This article is part of our Soccer Picks series.
MATCHES (EST)
- Friday, 12:30 pm: Everton vs. West Ham United
- Friday, 3:00 pm: Manchester United vs. Aston Villa
- Saturday, 7:30 am: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leeds United
- Saturday, 10:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. Sheffield United
- Saturday, 12:30 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Wolverhampton
- Saturday, 3:00 pm: West Bromwich Albion vs. Arsenal
- Sunday, 7:00 am: Burnley vs. Fulham
- Sunday, 9:15 am: Newcastle United vs. Leicester City
- Sunday, 11:30 am: Chelsea vs. Manchester City
- Monday, 3:00 pm: Southampton vs. Liverpool
Everton 
vs. West Ham United 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Richarlison | EVE | F | Concussion | GTD | 1/1/2021 |
| Fabian Delph | EVE | M | Hamstring | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
| Jean-Philippe Gbamin | EVE | M | Achilles | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
| James Rodriguez | EVE | F/M | Calf | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
| Lucas Digne | EVE | D | Ankle | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
| Arthur Masuaku | WHU | D | Knee | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
| Allan | EVE | M | Hamstring | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Everton Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. West Ham United): Jordan Pickford (GK), Ben Godfrey (DL), Michael Keane (DC), Yerry Mina (DC), Seamus Coleman (DR), Tom Davies (DMC), Abdoulaye Doucoure (DMC), Richarlison (AML), Gylfi Sigurdsson (AMC), Alex Iwobi (AMR), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (FW)
Notes: Richarlison is back from his concussion, allowing him to replace Anthony Gordon in the XI. Everything else is the same as from the win against Arsenal.
West Ham United Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1 at Everton): Lukasz Fabianski (GK), Fabian Balbuena (DC), Angelo Ogbonna (DC), Aaron Cresswell (DC), Vladimir Coufal (MR), Ben Johnson (ML), Declan Rice (MC), Tomas Soucek (MC), Jarrod Bowen (AMC), Said Benrahma (AMC), Michail Antonio (FW)
Notes: After some major squad rotation last match, West Ham are almost back to normal, including Antonio up front after he came off the bench against Southampton. Benrahma replaces Lanzini, while Johnson is on the left wing for the injured Masuaku.
Manchester United 
vs. Aston Villa 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Victor Lindelof | MUN | D | Back | GTD | 1/1/2021 |
| Ross Barkley | AVL | M | Hamstring | GTD | 1/1/2021 |
| Trezeguet | AVL | F/M | Hamstring | GTD | 1/1/2021 |
| Wesley Moraes | AVL | F | Knee | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
| Phil Jones | MUN | D | Knee | OUT | 1/17/2021 |
| Marcos Rojo | MUN | D | Calf | OUT | 1/17/2021 |
| Edinson Cavani | MUN | F | Suspension | SUS | 1/17/2021 |
Manchester United Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Aston Villa): David de Gea (GK), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR), Eric Bailly (DC), Harry Maguire (DC), Luke Shaw (DL), Scott McTominay (DMC), Fred (DMC), Marcus Rashford (AML), Bruno Fernandes (AMC), Anthony Martial (FW), Mason Greenwood (AMR)
Notes: Shaw starts for Telles, while Fred and McTominay replace Matic and Pogba after they started midweek. Martial comes into the attack, while Daniel James and Mason Greenwood remain options.
Aston Villa Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Manchester United): Emiliano Martinez (GK), Matt Targett (DL), Kortney Hause (DC), Tyrone Mings (DC), Matty Cash (DR), Douglas Luiz (DMC), John McGinn (DMC), Bertrand Traore (AMR), Jack Grealish (AMC), Anwar El Ghazi (AML), Ollie Watkins (FW)
Notes: Ezri Konsa moves to the bench with Mings returning from suspension, though Hause is also a possibility to be rotated. Ross Barkley is also expected to return, though a spot in the starting XI after an injury layoff seems unlikely.
