Premier League Midweek Madness: A Rollercoaster of Results
When two Premier League matches arrive within a few days, fortunes can shift at breakneck speed. This midweek has already proven too demanding for Thomas Frank, who faced a loss to Newcastle and found himself dismissed by morning. The tight turnaround, combined with the relentless pace of the Premier League, means that every team is vulnerable to stumbling. With Chelsea and Manchester United both drawing last night against opponents positioned well below them in the table, the only clubs to have secured victories in their last two games are Arsenal and Brentford, who are set to clash tomorrow. Among the eight teams in action tonight, only Manchester City and Crystal Palace managed to win over the weekend.
Echoes of Past Midweek Clashes
The fixtures we are witnessing this midweek mirror those from just a couple of months ago, specifically on December 2-4. Two of those encounters were reminiscent of the dramatic Boxing Day clashes of 1963. Fulham suffered a 5-1 deficit at home against Manchester City, only to rally with three goals and nearly pull off a stunning upset. Meanwhile, Brighton took a 2-0 lead at home against Aston Villa, but ultimately fell 4-3 in a thrilling contest. One might wonder if anyone considered the challenges faced by the journalists managing the live updates during such chaotic matches.
Tonight's Key Fixtures and Predictions
This evening, Scott Murray will be covering Sunderland versus Liverpool at 8.15 PM GMT, while I provide goal updates from the 7.30 PM games. Here are the highlights, with league positions noted in brackets.
Aston Villa (3rd) v Brighton (15th): Brighton is currently in a slump, having secured only one league win since the start of the Advent season. However, they often show more resilience when cast as underdogs. Aston Villa, on the other hand, has lost their last two home league games, falling 1-0 to both Everton and Brentford.
Crystal Palace (13th) v Burnley (19th): After enduring a two-month nightmare, Crystal Palace suddenly awakened with a victory in the A23 derby on Sunday. They should enter this match with boosted confidence against Burnley, who have managed just one away win all season—a triumph at Wolves back in October. Yet, if Burnley can secure a draw at Anfield, they certainly have the potential to earn a point at Selhurst Park.
Manchester City (2nd) v Fulham (12th): This match carries significant stakes. Following their last-minute heroics at Anfield, Manchester City must maintain pressure on Arsenal to stay in the title race. Fulham, more than most teams, exhibit inconsistent form: after winning five out of seven games across all competitions up to mid-January, they have lost three of their last four.
Nottingham Forest (17th) v Wolves (20th): Dubbed the Nuno derby, both clubs could benefit from his managerial prowess now. Wolves appear all but doomed, with their post-Christmas recovery fading into distant memory. Nottingham Forest has shown improvement since a crucial win at West Ham a month ago, but they find their former boss closing in. The safety cushion they once enjoyed has dwindled from seven points to just two, making any stumble tonight costly. Nail-biting tension is expected.
Team sheets will be available shortly. In the meantime, a play-off in the women's Champions League is already underway, featuring the defending champions. Join Sarah Rendell to follow Arsenal's progress in Leuven.
