With another huge round o...
With another huge round of Premier
League matches ahead of us, we ponder 10 questions that will be
answered by the end of New Year's Day...
Can Mark Hughes dent Manchester United’s title hopes? The Stoke boss may have featured in Manchester United’s first two Premier League title-winning squads, but the former Red Devils forward can all but end their push for a 21st league crown with a Potters' victory.
Defeat would potentially leave Louis van Gaal’s men 13 points adrift of leaders Chelsea - should the Blues’ win at Tottenham - a gap surely wide enough to reduce the title race to two teams.
How can Southampton stop Alexis Sanchez?
Although the Chilean has only scored one goal in his last five league games, keeping Sanchez quiet will be key if Southampton are to secure their first home win over the Gunners since 2002.
Nearly half of Arsenal’s 34 league goals this season have been scored or created by Sanchez - a key factor in dragging Arsene Wenger’s side back into the reckoning for a Champions League place.
Can Liverpool make it three in a row against struggling Leicester?
Liverpool moved up to eighth in the Premier League following their comprehensive 4-1 win over Swansea City at Anfield on Monday Night Football, their second straight victory over Christmas.
And if the Merseysiders complete the festive period by also getting the better of bottom-of-the-table Leicester City at home on New Year’s Day, that will secure three consecutive league wins for the first time since Brendan Rodgers’ men won 11 games in succession at the back end of last season.
Can the Blues cure their recent travel sickness at White Hart Lane?
Chelsea make the short trip across the capital to take on Tottenham Hotspur on New Year’s Day looking to improve on a disappointing recent record on the road in the Premier League.
The Blues have won just one of their last four top-flight away matches since beating Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield on November 8.
And despite a holding a Stamford Bridge hoodoo over Spurs stretching back to 1990, Chelsea have won just one of their last eight league matches at White Hart Lane.
Will Swansea burst QPR’s home bubble?
Just two of QPR’s 11 defeats so far this season have come at Loftus Road, their home form keeping Harry Redknapp’s team out of the bottom three.
But while the R’s are unbeaten in six at home, Swansea’s recent record against QPR will give them confidence of leaving west London with a result having recorded four straight wins over their rivals.
Will Sunderland cement their tag as draw specialists?
Poyet is not fretting ahead of the transfer window.
Incredibly, Sunderland have already drawn six games 0-0 during the first half of the season – more than they have in any of their 13 previous Premier League campaigns.
They face a Manchester City side still missing the attacking threat of Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko, yet able to boast the joint-highest number of goals so far this season.
Is it a good time for West Ham to face West Brom?
Although Hammers boss Sam Allardyce feels it can be a "disadvantage”
to face a side immediately after they’ve sacked their manager, playing a
West Brom team with just one win in nine presents a great chance to
open 2015 with a victory.
With West Ham flying high in the Premier
League table, a win against an out-of-form Baggies would keep them
within touching distance of the top four following successive defeats
over Christmas.
Keith Downing and Rob Kelly are in charge of West Brom for their trip to east London.
Geordie glee: Will Newcastle fans respond to one of their own in the dugout?
Pardew never enjoyed a close relationship with Magpies fans and arguably the atmosphere inside St James’ Park suffered as a consequence. Will things be different on Thursday?
New Year, New Me: Can Crystal Palace start 2015 with a bang?
Eight games without a win, managerless and languishing in the bottom three, it’s safe to say Crystal Palace would have had rosier forecasts heading into 2015.
But there’s no time like the dawn of a new year to revitalise yourself, especially ahead of the forthcoming battle Palace have on their hands to retain their top-flight status.
Palace head into the year in an identical situation to which they entered the last, having claimed 16 points from 19 games, but find themselves among the relegation places. Will things work out the same?
Can Roberto Martinez stop the Everton rot?
Despite Everton’s recent results and their big-name absentees, Roberto Martinez’s team have a great chance of getting a result against a Hull side with just one win in 12 games.
A Boxing Day win at Sunderland aside, the Tigers have struggled in front of goal of late with just one goal in their other six recent Premier League games.
COMMENTS