Premier League preview, 21 December 2018 – 3 January 2019

WINDHOEK, DEC. 18 – While other European top flight divisions either wind down or take a break over the festive season and/or early New Year, England’s Premier League ups the intensity with four full rounds of matches squeezed into a period of just under two weeks from 21 December to 3 January.

Make sure to take your front row seat to the best football action in England on DStv and GOtv.

The action kicks off this coming Friday with Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool at Molineux Stadium in the first match of round 18. Aside from the Reds’ visit to the Old Gold, the weekend’s action is headlined by Chelsea v Leicester City, Manchester City v Crystal Palace and – in the pick of the round’s clashes – Sunday’s lone fixture, Everton v Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs are still flying high after their dramatic qualification to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League earlier this month, but they will need to dig deep and call on all of the resources of their limited squad in this busy, which starts with a tough clash at Goodison Park against Idrissa Gueye’s Everton.

The next round of matches takes place on ‘Boxing Day’ (26 December) and the following evening, with the post-Christmas action kicking off at Craven Cottage with Claudio Ranieri’s Fulham hoping to get the better of Wolves in the early afternoon kick-off.

Later on the same day Manchester City will be at home in a match which sees Algerian Riyad Mahrez coming up against his former team Leicester City, while Liverpool and Newcastle United will renew a classic rivalry when they meet at Anfield – the Reds’ 4-3 wins over the Toon in 1996 and 1997 are two of the greatest matches in Premier League history, and supporters all around the world will be hoping for more drama and entertainment in the battle between these two great clubs.

This round also features an intriguing clash between Watford and Chelsea – with the Blues looking to avenge a 4-1 defeat at Vicarage Road at the back end of last season – while the only game on Thursday 27 December sees Mario Lemin’s Southampton looking to get the better of West Ham United at St Mary’s Stadium.

The pre-New Year’s round of matches on 29-30 December carries one major clash: Liverpool v Arsenal at Anfield. The teams drew 1-1 in their meeting at the Emirates Stadium in London in early November and the Gunners will be looking to prove that their improvement since then under manager Unai Emery has brought them closer to Jurgen Klopp’s title challenging team.

Finally, the post New Year’s round over 1-3 January has another stand-out fixture – and again it’s Liverpool who will be in the thick of things, as they head to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday the third to face champions Manchester City. A goalless draw between the teams in early October was an aberration considering the attacking power on both sides, and it’s unlikely we’ll see another stalemate.

The round also features Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho renewing hostilities for Newcastle at home to Man United, Arsenal in a London derby as they host Fulham, and Everton looking to take down Wilfred Ndidi’s Leicester City at Goodison Park.

Key match stats

Manchester City v Liverpool – Head-to-head, Premier League
Matches played 43
City wins 8
Liverpool wins 19
Draws 16

Everton v Tottenham Hotspur – Head-to-head, Premier League
Matches played 52
Everton wins 8
Spurs wins 25
Draws 19

Liverpool v Newcastle United – Head-to-head, Premier League
Matches played 46
Liverpool wins 25
Newcastle wins 11
Draws 10

Liverpool v Arsenal – Head-to-head, Premier League
Matches played 53
Liverpool wins 19
Arsenal wins 15
Draws 19

Newcastle United v Manchester United – Head-to-head, Premier League
Matches played 47
Newcastle wins 6
United wins 27
Draws 14

Premier League fixtures, 21 December – 3 January
All times CAT

Friday 21 December
22:00: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool – LIVE on SS3

Saturday 22 December
14:30: Arsenal v Burnley – LIVE on SS3
17:00: Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion – LIVE on SS8
17:00: Chelsea v Leicester City – LIVE on SS5
17:00: Huddersfield Town v Southampton – LIVE on SS12
17:00: Manchester City v Crystal Palace – LIVE on SS3
17:00: Newcastle United v Fulham – LIVE on SS6
17:00: West Ham United v Watford – LIVE on SS11
19:30: Cardiff City v Manchester United – LIVE on SS3

Sunday 23 December
18:00: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur – LIVE on SS3

Wednesday 26 December
14:30: Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers – LIVE on SS3
17:00: Burnley v Everton – LIVE on SS12
17:00: Crystal Palace v Cardiff City – LIVE on SS7
17:00: Leicester City v Manchester City – LIVE on SS5
17:00: Liverpool v Newcastle United – LIVE on SS3
17:00: Manchester United v Huddersfield Town – LIVE on SS4
17:00: Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth
19:15: Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal – LIVE on SS3
21:30: Watford v Chelsea – LIVE on SS3

Thursday 27 December
21:45: Southampton v West Ham United – LIVE on SS3

Saturday 29 December
17:00: Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton – LIVE on SS12
17:00: Fulham v Huddersfield Town
17:00: Leicester City v Cardiff City – LIVE on SS5
17:00: Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers – LIVE on SS3
17:00: Watford v Newcastle United – LIVE on SS4
17:00: Liverpool v Arsenal – LIVE on SS3

Sunday 30 December
14:00: Crystal Palace v Chelsea – LIVE on SS3
16:15: Burnley v West Ham United – LIVE on SS5
16:15: Southampton v Manchester City – LIVE on SS3
18:30: Manchester United v Bournemouth – LIVE on SS3

Tuesday 1 January
14:30: Everton v Leicester City – LIVE on SS3
17:00: Arsenal v Fulham – LIVE on SS3
19:30: Cardiff City v Tottenham Hotspur – LIVE on SS3

Wednesday 2 January
21:45: Bournemouth v Watford
21:45: Chelsea v Southampton
21:45: Huddersfield Town v Burnley
21:45: West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion
21:45: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace
22:00: Newcastle United v Manchester United – LIVE on SS3

Thursday 3 January
22:00: Manchester City v Liverpool – LIVE on SS3 – Contributed