Before I go any further, I just want to wish all of you a Happy Christmas and hope you enjoy the rest of 2013 and the entrance to 2014.
Liverpool v Cardiff (Saturday, 12:45pm)
Beating Tottenham 5-0 at White Hart Lane is a massive win for Brendan Rodgers' team especially if they want to be considered title challengers.
I don't think they will obviously win the league as their squad is not quite at that level yet and they will especially miss on-fire Luis Suarez if he left the Reds.
But they are used to Rodgers' style of play and they look very threatening going forward especially as they have creative players.
This is the reason why I only see a straightforward win for the Kop faithful at Anfield this weekend.
Cardiff got a much-needed win over West Brom but they will soon discover how daunting the Premier League can be but they have really risen to the occasion so far.
Malky Mackay needs full backing of the staff above him but he did spend a lot of money going into the season and they are doing ok with the players they have.
Score: 4-1
Crystal Palace v Newcastle
Tony Pulis should be proud of the way his team performed at Stamford Bridge even though they lost and this is a game they can bounce back from.
Crystal Palace don't really have much Premier League quality in their side and this is arguably the worst time to play Alan Pardew's side, who have won five out of their last seven games.
While Newcastle were the better team in the first-half of their draw with Southampton, they did sit off a bit in the second-half but they have done very well in the last six weeks.
Both managers will feel they can win this match but it is likely to be a tight one.
Hopefully it will be an entertaining match but draw for me.
Score: 1-1
Fulham v Man City
Fulham were overrun by Everton on Saturday even though 4-1 was slightly harsh on them and this game doesn't come any easier for them.
They are only one point off safety but their goal difference is inferior to those above them and there is still 22 games left to go this season.
Anything can happen in that time but I expect another defeat for them personally. Man City have improved away from home recently, claiming four points from their last two away games. They have also booked their place in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup against West Ham after beating Leicester.
Rene Muelensteen will demand a big effort from his players but I cannot see the Cottagers getting anything from this one but you never know in this league.
Score: 0-2
Man Utd v West Ham
After two back-to-back home league defeats in a week, David Moyes finally has a bit of breathing space as Manchester United have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, beat Aston Villa and are through to the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup. They will play Sunderland which is winnable over two legs from their point of view.
It was always going to take time for the Red Devils to adapt to Moyes' style of play but they can still make strides in the rest of the season. As Moyes himself said, it is stability that brings success to clubs on most occasions.
West Ham and Sam Allardyce have a two-legged semi-final against Manchester City after beating Tottenham on Wednesday night which is a massive win for them, especially winning at White Hart Lane twice in a season.
United should still win but the Hammers will be full of confidence too.
Score: 2-0
Stoke v Aston Villa
Stoke played ok for the most part in their Capital One Cup Quarter-Final defeat to Manchester United but two good goals saw them off in the end.
As far as the league goes, they saw off Chelsea last Saturday which is a fantastic win for Mark Hughes' team and I can see them winning this match as well.
Aston Villa have not looked like themselves recently, Christian Benteke especially who has worryingly looked very goal-shy this term.
Was he a one-hit wonder? I am not sure but it is starting to look that way and Paul Lambert will be especially concerned.
They started well against Manchester United but were comfortably outplayed by the end and they need points, and soon too.
Score: 2-1
Sunderland v Norwich
During the extra-time period against Chelsea, Gus Poyet's side played very well, especially in the last 15 minutes when Ki Sung-Yeung scored the winner.
But in the second-half of ordinary time they were given massive amounts of fortune as Chelsea could easily have won the game as they missed a number of chances to add to their lead.
Sunderland stuck at it, however, and just about deserved to win to earn a semi-final against Manchester United. In the end that victory should give them confidence ahead of this game.
But Chris Hughton will be breathing easier now as his Canaries have took seven points out of a possible 12.
Norwich generally have been criticised for their lack of goal threat but Gary Hooper should be more confident himself; he has scored four goals in his last six games.
Because of the momentum Sunderland will have got from the Chelsea win and given they are at home, I fancy the Black Cats to edge this one.
Score: 2-1
West Brom v Hull
Well, where to start with this one? I think Steve Clarke's sacking is extremely unfair given what he has done with the club, as he did get them to finish eighth in the table last season.
The problem was Romelu Lukaku was at the heart of the Baggies' team and even though they have bought in reasonable players such as Stephane Sessegnon and Victor Anichebe they have struggled to replace his goals.
Still, they were on a bad run with four straight defeats and unfortunately no owner has any patience any more. I think Clarke would have turned things around had he been given more time as the bottom half of the league is so tight so anything can happen.
Still, if they can beat Hull, which I think they will do, then things may start to get back on track.
Hull earned a draw against Stoke last time around and they have been consistently good this season.
They may not have the best quality squad but they aren't afraid to have a go at teams which has always impressed me. Steve Bruce has done really well with them and if this continues they should stay up comfortably in my opinion.
Score: 1-0
Southampton v Tottenham (Sunday, 1:30pm)
Like Steve Clarke at West Brom, I think Andre Villas-Boas' sacking at Tottenham was highly uncalled for.
What I need to know is who signed the players. If Daniel Levy and Franco Baldini were responsible for bringing the players in, that put Villas-Boas in an unfair and difficult position. You may as well have just said to him "work with what we have signed for you or you are sacked!" Surely whoever brought the players in should take responsibility for them not performing. and not solely blaming it on the manager.
I felt sorry for him and it seems Baldini, Levy and some of the fans don't seem to understand it takes time to gel the players. On the other hand, they haven't looked like scoring too much but they are only five points off the top four and as I have said countless times, two or three good results and everyone's opinion changes.
Still, after losing against West Ham on Wednesday, Southampton away isn't an easy game. Mauricio Pochettino's men have now drawn their last two games against Manchester City and Newcastle and I see this one ending with a hat-trick of draws down for the south coast club.
Score: 1-1
Swansea v Everton (Sunday, 4:00pm)
Swansea are starting to feel the effects of the Europa League on their campaign but Michael Laudrup's team have done ok this season domestically.
A draw at Norwich was their latest adventure but they will be without Nathan Dyer for this game after he was taken off at Carrow Road. They started well in that game but sat back deep in the second-half and were probably relieved to come away from home with a point.
A draw would be a decent result here for them too. They have only taken a point off Everton in their last four games and haven't scored a goal against them since they were promoted to the top flight in 2011.
Everton are experiencing much better form at the moment having comfortably beat Fulham last weekend and they have won three out of their last four games.
But I see them being frustrated here. And while he will set his team out to win on Sunday, I think Roberto Martinez would be reasonably happy with a point in South Wales.
Score: 2-2
Arsenal v Chelsea (Monday, 8:00pm)
Well Jose Mourinho was certainly not happy with Arsenal having extra days to prepare for this game was he?
I personally think that is a ridiculous statement to make because their Capital One Cup Quarter-Final defeat at Sunderland was on a Tuesday night and they would not play again until six days later, giving them nearly a week to prepare for this potential title clash.
The big worry for the Blues is their inability to kill teams off when they create so many chances.
They dominated the second-half at the Stadium of Light but when they created chances to add to their lead they scuffed them badly and were eventually made to pay for their profligacy by the Black Cats.
They will not quite so many goal-scoring opportunities should Arsene Wenger's men turn up at the Emirates.
Arsenal were all over the place against Manchester City and they will be more determined to be tighter at the back but they already know that whatever team Chelsea put out can be dangerous.
Being at home, they will want to win and get some revenge after they lost in the Capital One Cup as well but I see this one ending level which I don't think will disappoint either team too much.
Score: 1-1
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