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 Congrats to Jay Soester and Brad Duff for earning top-billing in week 11 of Premier League Pickem with 28 points. Nathan Susanto was one point adrift in third, while Skip Wilson, Mark Yothers and Jeremy Fritsch tied on 25 points in equal fourth. Soester selected the most correct picks (8), while nine participants predicted one perfect game. There was a strong showing from the participants in week 11, with its average per pick made of 2.322 points ranking it second this season. Every participant backed Manchester City to defeat Norwich and the league leaders came through with a 2-1 victory. However, Bournemouth at Southampton produced the greatest yield of the week, with the fixture giving up a 1.92 points average. The West Ham at Watford fixture had the lowest points average of the week (0.22) and only two participants predicted Watford's shock triumph. Andrew Maher maintained his 21-point lead at the top of the overall standings. With 11 weeks gone, Maher (257) leads Skip Wilson and Dario Ambrozewiez (both 236), while Steve Steffy and Mark Yothers (both 227) are tied in fourth place. Week 12's slate includes the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, while top meets bottom as Manchester City visit Aston Villa. Remember to make your Premier League Pickem predictions before the deadline of each game. Week 12's schedule begins on Saturday with a 7:45 AM ET clash, followed by five 10 AM ET kickoffs. The final game of the day begins at 12:30 PM ET game. Sunday has three fixtures; the first starts at 8 AM ET; the week concludes with two 11 AM ET matches. Here we preview the ten games in the upcoming week of the English Premier League. The title of each game section is a link to pick the result of that game. Newcastle United (18th) at A.F.C. Bournemouth (17th) (Sat, 7:45 AM ET) Take away their six-goal showing against Norwich in week 9 and it is obvious Newcastle's lack of firepower is a major hindrance this season. The Magpies have scored just six goals in the other ten fixtures and they've been kept off the scoresheet in their last two outings. However, five of their seven points this term have come in the last five matches. Bournemouth, by contrast, head into this week on their worst run of the campaign, notching a point in their last five games. That point came against Watford in week 8 and they haven't looked like earning anything in the subsequent three matches. They were thrashed 5-1 by Manchester City and Spurs, while Southampton beat them 2-0 last week. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 1992 Last 6 (all competitions): Only six meetings. Last 3 at Bournemouth (all competitions): Bournemouth lead 2-0-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game and 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2. Team News Newcastle (from): Elliot, Coloccini, Dummett, Haidara, Janmaat, Lascelles, Mbemba, Williamson, Aarons, Anita, Bigirimana, De Jong, Gouffran, Marveaux, Sissoko, Thauvin, Tiote, Wijnaldum, Cisse, Mitrovic, Perez, Toney. Out (reason, expected return date): Krul (ACL, Jul), Colback (knee, Dec 13), Aarons (ankle, Dec 5), Taylor (hamstring, Dec 5), Obertan (hamstring, Nov 21), Darlow (ankle, Nov 21), Riviere (knee, Nov 21), Good (hip, Nov 21). Bournemouth (from): Allsop, Boruc, Federici, Bennett, Cargill, Cook, Costa, Daniels, Distin, Francis, Smith, Ward, Arter, Andrade, Gosling, MacDonald, O'Kane, Pugh, Ritchie, Stanislas, Surman, Kermorgant, King, Murray, Rantie, Tomlin. Out (reason, expected return date): Mings (knee, Sep), Wilson (ACL, Apr), Gradel (ACL, Apr), Elphick (ankle, Dec 12), Atsu (shin, no date). Watford (11th) at Leicester City (3rd) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Heading into week 12, Watford can boast at being the leading promoted club in the Premier League by quite some distance. The Hornets have seven more points than Norwich and this weekend's match gives them the opportunity to extend their winning streak to three games. In the last two weeks, Watford has dispatched Stoke and West Ham 2-0. Leicester is in eve better form, though, with no team losing fewer games. The Foxes only defeat to date came against Arsenal in week 7 but since then they've accumulated three wins and a tie. Their biggest victory of the season was in week 1 against Sunderland where they won 4-2; their subsequent five wins have all had a one-goal winning margin. