Predictions 31.12.2022-03.01.2023

Manchester City vs Everton | Premier League (31.12.2022, 16:00)

Manchester City will face Everton in the 18th round of the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola’s team came off a 3-2 victory against Liverpool in the League Cup, while in the last round of the Premier League they won 3-1 against Leeds thanks to a decisive brace from the usual Haaland. In second place in the standings after overtaking Newcastle, who are increasingly chasing Arsenal at the top, Guardiola’s team has the best attack in the category with 43 goals scored after 15 games played and the third-best defense. And they still have a match to recover from when compared to their direct competitors for the Champions League, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.

Everton have never won in their last 10 games played against Manchester City and are currently in 17th place in the table with 14 points, in the middle of the relegation zone. In 16 games for Lampard’s boys in crisis, only 12 goals were scored. A defeat against Wolverhampton came in the last round of the Premier League, the last of three consecutive defeats in the last three league games that further compromised an already difficult ranking. On the other hand, Guardiola can count on Haaland’s incredible scoring streak, who was rested during the World Cup and immediately starred in the second half with a brace that launches him to unprecedented levels. With the two goals against Leeds, the Norwegian reached 20 goals scored in the Premier League in December, record figures and unprecedented projections for the end of the championship.

 

Form Guide

Manchester City WWWWLW

After beating Liverpool 3-2 in the EFL Cup, Manchester City will be hoping for a repeat performance of their previous game’s successful outcome in this match.

During the game, Manchester City had possession for 57% of the time and had 18 shots on goal, with 9 of them finding the target. Manchester City has not been able to stop scoring goals, as shown by the fact that they have scored at least one goal in each of their previous six matches that they have participated in.

During that span, they have scored a total of 12 goals while also allowing a total of 6 goals to be scored against them.

Everton have not been able to defeat Manchester City in a league match in the previous ten times that they have competed in the league. A lengthy winning streak with no losses.

 

Everton WDLLLL

The last time Everton played in the Premier League, they lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers. This time, the team and its fans will be hoping for a different result.

Everton had 58% of the possession in the game, and they had 12 shots on goal, with 6 of them finding the target. Wolverhampton Wanderers, the team that they were playing against, had seven shots on goal, with four of them finding the target.

Everton, led by Frank Lampard, have scored five goals over their most recent six matches, which has resulted in an average of 0.83 goals scored for them each match.  

 

Injured and suspended

Manchester City: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns.

Everton: (Townsend, Andy Lonergan).                   

 

Manchester City vs Everton Predicted XI

Manchester City Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden.

Everton Predicted XI: Pickford; Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Onana, Gueye, Iwobi; Gordon, Maupay, Gray.

 

Prediction

When everything is taken into account, it is likely that Manchester City will have enough chances to score and shots on goal.

On the other hand, Everton may very well have a difficult time obtaining shooting opportunities, but we do anticipate them having the possibility to score as well.

As a result, we can anticipate Manchester City coming out on top with a rather comfortable 3-1 victory margin by the time the game is through.

 

Brighton vs Arsenal | Premier League (31.12.2022, 18:30)

Brighton host Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium for the 18th round of the Premier League. Arteta’s team is very much on its way to the top of the standings, after an exceptional first leg and a 3-1 victory against West Ham in the last round. It’s been four consecutive victories for the Gunners in their last 4 league games, leaving one point open to consolidate the lead. De Zerbi’s Brighton won the last round 3-1 against Southampton and are in seventh place in the standings with 24 points after 15 games played and a goal difference of 6. Arteta found an almost perfect setup with the Premier League’s second-best attack and defense—only one defeat and one draw in the league on the way here.

The Gunners won 6 of the 8 away games while De Zerbi, after an initial period of adjustment, got into the right gear, and the last 3 victories in four games have boosted the standings and confidence. In the fourth round of the League Cup, Brighton beat Charlton 4-3 after a penalty shoot-out, with regulation time ending 0-0.

 

Form Guide

Brighton & Hove Albion WWWLDW

After claiming a 1-3 victory against Southampton in the Premier League last time out, Brighton will be looking for a similar outcome this time around.

During the match, Brighton & Hove Albion had control of the ball for 66% of the game and had 7 shots on goal, with 4 of those shots finding the target. On the other hand, Southampton had 14 shots on goal, but only four of them were successful in hitting the target.

