Football is coming thick and fast, so fast we can barely keep up, but that hasn’t stopped us producing our Premier League Predictions Week 17 and preview.
Each week our preview includes just enough quick and barely interesting stats to help you decide a winner.
And as ever a method of deciding EPL Predictions using a vital statistic or something a little absurd. This week it is based on UK Christmas Shopping.
Enjoy our full Premier League Predictions Week 17 and preview, with more stats and graphs than you’ll ever need.
Read More: Matchday 16 Results and Stats
Premier League Fixtures Difficulty – Week 17
2019-20 Premier League Alternative Predictions Week 17 – Christmas Shopping
Here are this week’s predictions based on UK Christmas Shopping.
TIPPING BACKGROUND: Christmas is almost upon us, and most people will be doing or thinking about starting their Christmas shopping. There’s never been a better time to use the stats for Premier League Week 17 Predictions.
Our theory is the more that is spent, the happier the people will be, so then the louder they’ll cheers, which supports their team most.
2019-20 Premier League Predictions Week 17 – GAME BY GAME PREVIEW
Here’s our match by match review and our own Premier League Predictions Week 17. With loads of stats as below. But keep in mind the following…
All stats are based on the last 10 years of Premier Leagues 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.
LIVERPOOL v WATFORD
SATURDAY 12:30PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
A classic first v last clash to kickoff Week 17 in the Premier League, and these sides couldn’t be further apart. Well, in the past 10 seasons of Premier League, this season’s gap of 37 points between first and last is the biggest. It beats Man City’s effort of 35 in 17-18 and 33 from Liverpool last season. Aside from those bumper seasons, the average gap is in the mid 20’s.
For Watford there is hope. Sunderland were last and had just nine points at this stage in 13/14 and survived. The four other clubs with nine points or less didn’t – Fulham 18-19, Aston Villa 15-16, QPR 12-13, and Bolton 11-12.
A 100% record for the last ten seasons at Anfield means Watford probably don’t any chance of a win, in addition to their recent woeful form, but a silver lining is they have not lost to Liverpool at the 12:30pm kick off (draw) and the only game in December (win).
After Liverpool disposed of free-scoring Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League, despite Mo Salah missing a pile of chances, Watford should be no problem.
What more could be or needs to be said of Liverpool, a team which has dropped two points in their last 25 league games. Except maybe the FPL battle of Salah v Mane and the Liverpool defenders.
Final Say:
Liverpool 5 Watford 1
Barely Interesting Stat:
Liverpool and Watford have spent just three game weeks outside of first and last position respectively. The only time that wasn’t Round 1 was Watford after beating Norwich in Week 12.
BURNLEY v NEWCASTLE
SATURDAY 3:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Two lower midfield Premier League sides of recent seasons come into this game in quite different form. Burnley have lost six of their last eight matches, whose record is only bad enough to be 17th in the last eight game form table. Sitting third for last six form is Newcastle, who are up to 11th and just two points from fifth.
Burnley have kept five clean sheets this season. They have won all five games. Newcastle are going at one goal per game away, so a clean sheet is not out of the question.
Burnley also have a great record against teams with Betting companies sponsoring their shirt – 2.1 points per game. Their record is also much better against non Big/Top sides, taking no points from either the top six sides by table position or big six by stature.
Newcastle won both of these games last season and the Premier League record is 2-3-1.
Final Say:
Burnley 1 Newcastle 1
Barely Interesting Stat:
This game was last played on a Saturday in 1983, when both teams were in the old second division.
CHELSEA v BOURNEMOUTH
SATURDAY 3:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Just one win between these sides in the past four weeks of Premier League matches, Bournemouth’s run of losses a real cause for concern as they now hit a season high five losses in a row. They sit just one point above relegation.
Chelsea may not be going much better, but still sit fourth overall and have a five point gap to fifth. And they qualified for the knockout stages in the Champions League. And have their transfer ban lifted. So decent week then.
As pointed out in our stat review of Week 16, Chelsea (along with Norwich) are yet to earn a single point after going behind. As they did against a fired up Everton last weekend. Given it has been five matches since Bournemouth scored first, they should be OK.
Chelsea have won the last four clashes between these sides on a Saturday, so everything points to a solid home win for Chelsea. Just like it did for the West Ham game.
Final Say:
Chelsea 2 Bournemouth 0
Barely Interesting Stat:
Bournemouth won at Chelsea 3-0 in the 17/18 season.
LEICESTER v NORWICH
SATURDAY 3:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Nice to have 2nd play 2nd last on the same weekend first and last play each other.
Leicester going for a club record ninth straight win, which beats their previous best from the Championship a few seasons ago, and their current eight in a row is better than any run in their premiership season.L
Every game Jamie Vardy has scored in Leicester have won, so adding another game to each of those stats look highly likely.
Leicester are only conceding one goal every two games at home this season, so since Aston Villa scored last weekend, surely that means clean sheet number eight for the Foxes this weekend.
Norwich at least look like they are improving, despite their 19th position, and did take the lead for a while against Sheffield United last weekend.
This is the most party filled match this season with both a Vardy party and a Pukki party.
Final Say:
Leicester 3 Norwich 0
Barely Interesting Stat:
Leicester have won the last four games between these sides on a Saturday, but none of the five before that.
