Preview

Dec

2025

Preview: Leeds and Liverpool clash in key fixture for both sides

At a glance, both Leeds United and Liverpool head into this game having found a bit of form. In reality, both teams are near the bottom of the form table, with Leeds picking up three points from their previous five outings and the Reds racking up seven points.

By Sam McGuire

For very different reasons, the match on Saturday evening is a must-win for both.

The story so far

Leeds brought a four-match losing streak to an end on Wednesday as they claimed a 3-1 win over Chelsea at Elland Road. This performance arrived just a couple of days after Daniel Farke’s men came from 2-0 down at the Etihad only to lose 3-2 in stoppage time against Manchester City.

The signs are positive. They’re now scoring goals, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin finding the back of the net in back-to-back games. Their showing against Chelsea was mightily impressive with the hosts finishing the game with an Expected Goals haul of 2.79, while limiting the visitors to chances with an xG total of 0.79.

It was domination, despite having just 29% of the ball.

This will likely be the blueprint against Liverpool too. They’ll dominate the space rather than the ball and they’ll look to make the most of their opportunities. Leeds are in dire need of points to help them avoid a relegation battle after a sluggish start to the campaign. They won’t expect anything from this game but Elland Road under floodlights is a good environment for the hosts.

Liverpool finally recorded their first draw of the season on Wednesday. In doing so, they brought an end to a record they would’ve wanted to shed weeks ago. Against Sunderland, they came from behind to take something from a game for the first time all season.

The Reds weren’t great. They haven’t been great for most of the campaign in all honesty. They looked better in the second half against the Black Cats but struggled to create, despite having Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah on the pitch.

Arne Slot’s side have struggled against teams with a low block and you know Leeds are going to do just that in a bid to frustrate their opponents knowing full well the champions don’t have a way to combat this tactic yet.

Key Players

For Liverpool, the focus is going to be on Virgil van Dijk. The skipper has put in a number of questionable performances over recent weeks and he’s going to be up against an aerial presence in Calvert-Lewin on Saturday. The former Everton striker is an out-ball for Leeds. If Van Dijk wins his battles, he helps Liverpool hem their hosts in. If he loses them, it could be chaos for the Reds.

*Van Dijk’s defensive numbers per 90 in the Premier League*

So, by default, the key player for Leeds will be Calvert-Lewin. He’s the pressure release valve for the hosts. If he can do his job as a No. 9, he’s going to be a handful for the Liverpool centre-backs and he’ll give Farke’s side a foothold in the game.

That battle between those two players will be fascinating.

Team News

Leeds are without Sean Longstaff and Daniel James and will be until the New Year. Liverpool are hoping to have Conor Bradley back after a stint on the sidelines but are still without Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni and Stefan Bajčetić.

Prediction

Liverpool, on paper, should have enough to win this game but the form they’re in means a draw is probably the best they can hope for at a resurgent Elland Road. We’re going with 1-1.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Third meets first as Arsenal travel to Aston Villa

Aston Villa host Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime in this top of the table Premier League clash.

By Ross Kilvington

Both sides are first and second in the league’s form table over the previous six matches. Villa have won 15 points in that time, while Arsenal have claimed 14.

Sitting third and first in the league table respectively, this matchup kicks off another exciting weekend of top flight action.

Aston Villa have been formidable at home this season

Since losing to Crystal Palace in August, Villa have not been defeated at Villa Park in all competitions.

This includes league wins over the likes of Manchester City and Bournemouth, while all three Europa League ties played in the Midlands has seen the home side emerge victorious.

Unai Emery has transformed Villa Park into a fortress, evidenced by the fact the club lost just four league matches there across both the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.

The comeback victory over Brighton in midweek will give a further jolt to the confidence, notably to Ollie Watkins, who scored twice.

Watkins has a solid record against the Gunners, scoring six goals in just 11 matches against them. Can he improve this record on Saturday? Watch this space.

Is this finally Arsenal’s year?

Surely this is the season that the North Londoners end their domestic title drought? The perennial bridesmaid in recent years, Mikel Arteta has the tools at his disposal to win a first Premier League crown since 2004.

Recruiting Viktor Gyökeres in the summer could turn out to be a masterstroke, with the Swede scoring four from 12 league games thus far. His all-round ability, however, has been crucial to the Gunners’ success already this season.

