The English Premier League’s two most in form sides square off in a Titanic clash when Arsenal host Newcastle United in a second installment of a double header of top flight action on Tuesday night. Eddie Howe’s perpetually evolving Magpies are confounding established football variables to head the current form table after stringing together a ten match unbeaten run. The world’s richest club have won eight out of their last ten EPL games, a figure only matched by division pacesetters Arsenal.
On Saturday afternoon, Newcastle United have an early opportunity to establish their burgeoning Top Four credentials when they host a Leeds United outfit that’s only garnered 15 points in as many matches. The red hot form of Paraguay wing wizard Miguel Almiron who has plundered nine goals in 16 matches and an equally competent supporting cast that includes Brazilian behemoth Joelinton, England’s World Cup striker Callum Wilson and Swedish sharp dribbler Alexander Isak guarantees goals.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have a more demanding assignment in Saturday’s late kick off when they travel to Roberto de Zerbi’s unpredictable Brighton Hove Albion, 3-1 winners over Southampton in their last rubber. The Gunners showed real title mettle by fighting back from a goal down to subdue West Ham United 3-1. In the continued absence of World Cup winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, Brighton’s challenge to Arsenal will be spearheaded by Solly March, Leandro Trossard and Kaoru Mitoma. Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli will join Bukayo Saka in Arsenal’s attack.
Weekend action commences on Friday night with David Moyes’ beleaguered West Ham United at home to Thomas Frank’s Brentford, before Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool host Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City at Anfield. New Liverpool signing Cody Gakpo, a £37m recruit from PSV Eindhoven could be involved in the match day squad for the Kop when they travel to Brentford on Monday as the 19-time champions try to atone for the absence through injury of talismanic Colombian Luis Diaz and Portuguese live wire Diogo Jota.
Champions Manchester City can count on the prolific form of Erling Braut Haaland when they host Everton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, before confronting six-time champions Chelsea on Thursday night. The Norwegian’s two goal salvo in the Sky Blues’ 3-1 win over Leeds United took his tally for the season to an unprecedented 20 goals in 14 matches. Chelsea begin the busy festive season schedule with a trip to Nottingham Forest on Monday night.
FRIDAY
West Ham United v Brentford,
Liverpool v Leicester City
SATURDAY
Wolves v Manchester United,
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace,
Fulham v Southampton,
Manchester City v Everton,
Newcastle United v Leeds United,
Brighton Hove v Arsenal
SUNDAY
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa,
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
MONDAY
Brentford v Liverpool
TUESDAY
Arsenal v Newcastle United,
Everton v Brighton Hove Albion,
Leicester City v Fulham,
Manchester United v Bournemouth
WEDNESDAY
Southampton v Nottingham Forest,
Leeds United v West Ham,
Aston Villa v Wolves,
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
THURSDAY
Chelsea v Manchester City
