EPL, Matchday 17 Preview and Predictions

After a month off for the World Cup 2022 , it's time to head back to club football business. The 2022-23 English Premier League (EPL) resumes on Monday, on Boxing Day, with the best clubs vying for supremacy once more. On the same note, we present you with Matchday 17 preview and predictions. 

Tottenham Hotspur face Brentford in a tricky derby.

Tottenham's season opener against an uncertain tenth-placed fellow Londoner Brentford on Monday might be difficult. While the visitors are the favourites, the hosts have shown they are capable of pulling off upsets, particularly at home. A victory would move the Spurs into third place.

Prediction: TOT 1-1 BRE

Liverpool will be up against twelfth placed Aston Villa

Can Liverpool beat Aston Villa? 

Liverpool hasn’t had the best of seasons thus far. Plagued by injuries, The Reds are positioned at sixth in the league standings. As they look to get their season back on track, they travel to play Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. It will be interesting to see how the new boss will manage his players. Meanwhile, a loss for the 19-20 winners will push them down to eighth. 

Prediction: AST 1-2 LIV

Intriguing London Derby on cards

Arsenal and West Ham United will look to renew their respective campaigns with a win when they square off on Tuesday. Table toppers Arsenal will host the 16th placed West Ham United. The Gunners have hardly put a foot wrong in the season so far. Given the current form, they look like overwhelming favourites to win this encounter. The Hammers will require something extraordinary to induce a favourable outcome. Regardless of the result, Arteta’s men are bound to stay on the top. 

Prediction: ARS 2-0 WHU

The Blues badly need a win against The Cherries

Graham Potter’s Chelsea will be eager to get back to winning ways when they restart their 2022-23 campaign against fourteenth placed Bournemouth. While the hosts are firm favourites on paper here, the visitors must be considered, given the former’s inconsistency. A win for Chelsea would see them reach sixth, whereas a loss could result in them dropping to twelfth place. 

Prediction - CHE 1-0 BOU

Red Devils lock horns with The Garibaldis 

Manchester United will look to consolidate their position at the top half of the table when they face Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. While United are placed at fifth, Forest are languishing at the bottom half of the league standings and are facing the threat of relegation. Given the current form, United should convincingly win this fixture. 

Prediction- MUN 2-0 NF

Defending Champions entertain unpredictable Leeds United

Manchester City is expected to rout Leeds United when they face them on Wednesday. City would also need to secure a victory against The Whites away from home to keep themselves within touching distance of the title race. While the hosts are unarguably favourites to emerge victorious, they tend to mess up against lower ranked opponents. 

Prediction: MC 3-1 LU