*Gyökeres’ player traits compared with other strikers in Big Five leagues*

Arteta will be hoping that injuries are not the club’s downfall once again. Against Brentford, Declan Rice and Cristhian Mosquera both came off with injury issues.

If he can manage his squad effectively over the hectic festive period, Arsenal could emerge from it in a wonderful place.

Team news

Emery could still be without goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who withdrew from the squad against Brighton in midweek.

Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley will remain absent and are not expected back until the start of 2026 at the earliest.

Arteta has a bigger crisis on his hands compared to his compatriot. Indeed, Mosquera joins the likes of Leandro Trossard and William Saliba as being doubts for this clash.

Gabriel is still unavailable, while Kai Havertz’s absence could extend until the new year as the German has had a setback recently.

Prediction

This is certainly a tough match to predict, especially with both teams entering the weekend in excellent form.

Although Villa have been nearly perfect at home this season, Arsenal did win on their last visit to the ground in August 2024.

Whatever happens, expect an intriguing tie which could set the tone for the rest of the weekend. As such, we at FotMob are predicting a narrow 2-1 victory for Arsenal.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all the games from the Premier League on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Man United and West Ham close out the Premier League’s midweek round

Two Portuguese tacticians will be in the dugout to battle it out for an important three points, with United looking to avenge last season’s Hammer blow at Old Trafford.

By Filip Mishov

Ruben Amorim’s inconsistent team owe Old Trafford a win

Manchester United’s Jekyll and Hyde form continues and after the humiliating loss to 10-man Everton at Old Trafford, followed a comeback win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, ending the FA Cup winners’ 12-match unbeaten home run in the Premier League. Even though Ruben Amorim was not too complimentary of the squad’s overall performance, the Portuguese coach praised the second half improvement, with Joshua Zirkzee earning a deserved mention.

Now, the Red Devils welcome the Hammers before travelling to Molineux Stadium next Monday, and if Bruno Fernandes & co. want to prove their turnaround in form is genuine, embarking on a winning streak ahead of the festive schedule is the only way to convince the doubters.

West Ham’s toothless display against the Premier League champions provided further evidence of their struggles, especially in attack, where Nuno Espírito Santo‘s squad recorded an incredibly low xG (0.29) and failed to create a single big chance. Furthermore, the Irons possess the fifth-lowest-scoring attack (15 goals) as well as the second-worst defence (27 conceded) after 13 matches played, and there is not much to be optimistic about at the moment. However, the travelling Londoners must hope the players can draw inspiration from last season’s success, when West Ham left the Theatre of Dreams victorious for the first time in 17 years.

Key players

Matthijs de Ligt is the most reliable defender in Manchester United’s backline this season, and Amorim is finally reaping the rewards of putting full trust in the Dutch centre-back who started each and every match of the Premier League campaign. Also, the 26-year-old is averaging 5.2 clearances per 90, making him the squad’s top-rated defender this season, with a FotMob rating of 6.97, and his recall to the Netherlands team was inevitable ahead of the World Cup.

*De Ligt’s defensive numbers in the Premier league this season*

West Ham’s Premier League survival might come down to the form Jarrod Bowen, as the England man remains is the club’s most important player. The winger leads the club rankings in goals + assists (4) and is averaging 2.4 shots per 90, making him a clear danger for Patrick Dorgu or Diogo Dalot, and Nuno would be silly not to try and exploit United’s weakness on the lefthand side with former United player Aaron Wan-Bissaka backing up and overlapping to help the West Ham captain.

Team news

The return of Mattheus Cunha is eagerly awaited and the Brazilian is back in first team’s training after missing the past couple of matches due to a head injury. Benjamin Šeško is still out and in his press conference, Amorim would not expand on rumours around other injury doubts in the squad.

Lucas Paquetá‘s moment of madness (two yellow cards for dissent in 54 seconds vs. Liverpool) only adds to the Hammers woes and the midfield maestro is set to serve a one-match suspension. He will be joining Oliver Scarles and Crysencio Summerville on the sidelines, the other injured absentees.

