Premier League Week 12 Fixtures: Predictions for Next Week's Games

As the Premier League gears up for the crucial month of December, uncertainty reigns over who are the true title contenders for this season's crown.

The action in Week 12 may be able to offer some guidance with the first Merseyside derby of the season, a stern test for David Moyes' resurgent Manchester United and pivotal clashes between Arsenal an Southampton, and Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur brimming with intrigue.

Predictions for each fixture can be found below, followed by a brief rundown of how the results could impact on the league table.

Time and Date (GMT)	Home	Prediction	Away
Saturday November 23, 12:45 p.m.	Everton	1-2	Liverpool
Saturday November 23, 3 p.m.	Arsenal	2-1	Southampton
Saturday November 23, 3 p.m.	Fulham	0-3	Swansea
Saturday November 23, 3 p.m.	Hull	1-1	Crystal Palace
Saturday November 23, 3 p.m.	Newcastle	2-0	Norwich
Saturday November 23, 3 p.m.	Stoke	2-2	Sunderland
Saturday November 23, 5:30 p.m.	West Ham	1-3	Chelsea
Sunday November 24, 1:30 p.m.	Man City	1-0	Spurs
Sunday November 24, 4 p.m.	Cardiff	0-2	Man Utd
Monday November 25, 8 p.m.	West Brom	1-2	Aston Villa

The title race: a change at the top

A win for Southampton at the Emirates would see them dramatically leapfrog Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table—but not before Liverpool who could reassert their title challenge with a win against Everton at Goodison Park.

Kicking off at 12:45 a.m., the second-placed Reds will jump into first if they can overcome Roberto Martinez's new-look Toffees.

That may be easier said than done, however, but with Brendan Rodgers having so far continued Liverpool's hex over their cross-town rivals during his time at Anfield, the form book is on the visitors' side.

Even if Everton were to lose their home derby, Arsenal would still reclaim the top spot with a win or draw against the Saints, and with questions hanging over the mental strength of Arsene Wenger and his men, the Gunners will be determined to prove their mettle after tasting defeat against United.

Moyes' team will face a trial of their own on a visit to Cardiff, who have been extremely useful at home this year, beating Man City and Swansea and drawing with Everton. A professional job should see the visitors through, though.

Chelsea cannot steal Arsenal's position, regardless of the Gunners' or anyone else's results in Week 12.

They can heave, however, themselves back into contention and potentially into second place with an away trip to West Ham after disappointing results against West Brom and Newcastle.

Mourinho won't allow his team to fail again and Chelsea are all set to help boot Southampton out of the top four at the weekend.

City and Spurs will look to bounce back from their own shock results after losing 1-0 away to Sunderland and 1-0 away to Newcastle in their respective previous games.

Fortunately for both teams, their showdown takes place in the North West rather than the North East, but the attacking power of Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo makes the home side the favourites.

New relegation candidates

Crystal Palace are set to remain cast adrift on the bottom of the Premier League as they travel to play Hull.

Steve Bruce's side may have begun to look all too ordinary of late, but the Tigers should have enough to get a result from the Eagles.

Sunderland's bid for a truly great escape following their win against City takes them to Stoke where Mark Hughes improving team will be backing themselves to prosper, but don't be surprised if Gus Poyet is somehow able to mastermind an unlikely point or three.

A loss would see the Potters potentially thrown into the relegation zone proper.

The league's mid-table zone is so tight that a win for Martin Jol's troubled Fulham would propel them above opponents Swansea, who visit London intent on raining more misery down on the Dutchman.

Should Michael Laudrup's visitors win in the capital, the sack may follow.

Norwich City boss Chris Hughton looks slightly more comfortable in his post after last weekend's 3-1 win over West Ham, but their Week 12 opponents Newcastle are in the ascendancy and should produce a comfortable victory at St. James Park.

With Chelsea set to vaporise the Hammers at the Boleyn Ground, Sam Allardyce's team could be set to slip into the bottom three going into the 13th round of the season.