EPL Week 17 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixture Info
There’s no occasion in the domestic football calendar anywhere in the world quite like the festive period in the Premier League. Not only is the feast of action a hallmark of supporters’ Christmas time merriment, but it gives a unique opportunity for teams to pick up a flurry of rapid-fire points.
A win in Week 17 will set a positive precedent going into that convoluted spell of games, and for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers it’s set to be a massive few days. The Reds welcome Arsenal to Anfield in arguably the pick of the weekend.
Here’s a rundown of the full fixture list, as well as the men that will prove the difference-makers:
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| Saturday, Dec. 20 | Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace | 12:45 p.m. | 3-0 |
| Saturday, Dec. 20 | Aston Villa vs. Manchester United | 3 p.m. | 1-2 |
| Saturday, Dec. 20 | Hull City vs. Swansea City | 3 p.m. | 0-2 |
| Saturday, Dec. 20 | Queens Park Rangers vs. West Bromwich Albion | 3 p.m. | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Dec. 20 | Southampton vs. Everton | 3 p.m. | 2-2 |
| Saturday, Dec. 20 | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Burnley | 3 p.m. | 3-1 |
| Saturday, Dec. 20 | West Ham United vs. Leicester City | 3 p.m. | 2-0 |
| Sunday, Dec. 21 | Newcastle United vs. Sunderland | 1:30 p.m. | 2-1 |
| Sunday, Dec. 21 | Liverpool vs. Arsenal | 4 p.m. | 1-2 |
| Monday, Dec. 22 | Stoke City vs. Chelsea | 8 p.m. | 1-3 |
Moussa Sissoko
Newcastle United were brought back down to earth with a bump last time out, as a rampant Arsenal team scythed through Alan Pardew’s team time after time in a 4-1 win. In the aftermath of the match, the Toon Army boss bemoaned the absence of one player in particular, who was suspended for this particular game, per Lee Ryder of the Chronicle:
"We missed Sissoko and I must look at myself in terms of selection of the team.
We need to cope without him because he’s not going to play every week. We tried to be ambitious and if that’s a fault we have to accept that.
"
Mark Douglas of the Chronicle echoed Pardew’s sentiments, insisting the French international is the most important player in the current setup:
The midfield has enjoyed an excellent season up to now, turning in rumbustious displays from a host of different midfield positions. With north-east rivals Sunderland rocking up in Newcastle this weekend, his return will surely give the Magpies a timely boost in what is always considered to be their most important fixture of the season.
It takes on added significance when you consider what’s happened in this fixture for the last two seasons. The Black Cats have enjoyed consecutive 3-0 wins at the home of their great rivals, but with Newcastle riding high in the table and Sissoko set to return to the fold, the Geordie faithful will fancy their chances of winning this ferociously contested fixture.
Alexis Sanchez
Liverpool supporters will get a first-hand look at a player they narrowly missed out on in the summer, as Sanchez and Arsenal head to Anfield on Sunday. The Chilean was reportedly close to signing for the Reds, but chose London and the Gunners instead; since then, he’s taken the Premier League by storm.
Naturally, his performances will have stirred a sense of “what might have been” for Liverpool supporters, and former player Jamie Carragher recently spoke about the transfer in a column for Sky Sports:
"I am just disappointed that he was not at Liverpool! He has come in and been brilliant for the Premier League. Arsene Wenger mentioned recently that he was in the red zone and I think that he has played more minutes and games this season than probably anyone in the league.
But physically he looks like he can cope with the demands of the league.
"
Sanchez has smashed in goals for fun, bamboozled defenders with his intricate manipulation of the ball and—in addition to all of his easy-on-the-eye qualities—he’s a diligent worker too. It’s a part of his game that is understatedly vital to Arsene Wenger’s side, but indisputably noticeable when you look at the statistics, per Squawka Football:
Sanchez will have been purring after watching the Reds’ latest defensive capitulation against Manchester United in a 3-0 defeat, and if he can replicate the stunning levels he has showcased in recent weeks, the Anfield outfit could potentially be on the end of a hiding.
It’s vital that Liverpool conjure a game plan that will see them smother Sanchez’s influence, but such is the industry and elusiveness that the forward brings, it’s difficult to see what has been a ropey Reds defence nullifying him for 90 minutes. Expect the Arsenal man to add to his nine Premier League goals and help his team to a critical victory in the north west.
Nemanja Matic
While Stoke City are a team that like to keep it on the deck a little more these days, you’re always going to be in for a physical battle when you head up to the Britannia Stadium, as Arsenal found out not too long ago.
With that in mind, Chelsea’s midfield man-mountain Matic will have a vital role to play for his team when the league leaders visit Stoke in their next Premier League outing. After all, the Serbian international was suspended for the Blues’ last away game at Newcastle, a match in which they were subsequently overrun in midfield and picked off on the break.
But when you consider the stellar defensive contribution he makes to this team, it is perhaps little surprise, per Squawka Football:
“At this moment he is a giant,” hailed Jose Mourinho of the player back in November, per Dominic King of the Daily Mail. “Not for his size, but for the way he plays. The man is giant.”
Alongside the creative talents of Cesc Fabregas, Oscar and Eden Hazard, the former Benfica man’s influence is absolutely critical on this Chelsea team. Being left-footed, he gives the midfield balance, while his defensive instincts, burly somatotype and ferocity in the tackle make him an invaluable player for the Blues.
