Premier League predictions gameweek 19: Bill Ryder-Jones vs. Sports Mole

The 2023-24 Premier League campaign reaches the halfway stage in gameweek 19, starting on Boxing Day with five matches to extend the Christmas festivities.

Liverpool have the chance to go top of the table when they visit Burnley on Boxing Day, but any slip-ups for the Reds could open the door for Aston Villa to climb to the summit when they take on Manchester United in the day's late kickoff.

Manchester City and Chelsea are among the teams in action on Wednesday, before the gameweek comes to a close with a Thursday double-header featuring Christmas number one Arsenal visiting West Ham United and their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur taking on Brighton & Hove Albion.

Each gameweek, Sports Mole is taking on a famous musician or band in a prediction competition, and this week it is the turn of singer-songwriter and Everton fan Bill Ryder-Jones.

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Newcastle vs. Nott'm Forest

Tuesday, 12.30pm

Bill: Newcastle 2-1 Nott'm Forest

Sports Mole: Newcastle 2-1 Nott'm Forest

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Bournemouth vs. Fulham

Tuesday, 3pm

Bill: Bournemouth 2-2 Fulham

Sports Mole: Bournemouth 2-1 Fulham

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Sheff Utd vs. Luton

Tuesday, 3pm

Bill: Sheff Utd 0-1 Luton

Sports Mole: Sheff Utd 1-0 Luton

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Burnley vs. Liverpool

Tuesday, 5.30pm

Bill: Burnley 4-0 Liverpool

Sports Mole: Burnley 0-2 Liverpool

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Man Utd vs. Aston Villa

Tuesday, 8pm

Bill: Man Utd 0-3 Aston Villa

Sports Mole: Man Utd 1-1 Aston Villa

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Brentford vs. Wolves

Wednesday, 7.30pm

Bill: Brentford 0-2 Wolves

Sports Mole: Brentford 2-2 Wolves

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Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace

Wednesday, 7.30pm

Bill: Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace

Sports Mole: Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace

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Everton vs. Man City

Wednesday, 8.15pm

Bill: Everton 2-2 Man City

Sports Mole: Everton 0-1 Man City

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Brighton vs. Spurs

Thursday, 7.30pm

Bill: Brighton 1-4 Spurs

Sports Mole: Brighton 1-2 Spurs

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Arsenal vs. West Ham

Thursday, 8.15pm

Bill: Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

Sports Mole: Arsenal 2-1 West Ham

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Bill Ryder-Jones Q&A

How did you come to support Everton and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?

We moved over from Manchester at the same time my soon-to-become best friend Anthony moved from Walton. He lived across the road and asked me if I supported Everton and I felt obliged to say yes.

Favourite moment probably either Ferguson giving Steffen Freund a cuddle or the 4-1 FA Cup semi-final versus Spurs; I loved Amokachi and I watched it with my granddad in Llandudno.

Who have been your favourite five players for Everton? (Historically or currently)

Duncan Ferguson is the answer for anyone of my generation. I loved Yakubu. Leighton Baines I think is one of my favourite players ever, so cool, no fuss, lovely bottom.

I loved [Andrei] Kanchelskis though I never got to see him play live so I'll go with Tim Cahill as four, and I'd have to say either Mikel Arteta or Denis Stracqualursi as the fifth.

What's going on for you as an artist at the moment?

I've got a new album 'Iechyd da' out in January and other than that I'm just enjoying my Dyche-ball!

Check out 'If Tomorrow Starts Without Me', the latest single from Bill Ryder-Jones, available on all digital streaming platforms now.

You can follow Bill Ryder-Jones on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).

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2023-24 SEASON LEADERBOARD (ARTISTS)

Scores are calculated as one point for a correct result and five points for a correct scoreline.

1. SPRINTS' Sam (19pts | Gameweek 9) 2. Flat Party's Nic (18pts | Gameweek 7) 3. SPRINTS' Jack (16pts | Gameweek 9) 4. SPRINTS' Karla (14pts | Gameweek 9) 5. Flat Party's Dylan (12pts | Gameweek 7) 6. Flat Party's Rory (10pts | Gameweek 7) 7. Tom Speight (9pts | Gameweek 2) = Majestic & Beyond Chicago (9pts | Gameweek 3) = Sea Girls' Andrew Dawson (9pts | Gameweek 8) 10. New Rules' Ryan Meaney (8pts | Gameweek 6) = K.A.D (8pts | Gameweek 12) 12. Kid Kapichi's Jack Wilson (7pts | Gameweek 5) = Feeder's Taka Hirose (7pts | Gameweek 18) 14. Sainte (5pts | Gameweek 13) 15. Insincere (4pts | Gameweek 1) = STONE (4pts | Gameweek 10) = Slick Don (4pts | Gameweek 14) = The Blinders' Charlie McGough (4pts | Gameweek 15) = Alex Spencer (4pts | Gameweek 16) 20. Barry Can't Swim (3pts | Gameweek 4) = Keen Roy (3pts | Gameweek 11)

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2023-24 COMPETITION HISTORY

Gameweek 1: Insincere 4-16 Sports Mole Gameweek 2: Tom Speight 9-16 Sports Mole Gameweek 3: Majestic & Beyond Chicago 9-9 Sports Mole Gameweek 4: Barry Can't Swim 3-9 Sports Mole Gameweek 5: Kid Kapichi's Jack Wilson 7-11 Sports Mole Gameweek 6: New Rules' Ryan Meaney 8-10 Sports Mole Gameweek 7: Flat Party's Rory, Nic & Dylan 10/18/12-3 Sports Mole Gameweek 8: Sea Girls' Andrew Dawson 9-9 Sports Mole Gameweek 9: SPRINTS' Jack, Same & Karla 16/19/14-16 Sports Mole Gameweek 10: STONE 4-6 Sports Mole Gameweek 11: Keen Roy 3-9 Sports Mole Gameweek 12: K.A.D 8-8 Sports Mole Gameweek 13: Sainte 5-2 Sports Mole Gameweek 14: Slick Don 4-6 Sports Mole Gameweek 15: The Blinders' Charlie McGough 4-4 Sports Mole Gameweek 16: Alex Spencer 4-3 Sports Mole Gameweek 17: N/A Gameweek 18: Feeder's Taka Hirose 7-9 Sports Mole

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