English Premier League Week 17 Previews and Predictions

After a great victory at Stamford Bridge over Manchester City last weekend, Chelsea were brought back down to earth by a superb Wigan Athletic side that pushed the Blues all match and are lucky that the Latics did not take three points at the DW Stadium.

Liverpool cruised past a weakened Aston Villa while Tottenham and Manchester City both pulled off 1-0 wins over quality opposition in Sunderland and Arsenal. The Gunners will feel unjustly denied a point after a great performance at the Etihad.

Both Norwich City and Swansea City held on for draws against Everton and Newcastle United while Queens Park Rangers dropped another three points, this time to Manchester United.

Fulham, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion also all came away victors at the weekend as all 20 clubs face a quick turnaround with matches coming up as early as Tuesday for some, as the holiday fixture madness began this weekend.

Lineups are sure to be adjusted to allow for players to rest and these two weeks of four matches are likely to see some great results and test the strength in depth of the entire English Premier League.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Norwich City

Wolverhampton took an early lead over Stoke City through a Stephen Hunt penalty only to have their hopes dashed of a victory in front of Molineux when the Potters came back to equalize and then take victory over Mic McCarthy's club.

Norwich likewise suffered a late comeback from Everton away to Goodison Park when it looked like the Canaries had seen it off thanks to Grant Holt's 28th-minute goal, only for Leon Osman and Royston Drenthe to combine for a late equalizer.

Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt have both been hot leading their respected lines and should make for an interesting striking matchup.

Match Prediction: Wolves 1-2 Norwich City

Predicted Wolverhampton Wanderers Starting XI: Wayne Hennessey, Stephen Ward, Christophe Berra, Roger Johnson, Ronald Zubar, Adam Hammill, Stephen Hunnt, Karl Henry, Matt Jarvis, Kevin Doyle, Steven Fletcher

Predicted Norwich City Starting XI: John Ruddy, Marc Tierney, Zak Whitbread, Russell Martin, Kyle Naughton, Andrew Crofts, David Fox, Wesley Hoolahan, Anthony Pilkington, Grant Holt, Steve Morison

Players To Watch: Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt

Blackburn Rovers vs. Bolton Wanderers

Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers both have managers that are on the hot seat. To be honest, either one of them could go and whichever one of Steve Kean or Owen Coyle that loses this match is most likely the next boss to get the axe this season.

Rovers have done just enough to keep Kean his job recently, but with two straight losses after having gone ahead or drawing level, he is likely about to make the long walk out of the dugout.

Owen Coyle on the other hand has a plethora of injuries that have plagued his side all season, but that is unlikely to save him as his club is a sinking ship. This match could get quite interesting with such high stakes.

Match Prediction: Blackburn 2-1 Bolton

Predicted Blackburn Rovers Starting XI: Paul Robinson, Morten Gamst Pederson, Scott Dann, Chris Samba, Jason Love, Steven Nzonzi, David Dunn, Simon Vukcevic, Jason Roberts, Mauro Formica, Yakubu

Predicted Bolton Wanderers Starting XI: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Paul Robinson, Gary Cahill, Zat Knight, Gretar Steinsson, Fabrice Muamba, Martin Petrov, Tuncay Sanli, Chris Eagles, Kevin Davies, Ivan Klasnic

Players To Watch: Mauro Formica and Chris Eagles

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal

Aston Villa are in trouble without Darren Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor, as their offense against Liverpool was flat for most of the match and the Reds comfortably beat the Villains at home. At least Agbonlahor will be back for the midweek match.

The next match gets no easier, as Arsenal now come to Villa Park and the Gunners will be loaded for bare after failing to steal a point against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Robin van Persie is likely to get a breather which could give Alex McLeish's side enough opening to try and at least get a goal, but it should be the Londoners' match to lose.