Tottenham Hotspur 
vs. Leeds United 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Liam Cooper | LEE | D | Abdomen | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Mateusz Klich | LEE | M | Thigh | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Gareth Bale | TOT | F/M | Calf | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
| Giovani Lo Celso | TOT | M | Strain | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
| Lucas Moura | TOT | F/M | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
| Carlos Vinicius | TOT | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
| Adam Forshaw | LEE | M | Hip | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
| Diego Llorente | LEE | D | Strain | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
| Gaetano Berardi | LEE | D | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
| Robin Koch | LEE | D | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Tottenham Hotspur Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Leeds): Hugo Lloris (GK), Serge Aurier (DR), Toby Alderweireld (DC), Eric Dier (DC), Sergio Reguilon (DL), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (DMC), Moussa Sissoko (DMC), Tanguy Ndombele (AMC), Steven Bergwijn (AMR), Son Heung-Min (AML), Harry Kane (FW)
Notes: Spurs get an extra few days of rest after their midweek match was postponed and Jose Mourinho turns to his preferred XI.
Leeds United Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 at Tottenham): Illan Meslier (GK), Luke Ayling (DC), Pascal Struijk (DC), Ezgjan Alioski (DL), Stuart Dallas (DR), Kalvin Phillips (DMC), Jamie Shackleton (MC), Rodrigo (MC), Jack Harrison (ML), Raphinha (MR), Patrick Bamford (FW)
Notes: Shackleton comes into the XI for the injured Klich and Cooper could replace Struijk at center-back if healthy.
Crystal Palace 
vs. Sheffield United 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Gary Cahill | CRY | D | Hamstring | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Oliver McBurnie | SHU | F | Shoulder | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| John Lundstram | SHU | M | Suspension | SUS | 1/12/2021 |
| Nathan Ferguson | CRY | M | Knee | OUT | 1/14/2021 |
| Martin Kelly | CRY | D | Calf | OUT | 1/14/2021 |
| Connor Wickham | CRY | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/14/2021 |
| Wayne Hennessey | CRY | G | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
| Jack O'Connell | SHU | D | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
| Sander Berge | SHU | M | Hamstring | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
Crystal Palace Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Sheffield United): Vicente Guaita (GK), Patrick van Aanholt (DL), Scott Dann (DC), Cheikhou Kouyate (DC), Nathaniel Clyne (DR), Eberechi Eze (ML), James McArthur (MC), Jairo Riedewald (MC), Andros Townsend (MR), Wilfried Zaha (FW), Christian Benteke (FW)
Notes: Milivojevic finally gets rested with McArthur and Riedewald starting in central midfield, while Dann is back in the XI for James Tomkins. Given recent performances, there's a chance Roy Hodgson changes a few more things.
Sheffield United Projected Lineup (3-4-3 at Crystal Palace): Aaron Ramsdale (GK), John Egan (DC), Jack Robinson (DC), Chris Basham (DC), George Baldock (MR), Enda Stevens (ML), Ben Osborn (MC), Ethan Ampadu (MC), David McGoldrick (FWR), Rhian Brewster (FWL), Oliver Burke (FW)
Notes: Nothing seems to be working for Sheffield United, but with a lack of choices, there's not much Chris Wilder can do except change formations. Burke comes in for Lys Mousett, hoping to provide a spark up front.
Brighton & Hove Albion 
vs. Wolverhampton 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Steven Alzate | BHA | M | Illness | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Adam Lallana | BHA | M | Groin | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Willy Boly | WOL | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Leander Dendoncker | WOL | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Jose Izquierdo | BHA | F/M | Knee | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
| Tariq Lamptey | BHA | M/D | Hamstring | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
| Raul Jimenez | WOL | F | Head | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
| Jonny | WOL | M/D | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
| Florin Andone | BHA | F | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Brighton Projected Lineup (3-4-1-2 v. Wolves): Robert Sanchez (GK), Ben White (DC), Lewis Dunk (DC), Adam Webster (DC), Solomon March (ML), Yves Bissouma (MC), Pascal Gross (MC), Bernardo (MR), Leandro Trossard (AMC), Danny Welbeck (FW), Neal Maupay (FW)
Notes: Graham Potter rotated half the roster against Arsenal and it almost worked. However, he'll likely return to his usual starters like Trossard, Welbeck and Maupay, while Bernardo may be the guy to replace injured Tariq Lamptey on the wing.
