Matchweek 19 in the Premier League continues with three intriguing Monday contests. Here is everything you need to know ahead of each one.
Ipswich Town v Chelsea
Ipswich host Chelsea at Portman Road hoping to cause a major upset and finally claim their first home league win of the season.
However, this will be no easy feat against Enzo Maresca's high-flying side, who have only lost one league match on their travels in 2024/25 - at leaders Liverpool.
Where are both teams in the table?
Ipswich are 19th on 12 points, while Chelsea are fourth with 35 points.
In their last matches, Kieran McKenna's team lost 1-0 away to Arsenal, while Maresca's men suffered a late 2-1 home defeat to Fulham, their first loss in the league since October.
Form guide
Team news
Ipswich: Chiedozie Ogbene, George Hirst, Axel Tuanzebe and Massimo Luongo remain sidelined.
Chelsea: Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana are all ruled out.
What the managers said
Kieran McKenna (Ipswich): "Chelsea have recruited some fantastic players for quite a few transfer windows now, some fantastic young players. They seemed to have really found their way with that and Enzo's done a really good job coaching them, getting them into the structure that he likes and turning them into a good team.
"They've got the ability to rotate and keep the level of the team extremely high and they've got an extra day to prepare. I'm sure they'll have been frustrated with the result against Fulham so they're going to be really hungry to get three points on Monday night. We've got to make sure that we match that and make it as competitive as we can."
Enzo Maresca (Chelsea): "We never thought we would win every game. We lost on 18 August, then after two months [in October], and then after two months again. But we know the reality is not just to lose one game every two months. It’s a matter of how we react and try to go again."
Match officials
Referee: John Brooks. Assistants: Simon Bennett, Sam Lewis. Fourth official: Darren Bond. VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant VAR: Nick Greenhalgh.
Key facts
Ipswich were unable to stay up in the two previous seasons when they were in the Premier League's relegation zone at the end of a calendar year, 1994/95 and 2001/02.
The Tractor Boys could become only the fifth side to fail to win any of their first 10 Premier League home matches in a season.
Chelsea's only defeats in their last 18 league away fixtures came at Anfield (twice) and Emirates Stadium.
The Blues are unbeaten in their final league match in each of the past 12 calendar years (W8, D4) since 2011, when they lost 3-1 at home to Aston Villa. They have not lost their final top-flight away match of a year since 2002, when they were beaten by Leeds United.
Ipswich v Chelsea: Last five PL meetings
1 Apr 2002: Ipswich 0-0 Chelsea
4 Nov 2001: Chelsea 2-1 Ipswich
20 Jan 2001: Chelsea 4-1 Ipswich
26 Dec 2000: Ipswich 2-2 Chelsea
21 Jan 1995: Ipswich 2-2 Chelsea
Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion
Aston Villa welcome Brighton to Villa Park, where the hosts have dominated meetings between the clubs in recent seasons.
Villa have won eight of their nine top-flight home matches against the Seagulls, including a 6-1 victory against them in September 2023.
TV Info - Broadcasters
Where are both teams in the table?
Villa currently ninth on 28 points, one place and two points ahead of Brighton.
Brighton are without a victory in their last six league matches, while Villa suffered a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
Form guide
Team news
Aston Villa: Jhon Duran begins a three-match ban after the club's appeal against his red card away to Newcastle was rejected. Matty Cash is also suspended after accumulating five bookings but midfielder Jacob Ramsey could return to the matchday squad, having overcome a hamstring injury.
Brighton: Mats Wieffer, Ferdi Kadioglu, Adam Webster and Jack Hinshelwood, who all missed Friday's draw with Brentford, will be assessed. Danny Welbeck remains out with an ankle injury.
What the managers have said
Unai Emery (Aston Villa): "We've just got to try to be better - myself first - just try to get as many points as we can. We saw it last week [against Manchester City] that we can do it against big teams. I'm very excited for the game.
"We have to be positive and we have to understand our way. The table is very tight - we have a lot of teams within a few points [of each other] and of course Monday is our challenge again at home at Villa Park to try to get the atmosphere we want to create with our supporters. To play and to enjoy - and try to win."
Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton): "They have a clear style of play. I think Emery has a big impact on Aston Villa's philosophy. They have great individual players. I heard a lot about the atmosphere there so it will be a great opportunity for us to improve and to show our identity there."
Match officials
Referee: Craig Pawson. Assistants: Darren Cann, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Gavin Ward. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Stuart Burt.
Key facts
Ollie Watkins has scored six goals in seven Premier League appearances against Brighton, more than against any other opponent.
Brighton have won only one of their last 14 trips to Villa Park (D3 L10).
The Seagulls are unbeaten in the last four away matches that were their final league fixture of a calendar year; the last time they lost on such an occasion was in 2011, when they were beaten 2-0 at Coventry in the Championship.
Villa have kept just two clean sheets in their past 23 Premier League matches, at home to Manchester United and Southampton this season.
Villa v Brighton: Last five PL meetings
04 May 2024: Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa
30 Sep 2023: Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton
28 May 2023: Aston Villa 2-1 Brighton
13 Nov 2022: Brighton 1-2 Aston Villa
26 Feb 2022: Brighton 0-2 Aston Villa
Man Utd v Newcastle
Man Utd welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford and will be desperate to end 2024 on a positive note.
Ruben Amorim’s side have endured a difficult December, winning just two of their last six Premier League matches and suffering successive defeats without scoring.
They face an in-form Newcastle who have won their last three matches in the competition, while keeping a clean sheet in all three.
TV Info - Broadcasters
Where are both teams in the table?
Defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day left Man Utd in 14th place, on 22 points, closer to the relegation zone than to the top four.
Newcastle are currently seventh on 29 points, six points behind fourth-placed Nottingham Forest.
Team news
Man Utd: The Red Devils will be without suspended midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.
Victor Lindelof, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw all remain on the sidelines.
Newcastle: Tino Livramento should be available after missing the Boxing Day win over Aston Villa.
Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Nick Pope and Callum Wilson are still out.
What the managers have said
Ruben Amorim (Man Utd): "We have to fight against everything, because our supporters are always there. But they are tired of this moment. We have to expect that any play from Newcastle near our box is going to make the stadium nervous and our players have to cope with that.
"Newcastle is a very strong team, very fast, with a lot of pace and a lot of time with the same coach. We want to be competitive and try to win the game. That is all."
Eddie Howe (Newcastle): "We've had really good preparations to our games and the players seem to be enjoying themselves, entering the game with the right frame of mind to play. We've got to try and hit that sweet spot again without any distractions. I'm sure the players will be ready for the games."
When the two sides last met
Match officials
Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis.
Key facts
Man Utd have lost just one of their last 39 home league matches against Newcastle (W28 D10), under David Moyes's management in December 2013 when the Magpies won 1-0.
No team has lost more Premier League matches since the start of December than Man Utd (four). The last time they lost more league matches in a single calendar month was back in September 1962 (five).
Newcastle have won two of their last three Premier League matches against Man Utd (L1); they won the same number of their previous 16 meetings with them (D4 L10).
Anthony Gordon scored home and away against Man Utd in the Premier League last season – no Newcastle player has ever netted in three consecutive appearances against the Red Devils in the competition.
Man Utd v Newcastle: Last five PL meetings
15 May 2024: Man Utd 3-2 Newcastle
02 Dec 2023: Newcastle 1-0 Man Utd
02 Apr 2023: Newcastle 2-0 Man Utd
16 Oct 2022: Man Utd 0-0 Newcastle
27 Dec 2021: Man Utd 1-1 Newcastle
