Midweek madness?

A complete fixture list with all games being shown *live* on Amazon.

It isn't the greatest of matchdays, but there are 2 stand-out fixtures.

TONIGHT
It is all about the bottom end of the table tonight, with Ipswich Town vs Crystal Palace (7:30) and Leicester City vs West Ham United (8:15)
The former sees two teams who have only beaten one team between them - both beating Tottenham Hotspur. Both teams have 9 points, with 6 draws each. Palace were glad to have Eze back, with Nketiah also back on the bench, for their draw with Newcastle on Saturday. Ipswich suffered a 1-0 defeat to Forest. Obviously sensible money will be on the draw, but I'll go for a Palace win, 0-1.
Leicester are a point clear of the relegation zone, but Saturday saw a pretty dismal 4-1 defeat to Brentford. Ruud van Nistelrooy sat in the stands for that, but should take charge for the first time tonight. West Ham are 5 points ahead of their opponents, but their form is very up and down. Saturdays 5-2 to Arsenal continues a sequence of losing after each win this season. The big plus for them is Mo Kudus is back after a 5 game ban. This has the ingredients to be high scoring, I'll go for a 2-2 draw


WEDNESDAY
The top 3 all play tomorrow, but Arsenal vs Manchester United is the big game, with an 8:15 kick off. Both teams had a big win at the weekend, and for United it is the first big challenge for their new manager.
Newcastle United vs Liverpool is an historically high scoring match, the 4-3's are bound to get mentioned. The big news is Alexander Isak is set to miss the game, so Evertonian and a target of Liverpools in the summer, Anthony Gordon is set to start up front for the home side. I predict a 1-2 away win.
3rd place Chelsea are away to Southampton, who have been stuck at the bottom of the table with just one win all season. Should be a pretty easy away win, with Chelsea having the second best away record in the league. Prediction 0-3
The Manchester City slump continues and they have 6th placed Nottingham Forest tomorrow. Forest have one of the best away records in the league and the second best defensive record. They ended a two game losing streak by beating Ipswich, and will be confident of continuing Citys woe. However, I predict a home win, 2-1
Despite an upturn of form, Wolves are still in the bottom 3 but will hope a trip to Goodison Park and fellow strugglers Everton gives them a chance to leapfrog the Merseysiders. Both teams conceded 4 at the weekend, but while the hosts haven't won in 5, Wolves were on a 4 match unbeaten run including their debut wins. Prediction 0-2
The final game on Wednesday is another 8:15, Aston Villa vs Brentford. Perhaps surprisingly, the visitors are 4 places above Villa, with the hosts on a desperate 8 game winless run across all competitions. Brentford haven't lost in 3, and with 26 goals are the second highest scorers in the league - Ivan who? Villa have a doubt over 'keeper Emi Martinez, and their 22 conceded is only worsened by Brentford in the top 13. Prediction 1-0

THURSDAY
4th placed Brighton and Hove Albion face 10th placed Fulham at Craven Cottage, with both sides arguably doing better than expected. The Seagulls had a disappointing draw with bottom of the table, fellow South Coastians Southampton on Friday but have the longest rest so will hope to have refreshed. Fulham would have been disappointed by only getting a point at Tottenham Hotspur, but ended with 10 men. Should be a good game with both teams scoring and conceding rather freely so far. Prediction 3-1
Ending the midweek schedule at 8:15 is Bournemouth vs Spurs. The Cherries ended a 2 game losing streak by beating Wolves 4-2 - including a hat-trick of penalties for Kluivert. They already have the scalps of Arsenal and Manchester City, and will be aiming to add 7th placed Spurs to the list. Spurs are predictably unpredictable. Sandwiching a 4-0 hammering of City was defeat to Ipswich and a draw with Fulham, and their away form hasn't been great - 7 points from 18. Solanke should be available after illness, while it remains to be seen if Romero is fit. Prediction 1-2


The hectic December schedule is underway and can be treacherous, how teams navigate their way through this period can be vital for end of season ambitions at the top, bottom and middle.