With the Boxing Day program of games not yet finished, we still offer up our Premier League Week 20 Predictions and Preview.
Each week our preview includes just enough quick and barely interesting stats to help you decide a winner.
We also have tips based on some statistics, ootall related or not, this week it is all about 2019 form.
Enjoy our full Premier League Week 20 Predictions and Preview.
Premier League Week 20 Predictions – 2019 Form
Average points for 2019 stated.
TIPPING BACKGROUND
With the last of the 2019 games about to be played, why not base tips on who has been best in 2019.
Of course it slightly weighted towards promoted sides, but who could deny Sheffield United’s lofty 2019 position.
So the tip goes to whoever was best in 2019.
2019 Form Table – Average Points
Premier League Week 20 Predictions
– GAME BY GAME PREVIEW
Here’s our match by match review and our own Premier League Predictions Week 20. With loads of stats as below. But keep in mind the following…
All stats are based on the last 20 years of League fixtures,except where stated. Last 6 matches are League fixtures only.
The barely interesting fact is just that, barely interesting. But takes in all competitions and cups.
Graphs below don’t include the overnight game of Wolves v Man City.
BRIGHTON v BOURNEMOUTH
SATURDAY 12:30PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Both teams gave a good account of themselves on Boxing Day against esteemed big six London clubs, only Bournemouth got a point from their game.
Both teams have also only won one game each since Week 11, Brighton have one more draw than Bournemouth with two. They are now in 15th and 16th and will be hoping Aston Villa don’t kick on from 18th.
H2H shows that Brighton have a terrible record against Bournemouth, with three draws the best Brighton have to show from eight matches over the past 20 seasons, and got walloped 5-0 at home last season.
A relegation scrap may not be too far away for the loser of this match.
Final Say:
Brighton 2 Bournemouth 0
Barely Interesting Stat:
These two teams have played in one early 12:30pm kick off before – a 2-2 draw in the 2017-18 season.
NEWCASTLE v EVERTON
SATURDAY 3:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Everton got off to life under Carlo Ancelotti with a win over Burnley at home, a bare minimum result to be fair. Two clean sheets in a row now is more progress.
Man Utd proved they can beat lower ranked sides by beating Newcastle 4-1 on Boxing Day, but Newcastle are a much better prospect at home. Their first home game of the season ended in a loss, and it has been the only one since. The 16 points earned at home in nine games has them 7th in home form, and a win here against Everton could see them with as many points at home as Manchester United.
Newcastle’s seven goals conceded at home is the division’s best this season.
Everton’s away record this season doesn’t fill one with confidence of a win in Newcastle. They sit third last in away form with just one win and two draws from 9 games. They are only one goal behind Aston Villa for most conceded on the road for 9 games.
Final Say:
Newcastle 0 Everton 1
Barely Interesting Stat:
Everton have won seven of the last ten matches in the League despite losing the last encounter.
SOUTHAMPTON v CRYSTAL PALACE
SATURDAY 3:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Two wins in a row for Southampton now, after their surprise win at Chelsea on Boxing Day. That’s four wins in six for the Saints now, whose other three victims were the current bottom three. All without a Danny Ings goal.
Southampton do have half as many points at home this season than away – 14 v 7.
Despite having top half away form according to points, Crystal Palace have scored the third lowest goals on the road. Although they are the second lowest scorers overall this season.
Final Say:
Southampton 1 Crystal Palace 1
Barely Interesting Stat:
Three of the last four games between these sides have been won by the away team.
WATFORD v ASTON VILLA
SATURDAY 3:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Watford seem to have turned the corner a little. A good win against Man Utd and a draw at Sheffield United is nothing to sneeze at this season. This is all after a decent performance at Liverpool. They are still a long way from safety, but early signs are good under Pearson.
Watford have won the last two matches between these sides – the only games in the last ten seasons.
Aston Villa won the first leg of their double header against the bottom two sides on Boxing Day by defeating Norwich, but still remain in the bottom three. A loss will allow Watford to close the gap to them to three points.