Wolverhampton Projected Lineup (3-4-1-2 at Brighton): Rui Patricio (GK), Conor Coady (DC), Romain Saiss (DC), Max Kilman (DC), Fernando Marcal (ML), Nelson Semedo (MR), Ruben Neves (MC), Joao Moutinho (MC), Daniel Podence (AMC), Pedro Neto (FW), Fabio Silva (FW)
Notes: Wolves seem to play better with a three-man back line and that continues against Brighton, though Marcal and Semedo return to the XI, while Silva takes the spot of Adama Traore, allowing him some rest.
West Bromwich Albion 
vs. Arsenal 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Kyle Bartley | WBA | D | Calf | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Sam Field | WBA | M | Knee | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Kieran Gibbs | WBA | D | Thigh | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Hal Robson-Kanu | WBA | F | Wrist | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Willian | ARS | F/M | Illness | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| David Luiz | ARS | D | Illness | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Bukayo Saka | ARS | M | Ankle | GTD | 1/2/2021 |
| Conor Townsend | WBA | D | Knee | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
| Gabriel | ARS | D | Illness | OUT | 1/14/2021 |
| Thomas Partey | ARS | M | Thigh | OUT | 1/14/2021 |
| Jake Livermore | WBA | M/D | Suspension | SUS | 1/16/2021 |
West Bromwich Albion Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 v. Arsenal): Sam Johnstone (GK), Semi Ajayi (DC), Branislav Ivanovic (DC), Darnell Furlong (DR), Lee Peltier (DL), Conor Gallagher (DMC), Matheus Pereira (MC), Filip Krovinovic (MC), Matthew Phillips (MR), Grady Diangana (ML), Karlan Grant (FW)
Notes: Sam Allardyce needs to change something up and that could mean the addition of some veteran players like Ivanovic, Pereira and Krovinovic into the XI.
Arsenal Projected Lineup (4-3-3 at West Brom): Bernd Leno (GK), Kieran Tierney (DL), Rob Holding (DC), Pablo Mari (DC), Hector Bellerin (DR), Mohamed Elneny (MC), Granit Xhaka (MC), Dani Ceballos (MC), Gabriel Martinelli (FWR), Alexandre Lacazette (FW), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (FWL)
Notes: Mikel Arteta is forced to change what has worked the last two matches because of Bukayo Saka's injury. That could mean a 4-3-3, which feature Ceballos and Lacazette back in the XI.
Burnley 
vs. Fulham 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Dwight McNeil | BRN | F/M | Groin | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Jay Rodriguez | BRN | F | Knee | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Matej Vydra | BRN | F | Back | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Kenny Tete | FUL | D | Calf | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Terence Kongolo | FUL | D | Foot | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
| Jack Cork | BRN | M | Ankle | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
| Charlie Taylor | BRN | D | Hamstring | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
| Johann Berg Gudmundsson | BRN | M | Hamstring | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
Burnley Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Fulham): Nick Pope (GK), Matthew Lowton (DR), Ben Mee (DC), James Tarkowski (DC), Erik Pieters (DL), Robbie Brady (MR), Josh Brownhill (MC), Ashley Westwood (MC), Josh Benson (ML), Ashley Barnes (FW), Chris Wood (FW)
Notes: The injury to Charlie Taylor forces Burnley into a change, moving both Pieters and Benson into the starting XI on the left wing.
Fulham Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1 at Burnley): Alphonse Areola (GK), Joachim Andersen (DC), Ola Aina (DC), Tosin Adarabioyo (DC), Antonee Robinson (ML), Bobby Decordova-Reid (MR), Andre Zambo Anguissa (MC), Mario Lemina (MC), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AMC), Ademola Lookman (AMC), Ivan Cavaleiro (FW)
Notes: There's a chance Fulham's COVID-19 issues postpone this match, but if it's played, Scott Parker will likely use his preferred XI with Cavaliero over Aleksandar Mitrovic up front. Kenny Tete is also an option to come into the back line.
