SUNDAY

SPURS    2-2   Man Utd              2pm

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has declared he is in for the title and nothing more. That means he is ready for the fight after starting the season with the goal of finishing in the top four and return the Red Devils to European football. Van Gaal has brought his side this far despite having a terrible backline. Thanks to David De Gea’s heroics between the sticks, the Red Devils have been winning games despite playing badly. But at White Hart Lane, the storyline sounds like a goal draw.

s’mpton 1 - 3 chelsea           4pm

The Saints were second behind Chelsea for months earlier but after playing the big boys and losing to each of them, they now find themselves in fifth place, sinking further with each game. Welcoming the leaders to St Mary’s Stadium today, they will have Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama and Florin Gardos all fit, while Dusan Tadic is also back from injury. But having overrun the hosts here in January, Chelsea will be looking for another easy win.

Hull 1-2 leicester  5pm

The Tigers are the shock of the season after Liverpool. After a summer that saw them virtually overhaul the entire team to bring in new highly-rated players, all they have achieved for the effort is staying in the drop zone, only ahead of their visitors. The Foxes were tipped for survival in the league and started strongly, only to wither. Now we are sure whether it is Steve Bruce who will see the Hull fury first or Nigel Pearson or Brendan Rodgers. However, Pearson has a chance to show that he can keep Leicester fighting by beating The Tigers.

qpr 1-0 palace    5pm

Queens Park Rangers have slowly found their rythm and, with it, the results. Rangers are two points clear of the drop zone (by press time) and their visitors, who they should fight off for maximum points to further.

w. ham 1-2 arsenal                5pm

Arsenal cannot convince anyone that they can have a defence to go with their vibrant attack. The result of this game, though, depends more on the one betwen leaders Chelse and the Hammers at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day [Hammers lost 2-0]. The Gunners played QPR at home and if they won, they will have the confidence and edge over Big Sam’s side.

N’castle  2 - 2 everton     6pm

Roberto Martinez seems to be picking up well from the slow start of this Toffees side. Alan Pardew, on the other hand, is back to the basics after coming too good for the critics en route to the end of November. But a run of poor form that has seen the Magpies even lose to cross-city rivals Sunderland at home and Man United [it is my conviction United beat Newcastle on Boxing Day], they will find it difficult containing Everton. The Toffees have Kevin Mirallas (ankle) and James McCarthy (hamstring) back in their side, but Leon Osman, Darron Gibson and Tony Hibbert are all out.

Villa  1 - 2  Sunderland     5pm

Christian Benteke will be back from suspension he got in the sending off when Villa left Van Gaal foaming in the mouth by holding his star-studded United side to a draw at Villa Park. But that is just about all the sparks Villa have showed of recent. Coming into this fixture, Sunderland got a boost with a derby win at St James Park and will need such to keep going. Ahead of Boxing Day fiXture, they had 19 points and this dog-fight fixture is the kind Gus Poyet relishes.

Monday

L’pool  2 - 1  Swansea    10pm

Regardless of the venue, the contest between the two sides in the league is always a close one. I don’t see this one going any other way either. Liverpool have misfit striker Mario Balotelli back from injury and will stop relying on a false nine this time. Brendan Rodgers has completely overlooked Fabio Borini despite the Italian dedicating himself to the Anfield side. Borini must be silently wishing Rodgers is sacked so a new manager could spot his hard work. This is Brendan Rodgers’ former side, a team that plays with the philosophy he instilled in them despite changing managers. Current manager Gary Monk has a fight to show.

*Seaman is a Liverpool fan