EPL Predictions: Picks, Top Players for Week 20 Premier League Fixtures
The Premier League will return to action during the holiday season, as all 20 teams will feature in Week 20 over the course of three days.
The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United will take to the pitch on Boxing Day, and Manchester City and Arsenal will get one and two days of extra rest, respectively.
Here's a look at the fixture list, complete with predictions.
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Tuesday
Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Southampton
Watford 0-0 Leicester City
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Everton
Bournemouth 1-0 West Ham United
Chelsea 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Huddersfield Town 2-1 Stoke City
Manchester United 1-1 Burnley
Liverpool 4-0 Swansea City
Wednesday
Newcastle United 1-3 Manchester City
Thursday
Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal
Top Players to Watch
Eden Hazard, Chelsea
Chelsea put in a flat performance in their most recent outing, a scoreless draw on Saturday against an Everton team that has been in solid form of late.
The only standout from the match was Eden Hazard, the team's main creative force this season. The Belgian found himself isolated too often and was kept on a tight leash by the Toffees but kept finding spaces, only to see his team-mates lose the ball.
Many sportswriters, including Daniel Tiluk, felt for the former Lille man:
Fortunately for the Blues, they have mostly been able to bounce back from disappointing performances this season, and their next opponents should give them more space to work with. Brighton & Hove Albion always come to play―this should allow Chelsea a little more time on the ball.
Alvaro Morata should return from his one-match suspension against the Seagulls, allowing Hazard to shift back to his normal position and be more effective with a top striker ahead of him.
Paul Pogba, Manchester United
There's little doubt Manchester United are a far better team when star midfielder Paul Pogba is healthy and on form, evidenced by their creative struggles during his three-game suspension and the fact he looked a little rusty in their shock Carabao Cup loss against Bristol City.
Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News shared some of the numbers behind the Frenchman and his impact on the team towards the end of his absence:
Tuesday's clash with Burnley will be tricky, as the Clarets have enjoyed a fine season built on their defensive solidity. They have a fantastic defensive record, and while they don't score much, they can hold their own against just about every midfield unit they face.
If the Red Devils want to beat Burnley, they will need another vintage performance from Pogba, who could be the key to unlocking the Clarets' vaunted defence.
