Premier League Week 18 Fixtures: EPL Picks and Predictions for Matchday 18
As if the Christmas schedule wasn't generous enough, the Premier League makes its return for a Boxing Day bonanza on Friday, with every team hoping to come upon some festive cheer.
Table-toppers Chelsea play host to West Ham United as they look to end what's already been a hugely encouraging 2014 on a high note, while others are merely hoping for a Christmas miracle.
It's at this stage of the season that clubs can sometimes hope to reverse their luck ahead of the winter transfer window, a transitional period in which anyone can change their current trend.
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Read on for predictions of Matchday 18's fixture list, along with a more detailed discussion of several more intriguing clashes.
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| 1 | Chelsea | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 13 | +24 | 39 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 17 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 36 | 14 | +22 | 39 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 18 | +12 | 32 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 19 | +10 | 31 |
| 5 | Southampton | 17 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 28 | 13 | +15 | 29 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 30 | 21 | +9 | 27 |
| 7 | Tottenham | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 23 | -1 | 27 |
| 8 | Swansea City | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 25 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 23 |
| 10 | Liverpool | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 24 | -3 | 22 |
| 11 | Everton | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 21 |
| 12 | Aston Villa | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 21 | -10 | 20 |
| 13 | Stoke City | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 19 |
| 14 | Sunderland | 17 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 15 | 24 | -9 | 19 |
| 15 | West Bromwich Albion | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 23 | -6 | 17 |
| 16 | Queens Park Rangers | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 20 | 32 | -12 | 17 |
| 17 | Crystal Palace | 17 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 27 | -8 | 15 |
| 18 | Burnley | 17 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 26 | -14 | 15 |
| 19 | Hull City | 17 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 24 | -9 | 13 |
| 20 | Leicester City | 17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 29 | -14 | 10 |
| Date | Time | Fixture | Prediction |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 12:45 p.m. GMT/7:45 a.m. ET | Chelsea vs. West Ham United | 3-1 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Burnley vs. Liverpool | 1-1 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Crystal Palace vs. Southampton | 1-2 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Everton vs. Stoke City | 2-1 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Leicester City vs. Tottenham | 1-2 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Manchester United vs. Newcastle United | 2-0 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Sunderland vs. Hull City | 1-0 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Swansea City vs. Aston Villa | 2-0 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester City | 1-3 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | 5:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET | Arsenal vs. QPR | 2-1 |
Blues' Joy Eases Hammers Outside Top Four
Sam Allardyce's West Ham side have been jostling for a more solidified place among the Premier League's top four for some weeks now, but a midweek trip to Stamford Bridge promises to eject them once again.
The London derby will be a closer contest than usual not only in terms of where the two sit in the standings but also in genuine quality, with Allardyce's astute summer business having emerged a classier squad at Upton Park.
That being said, the top flight's fourth-place hopefuls will struggle to contend against the Blues for 90 minutes in west London, having scored just three times in their last eight league trips to Stamford Bridge.
It does promise to be an incredibly open affair, though, as Squawka illustrates both Chelsea and West Ham can account for the most players having scored among their squads this season:
When compared with his peers, Jose Mourinho has been a fortunate man in the injury department this season, managing to keep a consistent starting XI out for much of the campaign.
Eden Hazard has been reported as a doubt for the Hammers fixture, but The Guardian's Jamie Jackson quotes Mourinho as hinting that the Belgian will be fine for Friday:
Southampton face a somewhat easier task at Selhurst Park this Boxing Day. After claiming a 3-0 win over Everton, they are in much better shape to claim a second successive victory.
Should they do so and West Ham lose, it will see the east Londoners slip into fifth spot, while the Blues would edge within just one fixture of ending their year at the summit.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 West Ham United
Black Cats' Prowl Continues Against Tigers
Sunderland are about as far as any Premier League outfit gets from flashy at present, but that doesn't mean their strategy isn't effective, and it's paying dividends of late.
A 1-0 derby win at St. James' Park on Sunday was about the best Christmas present the Stadium of Light faithful could have asked for, with Hull City next to face a Black Cats side now unbeaten in three.
Gus Poyet's side have developed an incredible knack for shutting sides out, albeit creating little to no goal threat of their own in certain fixtures, earning deserved draws against West Ham, Chelsea and Liverpool of late.
WhoScored.com's Ali Tweedale recently wrote on the club's improvements since October's 8-0 defeat at Southampton, noting Lee Cattermole's influence as particularly important to their cause:
Steve Bruce's Hull City, on the other hand, are in free fall. Only Leicester City have won as few matches as the Tigers (two), and the Tigers are now without a victory in 10.
Like Sunderland, Hull have been tame in front of goal this term—both teams have netted just 15 goals; however, Ben McAleer of WhoScored noted how bad Bruce's men have really been in recent times:
Poyet's side have coped so well in engulfing the premier attackers of notably stronger outfits that restraining the likes of Abel Hernandez and Nikica Jelavic should be a more welcome challenge for the hosts.
Bruce isn't likely to prosper on his return to Wearside, and even if the Black Cats can claim but the slimmest of wins, it's a tactic completely befitting their priorities this season.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-0 Hull City
