Premier League matchweek 20: Staff picks and predictions
By Staff
The FanSided soccer staff make their predictions for the weekend’s Premier League games, including Manchester United vs. Burnley at Old Trafford.
The second half of the Premier League season gets under with eight Boxing Day games. The highlight, improbably, comes at Old Trafford, where Manchester United host high-flying Burnley, who are aiming to keep pace with the big six heading into the second half of the season.
The Clarets have been the surprise package of season so far, challenging the supremacy of the big six in a season in which many expected them to get relegated. But Sean Dyche has done a remarkable job, and his side enter the second half on the brink of the Champions League places.
Manchester United have had a more predictable season, and sit comfortably in second place. In any other year, their current pace would see them challenging for the title, but Manchester City have been so dominant in the first half, the title race may be over already.
The match is likely to follow the same pattern as all of the Clarets’ matches against the big sides. Burnley will sit deep, defend in numbers, and hope to hit the Red Devils on the break. If they have to a settle for a draw, so be it.
The other standout fixtures of matchweek 20 see Southampton travel to play Tottenham at Wembley; Bournemouth face West Ham in a match that could have big implications for the relegation battle; and Crystal Palace host Arsenal at Selhurst Park.
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FanSided’s soccer staff will be competing in a weekly picks league all season. The rules are simple: three points for a correct score, one for a correct result and none for an incorrect result. Here are the picks for matchweek 20:
As well as Burnley have played this season, our writers don’t expect them to take points off United at Old Trafford. Seven of our eight writers predict a United win, while one thinks the Clarets can steal a point.