Match Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Predicted Aston Villa Starting XI: Brad Guzan, Alan Hutton, James Collins, Richard Dunne, Stephen Warnock, Barry Bannan, Stiliyan Petrov, Marc Albrighton, Charles N'Zogbia, Nathan Delfouneso, Gabriel Agbonlahor

Predicted Arsenal Starting XI: Wojciech Szczęsny, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Thomas Vermaelen, Ignasi Miquel, Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, Tomas Rosicky, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh, Andrei Arshavin

Players To Watch: Marc Albrighton and Mikel Arteta

Manchester City vs. Stoke City

Stoke City have been on a roll but that is likely to stop when they travel to Eastlands and face off against table-topping Manchester City. The Citizens hit back to defeat Arsenal in response to their loss last week against Chelsea and hope to take another three points against the Potters.

Tony Pulis has his club climbing the table, as Stoke now rest in eighth place, but it is unlikely his club can pull off a win at the Etihad but it is not impossible. The Potters have made it their business to grind out results and they will do all they can to slow down the Citizens to force it into a match decided on set pieces and long throws.

Match Prediction: Stoke City 1-2 Manchester City

Predicted Manchester City Starting XI: Joe Hart, Micah Richards, Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott, Pablo Zabaleta, Nigel De Jong, Yaya Toure, Adam Johnson, David Silva, James Milner, Edin Dzeko

Predicted Stoke City Starting XI: Thomas Sorenson, Marc Wilson, Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross, Andy Wilkinson, Jermaine Pennant, Rory Delap, Dean Whitehead, Matthew Etherington, Peter Crouch, Jonathan Walters

Players To Watch: David Silva and Rory Delap

Newcastle United vs. West Bromwich Albion

Newcastle United finally stopped the bleeding against Swansea City with a goalless draw which saw Swansea keeper Michel Vorm and the Swans' woodwork be the primary reason by the end of the match.

Demba Ba nearly had the game-winning goal at two different occasions, but was unable to finish it off and give the Magpies their first win in five games—but a point is better than none.

West Bromwich Albion meanwhile claimed three points in a victory over Blackburn Rovers thanks to a brilliant long-range strike from Peter Odemwingie, who looks to be starting to regain his form from last season and could help fire the Baggies back up the table.

Match Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 West Bromwich Albion

Predicted Newcastle United Starting XI: Tim Krul, Davide Santon, Danny Simpson, James Perch, Ryan Taylor, Gabriel Obertan, Yohan Cabaye, Dan Gosling, Jonas Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba

Predicted West Bromwich Albion Starting XI: Ben Foster, Mick Shorey, Jonas Olsson, Gareth McAuley, Steven Reid, James Morrison, Graham Dorrans, Chris Brunt, Jerome Thomas, Shane Long, Peter Odemwingie

Players To Watch: Demba Ba and Peter Odemwingie

Everton vs. Swansea City

Everton and Swansea both escaped the weekend with draws, as neither of them could create enough offense going forward to pull off a victory.

David Moyes and the Toffees were given a major boost by the news that LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan will be returning to the side for the months of January and February to help provide some much-needed offensive creativity.

However, Donovan cannot do anything yet and it is up to the Blues' current side to find a way to take more points and push up the table as they struggle to keep their heads above water.

Match Prediction: Everton 1-0 Swansea

Predicted Everton Starting XI: Tim Howard, Tony Hibbert, John Heitinga, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini, Phil Neville, Royston Drenthe, Leon Osman, Tim Cahill, Louis Saha

Predicted Swansea City Starting XI: Michel Vorm, Neil Taylor, Steven Caulker, Ashley Williams, Ashley Richards, Mark Gower, Leon Britton, Luke More, Leroy Lita, Danny Graham, Scott Sinclair

Players To Watch: Royston Drenthe and Danny Graham

Fulham vs. Manchester United

Clint Dempsey found the net for the fifth time this season for the Cottagers and laid off Bryan Ruiz for his fourth assist of the campaign, as the American led Fulham to another victory this campaign.

Manchester United once again were on top for another victory over a lower-half side as they brushed aside Queens Park Rangers by two goals when it easily could have been by five.

Craven Cottage has seen some upsets this season, including the Cottagers' come-from-behind draw against Manchester City and their defeat of Liverpool, so Sir Alex Ferguson's charges have to make sure they are as solid as ever to keep the feisty Londoners down.

