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Christmas football is many fans’ favorite time of the year. Loads of games sandwiched into the holidays, a few beers before, and no work during and after the matches mean there is plenty of fun to be had.
Gameweek 19 starts us off with the following lineup and following warning – It’s a Friday night cutoff!
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Arsenal v Liverpool
Here are two sides whose defending at times has held them back from pushing towards a title bid. From a viewing perspective, this matchup may well be the most fun this weekend. The attacking players on display are a level above those defending, and neither manager sets his side up to compensate for those defensive limitations.
Key injury/suspension news
Olivier Giroud’s hamstring injury means Alexandre Lacazette will start. However, with Danny Wellbeck back and scoring goals, Lac may once again not play the full 90 minutes. Aaron Ramsey is out, so Jack Wilshere will deputize. The Liverpool fab four are all fit. We assume they start, but with Klopp we cannot be sure.
Team stats
- Arsenal have won 13 of the last 14 home games.
- The Gunners have kept 6 clean sheets in their last 8 at home.
- Liverpool have scored at least 3 goals in their last 4 away games.
- Pool have scored 24 goals in 9 away games.
- Only Stoke (21), West Ham (21) and Huddersfield (19) have conceded more goals away from home than Liverpool.
Player stats
- Mo Salah has scored 14 goals in 16 league appearances
- Salah has scored 8 goals and provided 1 assist in 8 games away from home.
- Philippe Coutinho has 4 goals and 4 assists in 5 away games.
- Playing at the Emirates, Lacazette averages just 76 minutes played this season.
- Lacazette has scored 8 goals in 15 games played in the league and has 6 goals in the 8 home games.
- Sadio Mane has 2 goals, 3 assists, 2 yellow cards and 1 red card in 5 away games in all competitions.
- Alexis Sanchez has had Arsenal’s most efforts on goal at the Emirates, averaging of 4.4 per game.
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Everton v Chelsea
This game would have been a whole lot easier for Chelsea a few weeks ago. The arrival of Big Sam has seen the expected immediate improvement to a Everton side that wasn’t as bad as the results suggested. The Toffees still lack a natural no9 and pace in attack. Perhaps those issues have led Sam to adapt his team’s shape a little to compensate. Neither side is as strong as last season, so this looks to be a tight, low scoring game.
Key injury/suspension news
Alvaro Morata came off the bench to win the League Cup quarter final game on Wednesday evening but picked up his 5th yellow card with his celebrations. He must now miss the game at Goodison. Best guess is that Hazard will reprise his false-9 role.
Team stats
- It’s 8 wins in 10 games for Chelsea.
- In their last 4 home games, Everton have scored at least 2 goals.
Player stats
- Wayne Rooney has 5 goals and 1 assist in 7 home games.
- Eden Hazard has been subbed early in 3 of his last 4 games (77th, 68th and 73rd minute mark). In his last 3 games he has provided 0 goals in 5 attempts with 1 on target plus 1 assist. Key to this stat, Morata didn’t start the last two games, and he will be missing at Goodison.
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Manchester City v Bournemouth
The unstoppable blue side of Manchester have won 16 league games in a row. Bournemouth meanwhile have just shipped 4 on their own patch to Liverpool. We are expecting City to rack up 4+ goals in this one, but at least Bournemouth may have a go themselves rather than parking the bus.
Key injury/suspension news
Josh king (hamstring) and Charlie Daniels (groin) are doubts. Kun has been playing with an ankle issue for some time, but with Gabriel Jesus playing all 120 minutes in the League cup tie, the Argentinian hot shot may start anyway. If not, then a rested Raheem Sterling may play the role, coming into the fixture as City’s form man.
Vincent Kompany may be withheld until the trip to Newcastle. David Silva is dealing with private issues and may not be back.
Team stats
- City have scored 32 goals in 9 home games.
- Bournemouth haven’t won a Premier League game in 6.
Player stats
- Raheem Sterling is the City top goal scorer at home in the league with 7 goals and 2 assists In 6 games.
- Sterling has 8 goals in his last 6 games against Bournemouth, including a hat trick against them in last season’s fixture.
- Leroy Sane has 5 goals, 6 assists and 2 yellow cards in 7 home games.
- Gabriel Jesus has scored 5 goals and provided 1 assist in 4 home games.
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Southampton v Huddersfield
The Saints have been due a season where they are made to sweat for their survival, and it’s looking like 2017/18 may be that season. Since his return, Virgil van Dijk hasn’t looked anything like the player we knew last season. Most of the side have lacked bite in the tackle. Indeed, they’ve lacked drive both with and without the ball. Southampton were outplayed in the reverse fixture even though it ended 0-0. With injuries and questionable form, there is tension in the air at St Mary’s. Southampton will need to score first to settle their fans... and the players themselves. If you have Huddersfield players in your side, I would play them this game week.
Key injury/suspension news
Elias Kachunga is out for 12 weeks, so Thomas Ince should come back in. Jonathan Hogg’s red card sees him miss out. Virgil Van Dijk was dropped for the Chelsea game but may return here. Ryan Bertrand is a doubt and Cedric is ruled out.
Team stats
- The Saints haven’t won in 5 games
- In 10 home matches Southampton have scored just 12 goals and conceded 14
- Huddersfield have scored just 7 goals away from home this season but they have only scored in 2 games.
Player stats
- Charlie Austin is the Saints top scorer with 5 goals in 4 games. 4 of those have come at St Mary’s.
- In home games, Nathan Redmond has registered the most Southampton efforts on goal this season (2.2 average per game) but has yet to score.
