EPL Week 18 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixture Info
The packed Christmas period rumbles on in the Premier League on Boxing Day with a full set of fixtures scheduled as the games keep on coming.
While the rest of Europe takes a break over the festive period, it is a crucial time in the English top flight, and Chelsea will hope to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the table with a win at home to in-form West Ham United.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the league, Leicester City face a tough challenge to turn around their wretched form—they have not won in 12 matches—as they host Tottenham Hotspur.
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Read on for all the details of what's in store in the Premier League on Friday as well as a look at which players could make the difference.
| Date | Time | Fixture | Prediction |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 12:45 p.m. GMT/7:45 a.m. ET | Chelsea vs. West Ham United | 2-1 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Burnley vs. Liverpool | 2-2 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Crystal Palace vs. Southampton | 1-1 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Everton vs. Stoke City | 2-0 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Leicester City vs. Tottenham | 0-1 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Manchester United vs. Newcastle United | 3-2 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Sunderland vs. Hull City | 1-1 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Swansea City vs. Aston Villa | 1-0 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | West Brom vs. Manchester City | 1-2 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 5:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET | Arsenal vs. QPR | 2-0 |
Angel Di Maria
Manchester United's six-match winning run came to an end last time out as they drew away to Aston Villa, but the trip to the Midlands did see the return from injury of Angel Di Maria, the Argentinean coming off the bench for the final half hour.
Red Devils fans will be hoping to see their record signing play the full 90 minutes—for the first time since late November's win against Arsenal—at Old Trafford on Friday, and Di Maria could be the key to unlocking the Newcastle defence.
The former Real Madrid man has already provided six assists and scored three times in the Premier League this season, per WhoScored.com, and his return from injury will bring an added dynamism to United's play.
As football writer Nooruddean Choudry highlights, he can terrorise defences and free up space for his team-mates, and he should be able to open up the Magpies' back line on Friday:
Newcastle picked up all three points in the corresponding fixture last season, but a star turn from Di Maria should see United avoid the same fate on Friday.
Andy Carroll
West Ham have surprised many this season as they have performed consistently well and currently sit a lofty fourth in the Premier League.
The recent return of Andy Carroll has added another element to their excellent attack this term, and the former Liverpool man has certainly not disappointed, having scored three goals in as many matches.
The Hammers visit Stamford Bridge on Friday, having won four of their last five games, and Carroll could cause the Blues all kinds of problems with his aerial presence.
Often accused of being simply a one-trick pony with his headed goals, Carroll proved last time out that he is a quality finisher also, per the Guardian's Jacob Steinberg, and he will need to be clinical against Chelsea if West Ham are to get a result:
After a drab 0-0 in the same fixture last season, Blues boss Jose Mourinho accused West Ham of playing "19th-century football." Considering both teams' form this season, Friday's encounter should have a different flavour altogether.
Ross Barkley
Everton have been enduring something of a lacklustre season so far in 2014-15 and currently sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table with the visit of Stoke to Goodison Park set for Boxing Day.
Having been convincingly beaten 3-0 by Southampton last time out, Roberto Martinez's men need to get back to winning ways with three Premier League games to come inside a week and momentum so key in the Christmas period.
Ross Barkley is their most creative player—as Sky Sports suggest—and he will be essential to Everton's chances against the Potters:
Mark Hughes' side will likely be the more fatigued side on Friday—having played on Monday compared to Everton's Saturday fixture—and Barkley's spark in the midfield could exploit that advantage.
The 21-year-old is already one of Everton's key players, and he will be essential to providing chances for Romelu Lukaku against Stoke, with a victory desperately needed if the Toffees are to move up the league table.
