'The Game Plan' - Matchday 16 Preview (Saturday's games)

The Premier League's penultimate round of matches ahead of the Christmas festivities presents a series of challenging home games, must-win situations for struggling managers, and the first top-flight Tyne-side Derby since 2016.

Saturday's fixtures

3pm - Chelsea v Everton
• Chelsea host Everton at Stamford Bridge in what could prove to be a sticky home fixture against a resurgent Toffees side that has collected an impressive 12 points from their last five Premier League matches. A recent dip in form, coupled with disciplinary issues and injuries, has seen the Blues slide from second to sixth in the table. Just last month, Chelsea were being talked up as title challengers after holding the league leaders to a 1–1 draw, but they are now still searching for their first win in December.It is highly likely that Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca (November’s Premier League Manager of the Month) will once again make wholesale changes to his starting XI as he continues to search for consistency, balance, and a settled structure. Squad rotation has been a necessity as Maresca carefully manages the minutes of several World Club Champions, many of whom had limited pre-season rest following their mid-summer international commitments.

David Moyes’ Everton arrive in west London full of confidence and climbing the table. Since November, the Toffees have built genuine momentum, recording four league wins, one draw, and just one defeat. This upturn in form is in stark contrast to their early-season struggles, during which they managed only a single victory from seven matches across September and October.

News conference highlights: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca's thoughts on his team's current form - "We are not going to change our season because we didn't get the points that we expect. But I'm completely relaxed, I'm completely OK, because I'm sure that at the end of the season we're going to be where we ought to be."

News conference highlights: Everton manager David Moyes' spoke on his team's current aims - "We are playing well and we want to keep going with the things we are doing. We want to get in a strong position and keep on challenging near the top if that's possible."

Predicted team line ups: Chelsea - Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Santos, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro

Predicted team line ups: Everton - Pickford; O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry

Predicted score: 2 - 2

3pm - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion
• Liverpool welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Anfield as they look to carry the momentum from their recent Champions League win—achieved without Mohamed Salah after his recent outburst—into the festive period, domestic competitions, and beyond, at least for the duration of AFCON, where Salah will represent Egypt. Under pressure manager Arne Slot will be hoping another display of grit and determination this week as the current Premier League holders have been a shadow of themselves this season. Highlighted in the fact that this month while playing against two of the leagues newly promoted teams Leeds and Sunderland respectively they have only picked 2 points and conceded 4 goals in these games in contrast/whereas last season they won all 6 games against the newly promoted teams with an aggregate score of 17 - 8.
Brighton, meanwhile, arrive with inconsistent form (one win, one draw, one loss in their last three matches) but with hope that Liverpool’s recent defensive vulnerabilities at home will continue to offer chances for the Seagulls’ goal-hungry attack, although a recent string of unfortunate injuries to Brighton's midfield and attack has contributed to their recent run of indifferent results. Fabian Hurzeler’s side will also be aiming to secure back-to-back victories over Liverpool in the calendar year, having beaten them 2–1 at the Amex Stadium in May.

News conference highlights: Liverpool manager Arne indicts what's to come in the future from Liverpool's two recent summer signings, "The more they play together they more they will adapt to each other and the better they will cooperate. I saw promising things from the both of them, it's only the second time they've played together. We will see more of them playing together in the future."

News conference highlights: Fabian Hurzeler speaks on the importance of have his players return back to the squad fully fit - "It is important to have the availability, but much more important is to keep the availability. To have the availability for one game is good, but it has to be consistent."

Predicted team line ups: Liverpool - Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Ekitike, Wirtz

Predicted team line ups: Brighton - Verbruggen; Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, De Cuyper; Welbeck

Predicted score: 2 - 1

3pm - Fulham v Burnley
• A potential relegation battle six pointer sees free scoring but inconsistent Fulham travel north of the English boarder to face struggling Burnley and former manager Scott Parker whose side are currently enduring a 6 game losing streak. The Clarets last league victory came on October 26th against the leagues bottom side Wolverhampton wanderers and their shot shy front line and team have not scored a goal in front of their home supporters for almost 2 months. Their leaky defence that has conceded 30 goals in 15 league games so will need revive their 24/25 season water tight back line as Fulham's forwards have been hitting the back of the net with great efficiency this month even if it has not reflected so in their results.

With speculation growing around Marco Silva’s future, Fulham’s recent run of form has done little to quiet the noise. Having lost seven of their last ten Premier League matches, questions are being asked about whether Silva has taken this squad as far as he can and whether his methods are beginning to wear thin. That said, performances have often remained spirited, most notably in the late but ultimately fruitless second-half fightback against Manchester City. Despite falling short on the scoreboard, Fulham showed resilience, intensity, and a willingness to compete against elite opposition.

News conference highlights: Burnley manager Scott Parker talks up the benefit of home support while his team are still gelling together, "I understand there's a hard-working fan base that come into the stadium to support this team and are desperate for a result. We are equally as desperate. We need their full backing. We need them right behind this young group - through thick, through thin. we need to make Turf Moor a real difficult place to come."

News conference highlights: Fulham manager Marco Silva response when questioned about his teams recent run of results despite determined performances -"One thing that is clear is focus. We want to make the players understand the plan clearly. The Premier League demands a lot. The mental and tactical point of view, coping with fatigue, making subs, managing the load. Sometimes our games have come from those moments. The margins - when the games are so tight, some margins can go your way, some can make you lose the three points."

Predicted team line ups: Burnley - Dubravka; Sonne, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman; Ugochukwu, Cullen, Florentino; Tchaouna, Foster, Anthony

Predicted team line ups: Fulham - Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Castagne; Iwobi, Berge; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez

Predicted score: 1 - 3

3pm - Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Arsenal - Wolves... Top V bottom... high scoring v unwanted record making

News conference highlights: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta - "We understand that a team in Wolves' position has to react and show their teeth, which is a very dangerous thing, especially in this league. We are sure this [being complacent] isn't going to happen."

News conference highlights: Wolves manager Rob Edwards is open and honest about the current situation for his team, "ultimately, what we're judged on is the results so, that's the bit we're really frustrated. The reality of it is that it was difficult before we came in. We can see it's still going to be difficult going forward for a period of time so there might be more pain to come, but I'm energised by that and I'm looking forward to moving forward and trying to improve things."

Predicted team line ups: Arsenal - Raya; White, Timber, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Norgaard, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze

Predicted team line ups: Wolves - Johnstone; Krejci, Agbadou, Toti; Tchatchoua, Gomes, Andre, Wolfe; Lopez; Arokodare, Strand Larsen

Predicted score: 3 - 0