Premier League GW23 Preview: Spurs to End Winless League Run?

Welcome back to the Premier League Gameweek Preview. Gameweek 23 is here and after a week of European action, we turn our heads back to English shores for more Premier League matches in what has been a very unpredictable season so far. Can Spurs actually get a victory in the Premier League? Will Southampton surprise The Magpies? Find out more below!

The Meaty One:

Manchester City vs Chelsea 25/01 17:30

Following a relatively easy fixture run in the Premier League, City are now undefeated in 5 matches, picking up 3 wins and 2 draws. However, I wouldn't say The Cityzens are completely back as demonstrated by their peculiar 4-2 loss to PSG in the Champions League. A match that was frantic from start to finish, City were never in control of the game despite going 2-0 up early in the second half.

With no disrespect to their opponents in domestic competitions, outside of Brentford, where they drew 2-2 again throwing away a 2-0 lead, City have had an easy run in games they were expected to win. So, I definitely do not believe City are back by any means, especially as their fixture run gets hard again with matches against Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool and Forest coming up. Let's review this stance once City have completed their next run of fixtures.

The visitors, Chelsea, have wobbled a bit recently, winless in 5 games in the Premier League before their 3-1 win over struggling Wolves. The recalling of Trevor Chalobah was a shrewd move from Maresca, who seamlessly slotted into the backline against Wolves. I expect Chalobah to start again against City, especially as Maresca will hope the Englishman has fixed the hole in the left-hand side of their defence.

With both teams not in shaky form and playing with the usual consistency we saw at the start of the season, this could be a very open game of football. City are exposed to fast counter-attacks on the break, whilst Chelsea will be wary of their weak spots in defence and Sanchez in goal. The Spaniard produced yet another mistake on Monday night as he dropped the ball right into the path of Matt Doherty.

Jack's Prediction: Manchester City 2-2 Chelsea

The Goals Fest:

Southampton vs Newcastle 25/01 15:00

Since Juric's arrival, Southampton have actually started to experience some close results in their fight to stay up and avoid going down as the worst team in Premier League history. In their last 2 games in the Premier League, they peppered a sloppy Manchester United side to lead 1-0, only to concede 3 late goals to starboy Amad Diallo. Against high-flying Nottingham Forest, The Saints were seemingly out of the game being 3-0 down at half-time, but managed a comeback to end the game 3-2 which could've ended level if it wasn't for Ola Aina's goal line clearance.

Saints fans can take some positives from their last 2 showings as their struggling team has started putting up a fight. Fans at St. Mary's will be aware that there is a huge gap in quality between them and the rest of the league, but a dogged nature will be welcomed to show what their boys can do next season, 95% likely in the Championship.

For Newcastle, it was a first defeat in 7 games in the Premier League as they were royally spanked 4-1 by a superb Bournemouth outfit. In all honesty, I'd say that it was more a case of Bournemouth being exceptional than The Magpies being bad, but The Toon were not at the races last Saturday. Eddie Howe will be expecting a reaction this weekend from his team as they seek to push into the Top 4.

In the reverse fixture, Newcastle ebbed a 1-0 win over The Saints. In the first game of the season, The Magpies were not their usual selves, with Southampton unfortunate to not get something out of the game. However, this is a completely revitalised Newcastle side who are in excellent form. Southampton will be quaking in their boots at the thought of their arrival. I predict Howe's boys will look to put Southampton to the sword, only increasing their appalling goal difference of -35.

Jack's Prediction: Southampton 0-4 Newcastle

The Six-Pointer:

Spus vs Leicester 26/01 14:00

Well, we're here again, I can't believe I'm writing about Spurs in this section. But, in short, we are desperate for a win. The Lilywhites are on perhaps the worst run of form that I can remember in recent memory. Sitting 15th in the table and 8 points off of relegation, the pressure is on for Postecoglou and the team who are winless in 6 games in the league. A huge win away to Hoffenheim on Thursday night in the Europa League was a huge result we needed.

In Spurs' defence, the odds have been stacked against them this season. I wrote an article on why Spurs fans have to back Ange, or face losing hope in the project, turning the hatred towards the ownership. Postecoglou is missing nearly half of his 30-man squad right now, relying on youngsters to fill the gaps. This was evident against Everton last weekend, where the Australian tried to fill the voids and struggling performances by changing formation, which only made matters worse. Furthermore, with seemingly no outfield players coming in as the January transfer window edges closer to ending, Ange will have a small group to choose from again this weekend.

The next 4 games in the league are crucial and are certainly winnable games. An awful Leicester side, a test against an open and expansive Brentford team, a troubled United and a plucky but leaky Ipswich side all offer opportunities for Spurs to get maybe 10/12 points to climb back up the table.

This week's opponents, Leicester, are in a perilous position. After a solid start to his tenure, van Nistelrooy has now lost 7 games on the bounce. With chants of "you don't know what you're doing" echoed around the King Power Stadium against Fulham, fans are turning on the Dutchman. His appointment, for me, was a peculiar one. A manager with limited experience taking over his first team in the Premier League is strange. It felt like the Leicester ownership had given up on their top-flight status, eyeing up a rebuild in the Championship next season.

Last week I wrote about how Spurs surely couldn't lose to a struggling Everton despite our squad issues. Yet, as is always the case with Spurs, I was left astonished at our terrible performances again. If we can't beat Leicester, even with the injuries and politics surrounding our club, then I've genuinely lost all hope. This fixture for Spurs is simple: win at any cost, whether pretty or ugly, just bloody win!

Jack's Prediction: Spurs 3-1 Leicester (although my head says Leicester will pull out a draw)