- Gameweek 15 kicks off with Merseyside derby on Saturday
- Man Utd hoping to bounce back from Arsenal defeat against Nottingham Forest
- London derby sees Tottenham host Chelsea on Sunday
The Premier League title race is hotting up and crises are brewing at clubs further down the table as Gameweek 15 kicks off this weekend.
A nine-point Liverpool lead at the top of the standings was cut to seven after rivals Chelsea and Arsenal picked up victories to capitalise on an enthralling draw at St James' Park, while Manchester City ended their woeful run with a much-needed win.
The bottom three of Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town were all defeated in their last matches and lost ground in the battle to avoid relegation. For some teams, Gameweek 15 could be a mightily defining one during the 2024/25 season.
Here's how 90min sees the upcoming slate of fixtures playing out this weekend.
Saturday 7 December
Liverpool's draw at Newcastle United means their trip to Everton in the Merseyside derby takes on even greater significance. The Reds couldn't hold onto a 3-2 lead and have some key absences in defence, something the Toffees, themselves buoyed by a 4-0 thrashing of Wolves, will look to prey on in their final meeting at Goodison Park.
Aston Villa ended a gruesome spell of eight games without a win by surging past Brentford last time out and home comforts may prove decisive again when Southampton visit. The Saints were truly abject in a 5-1 drubbing to Chelsea and will have little hope of picking up a better result if they are similarly self-destructive at Villa Park.
No team has picked up more points at home this season than Brentford, whose poor away record means they only sit 11th in the table. Their resolve will certainly be tested by Newcastle, who were defiant against Liverpool despite an indifferent start to the campaign.
Crystal Palace are 17th but have a three-point buffer over Ipswich after winning at Portman Road in midweek. Goalscorer Jean-Philippe Mateta will give Manchester City's depleted core a stern examination but the reigning champions looked more convincing against Nottingham Forest and will hope the guile and artistry of Kevin De Bruyne can fire them to three more points.
Saturday's televised fixture sees the cameras return to Old Trafford where Manchester United will look to bounce back against Nottingham Forest after suffering a first defeat under new coach Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils were undone by Arsenal's set-piece expertise but will hope for more joy against a Forest side that has lost three of its last four matches.
Kick-off time (GMT) | Fixture | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
12:30 | Everton vs Liverpool | 1-1 |
15:00 | Aston Villa vs Southampton | 3-1 |
15:00 | Brentford vs Newcastle United | 2-2 |
15:00 | Crystal Palace vs Manchester City | 1-2 |
17:30 | Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest | 2-1 |
Sunday 8 December
Arsenal remain keen protagonists in the title race after seeing off United and their next task is a trip to Craven Cottage where Fulham await them. The Cottagers may look to two-goal hero and former Gunner Alex Iwobi for inspiration after his performance against Brighton & Hove Albion, but Mikel Arteta's outfit have the bit between their teeth right now and are firm favourites.
Two defeats in a row have seen Ipswich slide into the relegation zone, making their first clash with Bournemouth in over nine years a hugely important one. The Cherries would have thrashed Tottenham Hotspur with some clinical finishing but still emerged victorious and could pick up a third win in a row.
Leicester City were much improved in Ruud van Nistelrooy's first outing as manager as they swatted West Ham United aside and the Dutchman will fancy their chances at the King Power Stadium against a Brighton team licking their wounds after losing at Fulham.
Sunday's fixtures conclude with a huge London derby between Tottenham and Chelsea, two sides in distinctly different moods. Spurs were lifeless at Bournemouth and were carved open time and time again. Such sloppiness against the Blues, who bagged five at Southampton last time out, will be punished by their local rivals, potentially increasing the gap between the pair to 11 points.
Kick-off time (GMT) | Fixture | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
14:00 | Fulham vs Arsenal | 1-2 |
14:00 | Ipswich Town vs Bournemouth | 1-2 |
14:00 | Leicester City vs Brighton | 2-2 |
16:30 | Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea | 1-3 |
Monday 9 December
Monday night rounds off Gameweek 15 and there'll be tension in the air at London Stadium when West Ham entertain Wolves. Julen Lopetegui and Gary O'Neil are fighting for their jobs and the result of this fixture could have immediate consequences for the loser. The Hammers boast home advantage and may nick a tight affair, but neither side looks particularly convincing at this stage of the campaign.
Kick-off time (GMT) | Fixture | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
20:00 | West Ham United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2-1 |
