Premier League football returns this weekend, with the final international break of 2024 now being completed.
There are many talking points heading into gameweek 12 of the 2024-25 campaign, with Manchester City looking to avoid what would be an incredible fifth straight defeat in all competitions when they host Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night.
Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, will take charge of his first match as Manchester United head coach at Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal will be bidding to return to winning ways at home to surprise package Nottingham Forest, while Liverpool, who are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, will be eyeing a 10th league success of the season when they head to Southampton.
Another Premier League gameweek means another Sports Mole prediction competition, and this week, we are facing off against Josh McClorey, who is a supporter of Man United, from idiosyncratic Anglo-Irish Art Pop quintet Soft Launch.
Read on to discover Josh's and our predictions for gameweek 12, as well as finding out the results of our head-to-head with singer/songwriter and Indie rocker Chilli Jesson before the November international break.
Leicester vs. Chelsea
Saturday, 12.30pm
© Imago
Josh: Leicester 0-2 Chelsea
Sports Mole: Leicester 0-3 Chelsea
With Fatawu missing, Buonanotte suspended and four other attackers not at full fitness, Leicester's perfect goalscoring record at home will surely be snapped at the hands of their former manager, whose side are the most potent away outfit the Premier League has to offer.
Given the Foxes' recent vulnerabilities at the back too, Saturday's affair is at risk of turning into an onslaught, and a straightforward win for Chelsea is the only outcome we can picture.
Bournemouth vs. Brighton
Saturday, 3pm
© Imago
Josh: Bournemouth 1-1 Brighton
Sports Mole: Bournemouth 2-2 Brighton
The international break has the potential to harm both sides' offensive exploits, but their respective play styles should lead to plenty of goalmouth action at the Vitality, where Bournemouth have often had the Seagulls' number.
Neither side inspires much confidence defensively either, so we can envisage the goals being shared about equally in an entertaining stalemate.
Arsenal vs. Nott'm Forest
Saturday, 3pm
© Imago
Josh: Arsenal 2-2 Nott'm Forest
Sports Mole: Arsenal 2-1 Nott'm Forest
Both sets of players should be feeling rejuvenated and ready to go again after a welcome domestic break, and Forest's exceptional away record offers hope of a Tricky Trees surprise at the Emirates.
Any more dropped points on Saturday and Arsenal's title defence may be as good as dead in the water, but with Odegaard pulling the strings again, we have faith in Arteta's men to edge a tight battle and revive their faltering bid for glory.
Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace
Saturday, 3pm
© Imago
Josh: Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace
Sports Mole: Aston Villa 2-0 Crystal Palace
After taking a brief break from the daily grind, Aston Villa should return to Premier League action feeling suitably refreshed.
As Crystal Palace have picked up just two points on the road so far, taking anything back to the capital on Saturday evening will be a bonus.
Everton vs. Brentford
Saturday, 3pm
© Imago
Sports Mole: Everton 1-3 Brentford
Brentford's pointless start on the road will not go on forever, and the Bees will see this as their best chance yet to get off the mark against an underwhelming Everton.
The hosts have sleepwalked back into trouble after a good spell of results either side of the break in October, and with a devilishly difficult run of games ahead in December, unless they drastically improve their performance levels here, they could be in serious danger.
Fulham vs. Wolves
Saturday, 3pm
© Imago
Josh: Fulham 2-1 Wolves
Sports Mole: Fulham 2-1 Wolves
Goals are to be expected in Saturday's contest as both teams have scored in each of Fulham's opening five home matches this term, while Wolves have scored in all of their last 10 league games, netting at least twice in four of their last five.
Both teams will view this match as a winnable one, but Fulham will be regarded as slight favourites at Craven Cottage and may just do enough to edge out the Old Gold on this occasion, as they did in this fixture last season.
Man City vs. Spurs
Saturday, 5.30pm
© Imago
Josh: Man City 1-0 Spurs
Sports Mole: Man City 3-2 Spurs
Tottenham have been somewhat of a bogey team for Guardiola over the years, as Man City have lost more Premier League games (six) and have conceded more Premier League goals (22) against Spurs than they have against any other opponent under the Catalan coach.