Predictions

The Red Devils have an obligation to make it up to their home support for their last disappointing outing at Old Trafford, and given the Hammers’ form and the hosts’ fruitful attack, I expect Manchester United to get a win which might lift them in to the top five and the battle for the Champions League places.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Arsenal back at the Emirates to face the Bees

One win in three doesn’t quite count as a wobble, particularly after just one Premier League defeat all season, but Arsenal won’t want the non-wins to become habit so a return to victory is a must as Brentford visit the Emirates.

By Karl Matchett

An almost-perfect match-up

A couple of caveats to those two recent draws for Arsenal. They were both away, and they were both against then-top-four teams, Sunderland and Chelsea. Whatever about the newly promoted side being unexpectedly high this term, they were confident and aggressive and deserved a point, but Arsenal are still keeping challengers at bay, even if they were less-than-impressive against their London rivals last time out while the sides had 11 players on the pitch. This match might just provide the perfect response, though.

The Gunners are excellent at home this term, five wins and one draw in their six games, with only two goals conceded so far. Meanwhile, Brentford’s own strength has also been on home soil – but on the road they’re joint-second worst for points gained, just one win from six attempts along with five defeats. Games like this one won’t shape the outcome of their season and there’s enough in the tank already to suggest defeat, if it comes, can be written off as a learning experience for Keith Andrews.

Returning faces at a crucial time

One big positive for Mikel Arteta when looking at the upcoming run for December and January will be the strength in depth his club has on offer, relative to rivals around him and opponents in the fixture list. While centre-back Gabriel is obviously a big miss, getting back the creativity and goals of Martin Ødegaard, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Jesus over the past week or so might provide the bench boosts that would-be champions require at this time of year when the fixtures come fast and the nights come early.

Recent form

Top by two points with this fixture in hand, Arsenal are unbeaten in all competitions since the end of August. In the league it’s six wins in the last eight. For Brentford, it’s fairly patchy across the campaign as a whole as that aforementioned home:away split suggests, but it’s five wins from the last seven across all competitions so they won’t shy away from the challenge.

Team news

No Gabriel or Kai Havertz for the Gunners, with William Saliba still a doubt and Leandro Trossard needing a fitness test.

Frank Onyeka and Antoni Milambo are Brentford’s absentees, though neither would have been starters.

Key player

Given this might be a game to make changes with a trip to Aston Villa to come at the weekend, Arteta might bring Martin Ødegaard back into the lineup. He’s been way off it this season, sluggish to start and injuries since then – yet widen the lens to the past year and among Europe’s best attacking midfielders he still has more chances created than 98% of them, more shots than 95% and more touches than four in every five (83%).

*Ødegaard’s traits comparison against similar players in Big 5 leagues*

Prediction

A fairly typical showing with the hosts dominant but lacking a cutting edge at times – except off set pieces: Arsenal 2 Brentford 1.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Athletic Club look to pile more misery on Real Madrid

Athletic Club will be hoping to take advantage of Real Madrid’s recent LaLiga woes when the clubs clash at the San Mames on Wednesday evening.

By Ross Kilvington

The home side recorded a 2-0 victory against Levante over the weekend, while Madrid were held 1-1 by struggling Girona. This marked the third successive league game where they have shared the spoils.

Athletic Club have endured a mixed start to the season

The Basque side may be sitting eighth in the table, but they have lost six of their 14 matches thus far.

As such, the club are currently 11 points adrift of a top four position as they bid to replicate their success last term.

Two recent domestic victories sandwiched a dispiriting 4-0 humbling by Barcelona a couple of weeks ago. Furthermore, Athletic Club also lost 3-2 to their rivals Real Sociedad.

Only Nico Williams, Gorka Guruzeta and Robert Navarro have scored more than twice for the club this season. They will, however, face a Madrid side which is struggling to gain any sort of consistency of late.

There might never be a better time to face Los Blancos. Since the start of the 2015/16 season, the home side have won just four times against Madrid, with only two of those coming in LaLiga.

Is Xabi Alonso the right man for Real Madrid?

Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid appeared to be a match made in heaven. After ten wins across their opening 11 league ties – the only loss being a 5-2 reverse against Atlético Madrid – it looked as though he was settling in nicely.

Since then, the club have drawn three consecutive league games while losing against Liverpool in the Champions League.

Further still, Alonso’s men hardly looked convincing in the 4-3 win over Olympiacos last week, relying on the brilliance from Kylian Mbappé to see them over the line.

