YTM Xmas Fixtures Predictions

Hope you are all getting ready for the festivities!
Here are the predictions for the matches over the Christmas period. Quite a lot to go through, so the guestimates will be fast and furious...

Saturday

Arsenal vs Blackburn
Blackburn got a good away win last weekend, but Arsenal will be wanting to get back to winning ways, and should do so.
Home Win

Aston Villa vs Man United
Should be a good game this one. Unfortunately Villa are on a bit of a slump, and Man United will be wanting to rectify last Sunday's defeat to West Ham.
Away Win

Fulham vs West Ham
Curbishley should have drilled out West Ham's defensive frailties by now, and they will be difficult to break down at the Cottage in the early kick-off on Saturday.
Draw

Liverpool vs Watford
Liverpool never lose at home, and Watford are beginning to struggle in the Premiership.
Home Win

Man City vs Bolton
Expect a low scoring game, with Bolton stealing a 0-1 victory.
Away Win

Middlesbrough vs Charlton
Middlesbrough can be good sometimes, but Charlton are always awful.
Home Win

Newcastle vs Tottenham
I think this will be a good match, and Newcastle should fancy themselves against a team that doesn't perform well on their travels. I fully expect the two foreign imports, Martins and Berbatov, to be the stars here.
Draw

Portsmouth vs Sheff Utd
I hate Neil Warnock! Hopefully Harry Redknapp can do me a favour and get his team to hammer the Blades!
Home Win

Reading vs Everton
A difficult one to call. If Moyes gets his tactics right, Everton shouldn't concede. But if Arteta is out injured, then the weight will be solely on Andy Johnson's shoulders. Whether he will score is another question...
Draw

Wigan vs Chelsea
This fixture last year was decided by a great Hernan Crespo strike in injury time. The man of the moment is Didier Drogba, and I would not be at all surprised if he popped up and it finished 0-1 to Chelsea again.
Away Win

Boxing Day

Blackburn vs Liverpool
Liverpool are picking up points away from home nowadays, and I would expect their defence to be able to deal with the threat posed by Bentley and McCarthy.
Away Win

Bolton vs Newcastle
I fancy Newcastle to come away from the Reebok with something, as they have definitely improved over recent weeks. Bolton are short up front, and it will start to show in 2007.
Draw

Chelsea vs Reading
Ibrahim Sonko is afraid that some angry Chelsea fans are looking for revenge, after his tackle on Cudicini. If I was him I would be worried about Drogba, Shevchenko, Lampard, Ballack, Essien...
Home Win

Everton vs Middlesbrough
Everton should get the three points at Goodison, provided Middlesbrough's normal team turns up, and not its super twin team that beat Chelsea and drew with Arsenal...
Home Win

Man United vs Wigan
Provided Ronaldo and Rooney haven't over-done it on Christmas Day, Man United should win this one at a canter.
Home Win

Sheff Utd vs Man City
As much as I hate Warnock, he does seem to be able to get his team to produce results, and they haven't been really 'hammered' yet in the Premiership. I think they will beat Man City, and put Stuart Pearce under a bit of pressure going into 2007.
Home Win

Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Tottenham’s home form has been good so far this season, and they will be favourites for this game. How good Villa are really will depend on the result against Man United on the 23rd.
Home Win

Watford vs Arsenal
I really don't know why, but I think Watford will get a point from this fixture. Arsenal have been good on the road so far, but Watford know how to shut up shop, and can't score many goals. 0-0 methinks.
Draw

West Ham vs Portsmouth
Curbishley's revitalised Hammers will be looking for a second straight home win against Pompey. Redknapp will be returning to his old stamping ground. It will be emotional, and it will be close.
Draw

27th December

Charlton vs Fulham
Charlton have to win at some point in the season, don't they? Fulham's away form hasn't been as bad as in previous seasons, and they will definitely be looking for a positive result. An entertaining draw.
Draw

And that's it for the Christmas fixtures...

Hope you all have a wicked Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2007.

Dave and the rest of the team @ YTM HQ