31.12. (Sat) 16:00 Arsenal - QPR

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL Szczesny Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen Arteta, Song, Ramsey Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho

QUEENS PARK RANGERS Kenny Young, Hall, Hill, Traore Barton, Derry, Faurlin, Wright-Phillips Mackie, Helguson

Theo Walcott could return for the Gunners after missing out against Wolves following stomach complaints. If so the England man will start alongside Robin van Persie, who needs two goals to equal Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 36 goals in a calendar year.

Meanwhile, Johan Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen look set to retain their places at full-back with Bacary Sagna, Carl Jenkinson and Andre Santos all still sidelined.

The visitors look set to welcome back Shaun Wright-Phillips to the starting lineup, meaning Adel Taarabt could drop to the bench. Armand Traore and Jay Bothroyd will be hoping for the chance to impress against their former club.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Arsenal will be looking for only their second win against QPR in the Premier League. Their eight meetings have produced five draws and two QPR victories.

• If Arsenal score against QPR, it will be their 300th Premier League goal in London derbies.

• Van Persie (right) needs two goals to match Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 36 goals in a calendar year.

• The last meeting between the two sides was back in 2006 at Loftus Road, when Arsenal ran out comprehensive 6-0 winners in the FA Cup fourth round.

• QPR have averaged just a goal a game in the league this season, only Swansea and Wigan have worse goal ratios.

• Arsenal have failed to score more than once in each of their last four games at the Emirates.

• The Hoops have managed just one win in their last 12 visits to Arsenal.

• QPR have won only one of their 11 Premier League games this season in which their opponents have scored first.

Prediction

The Hoops have proved they are no slouches on the road this season, with three of their four league wins coming away from Loftus Road. However, the Gunners' improvement since their drumming at Old Trafford has been impressive, and they should continue their climb up the table with a victory.

Editor's Prediction

Arsenal 2-0 QPR

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31.12. (Sat) 16:00 Swansea - Tottenham

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

SWANSEA CITY Vorm Agustien, Monk, Williams, Richards Gower, Britton Routledge, Allen, Sinclair Graham

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Friedel Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto Parker, Sandro, Modric Van der Vaart, Bale Adebayor

Swansea welcome Tottenham to the Liberty Stadium but will need to make at least one enforced change. On-loan centre-back Steven Caulker is ineligible to play against his parent club and looks set to be replaced by Garry Monk.

Neil Taylor remains sidelined by a knee injury, whilst Angel Rangel was forced off in the 1-1 draw against QPR with an ankle injury. In his suspected absence, Kemy Agustien may be forced to fill in at right-back.

Mark Gower is expected to slot into the central midfield position Agustien would vacate to feature against the club he began his career at.

For Harry Redknapp it is a matter of keeping his first XI fit. Luka Modric and Younes Kaboul passed late fitness tests before the Norwich game whilst Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart have struggled recently with hamstring problems.

Jermain Defoe may make the bench as he recovers from a hamstring strain and it is entirely possible that Ledley King will step out in Tottenham colours following a full week's rest since the Chelsea draw last Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Swansea have the third best pass completion this season (85.7 per cent), ahead of Arsenal in fourth, Spurs in fifth, and Manchester United in sixth.

• Swansea have lost just once at the Liberty Stadium this season.

• However, they have won only once in their last eight Premier League games.

• The Swans have kept eight clean sheets in the Premier League this season – only Manchester United (10) have more.

• Six of Swansea's eight clean sheets have come at home.

• Only Manchester United (23) have claimed more away points than Tottenham (19) this season.

• Tottenham are one away win away from equalling their record of seven away wins in a Premier League season.

• Gareth Bale (pictured right) will play his first club game against a Welsh side since lining up for Southampton as a 17-year-old against Cardiff in March 2007.

• Bale and Adebayor have created quite the partnership going forward. They've scored 16 league goals between them (six and nine respectively) and have assisted each other five times (four and one).

Prediction

This will be a tight game and it may resemble Tottenham's recent trip to Norwich. Swansea will have more of the ball than Norwich did and may offer more of a goal threat, but Spurs' stunning form on their travels suggests they will come away victors.

Editor's Prediction

Swansea City 1-2 Tottenham

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31.12. (Sat) 16:00 Chelsea FC - Aston Villa

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA Cech Ferreira, Terry, Luiz, Cole Lampard, Meireles, Romeu Mata, Torres, Sturridge

ASTON VILLA Guzan Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock Albrighton, Clark, Petrov, N'Zogbia Agbonlahor, Heskey

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas may be forced into one defensive change against Villa, with full-back Jose Bosingwa unlikely to have recovered from a hamstring injury sustained against Fulham.

