This article is part of our FPL Best XI series.
If Gameweek 18 was business as usual for the leading two sides Chelsea and Manchester City, then Gameweek 19 was anything but that.
In one of the earlier games, Chelsea dropped points at Southampton with a 1-1 draw that, if Jose Mourinho is to believed, should have been a win for the visiting side.
The Chelsea boss' brimming anger was assuaged shortly afterwards by a bumbling Man City side that managed to throw away a 2-0 lead at home to struggling Burnley, holding on for a 2-2 draw.
Third-placed Manchester United weren't able to capitalize on the slip ups as they drew 0-0 at Spurs, with further stalemates between QPR and manager-less Crystal Palace, and Sunderland's visit to Aston Villa.
West Brom boss Alan Irvine lost his job hours after his side lost 2-0 to Stoke, where Mame Diouf grabbed a brace, and West Ham lost its second straight game by going down 2-1 at home to Arsenal.
At the bottom end of the table, Hull City failed to carry on their momentum from Boxing Day by losing 1-0 to Leicester City, and Roberto Martinez's troubles continued as Everton narrowly lost 3-2 at Newcastle, in Alan Pardew's last game as Toon Army boss.
Liverpool finished up Gameweek 19 with an emphatic 4-1 win over Swansea City on Monday night with Adam Lallana scoring twice to put them just five points off a Champions League spot.
Gameweek 20 is the first one of 2015 and serves up a reverse of the midweek slate of fixtures played at the start of December, with all 20 teams appearing ahead of the weekend's break for the FA Cup third round.
Stoke and Manchester United fans have the unlucky New Year's Day lunchtime slot at the Britannia Stadium, with Louis van Gaal's side looking to close the gap on leaders Chelsea to seven points.
Second-placed Manchester City will want to bounce back from the disappointment of last weekend as they play host to Sunderland in the traditional 3pm kick-off time. Meanwhile, down at St. Mary's, Southampton play Arsenal with the winner taking sole possession of fourth place in the Premier League.
West Ham will want to capitalize on the team that loses that game by beating a West Bromwich Albion side at Upton Park that will want to put on a show for incoming boss Tony Pulis.
Pulis' former side Crystal Palace are also ready for new manager Alan Pardew, who is expected in the stands for the Eagles' trip to Aston Villa for what will be a tight encounter.
Pardew's former employers Newcastle face a struggling Burnley side that is only one place ahead of Leicester City, who themselves have a tough visit to a Liverpool team buoyed by a 4-1 win against Swansea on Monday night.
Swansea make a long trip to Queens Park Rangers, who they beat 2-0 in the reverse fixture a little over a month ago. At the same time, two of the lowest teams in the form table look for a fresh start to the New Year as Hull play host to Everton at the KC Stadium.
The best is saved until last, as the late game sees Tottenham welcome rivals Chelsea to White Hart Lane in what is always a feisty encounter and is important for both sides.
With such a cracking set of fixtures, raise a glass to the Best XI for Gameweek 20.
Formation: 3-4-3
Goalkeeper
Joe Hart
v. 
England's number one can expect to make it eight clean sheets on the season against a Sunderland side that has scored just six times in nine away trips this season. Conceding two goals against Burnley on Sunday was a freak event given that City have conceded just seven goals at home all season, a number only bettered by league-leaders Chelsea.
Defenders
City have an excellent chance at keeping a clean sheet against a poor Sunderland, and Zabaleta also has the opportunity to contribute going forward. The Argentinean is no stranger to overlapping with the wide man in front of him, and has already contributed three assists this season. Among the defenders, Zabaleta remains the most likely to add an assist to a clean sheet that is a formality.
West Ham came back down to earth with a bump through consecutive defeats to high-flying Chelsea and Arsenal, and a game against West Brom is a welcome relief from those. Cresswell, signed in the summer, offers fantasy potential at the back, as well as going forward, and has made 21 key passes this season, which is bettered by just two other Premier League defenders. A home game against West Brom gives him the perfect chance to build on the two assists he has tallied this campaign.
Ron Vlaar
v. 
The Dutchman's return to the Villa side has seen them concede a stingy four goals in the past six games, with a home game against Crystal Palace representing a chance for Vlaar to pick up a fifth clean sheet. Villa have conceded 11 goals in nine home games, however, they have already played Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United all at home, meaning this number is slightly skewed. Add to this the fact Palace has scored just three goals in seven games and it makes a solid case for Vlaar's inclusion.
Midfielders
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers seems to be getting his act together and has decided on a settled team just in time for the visit of bottom-of-the-table Leicester City to Anfield. Sterling has had a quiet season this term after the departure of Luis Suarez and injury to Daniel Sturridge (thigh), yet he still averages 3.2 dribbles per game (fifth-best in the Premier League) and has bagged four goals and four assists already this season. Leicester's defense is on the slow side and has the propensity to allow goals, meaning Sterling warrants a place in the Best XI.
Sanchez had a quiet afternoon at West Ham on Sunday and the onus will now be on the Chilean to fill the void left by the suspended Olivier Giroud, who was sent off against West Ham, in Gameweek 20. Southampton is without central midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin on Thursday due to a suspension, and the last time that happened the team lost three of its four games, including a tight 1-0 loss to Arsenal. That will be a blessing in disguise for Sanchez, who can be expected to add to the 10 goals he has already managed this season.
David Silva (C) v.
City are still without Edin Dzeko (calf) and Sergio Aguero (knee), and the diminutive Spanish playmaker has picked up the mantle going forward over the past trio of games after a quiet start to the campaign. His record for the past three games includes four goals and one assist, with Sunderland looking like an attractive chance to extend that run further.
Chelsea have been a different proposition in 2014/15 and most of that is down to a pair of Spanish players that arrived in the summer. Fabregas will relish a trip to White Hart Lane more than most at Chelsea given his history at North London rivals Arsenal, and he has a league-leading seven assists away from home. With Diego Costa back in the side, expect Fabregas to bag at least an assist and maybe even a goal against an average Tottenham defense.
Forwards
Andy Carroll
v. 
Since Carroll returned from a long-term injury he has looked a threat for a team that instead of trying to avoid the drop could grab a Europa League spot come season's end. The England marksman has already picked up three goals and two assists in nine appearances, forming a classic big-man pairing with Diafro Sakho. Carroll, who has won 89 headers to trail just Peter Crouch in the offensive rankings, will have a field day against a West Brom defense that was battered in the air by QPR just weeks ago.
Much like Austin used to build houses, the workhorse has been constructing himself quite the reputation as a forward that belongs at the top level. The Englishman has 12 goals and two assists in 17 games, nine goals and two assists coming in just 10 home games. After a tough time against Crystal Palace's solid back-line, Austin will build on that tally at home against a Swansea side that is especially vulnerable from set pieces.
No team has scored more then the 22 home goals than Southampton have notched this season and the big Italian has scored more than any other player at the club, with seven on home turf. That figure of seven in 10 at home is only bettered by Diego Costa and Charlie Austin, who both have nine, and an Arsenal defense that doesn't cope well with height present an ideal opportunity to build on that. Pelle has had 48 shots at home this season, which is the most in the Premier League, and if he gets the chances then expect to see him on the score sheet once again.