Now with Vinícius Júnior halting contract talks with the club due to an alleged fallout with the manager, Alonso has work to do to get his team firing once again.

Team news

Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta will return for the home side following a suspension, although they will be without Oihan Sancet, who remains banned.

In terms of injuries, Athletic Club will be missing Beñat Prados, Unai Egiluz, Maroan Sannadi and Robert Navarro for the clash against Madrid on Wednesday evening.

Iñaki Williams is a doubt having missed the previous seven games, while Aymeric Laporte could return to the starting XI.

Alonso’s injury crisis is alleviating slightly. Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger returned from injury against Girona. Elsewhere, Eduardo Camavinga could be back in the starting XI for the away side.

Prediction

A few weeks ago, this tie would have been a lot easier to call. Recent results, however, has changed the complexities of the match, especially as Athletic Club have a great chance of getting a result.

Alonso will be boosted by getting several key players back into his side though and this could help Los Blancos end their three-game winless run.

Athletic Club 1 – 2 Real Madrid is what we are backing here at FotMob.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all the games from LaLiga on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Liverpool host highflying Sunderland

At the start of the season, few would’ve imagined Sunderland would be ahead of Liverpool when the two teams met in early December, but the Black Cats are one point clear of the champions ahead of their clash at the Anfield.

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

Sunderland are enjoying their return to the Premier League. Régis Le Bris has guided his side to six wins and four draws across their opening 13 matches. They sit sixth in the English top-flight, just three points behind second-placed Manchester City.

The Black Cats have beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and held runaway leaders Arsenal to a draw. They brought a three game winless streak to an end on Sunday, coming from 2-0 down to defeat Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light.

*Table positions going in to the midweek round*

In the Premier League, momentum really does matter. Across their next three fixtures, they have champions Liverpool, title hopefuls Manchester City and then have the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle United.

The next two are free hits in many ways. Few would’ve expected them to take points off of Liverpool or Manchester City. Head into those games with no fear and see what happens. A win in either of those games sets them up nicely for the clash against Newcastle, a game they’ll be desperate to avoid defeat in.

Liverpool, meanwhile, started the season with five wins on the bounce as they looked to retain their title. However, they’ve won just two of the last eight and found themselves in eighth position at the start of this midweek round of games. An encouraging showing against West Ham United on Sunday, a game they won 2-0, won’t count for much if they can’t build off of it.

To do that, a win on Wednesday against Sunderland is a must. Arne Slot’s side couldn’t build on the 2-0 win over Aston Villa a few weeks back.This can’t be another false dawn if the Reds have hopes of pushing for a top four finish.

Key Players

For the Reds, the focus will be on Mohamed Salah.

Left on the bench for the win over West Ham United, you can’t imagine the four-time Golden Boot winner will start on the sidelines on Wednesday. And he’ll return to the starting XI with a point to prove. The Reds picked up three points without him. He’ll want to make sure they pick up three points with him to quell any ideas the team have moved on from him, as bizarre as that sounds just a few months after a record-breaking individual Premier League campaign.

*Granit Xhaka is our fourth best rated player in the Premier League*

For the visitors, the main man is Granit Xhaka. Back in the Premier League following a stint in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, he’s been unbelievable for the Black Cats. He’s the top rated Sunderland player going off of average FotMob ratings, with a score of 7.54. The 33-year-old has four assists this term as well as a goal.

Team News

Sunderland are without Leo Hjelde and Habib Diarra. Other than that, Le Bris has a full squad to pick from ahead of a busy festive period.

The hosts are without both senior right-backs in Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong. Giovanni Leoni is set to miss the entire season while Joe Gomez could be rested having played a full 90 minutes against West Ham.

Prediction

We’re going to go with a 2-2 draw. Sunderland are a handful and Anfield doesn’t quite have the fear factor these days.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Leeds entertain Chelsea in a fixture rich in history

Ask ya’ Dad about this one! A few decades ago, Leeds vs Chelsea was a bigger deal, in recent years, however, the clubs have gone on vastly different trajectories. The players may not know the heritage this game has, but the fans certainly do.

By Alex Roberts

Chelsea should be proud of their performance in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in their previous game, going down to ten men and outplaying the league leaders for large portions of the game. It’s starting look like Enzo Maresca’s young side are coming of age.