That could mean a starting berth for Paulo Ferreira and he will join a side containing Oriol Romeu, who looks to have cemented a place in midfield in the absence of Jon Obi Mikel.

With Didier Drogba's departure for the Africa Cup of Nations fast approaching, the need for an understanding to be struck amongst the Blues' remaining attackers could mean they start together yet again.

For the visitors, Shay Given is unlikely to prove fit enough to feature, meaning Brad Guzan will continue to deputise in goal.

Alex McLeish will be boosted, however, by the return of Alan Hutton after the Scot served a one-match suspension for a red card.

Emile Heskey is unlikely to return from an achilles injury but reports suggest that Villa's main goal threat, Darren Bent, could overcome a thigh injury in time to feature.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This fixture has provided an incredible 24 goals in its last four incarnations, including a 3-3 draw last season.

• Chelsea have conceded 13 goals at Stamford Bridge so far this season, as many as they conceded at home in the entirety of last term.

• Chelsea have the third most potent attack in the Premier League this season, behind both Manchester clubs, having scored 22 goals.

• Blues forward Fernando Torres (pictured right) could well end the year having netted more times in the Premier League in 2011 for Liverpool (four) than Chelsea (three) despite leaving Merseyside in January.

• Aston Villa last won at Stamford Bridge in May 2002, with Peter Crouch amongst the goalscorers.

• Alex McLeish tasted success over Chelsea last season, with a 1-0 as manager of Birmingham City.

• Villa have drawn six of their nine away fixtures this season, more than any other Premier League side.

Prediction

Chelsea have drawn their last three fixtures and it is a lack of fluidity in attack along with miscommunication in defence which has combined to compound their woes.
The form of Torres is perhaps the most obvious worry for manager Villas-Boas but a defence consistently leaking goals is an equally pressing issue.
However, they face a Villa side who have scored just eight times away from home this season and, should the Chelsea defence hold against such a profligate attack, they are likely to net at least once to ensure victory.

Editor's Prediction

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

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31.12. (Sat) 13:45 Man Utd. - Blackburn

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED De Gea Smalling, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Nani Rooney, Berbatov

BLACKBURN ROVERS Bunn Lowe, Samba, Hanley, Olsson Vukcevic, Dunn, N’Zonzi, Pedersen Formica Yakubu

Wayne Rooney should return to the Manchester United attack after being rested against Wigan Athletic. Dimitar Berbatov could partner him after his hat-trick against the Latics, with Javier Hernandez dropping to the bench.

Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to welcome Chris Smalling, Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones back to the defence, but Jonny Evans will miss out after picking up a calf injury in the Wigan match. United’s injury list still includes the likes of Anderson, Tom Cleverley, Michael Owen, Darren Fletcher, Ashley Young and Nemanja Vidic.

Martin Olsson remains a doubt but could provide a welcome boost by returning at left-back for Blackburn. Junior Hoilett picked up an injury in Rovers’ 1-1 draw with Liverpool and could miss out here, while Paul Robinson is unlikely to be rushed back into action after Mark Bunn’s impressive display at Anfield.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will celebrate his 70th birthday on the day of the match.

• United will have thoroughly enjoyed their two matches against Rovers last season. After beating them 7-1 at home, they could only draw 1-1 at Ewood Park, but that point was enough to hand them the Premier League title.

• Dimitar Berbatov’s hat-trick on Boxing Day gives him the best goals to games ratio in the Premier League this season of any United player not named Wayne Rooney.

• Phil Jones (pictured right), if fit, will face his former club for the first time since his move to Old Trafford in the summer.

• Blackburn Rovers have won just one of their last 13 Premier League fixtures, and have only two top-flight victories under their belt all season.

• Their 1-1 draw with Liverpool snapped a three-game losing run, but they remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

• After 18 matches last season, Rovers had collected 22 points, double their tally so far this season, and were sat in 12th place in the Premier League.

• Blackburn have not beaten United since 2006, when they recorded a 4-3 win at Ewood Park. Morten Gamst Pedersen and Ryan Nelsen are the only players who featured that day who still remain at the club, although the latter is currently injured.

Prediction

Having dispatched Fulham and Wigan, it is difficult to see Blackburn preventing United from taking all three points here. Sir Alex’s team should stroll to a victory that will put them at least temporarily top of the Premier League, with Manchester City not due to play until New Year’s Day.

Editor's Prediction

Man Utd. 3-0 Blackburn Rovers

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