21-22 Premier League Preview Week 15
A full Premier League fixtures list takes place this weekend as we approach the busy Christmas and New Year period. There was plenty of ground won and lost at the top last weekend. Chelsea’s unbeaten run came to an end with a loss at West Ham, while Liverpool and Man City took full advantage as they leapfrogged the Londoners to 1st and 2nd place with wins.
Points are also getting tighter at the foot of the table. Newcastle finally won a game as they defeated Burnley at St James’ Park. Norwich occupies the bottom spot after losing to Tottenham and Watford are back in relegation trouble after a heavy defeat. There are some engaging ties taking place this weekend and two out of form sides, Brentford and Watford, kick off the action on Friday night. City and Liverpool will look to cement their places at the top. The Citizens take on Wolves, while Steven Gerrard returns to Anfield with his Aston Villa side.
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Brentford vs Watford
Brentford were denied an away win at the depth against Leeds last weekend. The Bees led 2-1 heading into the dying stages of the match before the Whites struck a 95th-minute equaliser for a 2-2 draw. The result leaves Thomas frank’s side winless in five of their last six top-flight matches. But the West Londoners did win their last home match, a 1-0 victory over Everton.
Watford fell to a third straight Premier League defeat at home last weekend as they were beaten 3-1 by Man City. Claudio Ranieri’s side were 3-0 down after 63 minutes and Cucho Hernández’s late goal was merely a consolation. Watford previously lost 2-1 at home to Chelsea and 4-2 away at Leicester. The Hornets have struggled for momentum away this season, losing five of their seven matches on the road.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney is doubtful with illness. The Bees will definitely be without Sergi Canos (suspended) Josh Da Silva (groin), David Raya (knee), Kristoffer Ajer (thigh), Julian Jeanvier (knee), and Mathias Jorgensen (thigh). Watford players Francisco Sierralta and Ken Sema could be in contention. But Nicolas N’Koulou (thigh), Adam Masina (thigh), Ben Foster (groin), Kwadwo Baah (ankle), Ismaila Sarr (knee), and midfielder Peter Etebo (thigh) are unavailable.
Brentford and Watford are in poor form and they both concede a lot of goals. A score draw is likely in West London.
Man City vs Wolves
Man City’s seven-match winning run in all competitions came to a crashing halt after a shock 2-1 loss at RB Leipzig in mid-week. Pep Guardiola made multiple changes and City controlled the game but struggled to break down an organised Leipzig, who netted twice on the counter-attack. The Citizens are still on a five-match winning run in the Premier League, including consecutive home wins against Everton (3-0) and West Ham (2-1).
Wolves almost held out for a third consecutive 0-0 as they were level with Liverpool until second-half injury time. However, the Reds netted in the 92nd minute to extend Wolves winless run to three in the Premier League. Bruno Lage’s side previous draw with Burnley and Norwich. Wolves have failed to score in four of their last five games and their only goal during this run came in a 1-0 home win against West Ham.
Aymeric Laporte, Phil Foden, and Nathan Ake could return for City after recent knocks. Fernan Torres (ankle) and Gabriel Jesus (knock) are ruled out. For Wolves, Conor Coady is likely to feature after an ankle injury and Rayan Ait Nouri is doubtful with a knock. Willy Boly (knock), Yerson Mosquera (thigh), Pedro Neto (knee), Jonny (knee), and Fernando Marcal (covid) will not feature.
Wolves took Liverpool to the wire last weekend and they have been tough to beat recently. But, They will make life hard at the Etihad, but City are on fire and should edge past Wolves.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Liverpool won their sixth straight match in all competitions after comfortably beating AC Milan 2-1 away. Mo Salah and Divock Origi completed the comeback after the Reds trailed 1-0 early on. The victory followed three consecutive wins in the Premier League as Liverpool saw off Southampton (4-0), Everton (4-1), and Wolves (1-0). Jurgen Klopp’s side have also won their last four at home in all competitions. They have not conceded a goal in this run and scored 12 goals.
Steven Gerrard has led his Aston Villa side to three wins from four matches after they beat Leicester 2-1 on Sunday. Villa had the better chances and Ezri Konsa’s double secured another win for the Midlands side. Since Gerrard took over at Villa Park, his side have only played one away match. They defeated Crystal Palace 2-0, which ended a run of three straight defeats on the road. The Villans only loss in their last four was a 2-1 home defeat to league leaders Man City.
Liverpool trio Roberto Firmino (thigh), Curtis Jones (facial injury), and Harvey Elliott (leg) are out. Matt Targett and Danny Ings could return for Villa, but Leon Bailey and Bertrand Traore are unavailable with thigh injuries.
Liverpool look unbeatable on current form and they have been getting plenty of goals at Anfield. Gerrard’s Villa have improved lately, but they are unlikely to contain a rampant Liverpool.
Crystal Palace vs Everton
Crystal Palace lost their third consecutive Premier League match on Sunday, falling to a 1-0 defeat against Man United. Palace held United for most of the match before they conceded with 15 minutes to go and struggled to get back into the game. Palace’s seven-match unbeaten run now seems a distant memory as the South Londoners lost 1-0 to Leeda and 2-1 to Aston Villa before the United loss.
Everton put an end to their eight-match winless streak in the Premier League with a 2-1 home win against Arsenal on Monday. The Toffees had two goals disallowed and trailed Arsenal 1-0 at halftime. Richarlison equalised before Demarai Gray fired in the winner in stoppage time. The win came as a huge relief for Rafa Benitez’s side, who had previously lost their last three to Man City, Brentford, and Liverpool. The Toffees remain in awful away form, however. They have lost five of their last six in all competitions and have scored two goals in their last five in the Premier League
Joachim Andersen and James McArthur may return for Palace. Joel Ward (suspended) and Nathan Fergusson (calf) will not feature. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh), Salomon Rondon (thigh), Yerry Mina (calf), Lucas Digne (suspended), and Tom Davies (knee) are ruled out for Everton.
Palace will be desperate to bounce back from recent defeats, especially at home. Everton will have momentum after their win and a tense draw could unfold at Selhurst Park.
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