As for Leeds, they came within seconds away from earning a much-needed draw against Man City, but Phil Foden stripped them of that, via some antics from Pep Guardiola and Gianluigi Donnarumma. They can be disappointed, but they need to start securing some points.

The Cole Palmer comeback tour?

Chelsea have been without their most influential player for the vast majority of the season so far, and fans have been itching to see Palmer back on the pitch. He was expected to return against Burnley, but a fractured toe prolonged his stay on the sidelines.

On the few occasions Palmer has played, he’s done about as well as expected, scoring two goals in his four games across all competitions, and with a place in next year’s World Cup squad less than certain, he needs to start making an impression.

Truth be told, Chelsea aren’t as reliant on Palmer as they once were. If the lanky genius had missed the first half of last season, who knows where they would be now. Perhaps that relieves some pressure on him, and Leeds could be the first victims of an even freer Palmer.

Lukas Nmecha is doing his job

There isn’t anyone in this current Leeds squad as in form as Nmecha at this moment in time. Three goals in his previous three Premier League games sounds great, but none of them have resulted in wins for the West Yorkshire club.

Goals are Leeds’ biggest issue. They only have seven different goal scorers so far this season and Nmecha is the only one that has more than two. Only rock-bottom Wolves have scored fewer goals than their 13.

A fit and firing striker is often the difference between staying in the Premier League or falling into the Championship. Nmecha is the closest things Leeds have to that, but all the others need to step up big time too.

Team news

Maresca will be without Moisés Caicedo after the midfielder was shown a straight red for a rash challenge on Mikel Merino last time out. He will miss this and then the next two games for Chelsea through suspension.

Last time Caicedo didn’t feature, which isn’t often, Andrey Santos stepped in and put in arguably his best performance in a Chelsea shirt vs Burnley, so expect him to be called upon here too.

Whether Palmer starts or not is the big question, either way, he will likely be getting a good few minutes in his legs. Maresca also said that Reece James won’t be playing the full 90 minutes after his shift in the Arsenal game.

Levi Colwill (knee), Roméo Lavia (thigh) are still both out. Dário Essugo has returned to full training after a thigh operation but is still working his way back to full fitness.

Moving on to Leeds, Daniel Farke is sweating over the fitness of James Justin after he took a “little hit” in the City game, but he should have Sebastiaan Bornauw and Anton Stach back and in the squad.

It’s not looking while we’ll see Sean Longstaff again before the end of the year due to a calf problem.

Prediction

Leeds vs Chelsea at Elland Road is always going to be explosive. The home side have the ability to do some damage, but we think Chelsea’s quality will shine through, and they’ll bag a 2-1 win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Barcelona meet inform Atlético in battle to stay top in LaLiga

Barcelona host Atletico Madrid in a meeting of two of the most in-form sides in LaLiga. Over the last five games, Atlético haven’t dropped a point, while Barcelona have picked up 12 points during that time.

By Matt Smith

The last meeting between the two sides in LaLiga was a thriller, with Lamine Yamal scoring a stoppage-time winner before Ferran Torres added the cherry on top in the final seconds. The sides also met in a goal heavy semifinal in the Copa Del Rey last season.

Team news

Barcelona are still without both Marc-André ter Stegen and Gavi for this one, while Fermín López is once again missing due to injury. Frenkie De Jong could return in the middle of the park, while Ronald Araújo and Eric García are both in a race against time to be fit for this game.

Marcos Llorente looks set to miss his third consecutive game due to injury, while Robin Le Normand is a doubt for the away side. Diego Simeone shuffled the pack at the weekend ahead of this huge clash, so we could see a host of changes to his starting XI for this game.

Barcelona the dominators

Barcelona have enjoyed a dominant season in LaLiga so far, in terms of their performances, and they now sit top of the table after a run of poor form from Real Madrid. Averaging more possession and goals per game than any other side in the league, Hansi Flick’s men are clicking of late in the league.

The game against Atlético is an opportunity for Barcelona to go four points clear of Real Madrid, at least temporarily, but the in-form side in La Liga stand in their way on Tuesday evening.

