Premier League Week 16 Fixtures: EPL TV Schedule, Live Stream and Predictions
The biggest rivalry in English top-flight football will be given centre stage in Week 16 of the Premier League season. In a role reversal from last season, Liverpool need a win, while a suddenly buoyant Manchester United are enjoying a revival without the burden of UEFA Champions League football.
Speaking of Europe's premier club competition, Arsenal must build on earning yet another qualification to the knockout stage. That'll mean getting three vital league points on the board against a Newcastle United side still in bullish mood after briefly derailing table-toppers Chelsea.
Events at the top have become more complex since the Blues suffered familiar misery in the north-east. Manchester City are now just three points behind.
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But the reigning champions will be wary of suffering a slip away at Leicester City, a fixture that's already proved problematic for both Arsenal and United this season.
Here's a complete breakdown of the fixtures, complete with all the relevant schedule details, along with some predictions:
| Date | Game | Time | TV | Live Stream | Prediction |
| Saturday, Dec. 13 | Burnley vs. Southampton | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 (Soccer Saturday) | BBC Sport / NBC Sports Live Extra | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Dec. 13 | Chelsea vs. Hull City | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 (Soccer Saturday) / NBCSN | BBC Sport / NBC Sports Live Extra | 2-1 |
| Saturday, Dec. 13 | Crystal Palace vs. Stoke City | 3p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 (Soccer Saturday) | BBC Sport / NBC Sports Live Extra | 1-0 |
| Saturday, Dec. 13 | Leicester City vs. Manchester City | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 (Soccer Saturday) | BBC Sport / NBC Sports Live Extra | 1-3 |
| Saturday, Dec. 13 | Sunderland vs. West Ham United | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 (Soccer Saturday) | BBC Sport / NBC Sports Live Extra | 1-0 |
| Saturday, Dec. 13 | West Bromwich Albion vs. Aston Villa | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 (Soccer Saturday) | BBC Sport / NBC Sports Live Extra | 0-1 |
| Saturday, Dec. 13 | Arsenal vs. Newcastle United | 5:30 p.m. (GMT) / 12:30 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 / NBCSN | Sky Go / NBC Sports Live Extra | 2-1 |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | Manchester United vs. Liverpool | 1:30 p.m. (GMT) / 8:30 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 / NBCSN | Sky Go / NBC Sports Live Extra | 3-1 |
| Sunday, Dec. 14 | Swansea City vs. Tottenham Hotspur | 4 p.m. (GMT) / 11 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 / NBCSN | Sky Go / NBC Sports Live Extra | 1-1 |
| Monday, Dec. 15 | Everton vs. Queens Park Rangers | 8 p.m. (GMT) / 3 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 / NBCSN | Sky Go / NBC Sports Live Extra | 2-0 |
Streaming links: Sky Go. NBC Sports Live Extra.
Manchester United vs. Liverpool
This game could serve as a cautionary tale about the perils of not possessing an adequate strike force. A lack of options and goals up front has wrecked the post-Luis Suarez version of Liverpool.
Injuries to Daniel Sturridge and all-too predictable temperament issues with Mario Balotelli have left the Anfield club relying on veteran Rickie Lambert. Manager Brendan Rodgers will have to get creative to coax the best from the 32-year-old at Old Trafford.
Part of Liverpool's problem has been playing as if Suarez and Sturridge are still on the pitch. But Rodgers can't adopt the same lightning-paced, quick-breaking style he did last season. That explains the dip in form experienced by Raheem Sterling.
With Lambert leading the line, Rodgers would be better served adopting a model similar to the one Arsenal used for portions of last season. The dynamic is a simple one: Surround a largely static target man with a plethora of attacking midfielders.
Rodgers could use Lambert as the focal point of an attack designed to release Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Lazar Markovic via the striker's aerial knockdowns and clever flicks.
This might reduce Sterling to the role of impact substitute, a player who can add pace to stretch United's defence with 25-30 minutes left. But spot duty could be just what Sterling's game needs at the moment.
Loading up on playmakers would at least let Liverpool play some quick-witted, one-touch combination football. That type of passing can cause United's patchwork defence problems.
In contrast to Rodgers' dilemma up front, United chief Louis van Gaal enjoys an embarrassment of riches in attack. Those riches are bailing his team out even when the collective performance is mediocre.
United showed plenty of resolve but not much quality during their recent 2-1 away win at Southampton. They earned the points courtesy of a deftly taken brace from Robin van Persie.
The Dutchman's top-notch finishing combines brilliantly with the creative instincts and deceptive power Wayne Rooney still offers. As if that duo weren't enough, mercurial winger Angel Di Maria could return, per Daily Star reporter Nick Lustig:
"United's record £59.7m signing has missed the past two matches after sustaining a small tear to his hamstring in the 3-0 victory over Hull on November 29.
But there is growing optimism that Di Maria will make his return against United's bitter rivals.
That will come as a major boost for United boss Louis van Gaal, who revealed on Friday that the 26-year-old's injury was not as bad as first feared.
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Even without Di Maria, Van Gaal can trust schemer Juan Mata to craft a goal or two. United will simply have too much firepower for their bitter enemy.
When you can't see where the goals are coming from, it's difficult to believe a win is imminent. That's the problem Liverpool currently face. It will once again be their undoing.
Leicester City vs. Manchester City
Arsenal drew 1-1 and United were dispatched 5-3 at the King Power Stadium. But the Foxes have been tamed since those results, while reigning champions City have been rampant.
That form has coincided with an upturn in City's Champions League fortunes. Manuel Pellegrini's side earned qualification from the group stage for the second season in a row with a fine 2-0 away win over AS Roma.
The victory had double significance because it proved there's more strength in depth to City than meets the eye. The Citizens won without centre-back Vincent Kompany, midfield engine Yaya Toure and star striker Sergio Aguero. Even gifted pass-master David Silva began the game on the bench.
It helped that Silva got any minutes at all. His fitness will be key to City's push to retain their title. Pellegrini's team smells blood at the moment and even without Aguero, expect them to find goals this weekend.
By the end of Week 16, Chelsea's grip on top spot will still be slender, and City's bid to win back-to-back titles will look a lot more serious. Meanwhile, as their revival continues, it may be time to consider United more of a factor in this season's race.