Spurs will fancy their chances of breaching City's backline once again this weekend in what could turn out to be another entertaining, action-packed contest filled with goalmouth activity, but if the Citizens are to welcome back some of their key players, they should get the job done in front of a carnival atmosphere at the Etihad following Guardiola's contract renewal.
Southampton vs. Liverpool
Sunday, 2pm
© Imago
Josh: Southampton 1-3 Liverpool
Sports Mole: Southampton 0-3 Liverpool
Whether Southampton can dominate possession as they like to do against Slot's Liverpool machine remains to be seen, but the Saints should be let down by their lack of ruthlessness whether that is the case or not.
An injury-hit and reshuffled defence should not keep the Reds at arm's length for long either, and we can only envisage the league leaders either maintaining or extending their insurmountable lead at the summit.
Ipswich vs. Man Utd
Sunday, 4.30pm
© Imago
Josh: Ipswich 0-2 Man Utd
Sports Mole: Ipswich 1-2 Man Utd
The new manager bounce worked its magic for Man United during the short-lived Van Nistelrooy reign, and Amorim's first match in charge comes against the Premier League's worst-performing home side, even if the Red Devils' exploits on the road have left a lot to be desired.
Do not expect the visitors and their depleted defence to storm to maximum points - the players will no doubt need ample time to adapt to Amorim's system - but with a fully-fit selection of attackers, the Red Devils should possess the firepower necessary to make the perfect start to their new era.
Newcastle vs. West Ham
Monday, 8pm
© Imago
Josh: Newcastle 2-0 West Ham
Sports Mole: TBC
Josh McClorey Q&A
How did you come to support your club and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?
Josh: My neighbour Peter McCullough was a Manchester United fan and indoctrinated me quite early on, probably when I was about five or six. I was quite a small kid and Barthez was the keeper at the time so I spent a lot of afternoons pretending to be him in goal. That, alongside players like Keane and Beckham solidified my love for United.
Who have been your favourite five players for your club?
Josh: Like I said, Keane and Beckham are the first two players I fell in love with. I learned about George Best from a poster in my mate's house, wondering who the other member of The Beatles was. I became fascinated by him as well, and in turn the great legacy of Irish players who played for United throughout the years. The other two are Ronaldo and Rooney, for obvious reasons!
What's going on with the band at the moment?
Josh: Things are really busy at the moment, we just finished our first headline tour in Ireland & UK which was great. We're in the studio now finishing off our first album which will come next year. We're also heading to Australia in December for the first time which we're all excited about!
Soft Launch's latest track 'Milkshakes' is available to stream now.
You can follow Soft Launch on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).
2024-25 SEASON LEADERBOARD (ARTISTS)
Scores are calculated as one point for a correct result and five points for a correct scoreline.
1. Kyle Starkey (16pts | Gameweek 3)
2. Make Friends' Max Lewin (15pts | Gameweek 2)
3. Everyone Says Hi's Nick Hodgson (13pts | Gameweek 1)
4. Blitz Vega's Kav Sandhu (10pts | Gameweek 5)
5. Trampolene's Jack Jones (9pts | Gameweek 4)
= Kneecap's Mo Chara (9pts | Gameweek 6)
7. Kids in Glass Houses' Iain Mahanty (6pts | Gameweek 7)
= proFESSional's Rob Hennebry (6pts | Gameweek 8)
9. Maddox Jones (4pts | Gameweek 9)
10. She Drew The Gun's Louisa Roach (3pts | Gameweek 10)
= Chilli Jesson (3pts | Gameweek 11)
2024-25 COMPETITION HISTORY
Gameweek 1: Everyone Says Hi's Nick Hodgson 13-14 Sports Mole
Gameweek 2: Make Friends' Max Lewin 15-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 3: Kyle Starkey 16-13 Sports Mole
Gameweek 4: Trampolene's Jack Jones 9-9 Sports Mole
Gameweek 5: Blitz Vega's Kav Sandhu 10-11 Sports Mole
Gameweek 6: Kneecap's Mo Chara 9-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 7: Kids in Glass Houses' Iain Mahanty 6-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 8: proFESSional's Rob Hennebry 6-7 Sports Mole
Gameweek 9: Maddox Jones 4-10 Sports Mole
Gameweek 10: She Drew The Gun's Louisa Roach 3-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 11: Chilli Jesson 3-8 Sports Mole
