Arsenal v West Ham
Arsenal will resume their Premier League title challenge at home to West Ham on Boxing Day. The Gunners will be without Gabriel Jesus after the Brazilian striker picked up an injury at the 2022 World Cup, but the form book suggests they will still have enough to see off the visitors to the Emirates Stadium.
West Ham have lost their last three games in the Premier League while Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in three last three matches in the division. Arteta’s team have also scored in both halves in each of their last four games at home and are a good bet to continue this record against a team that is just one point above the relegation zone.
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Darwin Nunez suffered a difficult start to life as a Liverpool player, but there were signs before the World Cup break that the Uruguayan striker is acclimatising at his new club. Nunez scored seven goals in 10 appearances for the Reds before heading to Qatar and his performance against Manchester City on Thursday suggested he will continue to be dangerous over the winter.
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Liverpool’s last three matches in the Premier League. Unai Emery has had a month to work with his new team and that could be evident in Aston Villa’s defensive play – Emery is renowned for building from the back – but Jurgen Klopp’s team will surely have too much firepower for them.
Chelsea v Bournemouth
The World Cup break came at the right time for Chelsea who restart their season on a run of three straight defeats in the Premier League. Graham Potter is still searching for answers following his appointment at Stamford Bridge with the Blues struggling for attacking threat under the former Brighton boss.
There have been under 2.5 goals scored in five of Chelsea’s last six league matches. Bournemouth have scored two or more goals in his last three Premier League games, but the Blues haven’t conceded more than one goal in a home league fixture since the opening game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.
Man United v Nottingham Forest
Manchester United returned to action after the 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 win over Burnley in the Carabao Cup. Erik Ten Hag’s team are on an upward trajectory, but they have scored under 2.5 goals in 14 of their last 16 matches. The Old Trafford outfit are still finding their stride in the final third of the pitch.
Marcus Rashford scored a stunning individual goal against Burnley and looks to be in sharp scoring form. The 25-year-old is a threat on the left and right wing and has the ability to get in behind Nottingham Forest who have conceded more goals than any other Premier League team this season.
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