EPL Week 14 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixture Info
Midweek football returns to the Premier League in December, and the top-flight's title hopefuls have renewed hope in their pursuit of Chelsea, who dropped points in their 0-0 draw at Sunderland on Saturday.
The ever-changing landscape of the English hierarchy is bound to undergo further revisions throughout the winter schedule, and it's at this juncture of the campaign when squads are tested to their limits.
Week 14 presents the beginning of that examination, and here we profile some of the players to keep an eye on in midweek.
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| Date | Time (GMT/ET) | Fixture | Prediction |
| Dec. 2 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Burnley vs. Newcastle United | 1-2 |
| Dec. 2 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Leicester City vs. Liverpool | 1-2 |
| Dec. 2 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Manchester United vs. Stoke City | 3-1 |
| Dec. 2 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Swansea City vs. QPR | 2-0 |
| Dec. 2 | 8 p.m./3 p.m. | Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa | 1-1 |
| Dec. 2 | 8 p.m./3 p.m. | West Brom vs. West Ham United | 2-3 |
| Dec. 3 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Arsenal vs. Southampton | 2-2 |
| Dec. 3 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Chelsea vs. Tottenham | 2-0 |
| Dec. 3 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Everton vs. Hull City | 1-0 |
| Dec. 3 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Sunderland vs. Manchester City | 1-2 |
Key Players to Watch
Loic Remy
Chelsea fans won't have taken kindly to the Stadium of Light stalemate on Saturday, and if the draw wasn't disappointing enough, losing Diego Costa to suspension was another dark twist for the club to accept.
Loic Remy is in contention to replace the Spain international against Tottenham after he picked up his fifth booking of the season, with WhoScored.com detailing the sinister side of Costa's personality:
It would be only the Frenchman's second Premier League start since moving to Stamford Bridge this past summer, but Jose Mourinho will expect Remy to show he belongs at the club.
Per ESPN FC's Ben Dinnery, the manager is happy to contend with the absence of Costa, though he doesn't reveal whether it will be Remy or Didier Drogba leading the line against Spurs:
Had things gone differently over the summer, Remy might have found himself lining up for Mauricio Pochettino's side in this clash after being tied to the north Londoners.
He's not likely to receive many opportunities as long as Costa maintains his prolific scoring record, so this gives Mourinho a chance to see just how reliable a back-up he has in Remy, should the Frenchman be handed the reins.
Just as Costa drew some negative criticism in the north east on Saturday, Lee Cattermole has drawn his share of positive plaudits for the Black Cats of late, and he was a key figure in stifling Chelsea.
Sunderland's holding midfielder is known for not presenting a great deal of flash for Gus Poyet's side, but as FourFourTwo's StatsZone app shows, his work in restricting the opposition is an equally essential part of their play:
Things don't get any easier for the Black Cats in Week 14, as they prepare for the visit of a Manchester City outfit fresh from a 3-0 win at Southampton and looking to build the momentum needed to retain their league title.
As such, Sunderland will once again look to their captain to play a key role in limiting their guests' chances. Cattermole—recent recipient of the North East Sports Writers' Association's Player of the Year award—is on a high, and Jamie Redknapp recently wrote in the Daily Mail about just what a destructive asset the 26-year-old can be:
"There are a lot of snobs in football who look down their noses at players like Lee Cattermole. Against Chelsea, the Sunderland man was magnificent. I spoke to Gus Poyet on Sky’s Saturday Night Football after the game and he was waxing lyrical about the job Cattermole does for the team.
With his black boots on and his fighting style, he’s an old-school player. He scraps for every ball but his reputation precedes him. His disciplinary record is poor, but that comes from playing on the edge.
"
Midfield maestros Yaya Toure and Frank Lampard each escaped their shackles to score in the Saints defeat, and Cattermole is likely to encounter both of them in the battle for engine-room domination on Wednesday.
The likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar found it difficult to exercise their usual creative edge with Cattermole lurking on Saturday, and Cattermole faces another tremendous task in restraining Manuel Pellegrini's weapons.
Victor Wanyama
With Morgan Schneiderlin an injury doubt for Southampton's trip to face Arsenal, a heavy burden will possibly fall on Victor Wanyama to fill the Frenchman's role as midfield destroyer.
The pair have been a productive part of Ronald Koeman's line-up this season, and prior to the Manchester City loss, the Kenyan's battle with Toure was hyped up as an essential one:
"GRAPHIC: Victor Wanyama vs Yaya Touré #SaintsFC #MCFC pic.twitter.com/ccsITuoaRx
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 30, 2014"
Wanyama would go on to lose that tug of war. With Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla among those waiting to welcome him to the Emirates Stadium, however, the Saints' general faces another stern examination on Wednesday.
Cazorla was in particularly fine form for the Gunners during Saturday's 1-0 win over West Brom, but Arsenal can be limited when their key players fail to perform. Wanyama can play a key role in making that the case.
