Welcome one and all to a very wintery Prem Report! The matches this week are very cool…like Cole Palmer ice cold. This Prem Report is just as cool… Although we did almost write about chronic injuries causing players to ice their groins . Thankfully we nixed that, but if you just have to know more, its called pubalgia (paywalled article) and it’s about as lame as it sounds.

But enough about groins, in today’s Prem Report we have one of the best PL players of all time in a civil war with his club, a Derby to crown king of the North, and a City Palace matchup for the ages.

So grab a cup of hot cocoa and blanket, Santa’s on his way.

-Gabe

In this edition

• Fixtures

• Extra Slice

Matchweek 16 Fixtures

Saturday, December 13

💙 Chelsea vs 🟦 Everton — 7:00 am — USA

🔴 Liverpool vs 🐧 Brighton — 7:00 am — USA
Coin flip game 
Liverpool return to Anfield looking to steady the ship after recent off-field “drama” (understatement) and a pair of disappointing league draws. Mohamed Salah’s future remains uncertain after his public outburst and continued benching, but the Reds did find a spark midweek with a late Champions League win over Inter. Still, their domestic form is shaky — 23 points from 15 matches is the worst start by a reigning champion since Leicester in 2016–17, and their defense has conceded 48 goals in 2025 alone.

Brighton, meanwhile, are hoping to beat Liverpool in back-to-back league games for the first time ever. They’ve kept two straight clean sheets away from home and remain one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the league, with 25 goals scored so far. Defender Jan Paul van Hecke is in red-hot form, registering three goal involvements in his last two league games and leading the division in line-breaking passes.

🔫 Arsenal vs 🐺 Wolves — 12:00 pm — Peacock

⚫ Burnley vs 🏠 Fulham — 9:30 am — Peacock

Sunday, December 14

🦅 Crystal Palace vs 🌙 Man City — 6:00 am — Peacock
Chrstmas is always coming early…
Fresh off their 2-1 win at Fulham and a dominant 3-0 Conference League showing in Dublin, Crystal Palace return to Selhurst Park riding high, but so do their visitors.

Manchester City, who just stunned Real Madrid at the Bernabéu and are chasing a fourth straight league win, are back in goal-scoring form with 11 goals in their last three matches. Phil Foden is on fire, having contributed to nine goals in his last eight starts, while Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki are topping the Premier League charts in chances created per 90.

Still, City’s away form is shaky with three losses in seven this season and Palace’s pragmatic, counter-attacking style has proven effective, especially against big clubs.

Palace have opened the scoring inside 10 minutes in four of their last six matchups with City. But they haven’t won any of them and haven’t beaten City at home since 2015. City historically dominate this fixture (13 wins in last 20 league meetings). Yet Glasner’s Eagles, who sit top four after 15 games for the first time ever, thrive off less than 50% possession and will relish the chance to frustrate City’s rhythm and strike on the break.

🌲 Forest vs 🐓 Tottenham — 6:00 am— Peacock

🧭 Sunderland vs ⚫ Newcastle — 6:00 am— USA
Tyne–Wear derby…google it. 💯
After nearly a decade away, the Tyne-Wear Derby returns and with it, the raw, unfiltered passion that makes this rivalry one of the most storied in English football. Two teams separated by 12 miles, the historical balance between the two sides reflects just how close this rivalry truly is: in 157 meetings (excluding friendlies), Newcastle edges it by just one win—54 to Sunderland’s 53, with 50 draws. On Sunday, bragging rights hang in the balance once again.

Sunderland are one of two teams still unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season (W4 D3) (Arsenal are the other team). The Black Kitties have more points at home this season (15) than the whole of their previous time in the PL (14 in 2016-17).

Rivalry, in form players, and an electric atmosphere, the recipe for a banger of a match.

⚒️ West Ham vs ⭕ Aston Villa — 6:00 am— Peacock

🐝 Brentford vs 💛 Leeds — 8:30 am — USA

Monday, December 15

🟥 Manchester United vs 🍒 Bournemouth — 12:00 pm — USA

^{Times are in Pacific Standard Time and channels are based in the U.S.
Stats are supplied by Opta Analyst.}

Extra Slice

“What the actual f…” - Liverpool Fans

Mohamed Salah returned to Liverpool’s training base on Sunday, but his long-term future at the club is suddenly uncertain after one of the most explosive interviews in Premier League history. Following Liverpool’s chaotic 3–3 draw with Leeds, Salah accused the club of scapegoating him, revealed a breakdown in his relationship with head coach Arne Slot, and openly questioned whether he still had a future at Anfield. 🤯

Liverpool moved quickly to lower the temperature, leaving Salah out of the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Inter. Slot admitted he had “no clue” whether Salah would play for the club again, but behind the scenes, Fenway Sports Group remains firmly behind the manager. The club insists Salah’s recent omission was a short-term tactical decision, not leaving him out in the cold as an attempt to force him out.

The roots of the fallout run deeper than one interview. After a title-winning season built around Salah, Liverpool’s summer overhaul changed the team’s attacking shape, making it harder for him to influence games. New arrivals shifted the balance, his league output dropped, and frustration built as he was benched three games in a row. When Liverpool threw away another lead at Leeds, Salah snapped, turning a poor result into a full-blown crisis.

Despite the noise, Salah still commands enormous respect in the dressing room, and Liverpool acknowledge his ego and edge are part of what made him elite. But with AFCON looming, interest from Saudi Arabia and MLS growing, both Liverpool and Salah seem to be walking on thin ice.

Slot and Salah are set to meet today, if nothing is rectified a January exit could be on the cards. Stay tuned.

Merry Christmas, Gabe.