EPL Week 19 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixture Info
The top-four clash between Southampton and Chelsea highlights the 19th week of this Premier League season. That marquee tilt is joined by a London derby with its own top-four implications between West Ham United and Arsenal, as the games of the week.
Here's the full list of fixtures as the busy festive period kicks into high gear, including a prediction for each game:
| Date | Time | Match | Prediction |
| Sunday, December 28 | 12 p.m. (GMT) / 7 a.m. (ET) | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United | 1-2 |
| Sunday, December 28 | 2:05 p.m. (GMT) / 9:05 a.m. (ET) | Southampton vs. Chelsea | 1-1 |
| Sunday, December 28 | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. (ET) | Aston Villa vs. Sunderland | 1-0 |
| Sunday, December 28 | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. (ET) | Hull City vs. Leicester City | 2-1 |
| Sunday, December 28 | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. (ET) | Manchester City vs. Burnley | 3-0 |
| Sunday, December 28 | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. (ET) | Queens Park Rangers vs. Crystal Palace | 2-2 |
| Sunday, December 28 | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. (ET) | Stoke City vs. West Bromwich Albion | 2-1 |
| Sunday, December 28 | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. (ET) | West Ham United vs. Arsenal | 1-2 |
| Sunday, December 28 | 4:15 p.m. (GMT) / 11:15 a.m. (ET) | Newcastle United vs. Everton | 1-1 |
| Monday, December 29 | 8 p.m. (GMT) / 3 p.m. (ET) | Liverpool vs. Swansea City | 1-1 |
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Southampton vs. Chelsea
Key Players: Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea), Victor Wanyama (Southampton)
Chelsea's tricky-looking away trip to Southampton will be defined by the midfield clash between Blues' playmaker Cesc Fabregas and Saints enforcer Victor Wanyama.
The former has been magnificent since returning to the Premier League this summer. If Arsenal fans really want to know what they missed out on by manager Arsene Wenger putting Mesut Ozil before ex-golden boy Fabregas, the answer is simple.
The little Spaniard is simply a much busier player than the languid and mercurial German schemer. When healthy, Ozil can certainly match Fabregas' creative output and sublime ability to thread passes between defensive gaps. You also get the feeling the German could even rival the pocket-edition pass-master's goal threat with a little more application.
But it's that word, application, that separates Fabregas from Ozil, and many of the rest of Arsenal's squad for that matter. The Spanish creator-in-chief simply has more industry, a greater willingness to go looking for the ball, to seize and boss the flow of play.
While Ozil has often wilted away from the frenetic rigours of the Premier League's notorious pace, Fabregas has relished it. He gave a demonstration of his appetite for the ball during Chelsea's comfortable 2-0 win over West Ham on Boxing Day, per Squawka:
Fabregas has become the key to everything the league leaders offer going forward. That's why nullifying his influence will be vital for Ronald Koeman's Southampton.
The Dutchman will rely on formidable physical specimen Wanyama to try and muscle Fabregas out of the game. That's certainly easier said than done, but Wanyama's task will be made simpler by the return of Morgan Schneiderlin.
The steady French holding midfielder gives Wanyama a little more license to seek and destroy, rather than wait and react. This rugged pairing must disrupt Chelsea's possession game and be the platform for counterattacks.
Koeman will know his team has failed every test against big opposition it's faced this season. But if he crafts a typically pragmatic approach, the Saints can certainly frustrate Chelsea.
West Ham vs. Arsenal
Key Players: Winston Reid (West Ham), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
Arsenal's header-shy defenders may be concerned about the aerial threat posed by Hammers' skyscraper-like striker Andy Carroll. But the real key to this game will be whether or not Gunners forward Alexis Sanchez once again runs riot.
The Chile international has been in prolific form since joining Arsenal this summer. He was at it again to spark the Gunners 2-1 win over QPR, per Who Scored:
His first-half header into an empty net gave Sanchez 15 goals in all competitions, per Arsenal.com. But it's not just his scoring output that's impressive.
The former Udinese and Barcelona man has established a niche as a keen source of creativity, per Opta Joe. That's been invaluable while Ozil has remained out of action:
It was a Sanchez pass that freed forgotten man Tomas Rosicky to net Arsenal's second against QPR. With creative aces such as Ozil and Ramsey still unavailable and forward Theo Walcott still needing to build up his fitness, the Gunners are heavily reliant on Sanchez.
Arsenal's resources are set to be further stretched after Olivier Giroud was sent off against QPR after receiving a red card Gunners boss Arsene Wenger dubbed "deserved," per Arsenal.com.
Wenger's makeshift team will only go as far as Sanchez can take it.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce will likely know that. He'll count on skilled and rugged centre-back Winston Reid to lead the charge aimed at corralling Sanchez.
Reid has been viewed by many as the ideal reinforcement for Arsenal's paper-thin defence. But Allardyce remains determined to keep the New Zealand international, setting a £20 million fee for his key defender.
Reid will need to be at his very best to control a live wire like Sanchez. But if he can, the Hammers will neutralise Arsenal's chief goal threat.
That would increase the chances of Allardyce's team inflicting significant damage on the Gunners' bid for another top-four finish. It would also boost West Ham's own chances of breaking that particular monopoly.
But with Sanchez on form, along with the ability to dictate possession in midfield, the Gunners can surprise West Ham with an early goal or two before hanging on to earn a priceless away win.
The picture of the top four will either look very familiar or anything but after Week 19. Both Southampton and West Ham, currently fourth and fifth respectively, have a great chance to really shake up the established order.
The former might even hugely impact the title race if the league leaders are forced to settle for a point.
