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Will City end the year on a high?

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Southampton have lost their last four Premier League games.

They have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League away matches, and kept just one clean sheet in their last 22 on the road.

The Saints have also won just two of their last 15 Premier League fixtures in London (D4, L9).

The only season Southampton were bottom of the top-flight table at the turn of the year was in 1991-92 BUT they went on to finish 16th and avoid relegation.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

With January fast approaching, Bournemouth’s first transfer window under Bill Foley’s ownership will be interesting to watch.

Monday's defeat at Chelsea left the Cherries four places and three points above the relegation zone. Although this has exceeded the pre-season forecasts of the national pundits, who almost universally predicted them to finish rock bottom, all the teams in their section of the table will be looking to strengthen, for fear of being left in the bottom three when the music stops in May.

It will prove something of a juggling act. They are already at the limit of the Premier League’s 25-man squad rules - so for every new arrival, there must be a player omitted.

Unless such omitted players leave Vitality Stadium on loan or in permanent moves, they will be left kicking their heels for the remainder of the league season.

That is the fate that has already befallen third-choice goalkeeper Will Dennis, the unfortunate 26th man left out when the squad was finalised in September.

Players such as Emiliano Marcondes, Jamal Lowe and Siriki Dembele, who have made only four Premier League substitute appearances between them - adding up to barely a quarter of a game - could be deemed surplus to requirements.

Meanwhile, captain Lloyd Kelly’s return to action at Chelsea was a big boost, having been sidelined since early September, though it came at the expense of Chris Mepham, who missed out through illness.

Crystal Palace have failed to register a single shot on target in their last two Premier League games – since Opta have match-by-match shot data (2003-04), no team has ever failed to do so in three consecutive matches.

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I really am worried about Everton. They have won only one of their past nine games in all competitions, so a trip to Etihad Stadium is the last thing they need.

How do Frank Lampard's side approach this? Well, they will try to be resilient, to stay in the game for as long as possible and defend deep - but conceding an early goal would be disastrous for them.

The only question about Manchester City is who will play - the old 'Pep Roulette' upsets thousands of Fantasy Football players every week because you never know who will start.

I don't think Pep Guardiola's selection will make much difference to the outcome against Everton, though. City will wipe the floor with them.

Prediction: 5-0

Sutton's full predictions v Afrobeats star Maulo

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Bournemouth have won just two of their 10 Premier League games against Crystal Palace.

Having won just one of their first seven Premier League games against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace have won each of their past three against the Cherries.

Bournemouth are looking to win consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since February 2020.

Palace have kept a clean sheet in three of their five Premier League away games against the Cherries.

Today is Fulham's first home game since the death of club legend George Cohen at age 83, on 23 December.

Cohen was born within a mile and a half of Craven Cottage, bunked into ground via an overhanging tree as a kid, swept the stands as a teenager, before making his debut in 1957.

It was the first of 459 appearances for the club, with his last coming at the age of 29 when a knee injury forced his retirement.

He was part of the England team that beat West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final and was described by George Best as the best full-back he ever played against.

A statue of Cohen was placed outside Craven Cottage in 2016 and his life will be commemorated, alongside that of Pele, before kick-off today.

Bournemouth have won their last two league games played on New Year's Eve, most recently a 3-0 victory over Swansea City in 2016.

Crystal Palace won 3-0 against Norwich in their final league game of 2021, having not won their last game in any of the previous nine calendar years (D7 L2). They last won consecutive matches between 2001 and 2003 (3).

Image source, BBC Sport

I need to apologise to Fulham fans because I have been writing them off all season and it's become apparent that they are a very well-balanced team who deserve to be where they are in the top half of the table.

Fulham got a brilliant win at Crystal Palace and that was not the first time they have surprised people this season - they are not just well organised defensively, they always carry a threat too.

Southampton, in contrast, have got big problems. They are bottom for a reason.

The alarm bells were ringing when I heard their new boss Nathan Jones talk about how easy his side made it for Brighton after Saints had lost his first game in charge. He has got a lot of work to do.

Prediction: 2-0

Sutton's full predictions v Afrobeats star Maulo

Manchester City are unbeaten in their past 11 home league games against Everton (W7, D4). They had lost the previous four meetings at the Etihad Stadium.

City are winless in all four Premier League games played on New Year's Eve (D3, L1).

Erling Haaland has scored eight goals more than Everton's entire squad in 16 Premier League matches.

Everton have lost 21 Premier League matches in 2022, their joint-most defeats in a single year in the competition.

No side has lost more Premier League away games so far in 2022 than Everton (12 defeats).

However, Everton are unbeaten in their last six league matches played on New Year's Eve (W4, D2).

Manchester United

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw speaking to BT Sport:

On Marcus Rashford: "He is in a really good way at the moment. Extremely confident, very positive. He is world class and he can be one of the best players in the world if he keeps going."

On playing at centre-back: "I'm really enjoying it. I said to the manager I will play wherever he wants me to. It helps playing next to Varane. I've really enjoyed it with him talking to me all the time and helping me. I'm really happy to get the win and keep a clean sheet."

On discipline at Man United: "At a top club like this it has to be like that. There has to be discipline. The manager takes all of that into consideration. People have got away with silly things before. Like you've seen today, if you don't do the little things right then you won't play."

Chris Wise
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator at the Vitality Stadium

Having lamented Crystal Palace’s performance against Fulham a few days ago, it’s interesting that the only changes Patrick Vieira has made are enforced ones.

You get the feeling the message from the Palace boss will be: 'Here's your chance to put it right.'

Lots of reaction to follow from Molineux but we've got more to come in half an hour as four games kick-off at 15:00 GMT.

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace

Fulham v Southampton

Manchester City v Everton

Newcastle v Leeds

We'll start building up to those but stick around for all the talk from Manchester United's win over Wolves.

Marc Quinn: Varane has been immense. Such a rolls royce of a defender.

Wolves have now failed to score in nine of their 17 Premier League games this season. It's pretty clear what they need to do in the January window. That process has already begun, of course, but I'd be amazed if they stop with one forward.

That win moves Manchester United up to fourth. They'll start 2023 in the Champions League places.

Wolves will begin the new year in the bottom three, in 18th with 13 points.

United hold on!

Marcus Rashford makes amends for the "disciplinary reasons" that saw him left out of the Man Utd starting XI.

Julen Lopetegui's first home game as Wolves boss ends in defeat.

Lopetegui is furious. Again.

The ref gives a free-kick to Manchester United for what looks to be a push by Nathan Collins.