‘Twas the matchday before Christmas.
By Sam McGuire
Leading the way on Christmas Day doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be leading the way at the end of the season but the signs are positive. Across 32 seasons in the English top-flight, the leaders on December 25th have gone on to win the league on 16 occasions.
Liverpool and Chelsea have the opportunity to finish this weekend as said leaders. At the other end, Everton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town are looking to avoid the final relegation spot. There’s plenty at stake across matchday 17.
A top four battle at Villa Park
A few months back, people would’ve circled the clash between Aston Villa and Manchester City as a game that could have huge ramifications in the title race.
Now, though, it is very much a game that falls into the race for a top four finish category.
Villa started the season well, losing just one of their opening nine Premier League matches. However, they have lost four of their last seven in the English top-flight and find themselves in seventh position, just three points clear of 13th place Manchester United.
City, meanwhile, looked like title favourites early on but have suffered a collapse, losing five of their last seven in the Premier League. They trail leaders Liverpool by nine points having played a game more and could finish the weekend as low as ninth depending on how results go.
Last December, Villa claimed a 1-0 win over Man City. A similar result could get their season back on track after a bit of a blip while also damaging a rival in the process. It really is a must-not lose for either team. Whatever happens here could shape the entire narrative for the remainder of the season.
Fortress Gtech
Brentford have put together a real Jekyll and Hyde season so far.
At home, the Bees have been the best team in the Premier League. That is no exaggeration either. Thomas Frank’s men have won seven of their eight matches at the Gtech and have picked up 22 points from a possible 24 on offer.
They are averaging over three goals per game on home soil.
Away from home, they are the worst team in the English top flight with one point from eight matches.
Fortunately for the Bees, they’re playing at the Gtec this weekend. Unfortunately for them, however, they’re up against one of the best sides on the road this term, Nottingham Forest.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s men are third in the table when looking at away fixtures with only Chelsea and Liverpool picking up more points.
Forest beat Manchester United and Aston Villa in back-to-back weekends and could head into the festive period in third position depending on results. A remarkable achievement for a team many tipped to be in a relegation battle this season.
This is a fascinating match-up. Can Forest end Brentford’s unbelievable home record? Will Frank’s side be able to extend their incredible run of results at the Gtech against one of the best teams in the league this season?
Relegation dogfight
Leicester City pulled the trigger in November, dismissing Steve Cooper and replacing him with Ruud Van Nistelrooy. In the three games he’s been in charge for, the Foxes have claimed four points and are currently two points clear of the drop zone.
Wolves held on a little longer, giving Gary O’Neil the benefit of the doubt despite poor results, only to then sack the former Bournemouth boss after a 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town last weekend.
This decision could prove costly. Wolves are currently on a four-match losing run and are five points away from safety. Had they acted a little earlier, just as Leicester did, they might find themselves in a safer position right now.
As is, Leicester host Wolves on Sunday knowing a win would open up an eight point gap between the two teams. Vitor Pereira has been announced as O’Neil’s successor, a coach who has long sought a Premier League role after spells in leagues around the world, including Greece, China, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil.
If the visitors can claim a positive result at the King Power, the Portuguese tactician’s arrival could be a springboard to salvage the season.
Which Spurs will show up?
Tottenham Hotspur welcome Liverpool to North London on Sunday. Spurs returned to winning ways last weekend, beating Southampton 5-0 in one of the most one-sided games of the season. It was Ange Postecoglu side’s first Premier League win since their 4-0 dismantling of Manchester City in November.
The memorable win at the Etihad was followed up by a 1-1 draw with Fulham and losses against Bournemouth and Chelsea. This has been the story of Tottenham’s 2024/25 campaign. Sometimes brilliant. Sometimes not so brilliant.
In their seven wins this season, they have scored a minimum of three goals. In their nine other matches they have averaged just one goal. It is a case of feast or famine.
Liverpool lead the way in the Premier League and have a 100% record in the Champions League. However, they have been giving up chances over recent weeks, conceding a combined five goals against Newcastle and Fulham. Their injury crisis might be over but there are tired legs in the squad now and this is why they’re now giving up chances they previously weren’t.
And this is why, despite their injuries, Spurs will likely fancy their chances of recording just their third win over the Reds since October 2017.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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