Atlético’s defensive solidity

So far this season, Atlético have conceded just 11 goals in LaLiga, fewer than any other side in the league. Simeone’s side have also shown signs of improvement going forward in recent weeks, with only Real Madrid and Barcelona creating more big chances, shots on target, and expected goals per game.

Atlético’s away form has been their Achilles heel this term, winning just twice on the road. At home, no side has picked up more points, and they are yet to suffer a defeat.

Lamine Yamal in unstoppable form

Seeing Lamine Yamal fail to contribute in a game this season has been a rarity. In fact, he’s failed to produce a goal or assist in a game just once this season, and that was against title-chasing rivals Real Madrid.

At the age of 18, the Spanish superstar has been one of the top performers in LaLiga this term, and with five goal contributions in his previous three games, Atlético have a difficult task on their hands trying to keep him quiet.

Prediction

Both sides head into this game in strong form, and it’s tricky to split them. Considering Atlético’s inconsistent away record in LaLiga this season, we’re going for a narrow 2-1 victory to Barcelona.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the LaLiga with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Spurs face midweek trip to Newcastle

Off the back of their debacle against Fulham on Saturday night, a 500-mile round trip to Newcastle is probably the last thing Spurs need right now, but in the Premier League, life comes at you fast.

By Ian King

Spurs’ Saturday night loss to Fulham moved them into “Crisis Club” territory

With Liverpool winning at the weekend, Tottenham Hotspur are back as the Premier League’s crisis club du jour. Conceding two goals in the first six minutes against Fulham on Saturday night officially moved Thomas Frank into “embattled” territory.

Without a home league win since the opening weekend of the season, the sound of knives being sharpened for the new-ish head coach is becoming increasingly loud across London N17.

Newcastle, meanwhile, remain a model of inconsistency, having bounced back from two pretty poor defeats in London against West Ham and Brentford by beating Manchester City and Everton, though their 2-1 loss at Marseille in the Europa League was a reminder that they’re not the finished article yet.

Four of their five League wins so far this season have been at home, with the only teams to have beaten them at St James Park so far having been Arsenal and pre-slump Liverpool.

There are few good omens for Spurs to take from having to travel to Tyneside

Newcastle have won their last four consecutive meetings with Spurs, with the last one of those coming only just over a month ago in the Carabao Cup.

Peering back into the history books doesn’t offer many crumbs of comfort for Spurs, either. In May 2016, Newcastle beat them 5-1. In April 2023, Newcastle beat them 6-1. And in December 1998, Newcastle beat them 7-1.

The last of those results wasn’t even the first time that Newcastle had put seven goals past Spurs at St James’ Park, either. In September 1951, just four months after Spurs had been crowned the champions of England for the first time, Newcastle beat them 7-2.

Malick Thiaw improved his career goals tally by 50% against Everton on Sunday

Defender Malick Thiaw popped up with a goal in the first minute of Newcastle’s trip to Everton on Saturday, and then grabbed another in the second half. This brace increased his career goals tally by 50%, having previously scored four times in almost 150 games for his two previous clubs, Milan and Schalke. A repeat of that goalscoring feat is unlikely, but Thiaw has been getting decent ratings for his defensive performances for Newcastle too.

The main focus of Spurs fans’ ire on Saturday night was goalkeeper Gugliemo Vicario after he got himself in a pickle near the corner flag and ended up gifting Fulham their second goal in the opening six minutes of the match.

Having conceded five the previous Wednesday to PSG in the Champions League and four to Arsenal in the Premier League the Sunday before, it was a bad seven days for the goalkeeper, and he needs a big performance to set himself back on track.

Nick Pope likely to be missing again for Newcastle, while Cristian Romero returns for Spurs

Newcastle have their fair share of injuries at the moment, and will be missing Kieran Trippier (hamstring), Yoane Wissa (knee), Harrison Ashby (thigh) and Will Osula (ankle). They’re also likely to be missing Nick Pope, who has damaged his groin, missed the Everton match (the club issued a statement confirming that this was the reason for his absence and not the mistakes he made in their Europa League game at Marseille last week), and is unlikely to be available for this one too. Aaron Ramsdale deputised then, and will likely do so again. Sven Botman has a back injury, and faces a fitness test.

