The English Premier League crosses the new year threshold into 2024 this weekend, as the second half of the EPL season hits full swing.
Liverpool go into the match week top of the standings having really hit their straps in the middle of the campaign.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds play the Monday night fixture in an evocative Anfield meeting with Newcastle, for whom the pressure is mounting after their eighth league loss of the season on Boxing Day.
Arsenal have slipped from the summit having won just once in their last four over the festive period.
They make the short trip to Fulham on Sunday for a London derby with Fulham, who have lost their last three without scoring.
Back in the north of the capital there’s a tasty contest between Tottenham and Bournemouth.
Spurs slipped to defeat on Thursday to dent their title ambitions, while the Cherries have continued their staggering turnaround with four wins on the bounce.
It was Brighton that brought Ange Postecoglou and Co down to earth and they face an equally tough ask to repeat the feat when they go to West Ham on Tuesday night.
The Hammers are sixth in the EPL table and were the ones to topple Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal last time out, with David Moyes’ men now within striking distance of Spurs in fifth.
Plenty of Premier League drama kicks off the new year’s weekend on Saturday, with six matches across the country.
Manchester United go to Nottingham Forest with both having returned to winning ways in their last outings.
Erik ten Hag remains under the cosh at Old Trafford, while Forest are adjusting to life under Nuno Espirito Santo following the sacking of Steve Cooper.
Reigning champions Manchester City picked up a precious three points on their return from the Fifa Club World Cup last Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side sit fourth in the standings and will go into their Etihad Stadium clash with rock bottom Sheffield United as heavy favourites.
The weekends kicks off with the Saturday lunchtime game as underperforming Chelsea pay a visit to the close confines of Kenilworth Road to play Luton.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have pieced together two victories in their last three, while the Hatters have won back-to-back matches to boost their unlikely survival chances.
Aston Villa need to arrest their mini-slump sharpish if they are to maintain their surprise Premier League title charge.
Burnley are the visitors to Villa Park, with Vincent Kompany’s Clarets in serious danger of an instant relegation back to the Championship.
Selhurst Park could see an out with the old, in with the new scenario, meanwhile, as Crystal Palace play fellow capital city club Brentford.
The pair are both in a horrible run of form, with home chief Roy Hodgson in particular looking vulnerable.
Like the London duo, Wolves and Everton would both be separated by a single point were it not for the latter’s 10-point deduction for financial fair play dramas.
The Toffees’ resurgence in spite of that has been quashed by consecutive losses, though, leaving them back on the brink of the drop zone.
English Premier League predictions for 30 December – 2 January
Luton Town v Chelsea
| Result prediction | Luton Town to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Luton Town / Luton Town to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Aston Villa v Burnley
| Result prediction | Aston Villa to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Aston Villa / Aston Villa to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Crystal Palace v Brentford
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Manchester City v Sheffield United
| Result prediction | Manchester City to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester City / Manchester City to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Grealish(Manchester City) |
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Wolverhampton Wanderers / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Hwang Hee-Chan(Wolverhampton Wanderers) |
Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Nottingham Forest / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | C. Wood(Nottingham Forest) |
Fulham v Arsenal
| Result prediction | Fulham to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Fulham / Fulham to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | R. Jiménez(Fulham) |
Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Tottenham Hotspur / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Richarlison(Tottenham Hotspur) D. Solanke(AFC Bournemouth) |
Liverpool v Newcastle United
| Result prediction | Liverpool to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Liverpool / Liverpool to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion
| Result prediction | West Ham United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / West Ham United to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Bowen(West Ham United) M. Kudus(West Ham United) |