The English Premier League brings down the curtain on 2022 with a full set of fixtures over a full-throttle New Year’s weekend.
Goals flew in as the EPL returned from its six-week break for the Qatar World Cup on Boxing Day.
And the corks will be popping again from Friday over the long weekend, before another midweek round carries on a helter-skelter comeback for the top flight.
Spare a thought for Liverpool and Brentford, too, who meet on Monday evening in west London having both helped to kick off the action on Friday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds must first tackle old boss Brendan Rodgers and his Leicester on Merseyside, albeit soon to be boosted by the signing of Netherlands star Cody Gakpo and a winning return to domestic duties on Monday.
The Bees will welcome their improving visitors after first contesting a capital city derby on Friday with West Ham at the London Stadium.
Manchester United lost out in their chase for Gakpo but did close the gap to the top four with a breezy win at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Erik ten Hag’s side face a trip to Wolves on Saturday lunchtime, who made a winning start to life under former Spain and Real Madrid chief Julen Lopetegui on Boxing Day to climb off the bottom of the table.
Leaders Arsenal face a tricky trip to Brighton for the Saturday evening kick off, with both having rattled in three goals in their respective winning returns to Premier League action.
The Gunners hold a five-point lead at the top of the table, while the Seagulls remain firmly in the hunt for European qualification.
Contrasting fortunes aplenty, meanwhile, at the Etihad Stadium.
Reigning champions Manchester City are in second place and with record-breaking Erling Haaland leading the line as they welcome ailing Everton, with the pressure piling up on Pep Guardiola’s opposite number Frank Lampard.
City may well require a positive result to keep their noses ahead of Newcastle, with the World Cup pause failing to put Eddie Howe’s men off their stride.
They put their winning run to the test against Leeds at St James’ Park, as the visitors attempt to avoid a third defeat on the spin.
Tottenham and Aston Villa have the privilege of kicking the first football of 2023 on Sunday afternoon, as they meet in London for one of two EPL fixtures on New Year’s Day.
Fellow capital city side Chelsea are involved in the other, as they go to relegation-haunted Nottingham Forest.
Coach Graham Potter and his charges head to the Midlands with a burden ever so slightly lifted, having ended their winless stretch on their return to action on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere on Saturday, the Blues’ victims Bournemouth have the chance to put things right at the Vitality Stadium when they welcome Crystal Palace, who were handed a Christmas stuffing by Fulham on Boxing Day.
The high-flying Cottagers are plotting more points this weekend, too, as they host a Southampton side seeking its first points under the guidance of coach Nathan Jones.
English Premier League predictions for 30 December – 2 January
Prediction methodology explained:ย The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| West Ham | 50 | 48 |
| Brentford | 28 | 27 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Liverpool | 78 | 66 |
| Leicester | ||
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Wolves | 25 | 46 |
| Manchester United | 52 | 50 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Bournemouth | 36 | 64 |
| Crystal Palace | 40 | 53 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Fulham | 51 | 47 |
| Southampton | 27 | 13 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Manchester City | 88 | 88 |
| Everton | ||
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Newcastle | 69 | 67 |
| Leeds | ||
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Brighton | 29 | 42 |
| Arsenal | 48 | 50 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Tottenham | 60 | 53 |
| Aston Villa | 20 | 29 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Nottingham Forest | 20 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 59 | 59 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Brentford | ||
| Liverpool | 64 | 61 |