Match Prediction: Fulham 1-2 United

Predicted Fulham Starting XI: David Stockdale, Stephen Kelly, Brede Hangeland, Philippe Senderos, John Arne Riise, Dickson Etuhu, Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey, Bryan Ruiz, Andrew Johnson, Moussa Dembele

Predicted Manchester United Starting XI: David De Gea, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Jonathan Evans, Patrice Evra, Nani, Michael Carrick, Park Ji-Sung, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck

Players To Watch: Clint Dempsey and Wayne Rooney

Queens Park Rangers vs. Sunderland

Queens Park Rangers dropped another three points against Manchester United this past weekend and will hope they can do better when Sunderland come to town in only a few days.

The Black Cats earned a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Blackburn Rovers on Martin O'Neal's debut and very nearly clipped a point from Tottenham in their last match that saw Spurs only take a 1-0 victory.

Sunderland have the team to take all three in London, but Neil Warnock will think his team capable of claiming all the points themselves in what should be a great match at Loftus Road.

Match Prediction: QPR 1-2 Sunderland

Predicted Queens Park Rangers Starting XI: Radek Cerny, Luke Young, Anton Ferdinand, Daniel Gabbidon, Armand Traore, Jaime Mackie, Joey Barton, Alejandro Damian Faurlin, Tommy Smith, Jay Bothroyd, Shaun Wright-Phillips

Predicted Sunderland Starting XI: Kieren Westwood, John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Titus Bramble, Phillip Bardsley, Sebastian Larsson, David Vaughn, Jack Colback, Kieran Richardson, Stephane Sessegnon, Conor Wickham

Players To Watch: Jay Bothroyd and Sebastian Larsson

Wigan Athletic vs. Liverpool

Wigan Athletic played one of their best games of the season against Chelsea over the weekend at the DW Stadium, and they will carry that momentum into their fixture with Liverpool midweek. Jordi Gomez netted the late equalizer but to be honest, the Latics probably should have won the game as they pinned the Blues back for much of the night.

The Reds cruised to another victory as Aston Villa were little a threat against the best defense in the league at the moment. Craig Bellamy got the opening goal of the match before being involved with the second only a few minutes later courtesy of a Martin Skrtel headed strike following a corner.

Liverpool have had great away form, but they face Wigan when the latter looked to finally be building some strength. The Reds, however, should take the match.

Match Prediction: Wigan 0-2 Liverpool

Predicted Wigan Athletic Starting XI: Ali Al Habsi, Maynor Figueroa, Gary Caldwell, Anton Alvarez,  Ronnie Stam, David Jones, James McCarthy, Jordi Gomez, Mohamed Diame, Victor Moses, Hugo Rodallega

Predicted Liverpool Starting XI: Pepe Reina, Martin Kelly, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique, Jonjo Shelvey, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez

Players To Watch: Victor Moses and Luis Suarez

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea

Spurs avoided dropping a few points against Sunderland over the weekend thanks to Roman Pavlyuchenko coming off the bench to fire in the game-winning goal a half hour from time.

The Russian has been largely out of favor for the majority of the season, and this could see him raise his stock a little bit before a likely transfer in January.

Chelsea will feel they have to do better after very nearly losing to Wigan in their last outing. The Blues need this victory to pull back into third place and with Spurs still having a game in hand on everyone in the top, it also would do most clubs good for them to lose.

Match Prediction: Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea

Predicted Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI: Brad Friedel, Kyle Walker, Sebastien Bassong, Vedran Corluka, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Sandro, Luka Modric, Scott Parker, Aaron Lennon, Rafael van der Vaart, Emmanuel Adebayor

Predicted Chelsea Starting XI: Petr Cech, Jose Bosingwa, David Luiz, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Raul Meireles, Juan Mata, Ramires, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge

Players To Watch: Rafael van der Vaart and Daniel Sturridge

Conclusion

With the holiday fixture period in full swing, we get another slate of matches throughout midweek before the eight Boxing Day fixtures Monday 26, 2011 just a day after Christmas.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all the match previews for the holiday weekend and the latest in all your EPL match previews, news and January transfer speculation.

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