Admittedly, he’s been in charge for only six games but has Guus Hiddink improved Chelsea?

Was the removal of José Mourinho the answer to all the problems at Stamford Bridge?

It’s all lies, damned lies and statistics, of course, but it would appear not.

Yes, they haven’t lost under the Dutchman and the squad now has someone more intent on nursing egos rather than puncturing them, but the numbers suggest little has changed.

Mourinho’s win percentage this season was 36, while Hiddink’s, taking away the FA Cup win over the mighty Scunthorpe, stands at 33.

So far, so similar. Chelsea do appear to be in a weird state of limbo, with Diego Costa perpetually looking for a fight, and a bewildered Pedro searching for the touch he clearly left in Spain.

Arsenal will surely never have a better chance of getting one over their London rivals.

If Liverpool can get their act together in front of goal, then Norwich should prove no problem. But Jürgen Klopp’s side remain a hugely frustrating one to watch — lots of energy expended but a variable end product.

The danger is that Norwich, who now have striker Steven Naismith in their ranks, actually have more to play for right now as they fight for survival.
Prediction: 0-2

No goals in five for Palace and they have dipped markedly. Spurs have a huge chance to make the top four and should chalk up a comfortable three points.
Prediction: 0-2

Stoke have lost just three games on the road and are just six points off the Champions League places. Leicester remain in the midst of a wonderful season in second but signs are that they are beginning to run out of steam, in particular going forward. Amazing stat: Leicester are the only team not to have scored a goal from outside the penalty area (&Copy; The Guardian).
Prediction: 1-1

United are struggling for fluency but are unbeaten in four, including a morale-boosting defeat of rivals Liverpool. Memphis Depay’s strike in first half added time against Sunderland at the end of October was the last time the Old Trafford crowd celebrated a goal in the opening 45 minutes. This one probably won’t be a classic.
Prediction: 1-0

Big, big game for both sides down the bottom of the table. Bournemouth have won only one of their past five league games and sit just three points above the bottom three but new signings are proof of their ambition and the 3-0 win over Norwich was a positive marker. A tight encounter with plenty of mistakes.
Prediction: 2-2

Jonjo Shelvey’s arrival has pepped up Newcastle and injected some valuable Premier League know-how into the midfield. Remarkably, especially looking at his bald palette, he’s only 23.

Watford have stuttered recently and this is a chance for three valuable away points.
Prediction: 1-2

Second-city derby makes this one sound more exciting than perhaps it deserves. Villa have such a poor squad that Rémi Garde faces an uphill task to get the wins they need. A robust Albion side will be too much for them.
Prediction: 1-0

West Ham are undefeated in their past eight home league games and should give City plenty to think about. City still don’t seem to have hit top form, although Sergio Agüero is looking sharper and sharper.
Prediction: 1-2

Swansea have a new manager in Francesco Guidolin, who did good work at Udinese, but there remains instability in Wales. Everton, meanwhile, continue to throw away winning positions, a fact even the whinging of Roberto Martínez can’t hide.
Prediction: 3-1

Chelsea are unbeaten in eight matches against Arsenal and, despite their dismal league position, clearly have the talent to upset the title-challengers.

But despite Hiddink’s more peaceful reign, Chelsea remain a stranded ship and with Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez in contention to return, this looks like a home win.
Prediction: 2-1