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Friday Forecast: Arsenal host Man City, Barca & Madrid aim for consecutive wins

  /  ClaunicornX

Another weekend with several huge league clashes is coming as we bring you all you need to know ahead of it.

Arsenal vs Man City

Kick off: UTC 2019/12/15 16:30 

Probable Lineups

Arsenal Team News

Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney are both sidelined for Arsenal, with the latter out for three months.

Granit Xhaka will return next week due to the concussion protocol. Matteo Guendouzi should start as a result.

Alexandre Lacazette may have to settle for another place on the bench, with Gabriel Martinelli set to start again.

Man City News

David Silva missed out in midweek with a knock and remains a doubt. His absence could pave the way for Phil Foden to start against Arsenal after an impressive display in the Champions League. Ilkay Gundogan is perhaps favourite, however.

Illness ruled Ederson out in midweek and Guardiola will hope to have his first-choice goalkeeper available at the Emirates.

Benjamin Mendy, Zinchenko and Angelino are now in competition to start at left-back, while Nicolas Otamendi expected to start at centre-back with John Stones a doubt.

Focus

Arsenal have failed to score in their last three home matches with City but Guardiola's side are currently very vulnerable at the back and that should at least give the Gunners some optimism this weekend.

Prediction

Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City


Liverpool vs Watford

Kick off: UTC 2019/12/14 12:30

Probable Lineups

Liverpool Team News

Matip and Lovren are both sidelined for this one, meaning Gomez will slot in alongside Van Dijk.

Adam Lallana has an outside chance of making the matchday squad but right-back Nathanial Clyne remains sidelined for the foreseeable future with torn knee ligaments.

Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are among those who could come into the side.

Focus

Liverpool will be looking to secure their eighth successive Premier League win. Now unbeaten in 46 home league matches, the Reds will be aiming to maintain their dominance over the Hornets having won their last six meetings on Merseyside, scoring 21 and conceding one in that run.

Watford travel to Anfield with their third permanent manager at the helm as Nigel Pearson kicks off a difficult end to 2019. 

Prediction

Liverpool 3-0 Watford


Real Sociedad vs Barcelona

Kick off: UTC 2019/12/14 15:00

Probable Lineups

Barcelona Team News

Jordi Alba is still an injury doubt for the away side, which will see Junior Firpo continue at left-back.

Ivan Rakitic is expected to get another chance in central midfield after some recent outings.

Nelson Semedo is still recovering from injury, which should lead to Sergi Roberto retaining his place at right-back.

Ansu Fati will hope to usurp Antoine Griezmann in the team after his impact from the bench against Inter on Tuesday.

Focus

Real Sociedad responded well to poor results against Levante and Leganes at home by thrashing Eibar 4-1 recently.

Alguacil's men secured their fourth clean sheet of the season last time out, but will face a sterner test this weekend.

Barcelona will be fresh for the weekend after resting several first-team faces in midweek, including Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique.

Prediction

Real Sociedad 2-3 Barcelona


Chelsea vs Bournemouth

Kick off: UTC 2019/12/14 15:00

Probable Lineups

Chelsea Team News

Rudiger made his first appearance since September in 2-1 win over Lille but it remains to be seen whether he is fit enough.

With Tomori expected to miss out, Christensen is the first option to sub in for either centre-back. 

Giroud is also a doubt but wouldn't have started here, while Barkley was back on the bench in midweek after overcoming illness.

Mount, Reece James and Hudson-Odoi will hope to benefit from any rotation applied by Lampard.

Focus

Chelsea will be full of confidence after securing UCL knockout in midweek. They have, however, lost three of their last four in the league and have kept one clean sheet in their last 10 in all competitions.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, are in torrid form. The Cherries head into the weekend just one point above the bottom three and are on a run of five straight defeats - their worst ever run in the Premier League.

Prediction

Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth


Man Utd vs Everton

Kick off: UTC 2019/12/15 14:00

Probable Lineups

Man Utd Team News

Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood compete for a starting spot in attack.

Ashley Young and Luke Shaw are in competition to start at left-back.

Shaw picked up cramp at the end of the Manchester debry but is expected to be fit enough to make the squad here.

Jesse Lingard missed training in midweek but is also expected to be okay to feature on Sunday.

Focus

Manchester United will be full of confidence after beating Tottenham, Manchester City and AZ Alkmaar in the space of eight days.

United are unbeaten in their last five matches at home to Everton and are favourites heading into Sunday's game. However, there is a different look about this Everton side under Ferguson than there was under Silva just over a week ago.

Prediction

Man Utd 2-1 Everton


Wolves vs Tottenham

Kick off: UTC 2019/12/15 14:00

Probable Lineups

Tottenham Team News

Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele will both be assessed ahead of Sunday's trip to Wolves.

Hugo Lloris, Michel Vorm, Erik Lamela and Ben Davies all sit out the trip to Molineux, however.

Jose Mourinho could name the same XI that started the 5-0 win over Burnley last weekend after resting key players in Munich in midweek.

Focus

Spurs have won their two league trips to Wolverhampton following their return to the Premier League, but have won only one of their last 14 away league games. The north London side have improved markedly since Jose Mourinho was appointed.

This promises to be an entertaining match up at Molineux.

Prediction

Wolves 2-2 Tottenham


Valencia vs Real Madrid

Kick off: UTC 2019/12/15 20:00

Probable Lineups

Real Madrid Team News

Ferland Mende is banned for the away side, which will see Nacho start at left back.

Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale are expected to lead the line for Real Madrid.

Luka Modric will likely help to pack the midfield owing to Zinedine Zidane having injuries to key attackers.

Focus

Valencia have won their last three matches, even coming from behind last time out in LaLiga to defeat local rivals Levante.

The hosts haven't lost in their last six outings at Mestalla, as their form continues to look promising under their newest coach.

Real Madrid will have one eye on next week's midweek El Clasico clash against Barcelona, but arrive unbeaten in 10.

Predictions

Valencia 2-2 Real Madrid


Juventus vs Udinese

Kick off: UTC 2019/12/15 14:00

Probable Lineups

Juventus Team News

Miralem Pjanic and Juan Cuadrado are both suspended for this fixture, while Rodrigo Bentancur could be available for selection despite picking up a knee injury against Lazio.

Focus

After suffering their first defeat in all competitions this season last week, Juventus will be looking forward to bounce back against a team with which they have a very good historical record.

The absences of key playmakers like Miralem Pjanic and Juan Cuadrado will certainly affect the hosts' attacking fluidity and tempo, but Maurizio Sarri's side have enough quality upfront to get all three points here.

Prediction

Juventus 1-0 Udinese