Spurs are still missing James Maddison (ACL), Radu Dragusin (fitness), Kota Takai (thigh), Yves Bissouma (ankle), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Dominic Solanke (ankle), though Cristian Romero will return after missing the Fulham match suspended as a result of picking up five yellow cards. Expect changes from the team that lost to Fulham on Saturday, though what exact form that takes will be unclear until the teams are announced an hour or so before kick-off.

Newcastle may have been blowing hot & cold this season, but Spurs are heading for another winter of discontent

If anything, with a bright start completely unravelling as autumn turns to winter, Spurs’ Premier League season is starting to resemble last season, and what’s most alarming about that for their fans is that they do not have the buffer of there being three teams occupying the relegation places who are falling off the bottom of the division this time around, as there were last season.

As such, the club are in a Catch-22 situation. Sacking the head coach after just a few months only has any chance of working if there’s a clear plan who would replace them, and… well… Do you think they’ve got one for that sort of eventuality? It seems highly unlikely, but don’t think for a second that this would stop them.

Newcastle have blown hot and cold all season, and that’s a theme that has continued over the last seven days, with their wins against Manchester City and Everton being deeply impressive, but a defeat in Marseille from a winning position interrupting them. When they’re good – Manchester City at home – they’re very, very good, but when they’re bad – West Ham away – they’re horrid.

But for all that, Newcastle’s home form has been reasonably good this season, and Spurs are in that skittish place in which they so often seem to find themselves these days, and it’s very difficult to see past a comfortable Newcastle win. 3-0 to the Toon, and the sound of those knives sharpening for Thomas Frank to start to become deafening.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Dec

2025

Preview: Erling hunting 100th EPL goal as City visit Fulham

Erling Haaland might have frustrated more than a million fantasy managers by misfiring against Leeds, but now he faces a Fulham team he has scored six times against in six league games previously. The last time he went four appearances without a goal was Boxing Day last year – can he end this cold streak after three blanks?

By Karl Matchett

Runaway plunderer

The Norwegian striker was in outrageous scoring form almost right from the season’s first whistle, and even after failing to score against Newcastle and Leeds – plus Leverkusen in Europe – he’s still well clear at the top of the Premier League scoring charts and has more goals himself than Wolves, Nottingham Forest or Leeds do as a whole. Fulham are a side he’s enjoyed facing, too: six in six all told, including a hat-trick, plus an assist.

*Haaland leads the race for the 2024/25 Golden Boot*

While it can’t be said that City are struggling if Haaland doesn’t score, it is still notable that they’ve lost two of these three fixtures in which he didn’t find the back of the net, while they also needed a stoppage-time winner to see off Leeds at the weekend after throwing away a two-goal lead. If Pep Guardiola’s team are to hunt down leaders Arsenal, they need Haaland in relentless, unstoppable form – it really is that simple. When he’s in two “shots, two goals” mode, City are uncatchable – but right now they remain the chasers.

Fulham join the ‘middle class’

Nothing to do with property taxes in west London – we’re talking league table points here. Fulham’s run of three wins from four has propelled them away from the clutch of sides at the bottom and firmly into the chasing pack of…well, almost everyone else.

Leaving aside the four at the top and the five at the bottom, positions fifth to Fulham – who are 15th – are separated by just five points. Anyone finding a semblance of consistency in their form between now and the end of the year, a clutch of five fixtures, are going to fly up the table and the Cottagers might be hitting top gear at a great time. Do the opposite, of course, and the conversation can go from European football to “focus on a cup run” in double quick fashion.

*Fulham’s table position going into the midweek round*

Recent form

Including a cup triumph on penalties it’s four wins in Fulham’s last five, while the only teams they’ve failed to beat in the league at home this term are Man United and Arsenal. Man City have won eight of their last 11 in all competitions, but away form is much more vague – four wins in the last nine.

Team news

Antonee Robinson and Rodrigo Muniz are the only absentees for Fulham, while City remain without midfield duo Mateo Kovačić and Rodri.

Key player

Phil Foden will be a watched man again after his brace at the weekend but Jérémy Doku has been in-favour and in-form of late, having created eight big chances for City – the most in the league – and he’s also top for dribbles per 90 (4.6) among those playing at least 400 minutes.

Prediction

Fulham to frustrate City for long spells…but not quite hold on for a result: Fulham 1 Man City 2.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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