The Christmas and New Year period is always the start of the most insane period of footballing intensity as every Premiership team and supporter in the Premiership has to endure four vital matches in eight days through the holiday period. Apologies for limited coverage at this crucial turning point halfway through the season.
Things get started with the Boxing Day games making up Week 18 which look like this
| Aston Villa v Everton | Everton just | |
| Charlton Athletic v Arsenal | Arsenal easily, alas | |
| Chelsea v Fulham | Chelsea unfortunately | |
| Liverpool v Newcastle United | Liverpool win | |
| Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion | Routine home win | |
| Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers | Looks like a draw | |
| Portsmouth v West Ham United | Looks like a draw | |
| Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers | Bolton easily | |
| Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City | Another win for Spurs | |
| Wigan Athletic v Manchester City | Wigan to win |
Scarcely are those games over then begins the Week 19 round of games just forty-eight hours later
| Arsenal v Portsmouth | Arsenal to win |
| Birmingham City v Manchester United | Another Red victory |
| Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland | Blackburn to edge it |
| Bolton Wanderers v Middlesbrough | Tight home win |
| Everton v Liverpool | Looks like Liverpool |
| Fulham v Aston Villa | I expect a draw |
| Manchester City v Chelsea | Hopefully a tie |
| Newcastle United v Charlton Athletic | Much-needed home win |
| West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur | Routine away win |
| West Ham United v Wigan Athletic | Wigan to win |
As if that wasn't enough, the football monster just won't stop and only three days later the "Week" 20 round of fixtures bring 2005 to a close with the New Year's Eve fixtures
| Aston Villa v Arsenal | Arsenal win |
| Charlton Athletic v West Ham United | A draw |
| Chelsea v Birmingham City | Can't see Chelsea losing |
| Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion | Another hard day for WBA |
| Manchester United v Bolton Wanderers | Narrow home win |
| Middlesbrough v Manchester City | Score draw |
| Portsmouth v Fulham | A rare Pompey win |
| Sunderland v Everton | Sadness for Sunderland |
| Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United | Spurs to win a thriller |
| Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers | Wigan to win, just |
If that wasn't enough to make any athlete's foot fall off, scarcely is the New Year started before there's the week 21 fixtures:
| Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic | Points shared |
| Blackburn Rovers v Portsmouth | Home win |
| Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool | Probably the Pool |
| Everton v Charlton Athletic | Much-needed home win |
| Fulham v Sunderland | Fulham to win |
| Newcastle United v Middlesbrough | Home derby win |
| West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa | Home derby win |
| West Ham United v Chelsea | Hopefully home win |
The madness is rounded off with the last but not least stragglers as on Tuesday 3rd January Arsenal host Manchester United in a match both teams will feel they can win but the Red Devils need is greater and I believe they will prevail.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Pick tables are a little crudely designed, but you know what, they're still much easier to read.
Nicely done!
2 - Christopher Rose
It's only the second time I've ever built a table so any code coaching would be appreciated. Are you going to use them on your other Sports?