West Ham got a really good win over Portsmouth. It was a bit of a six-pointer. They are good at home but have problems away. Under a serious examination against Tottenham I don't expect them to hold out.
Verdict: 2-0
Match preview
Blackburn v Sunderland
Sunderland are not great on the road. They are a bit in no-man's land as their results should be better with the players they have.
Blackburn are not pretty but they will always do enough at home. When they are away and without the ball it is different as they have not really got a prolific goalscorer. But at Ewood Park against some of the lesser teams they will make them crack.
Verdict: 2-1
Match preview
Chelsea v Fulham
Chelsea have won just once in the league in December. Nicolas Anelka is injured and his strike partner Didier Drogba will be going to the African Cup of Nations, but if Carlo Ancelotti thinks Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borino will win games for them then he is mistaken. You can't put them in a team that is not playing well and rely on them.
Roy Hodgson has done a fantastic job at Fulham with the resources and players at his disposal. He has made his players better and Fulham have had a great year. At Chelsea they could have a problem as, on the road, they struggle to break away from defence to score.
Verdict: 2-1
Match preview
Everton v Burnley
Everton fully deserved the point they got against Sunderland. They have a never-say-die attitude and that says a lot about the spirit in the team, the players and manager. They will come back as they have the quality to do so.
You just can't tip Burnley away from home. To be fair to their manager Owen Coyle, he tries to replicate their home form on the road but you just can't do that. When you put them under pressure they are not good enough to hold out.
Verdict: 2-0
Match preview
Stoke v Birmingham
Birmingham have been on a fantastic run. It's not just their keeper Joe Hart, who had a great game against Chelsea, but the back seven who have done very well in terms of protecting their side. Their run will end but the important thing for them is the game which comes after that happens.
Stoke have had a couple of games on the road when they have struggled to score. They will be glad to get back to the Britannia Stadium where they will mount pressure and score goals.
Verdict: 2-1
Match preview
Wolves v Man City (1945 GMT)
This is very interesting from the point of view of team City manager Roberto Mancini will pick. City's home form is great but not so away. How does Mancini see it? Is it an Italian way in that he will start with a point which his team need to hold on and, if they can build on it, then fine? or will it be more attacking.
Wolves have been on a decent run and it was only when they went 10-men down against Liverpool that they went on to lose. There's absolutely no chance manager Mick McCarthy will rest anybody. They have enough attacking power but the problem for them is when they do not have the ball as they are vulnerable. I have a sneaky feeling they will stay up.
Verdict: 1-1
Match preview
TUESDAY
Aston Villa v Liverpool (1945 GMT)
This is an absolutely nailed on draw. Villa boss Martin O'Neill has done a good job but you can't convince me that Villa are anything other than a counter-attacking team. The next step for them is to develop into a side that can break down opponents.
If they take the game to Liverpool then Rafael Benitez's team can get a draw as it will suit them. Liverpool are not playing well enough to get anything other than a point from the game. There have been false dawns for them but even a point would be a step in the right direction after the win over Wolves.
Verdict: 1-1
Bolton v Hull (2000 GMT)
This won't be a classic. Hull will be looking at the game as a chance to get a point. They have slipped lately but they have had to play Arsenal and Manchester United and anything from those games would have been a bonus.
Bolton got a good point at Burnley where it is difficult to come away with anything. Just when you think they are slipping they get a result. With Bolton you can never question their attitude or application, especially at home. They will see this as a game they need to win.
Verdict: 2-1
WEDNESDAY
Portsmouth v Arsenal (1945 GMT)
I think the great worry with Portsmouth is that they have to create chances but Arsenal are experts in picking you off. Pompey are a little like West Ham in that it is about the bigger picture and what happens off the pitch in January. It is the biggest month in their history. If manager Avram Grant is told he has to sell players then it is all over.
Arsenal are a really good team with a good manager, but when push comes to shove they have problems against the big teams. Teams who sit back against them can frustrate them and that is where they miss injured striker Robin van Persie.
Verdict: 0-2
Man Utd v Wigan
I can't see any other result apart from a United win. Wigan might feel they can deal with United physically but they will not be able to when it comes to guile.
United at home will have too much for Wigan, who won't see too much of the ball. United might have a few injury concerns but it will not be enough to help Wigan.
Verdict: 2-0
Mark Lawrenson was speaking to BBC Sport's Mandeep Sanghera |