Key Highlights
- Alan Shearer predicts a draw between Manchester United and Newcastle United.
- Shearer favors Manchester City to win away against Nottingham Forest.
- Arsenal is tipped to defeat Brighton, according to the former England striker.
- Predictions for other matches include Everton beating Burnley and Liverpool over Wolves.
Manchester United vs Newcastle United: A Match of Uncertainty
Alan Shearer’s prediction for the Boxing Day clash between Manchester United and Newcastle United is a cautious one, suggesting that the outcome could go either way. With Manchester United missing some key players due to Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) duty, as well as Bruno Fernandes, who is injured, and Newcastle having their own defensive issues, Shearer believes this fixture will be unpredictable.
“Newcastle have defensive problems,” Shearer noted. “Lewis Miley was brilliant at right-back, and in that first half, Newcastle were much more like themselves. The second half wasn’t as good.
It’s a really tough one to predict. It could go either way, so I’d probably sit on the fence and say draw.”
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest: Confidence and Strength
In his analysis of Manchester City’s upcoming away game against Nottingham Forest, Shearer is backing the reigning champions. Despite their impressive performance against West Ham on Saturday, Shearer sees City as a formidable force.
“Haaland’s 38 goals for club and country are just ridiculous,” he commented. “I wouldn’t go against City. It will be tough for Forest with the way City are playing, and the confidence flowing through the team, the belief, and the pressure they keep putting on Arsenal… I will go City away win.”
Shearer emphasizes that while City have been dominant recently, they must remain focused as Forest pose a challenging opposition. “City must keep on going,” he said. “They did it on Saturday; they didn’t really have to get out of second gear against West Ham.
City were 1-0 up after four or five minutes. They won at a canter at the weekend, but it’ll be a lot tougher at Forest.”
Arsenal vs Brighton: Maintaining Form
Shearer’s prediction for Arsenal facing Brighton on Boxing Day is that the Gunners will maintain their strong form. Having managed to win against Everton in a well-played match, Shearer believes Arsenal have what it takes to edge past Brighton.
“I thought Arsenal did well against Everton on Saturday evening,” Shearer said. “They managed the game well. The way they passed it around, and I thought they deserved to win, albeit it was tight. It was an impressive result and performance.”
Shearer is not impressed with Brighton’s recent form, suggesting that the Seagulls do not have enough quality to pose a significant threat to Arsenal in this fixture.
Other Key Predictions
In other matches, Shearer predicts:
- Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Aston Villa away win.
- Brentford vs Bournemouth: Brentford home win.
- Everton vs Liverpool: Liverpool away win.
- West Ham vs Fulham: Draw.
Shearer’s analysis continues to provide valuable insights into the upcoming Premier League fixtures, offering fans and bettors a clearer picture of what to expect from these crucial matches. As always, Shearer’s expertise and experience make his predictions both informative and insightful.
