Erik Ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino are the two managers under most intense scrutiny going into the Boxing Day match programme. Manchester United are enduring a succession of setbacks since the former Ajax Amsterdam boss led England’s record Premier League champions to Carabao Cup victory and Champions League qualification. Blighted by an exhaustive injury list and player of the season Marcus Rashford’s loss of form, the Red Devils host Aston Villa on the back of their worst start to a season in almost 100 years.
The Dutchman knows better than all Old Trafford faithful that results have to improve fast if he is to avoid joining Paul Heckingbottom and Steve Cooper as the managers to suffer the ignominy of being fired. Visitors Aston Villa will be in uncompromising mood, having missed the opportunity to spend Christmas at the summit of the standings when they were held to a one all draw by bottom club Sheffield United last Friday.
In a sign of growing fatigue, only two of the top eight sides, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, won on Christmas Eve. The three newly promoted clubs, Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United were the weekend’s biggest winners, with Burnley upending Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage and Luton Town outlasting Newcastle United 1-0. Champions Manchester City were away playing at the Club World Cup where they lifted yet another title by pulverising Copa Libertadores winners Fluminese 4-0.
Chelsea boss Pochettino faces problems of a slightly different nature to Ten Hag. Results have not improved despite a change in management with Pochettino’s record as Stamford Bridge boss after 25 matches worse than the much derided Graham Potter. Unless the west Londoners improve on their dodgy home record at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, they will lose a club record 20th game in 2023, abysmal for a club that’s ploughed £1bn into the transfer market.
Former Stamford Bridge supremo Jose Mourinho, a three time EPL winner, has weighed in on the title race by tipping Manchester City to retain the crown ahead of Liverpool. The watching world is to get a better appreciation of his vision when Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens attempt to win at Everton on Wednesday. Liverpool travel to Vincent Kompany’s Burnley keen to usurp leaders Arsenal from the summit, just 72 hours after the Kop held them to a 1-1 draw at Anfield. Arsenal are hoping to prove Mourinho wrong when they host West Ham United on Thursday night.
TUESDAY
Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest,
Bournemouth v Fulham,
Sheffield United v Luton Town,
Burnley v Liverpool,
Manchester United v Aston Villa
WEDNESDAY
Brentford v Wolves,
Chelsea v Crystal Palace,
Everton v Manchester City
THURSDAY
Brighton v Spurs
Arsenal v West Ham United