EPL Predictions: Picks, Top Players for Week 14 Premier League Fixtures
Manchester City and Chelsea go head-to-head on Saturday in the standout clash in Week 14 of the Premier League.
Chelsea are on a run of seven straight league victories and have surged to the top of the table, while City sit just a single point back in third.
West Ham United host local rivals Arsenal, hoping to find their form at the London Stadium. Meanwhile, another big match will see Everton and Manchester United meet at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Read on for an in-depth look at the key players across the weekend, plus all the fixtures and predictions.
| Date | Time (GMT/ET) | Fixture | Prediction |
| Dec. 3 | 12:30 p.m/7:30 a.m | Manchester City vs. Chelsea | 2-1 |
| Dec. 3 | 3 p.m/10 a.m | Crystal Palace vs. Southampton | 0-2 |
| Dec. 3 | 3 p.m/10 a.m | Stoke City vs. Burnley | 1-1 |
| Dec. 3 | 3 p.m/10 a.m | Sunderland vs. Leicester City | 1-2 |
| Dec. 3 | 3 p.m/10 a.m | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Swansea City | 3-1 |
| Dec. 3 | 3 p.m/10 a.m | West Bromwich Albion vs. Watford | 3-0 |
| Dec. 3 | 5:30 p.m/12:30 p.m | West Ham United vs. Arsenal | 0-2 |
| Dec. 4 | 1:30 p.m/8: 30 a.m | Bournemouth vs. Liverpool | 1-2 |
| Dec. 4 | 4 p.m/11 a.m | Everton vs. Manchester United | 0-0 |
| Dec. 5 | 8 p.m/3 p.m | Middlesbrough vs. Hull City | 4-0 |
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
Sergio Aguero should provide a real test of Antonio Conte's defensive line in his much-heralded 3-4-3 formation.
With the setup proving so successful since the switch after a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal back on Sept. 24, it would be a surprise if Conte decided to change tack for this tough trip to the Etihad Stadium.
With that in mind, Aguero will be the key man for City as they look to capitalise on any space left by Chelsea's marauding wing-backs, Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso.
If past weeks are anything to go by, the Chelsea pair will leave space in behind that Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling can exploit. Their link-up play with Aguero at the point of the attack could be crucial to City breaking through and putting real pressure on Conte's tactics.
City fans will be buoyed by the return of Aguero to the scoresheet, and fresh from netting twice against Burnley on Saturday, he could prove the difference in what looks like being an open, attacking encounter.
N'Golo Kante, Chelsea
Just as he was for Leicester City en route to their surprise title win last season, N'Golo Kante is proving integral to the Chelsea side under Conte.
When discussing Kante's influence for the Daily Mail, former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp recalled how the midfielder was described by Leicester's backroom staff.
He said: "Kante is like a mole—he pops up all over the pitch! He is a nightmare to play against because he covers so much ground, puts you under pressure and never wastes the ball."
It is perhaps the Frenchman's high energy that sets him apart, and coupled with a fine reading of the game, his partnership with Nemanja Matic has provided the structure from which Chelsea's attacking threats have been able to flourish.
As the home side, City will look to put Chelsea's widemen on the back foot, and Kante's role will be twofold.
Defensively, he will be tasked with covering any gaps left by Moses and Alonso, while his positional awareness and ability to make simple passes to set his side on their attacking way will be vital to ensuring the Blues do not lose their intent at the Etihad.
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United
Wayne Rooney will hope to play a big part against boyhood club Everton when the two sides clash at Goodison Park.
The England striker found himself back on the bench for the match against West Ham United on Sunday, but manager Jose Mourinho could opt to put him back into the starting lineup after watching his team struggle to break the Hammers down in a 1-1 draw.
Everton boss Ronald Koeman knows the threat Rooney could pose his side and has spoken openly about his desire to bring the forward back to the club, adding he is "a great player who has still not finished his career," per Geoff Sweet of the Sun.
Mourinho will be aware that Rooney has run into some goalscoring form lately and will be desperate to make an impact back on the ground where he made his debut as a 16-year-old in 2002.
Rooney's link-up play with Zlatan Ibrahimovic has improved in recent weeks, and as his strike against Fenerbahce in the 4-0 UEFA Europa League win showed, his ability to finish off moves when one-on-one with the goalkeeper has not diminished.
Taking their chances has been one of United's failings so far this season, and Rooney could add the edge required against the club he knows so well.
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