SATURDAY

STOKE 2-1 Man CITY 2.45pm

Manchester City will travel to Britannia Stadium, a place where they struggle to cope with the host’s hard tackling game. The bad news for Manuel Pellegrini is that key striker Sergio Aguero is a major doubt for the game even though playmaker David Silva is back to fitness. It’s more likely that Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony will huff and puff upfront, leaving City with the best chance of only returning home with a point. It’s Stoke’s game here.

SWANSEA 3-1 LEICESTER 5pm

Jamie Vardy set a new Premier League record of scoring in 11 consecutive matches, eclipsing the mark set by Manchester United old boy Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2003. Vardy will hope to extend that record when the season’s over-achievers visit slipping Swansea, but while he can extend the record from the spot, it’s highly unlikely that The Foxes will beat the Swans. Should he score at Swansea, Vardy will equal an even more historic mark: Jimmy Dunne’s English top-flight record from 1931-32 of scoring in 12 successive games for Sheffield United. However, Gary Monk had a good game at Anfield last weekend and could put up a similar showing at home to start saving face as the board is growing impatient. Vardy and co. could have partied all week to celebrate the record and will not be in shape to respond to the Swans.

MAN UTD 2-3 WEST HAM 5pm

Louis van Gaal’s side have lost just one of their last 15 games and could return to the top of the table if they beat the Hammers at Old Trafford and other results go their way. But wait, here is the clanger: Marouane Fellaini may earn a recall to bolster United’s attacking options after scoring for the club’s U21 side this week! West Ham have lost Diafra Sakho to injury, while outstanding Dimitri Payet and Enner Valencia are all injured. So if Gaal can line up a gangly forward, Slaven Bilic can do the same. Enter Andy Carroll. The Hammers on course to beating all the top sides.

ARSENAL 2-2 SUNDERLAND 5pm

Big Sam with big impact. Sunderland are off the bottom of the table and survival now looks a given. Arsenal, winless in November and with injury woes, will need to grit their teeth to beat Sunderland. Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla became the two latest names to be added to a lengthy injury list and will be missing when the Black Cats visit. But Arsenal go into the game with eyes on a trip to Greece for a decisive Champions League game. Sunderland draw.

CHELSEA 3-0 B’MOUTH 6pm

Jose Mourinho should finally smile. After holding Spurs to a draw, a win at home to struggling Cherries should do the trick. Easy fixture for the Blues.

OTHER FIXTURES

WEST BROM 2-1 SPURSWATFORD 2-0 NORWICHS’THAMPTON 4-1 VILLAEVERTON 3-1 PALACENEWCASTLE 0-3 LIVERPOOL jacobs.seaman@newtimes.co.rw