First of all, take this post as my Merry Christmas message to one and all. Have a great day and if you get the chance to pop by in between the food, the booze, the Queen’s speech and the rest of the tedious telly, then you’ll find some updated team news to help you back in shape for the Boxing Day menu. The picks will arrive at some point too.

To keep things tiding over and to warm you up for the festive fixtures, here’s the usual wander around the games in question, with my view on where the points can be earned and where the pain will be felt…

Best for goals…

This might be a time of excess for many of us, but I can’t see us handed the opportunity to stuff our faces on a glut of goals. I can see scatterings around the fixtures with plenty of potential 1-1’s about but Christmas goal feasts look thin on the ground.

The City vs Hull encounter show’s the most promise. City will surely have to go for this one in front of their own frustrated fans, while Hull almost guarantee to turn up and go for the throat. Geovanni is back at an old stamping ground and he’ll have a point to prove which will likely see him pulling strings, as Phil Brown’s outfit notch another couple of goals against the obliging City backline. At the other end City’s own Brazilian, Robinho, should make return which should in turn take the shackles off Ireland and leave him to return to his raiding best. He troubled Hull at the KC stadium a few weeks back – this one could see him in profit again at last. I can see a high scoring draw at Eastlands.

The other game I’ve got my beady on is the Sunderland vs Blackburn clash. Two sides who have received the kiss of life of late, they should go at each other and weadle out enough defensive frailties to notch a few goals. Certainly Jones and Cisse will be a handful, while Blackburn’s McCarthy will be sharp and well fed by a Rovers side that should provide some improved service now that Big Sam has had time to instil his “brand” of football in them. Could go either way this one and I see three or four goals.

Best for clean sheets…

Once again it’s all about Chelsea if you’re looking for the a sure-fire cleanie. Even at the Bridge, where Scolari’s boys are struggling a little, you have to fancy them to keep Mowbray’s shot-shy side at bay. Even the absence of Terry through suspension and the possibility of Cech missing out with a thumb injury, it’s not enough for me to turn my back on the Blues for defensive gains.

United look the next best option. They won’t have it easy at Stoke but with Vidic in imperious form and the canny Ferguson likely to draft in the six-footers; Carrick and Fletcher in midfield, you have to think that United will be able to deal with everything that Stoke can chuck (quite literally) at them. United need an early goal to open the game up – if they get it, it could be a convincing win with a cleanie for United.

You would normally have to mention Liverpool in the same breath as those two and the chances of clean sheet at home to Bolton should certainly not be dismissed. However, Megson’s side are scoring goals, particularly on their travels. Liverpool conceded twice to Hull last time out at Anfield and I can easily see Bolton nicking one here. Arbeloa is set to miss out and the in-form Taylor will likely be deployed on the right against either Insnua or Dossena. Either way – he’ll fancy that.

Moving down to the mid-price defensive bracket I like Everton at the Boro. Southgate’s schizophrenic side aren’t to be trusted of course and it would be just like them to bang a two or three goals, just when they look ripe to be written off. Everton’s away form is strong though and I’m expecting a tight game with a narrow win for Moyes’ men.

Elsewhere I think you’re struggling. Fulham look a decent bet if you fancy Spurs to continue their plight for goals at the Lane. Hodgson’s side have conceded just once in their last five away games – a pretty staggering little stat that’s hard to ignore. Spurs pose a threat and so this will be a real test of Fulham’s defensive resolve. They still look tempting though, in a potentially barren week for defensive points.

Finally you could look at the Wigan vs Newcastle game and see a clean sheet for either or both sides. Newcastle are stubborn away from home with three cleanies in four on their travels and although Wigan are in form, they could be frustrated by another determined Kinnear-inspired performance. Not much in this one for me and I can see defences coming out on top.

Best for frustration…

Villa’s clash with Arsenal is unknown quantity given the absentees – Fabregas and Adebayor will miss out for Arsenal, Laursen and Cueller look likely to be missing for Villa. I can see Arsenal struggling for a cutting edge without the presence of Adebayor and a creative influence without their skipper Fabregas. As for Villa, they would settle for a draw and without Laursen and I fear that O’Neill will look to protect his back four and attempt to strangle this game, relying on catching Arsenal on the break. Personally, with so much at stake for both sides, I can see this being an edgy affair then with few goals – a 1-1 looks a strong possibility.

We saw Liverpool forced to go on the attack a fortnight ago against Hull and I just wonder whether Bolton can put the frighteners on Rafa’s side and prompt a similar response on Boxing Day. Much depends on Megson’s approach – in contrast to Phil Brown, something tells me that he’ll look to keep things very tight, particularly after the recent mauling by Villa. Bolton could certainly frustrate Liverpool and fantasy investors in their attacking players.

Portsmouth’s clash with West Ham is another one I’m wary of. Adams keeps talking of tightening up his defence, while West Ham have struggled for goals of late. Zola’s backline could be strong enough to cope with Defoe and an in-form Crouch, while at the other end, the Hammers lack of cutting edge may just hand Pompey a rare shut-out. Defoe and Crouch owners will want goals – whether they will come against the resolute hammers and with a more conservative approach from Adams, is another matter. Again, a nasty 1-1 looks a likely scoreline.