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 2014 Last 6 (all competitions): Watford lead 3-2-1. Last 3 at Leicester (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1. All-time (all competitions): Leicester lead 24-18-17. Team News Watford (from): Arlauskis, Gilmartin, Gomes, Ake, Belkalem, Britos, Cathcart, Hoban, Holebas, Nyom, Paredes, Prodl, Abdi, Anya, Behrami, Capoue, Dyer, Guedioura, Jurado, Watson, Berghuis, Deeney, Diamanti, Ibarbo, Ighalo, Oulare. Out (reason, expected return date): Ekstrand (ACL, Jan 2). Leicester (from): Schmeichel, Schwarzer, Benalouane, De Laet, Fuchs, Huth, Morgan, Simpson, Wasilewski, Albrighton, Drinkwater, Dyer, Hammond, Inler, Kante, King, Mahrez, Schlupp, Dodoo, Kramaric, Okazaki, Ulloa, Vardy. Out (reason, expected return date): James (ACL, Feb). West Bromwich Albion (12th) at Manchester United (4th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) West Brom had moved up into the top half of the standings but their progress was halted last weekend. Heading into week 11's encounter against Leicester, the Baggies were looking to increase their two-game winning streak but they were defeated 3-2. They've now lost three of the last five fixtures and four of their last six games in all competitions. Manchester United has lost only one of the last seven league games but they've struggled in front of goal. United has scored just two goals in the last five in all competitions but they haven't conceded in the league since shipping three goals in week 8. They beat CSKA 1-0 in the Champions League, their fourth sucessive cleansheet in all competitions. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: West Brom 1-0 Manchester United Manchester United 2-2 West Brom (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2. Last 3 at Manchester United (all competitions): West Brom lead 2-1-0. All-time (all competitions): Manchester United lead 53-42-31. Team News West Brom (from): Lindegaard, Myhill, Rose, Chester, Dawson, Evans, Gamboa, McAuley, Olsson, Pocognoli, Brunt, Fletcher, Gardner, Gnabry, McClean, McManaman, Morrison, Sessegnon, Yacob, Anichebe, Berahino, Lambert, Rondon. Out (reason, expected return date): Foster (ACL, Jan). Manchester United (from): De Gea, Romero, Johnstone, Valdes, Jones, McNair, Rojo, Smalling, Valencia, Varela, Blind, Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Mata, Pereira, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Young, Depay, Martial, Rooney, Wilson. Doubts: Valencia (foot), Wilson (knock), McNair (abdomen). Out (reason, expected return date): Shaw (broken leg, Apr). Suspended: Darmian (one-match ban). Swansea City (13th) at Norwich City (16th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Apart from their narrow victory over bottom club Aston Villa in week 10, Swansea's campaign has been disappointing since notching seven points out of nine in their first three games. They'll hope the next two games against promoted clubs will help them climb back up the standings, but the Swans have just one win in eight games in all competitions. Norwich is on an even worse stretch, leaving them just above the relegation zone. The Canaries head into this game looking to snap a three-match losing streak, four games including the League Cup. They have just two league wins this season to date and their last league victory came in mid-September against fellow promoted club Bournemouth. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 2014 Last 6 (all competitions): Norwich lead 3-1-2. Last 3 at Norwich (all competitions): Norwich lead 1-0-2. All-time (all competitions): Swansea lead 21-20-10. Team News Swansea (from): Fabianski, Nordfeldt, Tremmel, Alfei, Amat, Bartley, Fernandez, Naughton, Rangel, Tabanou, Taylor, Williams, Ayew, Britton, Cork, Grimes, Ki, Lucas, Montero, Routledge, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Barrow, Eder, Emnes, Gomis. Norwich (from): Kean, Rudd, Ruddy, Bassong, R. Bennett, Olsson, Whittaker, E. Bennett, Brady, Dorrans, Hoolahan, Howson, Mulumbu, O'Neil, Odjidja-Ofoe, Redmond, Tettey, Grabban, Jerome, Lafferty. Out (reason, expected return date): Jarvis (knee, Dec 5), Wisdom (knee, no date). Suspended: Martin (one-match ban). Southampton (7th) at Sunderland (19th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Southampton is on a nice run of form, with only two clubs boasting longer unbeaten streaks. The Saints last lost in September and they've been unbeaten on their last five outings. During that five-game stretch, Southampton has secured three victories and a tie, while last time out their cleansheet was the first they've recorded in six fixtures. Sunderland, meanwhile, has only posted one cleansheet all season, coming in week 10 against Newcastle. The Black Cats have the worst defense in the division, conceding three or more goals on five occasions already. That includes last week's 6-2 defeat at the hands of Everton, the sixth time there were at least six goals in a Sunderland fixture. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Southampton 1-2 Sunderland Sunderland 0-8 Southampton (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Sunderland lead 3-1-2 (includes 1 FA Cup game and 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Sunderland (all competitions): Sunderland lead 2-0-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Tied 24-24-15. Team News Southampton (from): K. Davis, Gazzaniga, Stekelenburg, Bertrand, Caulker, Cedric, Fonte, Martina, McCarthy, Targett, Van Dijk, Yoshida, Clasie, S. Davis, Mane, McQueen, Ramirez, Reed, Romeu, Tadic, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi, Pelle. Out (reason, expected return date): Forster (knee, Apr), Long (ankle, Dec 5), Rodriguez (foot, Nov 21). Suspended: Wanyama (one-match ban). Sunderland (from): Mannone, Pantilimon, Stryjek, Brown, Coates, Jones, Kaboul, O'Shea, Van Aanholt, Yedlin, Bridcutt, Gomez, Johnson, Larsson, M'Vila, Rodwell, Borini, Defoe, Fletcher, Gooch, Graham, Lens, Toivonen, Watmore. Out (reason, expected return date): Cattermole (groin, Nov 23). Everton (9th) at West Ham United (6th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Heading into last week, Everton was searching for their first victory in four games. Playing a struggling Sunderland side proved to be the tonic as the Toffees triumphed 6-2. It was the fourth time this term Everton had scored at least three goals but it was also a reminder of their defensive frailties; Everton has conceded at least two goals six times. West Ham went into week 11's fixture with Watford on the back of a seven-match unbeaten run and the best away record in the league. So losing 2-0 to the promoted club was surprising. The Hammers' form at Upton Park has been average but they've improved. After losing on their first two home outings, West Ham has two victories and one tie. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Everton 2-1 West Ham West Ham 1-2 Everton (reverse fixture) West Ham 1-1 Everton (FA Cup) Everton 2-2 West Ham (FA Cup; West Ham won on penalties) Last 6 (all competitions): Everton lead 4-1-1 (includes 2 FA Cup games). Last 3 at West Ham (all competitions): Everton lead 2-1-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Everton lead 67-36-29. Team News Everton (from): Howard, Joel, Stanek, Baines, Browning, Coleman, Funes Mori, Galloway, Holgate, Stones, Barkley, Barry, Besic, Cleverley, Gibson, Lennon, McCarthy, McGeady, Mirallas, Osman, Deulofeu, Kone, Lukaku, Naismith, Rodriguez. Out (reason, expected return date): Jagielka (MCL, Dec 19), Oviedo (hamstring, Nov 21), Hibbert (knee, Nov 21), Pienaar (hamstring, Nov 21). West Ham (from): Adrian, Randolph, Spiegel, Cresswell, Demel, Henry, Jenkinson, O'Brien, Ogbonna, Oxford, Reid, Tomkins, Antonio, Cullen, Kouyate, Lanzini, Moses, Noble, Obiang, Payet, Samuelsen, Song, Carroll, Jelavic, Lee, Valencia, Zarate. Out (reason, expected return date): Sakho (thigh, Nov 22). Suspended: Collins (first game of three-match ban). Chelsea (15th) at Stoke City (14th) (Sat, 12:30 PM ET) Chelsea's title defense couldn't have gone much worse to date and the pressure on beleaguered coach José Mourinho continues to mount. Mourinho is due to be banned from the Britannia this week after another misdemeanor. On the field, Chelsea has lost three out of four, including the last two. They defeated 2-1 Dynamo Kyiv in midweek, though. Stoke sits just one place above their week 12 opponents but their recent form has been better than the champions. The Potters might be looking for their first win in three matches but before failing to score in their last two outings Stoke had won three on the bounce and gone four games unbeaten. Stoke's nine goals in the fewest in the division. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Chelsea 2-0 Stoke Stoke 1-2 Chelsea (reverse fixture) Chelsea 1-1 Stoke (this season's League Cup; Stoke won on penalties) Last 6 (all competitions): Chelsea lead 4-2-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game and 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Stoke (all competitions): Stoke lead 2-1-0 (includes 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Chelsea lead 45-28-22. Team News Chelsea (from): Amelia, Begovic, Blackman, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Djilobodji, Ivanovic, Rahman, Terry, Zouma, Fabregas, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Traore, Willian, Costa, Falcao, Kenedy, Pedro, Remy. Out (reason, expected return date): Courtois (knee, Dec 9), Falcao (muscle injury, Nov 22), Ivanovic (hamstring, no date). Stoke (from): Butland, Haugaard, Bardsley, Cameron, Johnson, Pieters, Shawcross, Teixeira, Wilson, Wollscheid, Adam, Afellay, Ireland, Moha, Shaqiri, Shenton, Sidwell, Van Ginkel, Whelan, Arnautovic, Bojan, Crouch, Diouf, Joselu, Odemwingie, Walters. Out (reason, expected return date): Muniesa (hamstring, Nov 28), Given (knee, no date). Unavailable: Van Ginkel (loanee; cannot face parent club). Manchester City (1st) at Aston Villa (20th) (Sun, 8 AM ET) Manchester City had a wobble in September but they've regrouped and continue to head the table. Since losing three out of four in all competitions, City has gone eight games unbeaten, including three victories and a tie in the league, though Norwich gave them a scare last time out. The Citizens also beat Sevilla in the Champions League in midweek. Rémi Garde takes charge of his first Aston Villa game this week with the club in bad shape. Villa props up the league standings having claimed just one win and a tie so far. That solitary win came against Bournemouth in the opening week of the term and they head into this top versus bottom encounter hoping to bring to an end a seven-match skid. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa Aston Villa 2-3 Manchester City (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester City lead 5-1-0. Last 3 at Aston Villa (all competitions): Manchester City lead 2-1-0. All-time (all competitions): Manchester City lead 70-57-40. Team News Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, Roberts, Silva, Toure, Bony, Iheanacho, Sterling. Out (reason, expected return date): Zabaleta (MCL, Nov 21), Nasri (hamstring, Nov 21), Agüero (hamstring, Nov 21), Silva (ankle, Nov 21). Aston Villa (from): Bunn, Guzan, Steer, Amavi, Bacuna, Clark, Crespo, Hutton, Ilori, Lescott, Okore, Richards, Richardson, Senderos, Cole, Gardner, Gil, Gueye, Grealish, N'Zogbia, Sanchez, Sinclair, Veretout, Westwood, Ayew, Gestede, Kozak, Traore. Doubts: Westwood (head). Tottenham Hotspur (5th) at Arsenal (2nd) (Sun, 11 AM ET) Tottenham has moved into the top 5 of the Premier League, courtesy of the longest unbeaten streak in the league. Spurs has strung together ten matches unbeaten, winning five of their last seven in the league, including wins over Bournemouth and Aston Villa in their last two. Tottenham also beat Anderlecht in the Europa League on Thursday. Arsenal didn't enjoy their midweek European adventure, losing 5-1 to Bayern Munich. However, things have been going well on the domestic front, with the Gunners level on points with Manchester City. Since losing to Chelsea, Arsenal has accumulated a five-game winning run, scoring 16 goals during that span and keeping three cleansheets. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Tottenham 1-1 Arsenal Arsenal 1-2 Tottenham (reverse fixture) Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham (this season's League Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Arsenal lead 4-1-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game and 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Arsenal (all competitions): Arsenal lead 2-1-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Arsenal lead 75-55-46. Team News Tottenham (from): Lloris, McGee, Vorm, Alderweireld, Davies, Dier, Fazio, Rose, Trippier, Vertonghen, Walker, Wimmer, Alli, Carroll, Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela, Mason, Onomah, Pritchard, Son, Townsend, Winks, Kane, N'Jie. Doubts: N'Jie (hamstring). Out (reason, expected return date): Chadli (ankle, Dec 5), Bentaleb (ankle, no date). Arsenal (from): Cech, Ospina, Chambers, Debuchy, Gabriel, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Arteta, Cazorla, Coquelin, Flamini, Ozil, Campbell, Giroud, Sanchez. Doubts: Koscielny (hip), Arteta (foot). Out (reason, expected return date): Welbeck (knee, Jan), Rosicky (knee, Jan 2), Wilshere (ankle, Dec 13), Walcott (calf, Nov 29), Bellerin (groin, Nov 21), Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring, Nov 21), Ramsey (hamstring, Nov 21). Crystal Palace (10th) at Liverpool (8th) (Sun, 11 AM ET) Crystal Palace remains in top half of the table but they had a tough October. Since defeating West Brom at the start of October, Palace lost to West Ham and Leicester, two other clubs that have been surprise packages early this term. They stopped the rot by tying with Manchester United, though. Palace's last three away games have all finished 1-0. Liverpool is finally discovering the winning feeling under Jürgen Klopp after they had been on a run of ties. In all competitions, Liverpool had tied five successive matches and seven out of nine. A League Cup victory, however, was followed by a win over Chelsea last weekend. Liverpool also claimed victory over Rubin Kazan in the Europa League. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Crystal Palace 3-1 Liverpool Liverpool 1-3 Crystal Palace (reverse fixture) Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace (FA Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Crystal Palace lead 3-2-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game and 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Liverpool (all competitions): Liverpool lead 2-1-0. All-time (all competitions): Liverpool lead 22-12-11. Team News Crystal Palace (from): Hennessey, McCarthy, Speroni, Dann, Delaney, Hangeland, Kelly, Mariappa, Souare, Ward, Bolasie, Cabaye, Guedioura, Jedinak, Ledley, McArthur, Mutch, Puncheon, Sako, Zaha, Bamford, Campbell, Gayle. Doubts: Gayle (knock). Out (reason, expected return date): Chamakh (hamstring, Nov 23), Wickham (calf, no date), Lee (knock, no date), Appiah (ACL, no date). Liverpool (from): Bogdan, Mignolet, Clyne, Jose Enrique, Lovren, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Allen, Can, Coutinho, Ibe, Lallana, Lucas, Milner, Teixeira, Benteke, Firmino, Origi. Out (reason, expected return date): Flanagan (knee, Dec 19), Kolo (hamstring, Nov 21), Sturridge (knee, Nov 21), Henderson (Metatarsel, Nov 21), Gomez (ACL, no date), Ings (ACL, no date), Rossiter (hamstring, no date). |
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