EPL Week 16 Picks: Predicting Most Likely Upsets This Weekend

This Premier League season has already justified the division's claim as being the most competitive in Europe, producing shock results on a weekly basis. 

Even the latest round of games featured two huge upsets, with Manchester United and Chelsea stunned by Newcastle and Stoke respectively.

Week 16 of the English top-flight calendar threatens more disruptions to the established order, with minnows across the board hoping to pick up points at the expense of their more illustrious rivals.

With that being the case, read on for a prediction of exactly which fixtures might be worth keeping an eye on with the promise of an underdog victory.

Fixture	Date	Time	Predictions
Manchester City vs. Arsenal	Dec. 14	12:45 p.m. GMT/7:45 a.m. ET	3-2
Cardiff City vs. West Brom	Dec. 14	3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET	1-1
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace	Dec. 14	3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET	3-1
Everton vs. Fulham	Dec. 14	3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET	3-0
Newcastle United vs. Southampton	Dec. 14	3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET	2-3
West Ham vs. Sunderland	Dec. 14	3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET	2-1
Hull City vs. Stoke City	Dec. 14	5:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET	2-1
Aston Villa vs. Manchester United	Dec. 15	1:30 p.m. GMT/8:30 a.m. ET	2-2
Norwich City vs. Swansea City	Dec. 15	1:30 p.m. GMT/8:30 a.m. ET	0-2
Tottenham vs. Liverpool	Dec. 15	4 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET	1-2

Aston Villa Grab a Result Against Manchester United

Sunday's clash against Manchester United holds a great deal of promise for Paul Lambert's Aston Villa, who are arguably facing the Red Devils at the best possible time.

Having just been beaten by Newcastle, David Moyes' side will undoubtedly have an air of desperation hanging over their heads when they travel to Villa Park, having fallen 13 points off the title pace.

They will have the return of Wayne Rooney to offer some cheer, but Villa know this United team are not what they once were.

Nobody ever wants to be the one to wake a sleeping giant, but Lambert's side will be focused on producing a reaction of their own this week, after losing poorly to Fulham last weekend.

Having not won a home Premier League fixture against United since 1995, now is as good a time as ever for Villa to turn the tide against their long-standing foes. Newcastle and Everton each broke their Old Trafford hoodoo in the past seven days, so Villa will aim to hand Moyes another unwanted record.

It was only last week that the Guardian's Jamie Jackson reported that Rio Ferdinand had some reservations about Moyes' preference for naming his team very late in the week, highlighting potential unrest at Old Trafford.

Midfield lynchpin Michael Carrick is still missing, while Robin van Persie looked far from 100 percent fit against Newcastle, so expect Villa to rattle the champions with a fast start on home soil.

Hull City Beat Stoke City

Having conceded just three goals at home all season, Hull City have made the KC Stadium a difficult place to travel of late, their most recent result there being a 3-1 win over Liverpool.

However, the Tigers now welcome a Stoke City side on a high from the 3-2 win managed against Jose Mourinho's Chelsea this weekend.

With just a point separating the two teams, it's the Potters who have the edge in terms of top-flight experience and squad pedigree, but Hull will be able to overcome the challenge, Stoke having become far more open under Mark Hughes.

While Hughes' more expansive tactics may prove a step up from Tony Pulis' style in the long run, Stoke continue to offer their share of openings at the back, and have kept just three clean sheets in their last 11 matches.

Hull were on the wrong end of two crucial decisions in their 1-1 draw at Swansea on Monday and look confident.

Southampton Beat Newcastle United

From the south coast all the way up to the North East, Southampton bring a difficult examination to St James' Park this weekend and one that the Magpies will find tough to pass.

In terms of form, Alan Pardew's side are superior right now, having won five of their last six fixtures, the most recent of which was a historic 1-0 at Manchester United. Meanwhile, the Saints sit three points behind their Tyneside foes and have just three wins in their last 10 across all competitions.

That being the case, Mauricio Pochettino's men showed signs they are ready to rediscover their winnings ways in their impressive 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

They have the defensive pressing game needed to restrain Newcastle's in-form attack, just as they did to City on Saturday. Pochettino's side arguably should have won that match and will relish the chance to silence a packed crowd at St James'.