Premier League Week 15 Fixtures: EPL Picks and Predictions
Manchester United's stuttering season needs a lift, the sort of lift that can come from beating Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday. Spurs will arrive in Manchester fifth in the Premier League, one place and six points in front of United.
If the Red Devils are going to be a factor in the race for a top-four finish, they simply have to win. It's a similar story for suddenly flagging Manchester City, who need to beat last season's champions on Saturday to stay relevant in the title race.
The Citizens were flattened by Chelsea at home last week, a defeat made doubly costly by the suspensions incurred by key players, particularly striker Sergio Aguero. Yet City's problems are nothing compared to those of Leicester, who have gone from fairytale title winners to potential relegation candidates.
The Manchester clubs feature in the pick of Week 15's fixtures, but there are also big games for title-chasing trio Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Here are the week's fixtures, along with picks and predictions for each match:
Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
United have merited the unwanted tag of draw specialists of England's top flight. The Red Devils have drawn four of their last five league matches and have been held to a stalemate six times already.
Ironically, their opponents have a similar problem, with Tottenham also involved in half a dozen draws this season. Another stalemate seems like a good bet, but honours won't be even this time.
Spurs don't generally enjoy their visits to Old Trafford. However, this season's Tottenham boasts the firepower to change their history.
In particular, strikers Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, along with attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen, have all been among the goals recently. The trio accounted for all five of Tottenham's goals in the rout of Swansea City. They are all players United manager Jose Mourinho must plan to keep quiet.
Keeping things tight at the back hasn't been a problem for United lately. Mourinho's men haven't conceded more than once in a league game since the 4-0 defeat by Chelsea in October.
| Date | Time (GMT / ET) | Match | Pick | Prediction |
| Saturday, December 10 | 12:30 p.m. / 7:30 a.m. | Watford vs. Everton | Draw | 1-1 |
| Saturday, December 10 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Arsenal vs. Stoke City | Arsenal | 2-0 |
| Saturday, December 10 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Burnley vs. Bournemouth | Burnley | 2-1 |
| Saturday, December 10 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Hull City vs. Crystal Palace | Palace | 1-2 |
| Saturday, December 10 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Swansea City vs. Sunderland | Draw | 2-2 |
| Saturday, December 10 | 5:30 p.m. / 12:30 p.m. | Leicester City vs. Manchester City | Draw | 1-1 |
| Sunday, December 11 | 12 p.m. / 7 a.m. | Chelsea vs. West Bromwich Albion | Chelsea | 2-0 |
| Sunday, December 11 | 2:15 p.m. / 9:15 a.m. | Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur | United | 2-1 |
| Sunday, December 11 | 2:15 p.m. / 9:15 a.m. | Southampton vs. Middlesbrough | Southampton | 1-0 |
| Sunday, December 11 | 4:30 p.m. / 11:30 a.m. | Liverpool vs. West Ham United | Liverpool | 3-1 |
His defence may be solid, but Mourinho will know he needs more from his attack. United have been creating chances for fun and playing football that's pleasing on the eye, but their finishing has been wayward.
The combination passing between striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfielders Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been a joy to watch. If anything, Mourinho may need to give his forward-thinking players more trust and freedom.
It's not something he appeared to do in the recent 1-1 draw against Everton, when he swapped out the influential Mkhitaryan for Marouane Fellaini with United leading. Fellaini gave away the penalty Leighton Baines converted for Everton's equaliser.
When quizzed about his tactics, a typically defiant Mourinho went on the defensive, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News:
"You have questions that you have to make a decision because when my teams are playing pragmatic football and winning matches and winning titles, you say that is not right and nice.
When my teams like now, they play very, very well, there is a huge change in the relation to the past two or three years, now you say that what matters is to get the result no matter what.
"
Whatever balance Mourinho tries to strike between pragmatism and stylistics, his United side has to start producing results now. The visit of Spurs is an ideal opportunity to change momentum.
Leicester City vs. Manchester City
How can City cope without their best player? It's the question facing manager Pep Guardiola after the FA handed Aguero a four-match ban for his wild lunge into Chelsea's David Luiz during stoppage time, per BBC Sport.
Aguero is a major loss, but Nick Wright of Sky Sports thinks it needn't be a fatal blow for City's title hopes: "Since the start of last season, they have actually averaged more points and more goals scored in the 12 Premier League games he has missed compared to the 40 Premier League games he has started."
City have a host of options for replacing their talisman in the final third. Wright also noted how Guardiola could turn to a false nine formation, with either Kevin De Bruyne, Nolito, Raheem Sterling or Leroy Sane acting as the focal point.
Wright's suggestion has merit, but perhaps midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure, always a source of goals in key games, could be the better choice.
Fixing things up front isn't Guardiola's only dilemma, though. Not with midfielder Fernandinho joining Aguero on the list of suspensions.
The Brazilian was at the heart of the brawl that followed Aguero's tackle and dismissal. His clash with Chelsea playmaker Cesc Fabregas resulted in a red card and three-match ban, per BBC Sport.
It means City have lost their only natural holding midfielder, leaving less protection for an already suspect defence.
Of course, Leicester won't be able to take advantage of a weakened City side unless their own star attackers begin firing. Specifically, the Foxes need last season's star double act, striker Jamie Vardy and winger Riyad Mahrez, to return to form.
Unfortunately, Vardy has scored a mere two Premier League goals, per WhoScored.com, while the same source reveals how Mahrez has managed just a single assist.
Manager Claudio Ranieri has even discussed dropping the pair, according to Rob Tanner of the Leicester Mercury. Yet with points at a premium, Ranieri can't risk leaving out two players who could punish City's frequent lapses at the back.
The Manchester clubs need to prove their credentials to compete for major honours this season are still credible. Nothing less than a win this weekend will do for either.
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