It is a big weekend at both ends of the table as the race for the title, the top four, and for survival hot up.
Liverpool will look to close to within 3 points of Manchester City at the top of the league as they travel to Brighton on Saturday lunchtime, before City have the chance to reopen the gap to 6 points at Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Manchester United welcome Tottenham on Saturday evening, both sides needing a win to keep the pressure on Arsenal in fourth.
There are also huge clashes between Brentford and Burnley and Leeds and Norwich, all four sides desperate for three points to ease their relegation concerns.
Brighton vs Liverpool (Saturday 12:30pm)
Embed from Getty Images
Liverpool keep rolling on in their pursuit of Manchester City.
Despite not being at their best against West Ham last time out, the Reds ground out a result thanks to Sadio Mane following in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot-come-cross.
The start of a big week in which they also travel to Arsenal, Jurgen Klopp’s side should have it a little easier against Brighton than they did earlier this season, the Seagulls bang out of form after losing their last four.
SCORE PREDICTION: 0-2
Brentford vs Burnley (Saturday 3pm)
Embed from Getty Images
Brentford arrested their slide at Norwich last weekend, picking up their first league win in 8 games thanks to inspired performances from Ivan Toney and Christian Eriksen.
Another win here and Thomas Frank’s side might just be able to start preparing for a second season in the top flight.
They won’t have it easy against Burnley, though, especially considering the Bees are one of the three teams Sean Dyche’s men have beaten this season.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1
Manchester United vs Tottenham (Saturday 5:30pm)
Embed from Getty Images
After a bright start in the Manchester Derby last Sunday, Manchester United seemingly gave up in the second half, enjoying just 8% possession in the final 15 minutes, a laughable statistic.
Tottenham, on the other hand, rebounded from their FA Cup shambles to thrash a sorry Everton on Monday night.
Both clubs can’t afford to drop many more points if they want to make the top four. With United playing at home, however, the impetus is on them to attack, meaning they could play right into Tottenham’s counter-attacking hands.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Chelsea vs Newcastle (Sunday 2pm)
Embed from Getty Images
Chelsea did extremely well to put events off field to the back of their mind at Norwich on Thursday night, coming away from Carrow Road with a 3-1 win.
Thomas Tuchel in particular has handled the situation with class, being a great spokesman for the club.
At the start of their ownership cycle, Newcastle are a club travelling in the opposite direction to their opponents. Unbeaten in nine league games with six wins in that time, Eddie Howe’s side have extinguished their relegation worries.
In what could be one of Chelsea’s last home games for a while with a capacity crowd, this should be a good tester to see exactly where the Magpies are at.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
Everton vs Wolves (Sunday 2pm)
Embed from Getty Images
Monday’s 5-0 defeat at Tottenham was nothing short of an embarrassment for Everton.
Sides struggling at the bottom of the league need character and fight as a bare minimum. Everton showed neither.
Their one saving grace is Goodson Park, the Everton faithful likely to make it as hostile as possible for the 7 teams still to visit, starting with Wolves on Sunday.
Lose here, however, and Frank Lampard’s side will be staring relegation in the face, having to play West Ham, Everton, Liverpool and Chelsea in April.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1
Leeds vs Norwich (Sunday 2pm)
Embed from Getty Images
This is a massive game.
After a promising display away to Leicester in Jesse Marsch’s first game in charge of the club, Leeds turned in one of their worst performances of the season at home to Aston Villa on Thursday.
Norwich, by contrast, battled well against Chelsea but were ultimately undone by their lack of quality.
While neither side can afford to lose, a defeat for the Canaries will surely condemn them to yet another season in the Championship.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
Southampton vs Watford (Sunday 2pm)
Embed from Getty Images
Southampton could not have asked for a better game to return to winning ways.
Watford were abject at Wolves on Thursday, conceding a couple of awful goals on their way to a 4-0 mauling.
Performances like that mean Roy Hodgson’s side are surely doomed for relegation.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0
West Ham vs Aston Villa (Sunday 2pm)
Embed from Getty Images
Aston Villa must do everything in their power to sign Philippe Coutinho in the summer.
The Brazilian has been a class above in recent games, helping Steven Gerrard’s side arrest their slight dip in form to win their last three on the bounce.
They have a good chance of extending that run this weekend, West Ham likely to have one eye on the return leg of their Europa League tie against Sevilla on Thursday.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Arsenal vs Leicester (Sunday 4:30pm)
Embed from Getty Images
With Tottenham and Manchester United playing each other on Saturday, this is a great chance for Arsenal to cement their place in the top four.
Indeed, their games in hand being against tough opposition, it is one they will likely need to take.
Leicester will not make it easy for Mikel Arteta’s side, especially after they won away at Arsenal for the first time since 1973 last season.
Still, Brendan Rodgers’ priorities should be elsewhere, Leicester’s best chance of salvaging a disappointing season coming in the Europa Conference League.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (Monday 8pm)
Embed from Getty Images
On paper, this is a potential banana skin for Manchester City.
Over the years, Crystal Palace have proven a good match for Pep Guardiola’s side, including earlier in the season when goals from Wilfried Zaha and Conor Gallagher gave Vieira’s men their second win at the Etihad in four seasons.
At what will be a bouncing Selhurst Park, the Eagles will fancy their chances of doing the double over the league leaders.
When the pressure is on in the league, however, City usually stand up and deliver. This weekend should be no different.