Newcastle United 
vs. Leicester City 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Paul Dummett | NEW | D | Illness | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Jamaal Lascelles | NEW | D | Illness | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Wesley Fofana | LEI | D | Knee | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| James Maddison | LEI | M | Knee | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Cengiz Under | LEI | F/M | Hamstring | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Isaac Hayden | NEW | M | Suspension | SUS | 1/12/2021 |
| Ryan Fraser | NEW | M | Groin | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
| Allan Saint-Maximin | NEW | F/M | Illness | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
| Ricardo Pereira | LEI | M/D | Groin | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
Newcastle Projected Lineup (5-4-1 v. Leicester): Karl Darlow (GK), Federico Fernandez (DC), Ciaran Clark (DC), Fabian Schar (DC), Jamal Lewis (DL), DeAndre Yedlin (DR), Matt Ritchie (ML), Jonjo Shelvey (MC), Sean Longstaff (MC), Miguel Almiron (MR), Callum Wilson (FW)
Notes: Newcastle keep their same formation as the draw against Liverpool, but Steve Bruce makes a few changes on a short week, moving Almiron, Lewis, Sean Longstaff and Shelvey into the XI.
Leicester City Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Newcastle): Kasper Schmeichel (GK), Wesley Fofana (DC), Jonny Evans (DC), Timothy Castagne (DL), James Justin (DR), Wilfred Ndidi (DMC), Youri Tielemans (DMC), Marc Albrighton (AMR), James Maddison (AMC), Harvey Barnes (AML), Jamie Vardy (FW)
Notes: Following some squad rotation midweek, Leicester City return to the same XI used against Manchester United, featuring the return of Castagne, Maddison and Vardy, among others.
Chelsea 
vs. Manchester City 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Reece James | CHE | D | Hamstring | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Hakim Ziyech | CHE | F/M | Hamstring | GTD | 1/3/2021 |
| Eric Garcia | MCI | D | Hip | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
| Gabriel Jesus | MCI | F | Illness | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
| Kyle Walker | MCI | D | Illness | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
Chelsea Projected Lineup (4-3-3 at Manchester City): Edouard Mendy (GK), Reece James (DR), Thiago Silva (DC), Kurt Zouma (DC), Ben Chilwell, (DL), N'Golo Kante (MC), Mason Mount (MC), Mateo Kovacic (MC), Timo Werner (FWL), Kai Havertz (FWR), Tammy Abraham (FW)
Notes: After some rotation Monday against Aston Villa, James comes in for Cesar Azpilicueta, while Havertz, Werner and Abraham comes in for Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Olivier Giroud.
Manchester City Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Chelsea): Ederson (GK), Benjamin Mendy (DL), Ruben Dias (DC), John Stones (DC), Joao Cancelo (DR), Ilkay Gundogan (DMC), Rodri (DMC), Kevin De Bruyne (AMC), Riyad Mahrez (AMR), Raheem Sterling (AML), Sergio Aguero (FW)
Notes: If this match goes as planned, City will use their preferred XI after a midweek break. Aguero is finally back in the XI, with Mahrez and Sterling on each side of him.
Southampton 
vs. Liverpool 
Injury Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
| Naby Keita | LIV | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/4/2021 |
| Nathan Redmond | SOU | M | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
| Joel Matip | LIV | D | Groin | OUT | 1/17/2021 |
| Diogo Jota | LIV | F | Knee | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
| Konstantinos Tsimikas | LIV | D | Leg | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
| Jannik Vestergaard | SOU | D | Knee | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
| Virgil van Dijk | LIV | D | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
| Joe Gomez | LIV | D | Knee | OUT | 4/3/2021 |
Southampton Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Liverpool): Alex McCarthy (GK), Kyle Walker-Peters (DR), Jan Bednarek (DC), Jack Stephens (DC), Ryan Bertrand (DL), Stuart Armstrong (ML), Oriol Romeu (MC), James Ward-Prowse (MC), Theo Walcott (MR), Che Adams (FW), Danny Ings (FW)
Notes: There's a chance Adams is rested and if that's the case, Moussa Djenepo would likely remain in the XI, pushing Walcott or even Shane Long up front, while Armstrong is back on the left wing.
Liverpool Projected Lineup (4-3-3 at Southampton): Alisson Becker (GK), Andrew Robertson (DL), Rhys Williams (DC), Fabinho (DC), Trent Alexander-Arnold (DR), Georginio Wijnaldum (MC), Jordan Henderson (MC), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (MC), Sadio Mane (FWL), Mohamed Salah (FWR), Roberto Firmino (FW)
Notes: Williams swaps with Nathaniel Phillips at center-back, while Wijnaldum and Oxlade-Chamberlain come into the midfield. There's a chance Jurgen Klopp changes up the attack given struggles against Newcastle, but it's best to assume the regulars will start.
