All I Want for Christmas: What does each Premier League team hope to find under the tree?

Arsenal

Finding a ready-made replacement for the injured Bukayo Saka would be a Christmas miracle so Mikel Arteta will instead demand more consistent displays from Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brazilian winger switched to the right flank after Saka’s injury at Crystal Palace, setting up Arsenal’s third goal and scoring their fourth.

The Gunners cannot let Saka’s absence affect them to the extent that Martin Odegaard’s injury did so Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus must step up. 

James Milton

Aston Villa

Most Villa fans would wish for an end to the stringent profit and sustainability (PSR) rules, which have meant the Villans had to part ways with Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby for big money in the summer despite qualifying for the Champions League.

Full-back is an area of concern as Ian Maatsen, who cost £37.5 million, has failed to make much of an impact since joining from Chelsea.

Joe Casey

Bournemouth

It’s hard not to be impressed by the Cherries and their excellent manager Andoni Iraola, who have guided them to fifth place, but it could perhaps be even better.

According to understat.com’s expected-goals model, Bournemouth have scored almost ten goals fewer than the quality of their chances would suggest, hinting that a greater cutting edge in front of goal could see the Cherries chart even higher in 2025. 

Matthew Ireland

Brentford

An away win would be the perfect Christmas gift for Thomas Frank and the Bees, who have lost eight of their ten games on the road in all competitions this season.

A 1-0 win at League Two Colchester in the EFL Cup is Brentford’s sole away success this term and Friday’s trip to Brighton is their last chance for some awayday joy in 2024. [JC]

Brighton

Brighton and poor finishing go together like Christmas pudding and brandy butter and the Seagulls have had a frustrating run since November’s wins over Manchester City and Bournemouth.

They won the xG battle in this month’s 3-1 defeat at Fulham, as well as the 1-1 draws with Southampton and West Ham, and blew a 2-0 lead late on at Leicester so more ruthlessness in front of goal is the priority for Fabian Hurzeler. [JM]

Chelsea

The Blues have a deep squad and their policy of buying young talent is beginning to bear fruit, but they have lacked a top class centre-forward for several seasons and might see if any opportunities crop up in the January transfer window. 

Nicolas Jackson has bagged nine league goals while Cole Palmer has 11 from the number-ten role and is on course to top the Blues’ scoring charts for a second successive season. 

Dan Childs

Crystal Palace

When Oliver Glasner has his best 11 available, Palace are a match for any team in the division, so Eagles fans will be keeping their fingers crossed for better luck with injuries.

Eberechi Eze missed the 5-1 defeat to Arsenal but should be fit for the rest of the festive fixtures. Eze, Ismaila Sarr and prolific striker Jean-Philippe Mateta form a top-class attacking trio and England midfielder Adam Wharton is expected to return to action next month. [JM]

Everton

Last week’s takeover by the Friedkin Group was an early present for Toffees fans, who will be hoping for a far more prosperous year ahead. 

However, compliance with financial fair play rules may continue to restrict rebuilding efforts at Goodison with Sean Dyche dampening expectations of a January sales splurge. 

The loan market could be explored and bringing in a creative player to ease the playmaking burden on Dwight McNeil would be wise. [DC]

Fulham

Huge progress has been made by the Cottagers in recent times, but they are the second-lowest scorers among the top 12 sides in the Premier League and could do with adding more of a killer instinct to their ranks. 

Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored 109 league goals for the club, has not really been replaced and the need for attacking reinforcements was evident on Sunday as Marco Silva’s side were held to a 0-0 draw by basement boys Southampton. [DC]

Ipswich

A win of any description would be huge for Ipswich, whose bright start has begun to flitter away. 

Seventeen Town players scored at least two goals in the Championship last term but only summer signings Liam Delap and Sammie Szmodics have managed that feat this term. 

The Tractor Boys’ strike duo will not be able to stave off relegation on their own and will need their teammates to weigh in with their fair share in the very near future. [JC]

Leicester

The Foxes are out of the relegation zone but they have only a slender two-point cushion to the bottom three and recent heavy defeats at Newcastle and at home to Wolves do not augur well for their ongoing efforts to stave off a swift return to the Championship. 

Leicester’s midfield lacks energy and quality so a box-to-box midfielder comfortable in possession would be warmly received by Ruud van Nistelrooy. [DC]

Liverpool

Four points clear and with a game in hand on the chasing pack, there isn’t much Santa could pop under the tree in Arne Slot’s office at Anfield to make the Dutchman’s turkey taste even better, although Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah signing new contracts would be a perfect end to the year for the Reds. [MI]

Man City

City’s worst fears have been realised without their midfield metronome Rodri, whose importance to the champions cannot now be overstated.

City lack energy in midfield and have been consistently exposed without the Ballon d’Or winner, and while signing a replacement for the Spaniard won’t solve all of their problems, snapping up a player of the calibre of Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes would certainly help. [JC]

Man Utd

Where do you begin? Getting rid of some deadwood would be high on the list of a lot of Red Devils fans, and a reliable source of goals has to be as well.

The fact that Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford are United’s top league goalscorers with four goals apiece, while Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, signed for a combined £100m, have scored five times between them, paints a stark picture. Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres would be the dream given his relationship with Ruben Amorim. [MI]

Newcastle

The Magpies are in festive mood after 4-0 Premier League routs of Leicester and Ipswich and an EFL Cup quarter-final win over Brentford but financial restrictions may mean another tense January transfer window on Tyneside.

Selling Miguel Almiron and Kieran Trippier could ease that pressure, allowing Newcastle to turn down potential bids for star men Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, who has scored nine goals in his last nine league appearances. [JM]

Nottingham Forest

A place in the top four on Christmas Day is way more than most Forest fans could have asked for.

An upgrade for Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels, who is statistically one of the weaker custodians in the top flight, wouldn’t go amiss, though, as the Tricky Trees seek to root themselves in the European qualification berths. [JC]

Southampton

Few Premier League clubs are in greater need of some glad tidings than Southampton, who are rooted to the foot of the table and eight points adrift of safety with almost half of the season gone. 

Saints need better quality in all areas if they are to have even a fleeting chance of staying up but the addition of a robust, experienced defender with leadership traits should be high on their wishlist. [DC]

Tottenham

A semblance of consistency would be a start as Spurs continue to mix the sublime with the ridiculous.

The wild ride at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has much to do with Ange Postecoglou’s tactics but even exciting football has a limited shelf life if it comes at the expense of results and the patience of Lilywhites fans, and more pertinently the board, is starting to wear thin. [MI]

West Ham

Tony Cottee, in 1986-87, was the last West Ham player to score 20 goals in a top-flight season and his feat is unlikely to be repeated this season as Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek are the Hammers’ joint-top scorers with just four goals apiece.

Summer signing Niclas Fullkrug belatedly made his first league start against Brighton on Saturday and, with Michail Antonio sidelined, the Germany striker needs to stay fit and start delivering the goods as soon as possible. [JM]

Wolves

Wolves have shown throughout the season that they have the necessary firepower to stay up, but they will be hoping their clean sheet at Leicester on Sunday – just their second in the league – is a sign of more security at the back under new man Vitor Pereira.

A change of style only goes so far, however, and a no-nonsense central defender would be of undoubted benefit to Wanderers. [MI]

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