The recent performances of Brighton & Hove Albion have not been the greatest in terms of preventing goals from being scored by their opponents. However, they have been successful in scoring goals from the opportunities presented to them. When looking at their most recent six games, Brighton & Hove Albion have scored at least one goal in five of those games, but they have also let up goals in five of those games. 

Arsenal WWWLWW

Arsenal are coming into this game on the back of a victory in their most recent Premier League match, which they played against West Ham United and won 3-1.

During the game, Arsenal had possession for 67% of the time and had 16 shots on goal, with 5 of them finding the target. West Ham United had a total of 8 shots on goal, with 4 of them finding their mark.

Arsenal’s defense unit has been on a roll lately, as seen by the fact that they have only conceded four goals in their previous six games combined, bringing their overall total for “goals against” to only two. During that time frame, their forwards have accounted for 13 goals.

 

Injured and suspended

Brighton & Hove Albion: (Jakub Moder).

Arsenal: (Gabriel Jesus).

 

Brighton vs Arsenal Predicted XI

Brighton & Hove Albion Predicted XI: Sanchez; Veltman, Dunk, Colwill, Estupinan; Gilmour, Gross; March, Lallana, Mitoma; Trossard.

Arsenal Predicted XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah.

 

Prediction

We think that it will be difficult for Brighton & Hove Albion to score goals against this Arsenal team, as we believe that Arsenal will have enough offensive firepower to score goals of their own and have the upper hand in this match.

After ninety minutes of play, the score is now tied at one goal each, with Arsenal holding the advantage as the winner.

 

 

Barcelona vs Espanyol | La Liga 31.12.2022, 14:00)

On the 15th day of the Spanish Liga, leaders Barcelona play the derby against Espanyol at the Camp Nou and hope to be able to extend, or at least maintain, the distance in the standings from rivals Real Madrid. The Blaugrana are coming off five straight victories and will be back on the field after the World Cup break to continue their winning streak. The strong point of Xavi’s team, as the statistics show, is the defense: only 5 goals have been conceded since the start of the championship, not even one of which was in front of their fans. The Catalans are practically insurmountable at home, and this already takes away a lot of hope from their opponents.

Espanyol, among other things, is going through a difficult period and is now forced to fight for salvation. The latest home knockout against Villareal extended the streak without a win in the league to five for the side coached by Diego Martinez, who have at least gone through the first two rounds of the Copa del Rey. Espanyol has been struggling terribly in front of goal in the last period, with only five goals scored in the last six days, and it will not be easy to increase the meager tally at the Camp Nou.

 

Form Guide

Barcelona WLWWWW

Following their triumph over Osasuna (1-2) in the La Liga match they just played in, Barcelona will want to pick up right where they left off.

In the game, Barcelona had possession for 53% of the time and had 9 shots on goal, with 3 of them finding the target. Osasuna, the team that they were playing against, had 15 shots on goal, with just three of them hitting the target.

Barcelona, led by Xavi Hernández, has scored a total of 13 goals over the course of their most recent six matches, which works out to an average of 2.17 goals per game.

Espanyol DDDLWW

In their most recent match, Espanyol defeated Atlético Paso 0-1 to go to the next round of the Copa del Rey. This victory propels them into this contest.

Over the course of their last six matches, Diego Martinez’s Espanyol team has converted their attacks into goals an aggregate total of eight times. They have allowed a total of 5 goals over the same time period, which brings their total number of goals surrendered to 5. 

 

Injured and suspended

Barcelona: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns.

Espanyol: (Keidi Bare).

 

Barcelona vs Espanyol Predicted XI

Barcelona Predicted XI: Ter Stegen; Balde, Kounde, E Garcia, Alonso; Pedri, Busquets, De Jong; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Dembele.

Espanyol Predicted XI: Lecomte; Gil, Cabrera, Calero, Olivan; Melamed, Souza; Braithwaite, Darder, Puado; Joselu.

 

Prediction

We believe that Espanyol do have the capacity to score a goal against this Barcelona lineup; however, we also believe that the number of goals they score will likely not be as high as the number of goals they might allow.

We anticipate that Barcelona will emerge victorious from this contest with a score of 2-1 in their favor.