Man Utd v Newcastle will get Matchday 18 off to a cracking start | OneFootball

Alan Shearer's Premier League Previews

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Man Utd v Newcastle - Friday (Boxing Day) 20:00

Manchester United are missing some big players due to AFCON, but they're also missing Bruno Fernandes, which will be a big thing for them. Newcastle have defensive problems. Lewis Miley was brilliant at right-back, and in that first-half, Newcastle were much more like themselves. The second-half wasn't as good. It's a really tough one to predict. It could go either way, so I'd probably sit on the fence and say draw.

There are so many possibilities here and you think: "What happens if this happens?" That is why I'm going to go for a draw. It's a massive game for both clubs. The night time kick-off should make it a cracking atmosphere. I think it will be a scoring draw, and everyone will be watching that game.

Alan Shearer Man Utd v Newcastle United combined XI... 

Nick Pope

Tino Livramento

Malick Thiaw

Dan Burn

Lewis Hall

Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Guimaraes

Sandro Tonali

Bryan Mbuemo

Nick Woltemade

Anthony Gordon

Nottm Forest v Man City - Saturday 12:30, Live on TNT

Haaland's 38 goals for club and country is just ridiculous. I wouldn't go against City. It will be tough for Forest with the way City are playing, and the confidence flowing through the team, the belief, and the pressure they keep putting on Arsenal. I will go with City to get the away win.

City must keep on going. They did it on Saturday; they didn't really have to get out of second gear against West Ham. City were 1-0 up after four or five minutes. They won at a canter at the weekend, but it'll be a lot tougher at Forest.

Liverpool v Wolves - Saturday 15:00

Wolves are on track to break the record for the worst Premier League team ever. To have that around your neck for a long time would hurt, but that's what they've got to aim not to have.

I know they made life tough for Arsenal and they're going to try and play the same way at Liverpool, but I don't see anything other than a home win. Liverpool got the points against Spurs even if it wasn't a great performance. The injury to Isak will hurt them, but they'll have enough to beat Wolves.

Wolves struggle to score goals and struggle to keep them out. There's no hope for them; they're already relegated as far as I'm concerned. You wouldn't want to carry that tag around being the worst Premier League team ever. Somehow, they've got to get some belief to try and get out of that, but I don't see it. They haven't improved under the new manager, but I suspect that is because of the players they've sold and not replaced.

Arsenal v Brighton - Saturday 15:00

I thought Arsenal did well against Everton on Saturday evening. They managed the game well. The way they passed it around, and I thought they deserved to win, albeit it was tight.

It was an impressive result and performance. I love the way Gyökeres took the penalty; it would have been easy for him to say he didn't fancy it given the pressure. It was a really good game for Arsenal. I'm not impressed with Brighton, they weren't great against Sunderland and for that reason I fancy Arsenal here.

There are different strengths to title rivals Man City and Arsenal. City are brilliant going forward and will always score goals. Arsenal are better than City defensively; there's no doubt about that. There are pluses and minuses, but the one thing Arsenal will have to improve on slightly is the goals.

Brentford v Bournemouth - Saturday 15:00

That was a coupon buster from Bournemouth with the form Burnley were in when drawing last weekend. It was a poor performance and result for Bournemouth. I think Brentford might nick this, being at home. It was a great result going away to Wolves, and the keeper saved a penalty. Bournemouth are tough to predict; they got off to a great start but have found it tougher of late. I'm going for a Brentford home win.

We discussed how well Iraola has done for Bournemouth, but it has hit home of late. Also, there'll be a lot of talk of Semenyo leaving in January because of his release clause. I think there's a clause suggesting he has to go before mid-January. That may be on their minds. After a bright start, they've gone backwards.

Burnley v Everton - Saturday 15:00

Burnley will make it tough. They'll take confidence from that point away from home against Bournemouth last week, stopping the rot after losing seven on the spin. That's something to build on, but Everton will have enough to go there and win by the odd goal.

West Ham v Fulham - Saturday 15:00

It's looking like a very sticky situation for West Ham. They had a little bit of a bounce, but I watched the game on Saturday, and they were terrible at Manchester City. West Ham looked as if they didn't have any belief. They started poorly and got worse.

They're going to have to improve massively, or they'll find themselves in the Championship. This is a huge game for West Ham at home to Fulham. The pressure is going to be right on them. If they get beaten, you can imagine the noise. I'm not sure they'll have enough, so I'm going to say a draw.

I think two teams are already relegated in Wolves and Burnley and it's one from three then with West Ham, Leeds, and Forest. I think Bournemouth will have enough to stay up. It will be one from that three. That's why it's such a huge game for both clubs, particularly West Ham. They really are in a very sticky situation.

Alan's Prediction:? ? Draw

Chelsea v Aston Villa - Saturday 17:30, Live on Sky Sports

Chelsea were brilliant in the second-half against Newcastle. First-half, they couldn't string a pass together because Newcastle's pressing was great. This is a tough one to predict because Villa are flying, beating whoever is in front of them, full of confidence.

I wasn't that impressed with Chelsea defensively at the weekend. I'm going to go for an away win for Villa just because of the form they're in.

Sunderland v Leeds - Sunday 14:00, Live on Sky Sports

I didn't see Leeds scoring four goals at home to Palace. Calvert-Lewin is in really good form, making it tough for defenders. The key is trying to keep him fit.

Sunderland got a great point at Brighton and didn't seem to miss the players who have gone on AFCON duty. It's tough to predict; it could go either way, so I'm going to say draw. Sunderland are strong at home and haven't been beaten there yet.

Leeds are on a great run. They've just got to keep getting balls in for Calvert-Lewin. Two goals at the weekend, full of confidence, just keep getting the ball up to him and into the box.

Crystal Palace v Tottenham - Sunday 16:30, Live on Sky Sports

Whoever goes in against Palace knows they're going to have a tough game. If Palace get their best XI out, they're a really good team, and he's a clever manager Glasner. I'm going for a home win for Crystal Palace. I'm not convinced by Tottenham. They'll be missing two players with red cards as well.

You can imagine the noise if Crystal Palace beat Tottenham. That's why it's a huge game for Thomas Frank. From where they are, there's a little bit of noise around Tottenham at the minute, and that will only get louder if Palace beat them.