- Tom Ince has registered the most shots in all games for Huddersfield this season (40) but has yet to score.
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Stoke v West Brom
Excited about watching this one? It’s the odds-on favorite to be the final game on Match of the Day. Mark Hughes clings to his job by his fingernails, and WBA have failed to win since August. Two former Tony Pulis sides really need a hard fought type of performance both teams were known for under that prior management. Often in these situations, the side playing away from home has a little more freedom and a little less pressure, so can settle players’ minds easier to the task. If that’s the case here, then the Baggies may pinch the win. Like Southampton, Stoke must score first.
Key injury/suspension news
Kurt Zouma may be out despite saying he thinks he can play, so Kevin Wimmer could start again. Craig Dawson is still out for the Baggies. Matt Phillips is back in training, but it may be too soon for him, so Oliver Burke may start again. At 2m in Fantrax, Burke returned 3 times his price in points last time out.
Team stats
- West Brom have no win in 16 games.
- The Baggies have failed to score in 5 of their last 7 away games.
- Stoke have conceded 18 goals at home in 9 games.
Player stats
- Choupo-Moting has 2 goals and 3 assist in 8 home games. He also averages the most shots on goal in the Stoke side at home.
Brighton are hard to beat at home, but Watford are better away from home. It’s a big game for both, so a win for either would be huge.
Key injury/suspension news
For Watford, Troy Deeney is banned, allowing Andre Gray to start. Doucoure earned his 5th yellow card and will miss out.
Team stats
- Brighton have drawn 5 of their last 6 home games.
- Brighton side have failed to score in 5 of their last 6 games.
- Watford have lost 3 in a row.
Player stats
- Richarlison has returned just 1 assist and zero goals in his last 5 games.
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Swansea v Crystal Palace
Paul Clement didn’t survive into the festive period, as rock-bottom Swansea follow the lead of Palace, West Ham and Everton by changing their manager in the hopes of an immediate improvement in results. Leon Britton will take charge against Palace. He was a vocal part of the dressing room late last season and contributed to Swansea’s survival run. He is popular with both fans and players, so we may see a little brighter performance from the home side... or we may see a side without a manager given an excuse to flop once more.
Key injury/suspension news
Christian Benteke finally got going with a goal and an assist last time out, but followed the good stuff with his 5th yellow , so he is now banned. Mamadou Sakho remains out. Both Joel Ward and Fosu-Mensah are out, so Martin Kelly offers you a cheap filler.
Wilfred Bony is out, allowing Tammy Abraham to start.
Team stats
- Palace have kept a clean sheet in their last 3 away games
- The eagles are unbeaten in 7 matches.
- Swansea have lost 8 of the last 10 games.
- The Swans have scored just 5 goal sin 10 home matches.
Player stats
- Tammy Abraham has scored 3 goals in 5 home Premier League games.
- Wilfred Zaha has had 13 shots on goal in his last 5 games scoring once.
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West Ham v Newcastle
The Hammers are flying with a sequence of great results. They will now start as the favorite for the first time in a while against a Newcastle side who badly need investment in the transfer window.
Key injury/suspension news
Manuel Lanzini and Jonjo Shelvey are suspended.
Team stats
- West Ham have kept 3 clean sheets in a row
- The Hammers have 8 goals in 8 home games.
- Newcastle have lost 8 of the last 9 games.
Player stats
- Adrian has been the keeper in the Hammers’ 3 clean sheets.
- Marko Arnautovic has fired 13 efforts on goal in the last 3 weeks, scoring twice.
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Burnley v Tottenham
On paper, this is a really tough match up. Burnley have been brilliant this season, while Spurs have yet to get consistency in result or performance. With some defenders missing for the home team, Spurs could prosper, but don’t count on it. Sean Dyche’s side has been a tough nut to crack even when usual starters have been out.
Key injury/suspension news
Spurs’ dominant central defender Toby Alderweireld is out, and Davinson Sanchez serves the last match of his ban. Burnley stalwart James Tarkowski starts a 3-match ban, Kevin Long being the favorite to replace him. Stephen Ward may miss out at left back.
Team stats
- Burnley have only conceded 3 goals in 9 home games, keeping 6 clean sheets.
- Tottenham haven’t won in their last 5 away games.
Player stats
- Harry Kane has 7 goals in 8 away games.
- Kane is sitting on 4 yellow cards for the season. Should he pick up a 5th, he would miss the Boxing Day game against Southampton.
- Long averages 10 clearances per game at home (2 appearances).
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Leicester v Manchester United
Both sides lost their League Cup ties midweek. The atmosphere will be rocking, and despite their record, United haven't convinced with their performances. Pogba’s return is important to both the side and Mr Lukaku.
Key injury/suspension news
Christian Fuchs and Shinji Okazaki each played the full 120 minutes in Leicester’s Tuesday’s EFL cup quarterfinal, so both are rotation risks. Antonio Valencia is still a doubt (hamstring). Bailly and Fellaini remain out.
Team Stats
Man Utd have won 6 of their last 7.
Utd have won 8 of their 9 league games away from home.
Utd have scored 17 goals away from home and conceded just 9.
Leicester have scored 11 goals in 9 home games.
Player stats
Jesse Lingard has 4 goals in 4 away appearances.
Jamie Vardy has 4 goals in 9 home games.
In 4 away games, Paul Pogba has 1 goal and 4 assists.
Do you have Morata in FPL? If so, how do you plan to deal with his absence? How are your week 19 sides looking?
Stall