Aston Villa have scored the most goals this season of the promoted clubs. But they are the worst away team this season.And have a poor record against London clubs.
Final Say:
Watford 1 Aston Villa 1
Barely Interesting Stat:
Both of the last two games between these sides ended up in a 3-2 Watford win.
WEST HAM v LEICESTER
SATURDAY 5:30PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Time to see the reaction from Leicester after their 4-0 loss to Liverpool. In fairness they were still quite good against Liverpool, but like against Man City, there was just a small gap in overall quality.
Although, you could say this drop off run was coming given the opposition, the massive overperformance against xG, and there were signs against Norwich that the Foxes weren’t quite as sharp as they have been.
Still, a top four should be theirs by the end of the season.
Leicester have scored twice as many goals away as West Ham have scored at home.
West Ham haven’t won a home game since week 6 against Man Utd.
Final Say:
West Ham 0 Leicester 3
Barely Interesting Stat:
Leicester haven’t beaten West Ham in their last four league matches – three draws and one loss. Last season saw two score draws between the sides.
NORWICH v SPURS
SATURDAY 5:30PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Spurs did beat Brighton on Boxing Day, but they looked terrible, with only a Harry Kane effort which brought him to the point of exhaustion and a great finish from Dele Alli the difference. Although they looked better with Eriksen on the field, but stubbornness means that doesn’t happen often enough.
Norwich played OK against fellow promoted relegation rival Aston Villa, but the loss makes safety for them hard to see.
Norwich have now lost 10 of their last 14 games, with one win against an Everton side that were out of sorts waiting to sack their manager. That shouldn’t happen at Norwich, but something needs to improve soon for survival.
Final Say:
Norwich 1 Spurs 3
Barely Interesting Stat:
Spurs beat Norwich 2-0 twice the last season they were in the Premier League. The season before that Norwich won 1-0 at home.
BURNLEY v MAN UTD
SATURDAY 7:45PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
Final Say:
Burnley 1 Man Utd 2
Barely Interesting Stat:
The last time Burnley scored at home to Man Utd they won. In 2009/10.
ARSENAL v CHELSEA
SUNDAY 2:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Perhaps it is a sign of the youth of Chelsea and their manager how they can go from blowing Spurs off the park away, to losing 2-0 at home to lowly Southampton. That makes it five losses in seven games now.
Arsenal are going even worse though, just one win since Week 8. There may be a lot of draws in that run, but a third manager for the season has now been required in Mikel Arteta and he is yet to taste victory.
The Gunners are a few more losses away from a relegation scrap, which is almost unthinkable at the halfway point of the season
Arsenal may have two clean sheets at home but Chelsea are the third best scorers on the road this season. And they have a great record on the road to London sides this season.
Final Say:
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Barely Interesting Stat:
Chelsea are 2/2 this season for away matches against London clubs.
LIVERPOOL v WOLVES
SUNDAY 4:30PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Liverpool showed just how far ahead they are this season with their 4-0 win over second placed Leicester. A title seems an inevitability now.
Liverpool have scored as many goals at home this season than Wolves have in total.
Note: our stats above don’t include the Wolves-Man City games…yet.
Final Say:
Liverpool 2 Wolves 0
Barely Interesting Stat:
Wolves have two of their last four matches at Liverpool in all competitions.
MAN CITY v SHEFFIELD UTD
SUNDAY 6:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10/20 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Sheffield United continue to impress in their promotion season, a top six position heading into the New Year is some achievement.
The draw with Watford is a blip, ending a run of three straight wins, but the Hornets might just go on to prove that is was a decent result.
The Blades have lost just once since week 7, with 6 draws included in that run.
Man City quickly showed their class against Leicester, and with the Foxes 4-0 loss to Liverpool, could move back into second with a win over Wolves.
Sheffield Utd should be a hard nut to crack though, as they are unbeaten in the league away this season, and a chunk of games from last season’s Championship.
Final Say:
Man City 1 Sheffield Utd 1
Barely Interesting Stat:
Sheffield Utd have won the most recent match between these sides – a 2-1 win in the FA Cup in Sheffield.
