SATURDAY 11th JANUARY: (All Kick Off times 3pm BST (10am ET) unless stated.
HULL v CHELSEA (12:45 BST/7:45 ET):
The visitors are the first team who could take Arsenals place at the top of the tree but they have to get past a very tricky Hull City side first. Steve Bruce will be confident going into the game with Hull City having a very good record at the KC Stadium, with only Palace and Manchester United beating them there so far this season.
Frank Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic are both out for tomorrows game and although an away win is most peoples pick I am personally going to go for a tied game.
Prediction: 1-1.
CARDIFF v WEST HAM:
This game pits a new manager in his first League game in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer against someone whose games could be running out, Big Sam Allardyce. A win for West Ham will see them on the same points total as their hosts but the situation at West Ham seems to be more dyer for the Hammers not least because of their last two cup results. The defense is leaking goals and a lack of attacking options does not help, Andy Carroll cannot get fit quick enough.
Between the two sides there have been a combined six points picked up in the last available thirty six. A tied game will do neither side any favors and the loser will really be in trouble. Make no mistake, the uproar after West Hams defeats to Nottingham Forest and Manchester City will pale in comparison if there is another bad result here.
Prediction: 3-0.
EVERTON v NORWICH CITY:
I am not sure you can really make an argument for any other result than another Everton win. Other than the defeat to Sunderland, after Tim Howard was sent off and the winning penalty awarded, Everton have been faultless so far this season. Roberto Martinez has really got the best out of his side and there is no indication this will end just yet. As the season continues then of course the squad may tire but there are no signs of that as yet.
Norwich City, on the other hand, have been quite disappointing considering the amount of investment made in the pre season. Failing to get through, first time, in the FA Cup when playing a struggling Fulham at Carrow Road is hardly the greatest preparation for a trip to Champions League hopefuls, Everton.
Prediction: 3-1.
FULHAM v SUNDERLAND:
This round of fixtures is a reverse of the opening day fixture list. Back in August both these two sides had different Managers and different ideas about where they would be right now in the season. The reality is that Sunderland lost the opening game to Fulham and pretty much every other game after that until Gus Poyet took over. Fulham after winning the opening game didn't do much better and Martin Jol was removed. Jol beat DiCanio but now it is Meulensteen against Poyet, and that is a different proposition.
Rene Meulensteen has managed to get Fulham playing well against teams around them in the bottom part of the league. Winning against Villa, Norwich and West Ham were much more important than the defeats to Everton, Manchester City and Hull were destructive.
The return of Clint Dempsey just may be the kick in midfield Fulham needs. I think Sunderland will do well to get anything from this game.
Prediction: 2-0.
SOUTHAMPTON v WEST BROM:
What kind of affect on the West Brom squad will the presence of the new Manager have? Sure he is not going to be in charge of the team for the game at St Mary's but players will want to impress. Southampton have been poor recently and their good start to the season has now seen their Euro qualification from a league position all but vanish. Mauricio Pochettino has said the south coast side will be keeping all their stars during the January transfer window, and if he can keep true to that, then maybe a good run can salvage the season. The resurgence may start today.
Prediction: 2-1.
TOTTENHAM v CRYSTAL PALACE:
Crystal Palace really tested an attacking Manchester City at the end of last year at the Etihad and I think they could do better in this tie. Tony Pulis really has got the side tighter at the back and more dangerous going forward.
If Tottenham can get an early goal and put make Palace have to attack then it will be a good day for Tim Sherwood but the longer it goes on scoreless, or even if Palace score, then the pressure will increase and Palace can certainly lock the back door for the points.
Prediction: 0-0.
MANCHESTER UNITED v SWANSEA (5:30 BST/12:30 ET):
How much would David Moyes be hoping for a similar result against this side as they did in the reverse fixture at the beginning of the season? After a 4-1 win in Wales things were looking as if the transition would be okay but 19 games later and a defeat in the FA Cup (to Swansea) and some sections of the fans are already getting restless.
The worst thing for Manchester United right now is playing at Old Trafford. One win in the last three League games, and of course the defeat in the FA Cup, means Old Trafford is still a tough place to go and get a win, but only for Manchester United.
Prediction: 2-0
SUNDAY 12th JANUARY:
NEWCASTLE v MANCHESTER CITY (2:05 BST/9:05 ET):
November manager of the month hosts December manager of the month in Sundays early game. A win for the visiting team will see them take top spot, at least for 24 hours. Five wins from five league games, the dismantling of West Ham in the League Cup, have Manchester City on a great run.
Newcastle themselves are in pursuit of a European spot and maybe a defeat here will see that dream end. The defeat last weekend at home to Cardiff in the FA Cup means that the Premier League is their only focus. On the other hand their visitors will do well to not be distracted by other big games they have coming up.
Prediction: 1-3.
STOKE v LIVERPOOL (4:10 BST/11:10 ET):
Stoke City's recent home form has been good, two wins and a draw from the three home games. Liverpool's away form though had two defeats and one 5-0 win against Tottenham. This whole game will be more pressure for the away manager than Mark Hughes with anything less than a win seeing them slide down the league.
If Stoke City can get a result then they will move up the league, possibly even seeing themselves right there in that top half section for the first time in a long time.
Prediction: 1-2.
MONDAY 13th JANUARY:
ASTON VILLA v ARSENAL (8pm BST/3pm ET):
What a different journey these two sides have had since that opening day fixture at the Emirates. When Aston Villa beat Arsenal on their own ground many Arsenal fans chanted 'Wenger out' and wondered why he hadn't spent any money on players. Meanwhile Paul Lambert and Villa thought this may be a good season after blooding the youngsters in last seasons dismal affair.
Since then, Arsene Wenger went out, bought Mesut Ozil, and went on an amazing run. Villa, however have just bumped along the bottom part of the league in boring game after boring game.
Surprisingly enough the bore draws have secured them mid table at the midway point of the season, but only six points above the relegation zone. A win here for Villa will certainly give them a kick start for the second part of the season but I think it will be too much for them. Arsenal will win, win well and return to the top of the table.
Prediction: 0-4
Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979.
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