EPL Week 12 Predictions: Highlighting Most Thrilling Matchups

Matchweek 12 will struggle to live up the thrilling heights of last weekend, but it does boast a schedule that looks capable of giving it a go. 

When the Premier League circus starts back up Nov. 23 after the international break, the action will get underway at Goodison Park when Everton welcome rivals Liverpool in the day’s early kickoff. 

The Merseyside derby is just one of three games that pits top-eight sides against each other. The other two see Southampton travel to North London to take on league leaders Arsenal, while Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur will look to bounce back from their upset defeats to Sunderland and Newcastle respectively when they lock horns at the Etihad Stadium. 

Before we take a look at the three matches most likely have you on the edge of your seats, here’s a stab at some Week 12 predictions. 

Date, time	Team	vs.	Team	Prediction
Nov. 23, 12:45 p.m GMT	Everton	vs.	Liverpool	Liverpool win, 2-1
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Newcastle	vs.	Norwich	Draw, 2-2
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Fulham	vs.	Swansea	Swansea win, 2-1
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Stoke	vs.	Sunderland	Draw, 1-1
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Hull	vs.	Crystal Palace	Hull win, 1-0
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Arsenal	vs.	Southampton	Arsenal win, 2-1
Nov. 23, 5:30 p.m GMT	West Ham	vs.	Chelsea	Chelsea win, 4-1
Nov. 24, 1:30 p.m GMT	Man City	vs.	Tottenham	City win, 2-0
Nov. 24, 4 p.m GMT	Cardiff	vs.	Man United	United win, 2-0
Nov. 24, 8 p.m GMT	West Brom	vs.	Aston Villa	W Brom win, 2-1

West Brom vs. Aston Villa

You have to go all the way back to 1987 to find the last time more than one goal separated West Brom and Aston Villa in a league game—per 11v11. 

Despite each match being closely contested, the Villains boasted a 17-game unbeaten streak against the Baggies up until 2011. Since then, however, West Brom have won two and drawn three against their West Midland rivals. 

Both sides come into the contest off the back of positive results.  

Paul Lambert’s side ended their drought of four games without a goal when they bagged two without reply against Cardiff, while West Brom came away from Stamford Bridge with a point after being denied a win at the death by a controversial refereeing decision.  

There is little to separate the two sides in the league. Both have collected 14 points from the 33 on offer, while conceding 12 goals apiece. 

Night matches often bring with them that little extra bit of excitement. Add to that the derby spice and their tight matches of late, and West Brom and Villa could potentially provide us with a thriller under the lights.  

Arsenal vs. Southampton

This matchup is an enticing one for various reasons. 

Both clubs have gone above and beyond what has been expected of them so far this season, with Arsenal sitting top and the Saints three points back in third place. 

There will be questions posed about Arsenal’s resilience ahead of the game at the Emirates. Much of the criticism labeled at Arsene Wenger’s side over the last couple of years has been about their ability—or lack thereof—to bounce back from knocks, and a failure to pick up points at home to Southampton would see some of their critics returning to the fore once more. 

The Saints boast structure and organization right through the spine of their team, and in Adam Lallana they have a player who will look to take on the Arsenal back four with his repertoire of skills. 

Arsenal’s creative flair going forward will be a threat to Southampton, but the Gunners will be wary that their opponents stifled one top team already this season when they picked up a point against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

A lot will depend on how each set of players recovers from international duty, but this game has the potential to be a very entertaining affair. 

Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

A season ticket at the Etihad Stadium must be the best value for money so far this season. 

The Sky Blues have bagged 20 goals in their own backyard, which is more than any other team—bar Arsenal and Liverpool—has managed in total. 

They are at their free-flowing best in front of their own fans, but Spurs’ stingy defence will pose them with one of the toughest challenges they have faced all season. 

The North London outfit have conceded just six goals in their opening 11 games, but it’s their woes in front of goal that will trouble their fans the most. 

Nine goals in 11 games, three of which came from the penalty spot, isn’t good enough for a side with top four aspirations.

Andre Villas-Boas may be tempted to sit back and play for the draw against City, but sooner or later he will need to loosen some of the shackles he has imposed on his team.