What a week in the EPL. Jamie Vardy breaks the consecutive match goal scoring record, while Arsenal drop points and suffer more injuries. How Arsene Wenger must now regret not adding to his squad in the summer transfer window. It may come back to haunt him, especially if Liverpool continue the scintillating form they have shown recently, not least in their 1-6 League Cup victory over a full strength Southampton. We did say several weeks ago that Liverpool had a run of fixtures that could put them in contention, and at the moment they seem the side most capable of putting a run of victories together. With most of their challengers due to visit Anfield, this could still be the season when the Reds return to the top of the English league table.

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There are eight matches to salivate over this weekend and although none of them are games you might consider to be perennial classics, here are our predictions:-

Stoke City 1 v Manchester City 2

Arsenal 3 v Sunderland AFC 0

Manchester United 1 v West Ham United 1

Southampton 3 v Aston Villa 0

Swansea City 1 v Leicester City 2

Watford 2 v Norwich City 1

West Bromwich Albion 2 v Tottenham Hotspur 1

Chelsea 4 v Bournemouth 2

Kevin De Bruyne should be the difference at the Brittania Stadium, he is in superb form at the moment and in the absence of Aguero can help City to three valuable points.

Sunderland continue to improve but the Emirates is not really a ground where the can expect any return, especially if, as expected, Theo Walcott is fit to return to first team duty.

No Wayne Rooney and one eye on the Chamions League match at Wolfsburg and West Ham might fancy their chances. However, without Dmitri Payet they are not quite the force they were. Bank on Lanzini to find a goal out of nothing and for the points to, ultimately, be shared.

The gift that keeps on giving - Aston Villa. The Villians have now banned Christmas, or at least Remi Garde has, for his first team squad. Now this is a poor team, but you don't motivate financially independent young men, many of whom can find a new club next year if they need one, by acting like a Soviet dictator of the 1950's, especially when you have yet to secure a win as manager. They are disintegrating before our eyes and Southampton, who will be smarting from their thrashing in midweek, will make them pay.

Swansea are still in free fall. However, they will be ok, as after all there are three worst teams than them this year. Leicester meantime continue on their merry way, and Vardy could get yet another goal in an away day victory.

Watford have been a surprise to many this season and even though they sit mid table at the moment, this is still potentially a relegation 6 pointer.  Troy Deeney has found his shooting boots and expect him to hit the target and for the home side to prevail.

The shock this weekend might be at the Hawthorns.  Yes it will be dour stuff but West Brom often play well against Spurs and they might yet get Saido Berahino to bite the hand that wants to feed him.

In the later game, Chelsea should have way too much for Bournemouth, who despite their late rally at home against Everton, once more, revealed their defensive frailties. We expect Diego Costa, if selected, to grab a couple of goals at least.

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