Bromwich Albion host Arsenal.

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Sunday starts with Burnley versus Fulham, Covid-19 permitting, followed by Newcastle's clash with Leicester at St James' Park, while Chelsea and Manchester City contest the match of the day in London.

The latest round of fixtures ends with Southampton versus Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium on Monday before focus shifts to the League Cup semi-finals, followed by next weekend's FA Cup third round ties.

Ahead of the next round of fixtures, check out the predictions in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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