SHEFFIELD UNITED v ASTON VILLA
SATURDAY 3:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
A first all Premier League clash between these sides in a long time. The Blades will want to improve on their overall Premier League record against Aston Villa which currently stands at Aston Villa five wins and one draw from six games.
Aston Villa currently sit 17th, but watching their games, they look nowhere near as bad as that table position says, and our thoughts are that Jack Grealish was one of the best for either side in the match v Leicester last weekend.
Aston Villa have also scored more goals away from home than Sheffield Utd have at home, but have conceded almost twice as many. Sheffield Utd, for all their good deeds this season, sit only 15th in the table for home form.
Villa do hold the upper hand on the Promoted Teams cup for this season, having belted Norwich 5-1 at Norwich earlier in the season.
Final Say:
Sheffield Utd 1 Aston Villa 2
Barely Interesting Stat:
There were 11 goals in the two Championship games last season.
SOUTHAMPTON v WEST HAM
SATURDAY 5:30PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
A “classic” 18th v 16th battle for the late kick off, which is great for those in Australia as it won’t require a late, late night nor an early wake up. Just check the score, the FPL points and move on.
Southampton could have risen to 15th if they had of held their lead at Newcastle last weekend, but remain in the bottom three for now, but are on the rise. West Ham have lost seven of their past nine games, with only a draw against Sheffield Utd and a surprise win at Chelsea breaking the pattern.
The Saints’ recent home wins has seen them move up to be only the second worst team at home this season. Behind Watford who are reasonably poor in most places this season. Saying somethingthat a team beaten 9-0 at home are not the worst home team.
Danny Ings is the new face of value for Fantasy Football players, and his five goals in a row excites, and that scoring run will probably continue this weekend.
Six of the last seven games Southampton have been involved in have finished 2-1 either way. Southampton have only won two of those 2-1 games.
Final Say:
Southampton 2 West Ham 0
Barely Interesting Stat:
For the last four games and six of the last seven, the winner has scored exactly three goals in this fixture.
WOLVES v SPURS
SUNDAY 2:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
A decent Sunday afternoon game between two teams who will be eyeing off the top six minimum, and rightly so.
Wolves still have the second longest unbeaten run in the Premier League this season – 10 games and counting – but a Spurs team with a renewed interest will test that stat.
1st clean sheet for Spurs under Jose in any competition, and first in the Premier League since their Week 5 win over Crystal Palace 4-0. Prior to that it was two goals in every game – win or lose.
Spurs still only have one win away from this season, and a few months of last season, and they 15th in away standings.
Final Say:
Wolves 1 Spurs 3
Barely Interesting Stat:
The only time this games has been played on a Sunday saw the result 3-3.
MANCHESTER UTD v EVERTON
SUNDAY 2:00PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Manchester United continue to defy the popular belief that they aren’t any good by continuing to beat the big sides in the Premier League. They have now played the rest of the big six clubs so far this season, and they have recorded three wins and two draws. Throw in a draw against Leicester and it is decent form.
So they have 14 points in six games against the big six + Leicester, and just 10 points from the other 10 matches which includes just two wins. Since Everton are residing in the lower floors of the Premier League building, it will be most interesting if Man Utd are up for this clash.
Everton, despite being 14th and conceding nine more goals than their opponent, have one more clean sheet than Manchester United.
They are also the equal worst team away from home, and have conceded the most goals on the road (along with three other team which includes Chelsea who they put three past last weekend at home.
The joy of last weekend was seeing Duncan Ferguson’s pure joy at beating Chelsea, and a repeat dose would bring more smiles. For everyone except Man Utd fans we guess.
Final Say:
Man Utd 1 Everton 1
Barely Interesting Stat:
Man Utd have never lost to Everton at home on a Sunday in 10 games. 7 wins 3 draws. Although Everton haven’t lost to Man Utd in December in the last 10 seasons.
ARSENAL v MANCHESTER CITY
SUNDAY 4:30PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
Opposite results for these teams last weekend, as City were beaten by United and Arsenal left it late to beat cross town rivals West Ham.
Luckily Manchester City have the Champions League and probably another cup or two left in them. Arsenal will be fighting for the scraps of the Europa League with their rivals Spurs, Man Utd and probably Wolves. Perhaps they should try and win the Europa League. Worked for Jose.
Interesting goals scoring facts, Manchester City have scored as goals away as at home. Similarly, Arsenal have conceded as many goals at home and away.
There should be plenty of goals anyway, with 88% of Man City’s games ending with 3 goals of more and 69% of Arsenal games with both sides scoring.
Final Say:
Arsenal 1 Man City 3
Barely Interesting Stat:
Arsenal were ahead of Man City after 2 games this season.
CRYSTAL PALACE v BRIGHTON
MONDAY 7:45PM
H2H STATS – Last 10 Seasons
2019-20 FORM COMPARISON
THOUGHTS & STUFF
A great rivalry to end week 17 of the Premier League, one that allegedly ended in poo in the dressing rooms and a Championship playoff match a few years ago.
Hopefully for FPL it is a Tour de Force from Wilfried Zaha.
Crystal Palace have the second worst attacking record at home, and the second best defensive record.
Glenn Murray has played for both of these sides, and he has a great scoring record against both. Against Crystal Palace he has 5 goals in four games, and against Brighton he has 5 goals and 2 assists in 5 games.
Final Say:
Crystal Palace 2 Brighton
Barely Interesting Stat:
The last time Crystal Palace beat Brighton in a midweek home games was 1989.
