Premier League leaders Manchester City kick off the weekend’s action when they welcome in-form West Ham United to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. This Sunday, Chelsea and Manchester United meet in a heavyweight tussle at Stamford Bridge, while Everton host struggling Southampton at Goodison Park on Monday night. Three more nights of top football awaits and we’ve got tips and analysis for all the games as usual.
Manchester City v West Ham United
12:30, BT Sport, Etihad Stadium
Pep Guardiola’s Man City welcome David Moyes’ West Ham to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon. To the surprise of many, the Hammers are riding high in fourth, but the home side are the overwhelming favourites to chalk up another three points. David Moyes’ men won’t be a pushover though and the Scot had a decent record against City as Everton boss.
That said, there is no escaping the fact that the Citizens are tearing up the Premier League right now, winning each of their last 13 league games to surge well clear at the top of the table. Since a 2-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur on 21st November, City have won 15 and drawn two of 17 Premier League matches. The biggest change has come at the back and they are almost impossible to score against right now. The Hammers will put up a fight but back Man City to -1 on Saturday at 4/6.
West Bromwich Albion v Brighton & Albion
15:00, Sky Sports, The Hawthorns
West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion lock horns at The Hawthorns in what is a little bit of a relegation six-pointer. Time is running out for the Baggies, who find themselves 11 points adrift of safety but this is the sort of game they will feel they can get a much-needed win from. As for the Seagulls, they are only four points clear of the bottom three and defeat here would really set the alarm bells ringing.
West Brom have drawn their last two, but the Midlands outfit are without a win in seven (four defeats, three draws). Before Monday’s gut-wrenching defeat to rivals Crystal Palace, Brighton had won three and drawn three of six in the league. We fancy the away team to nick this one (19/20).
Leeds United v Aston Villa
17:30, Sky Sports, Elland Road
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United entertain Dean Smith’s Aston Villa at Elland Road on Saturday evening. This could be a close encounter in West Yorkshire, as the pair are currently separated by a single point in the table. It should be a spicy one too, with no love lost between these rivals following their time together in the Championship. Both sides may be without key players, with England colleagues Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips set to miss out. Which side will cope best without their talisman?
Leeds, who eased past Southampton last time out, have had a fine season back in the top flight after a lengthy absence. In the shape of Brazilian Raphinha they may have found a new star too and the attacking wide man is getting better and better at the moment. Aston Villa survived by the skin of their teeth last term, but Smith’s troops have spent this season in the top half. United stunned Villa at Villa Park in the reverse game, picking up an impressive 3-0 victory. You can get Leeds to win to nil on Saturday at 15/4 and that is a big price considering the visitors will be without their main creative force.
Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:00, Sky Sports, St James’ Park
On Saturday night, Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United take on Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park. The Magpies are looking dangerously over their shoulder, with Fulham now just three points behind in the battle for survival.
Wolves have had a poor season by their high standards, but they have taken a very solid 10 points from the last 12 on offer. Nuno’s boys will fancy their chances in this one, and there is good value in the away win and both teams to score at the tasty price of 4/1.
Crystal Palace v Fulham
12:00, BBC One, Selhurst Park
Two London sides square off at Selhurst Park on Sunday, as Crystal Palace host Fulham. After Monday’s dramatic win at the Amex Stadium, can the Seagulls follow that up with three points in this one? If they can they would move up to 35 points and with the bottom three struggling this term, that may be enough to guarantee survival.
Fulham are probably thinking of survival too having seemed doomed not so long ago. They are only three points behind Newcastle after two wins and a draw from their last three. Scott Parker has made the Cottagers hard to beat lately, and we can see Fulham returning to west London with a point (5/4).
Leicester City v Arsenal
12:00, BT Sport, King Power Stadium
Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal go head-to-head at the King Power Stadium in Premier League action on Sunday. The Foxes are currently third, some 15 points clear of their opponents so it should be no surprise that they are the firm favourites with the bookies.
Leicester are in fine fettle, winning six of their past nine in the Premier League. Their young, fast forwards, Harvey Barnes and James Maddison, are providing brilliant support to Jamie Vardy and really pushing their England claims. Their pace can hurt any side and the visitors will have to be very careful. As for the Gunners, they have taken just three points from their previous four games and come into this contest down in 11th! City have won to nil on eight occasions at the King Power this term, with three of those ending 2-0, whilst Arsenal have scored fewer goals than all 10 teams above them. The 2-0 home victory on Sunday is generously priced at 12/1.
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
14:00, Sky Sports, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Jose Mourinho’s struggling Tottenham will be desperate for all three points when they entertain Burnley on Sunday. They have slipped down to ninth in the table and are really struggling at the moment. They will fancy their chances here though and whilst the Clarets have picked up a few eye-catching results this term, Spurs are odds-on to win this one.
Tottenham are in woeful form in the Premier League, losing five of their last six. Nevertheless, they should beat lowly Burnley this weekend. You can get 7/5 for the hosts to be winning at half time and full time, good value with Harry Kane and co set to bounce back.
Chelsea v Manchester United
16:30, Sky Sports, Stamford Bridge
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United clash in a mouth-watering Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. With both teams in good shape, this one could go either way in the capital and is probably the biggest game of the round. United need to win to try and keep at least a sliver of pressure on their noisy neighbours, whilst the Blues are trying to force their way into the top four.
Since taking over at the Bridge, Tuchel has guided the Blues to six wins and two draws. They secured an excellent win over Atletico Madrid in midweek too so confidence could not be higher right now. That said, United have lost just one Premier League game since 1st November. With that in mind, the draw seems a good bet in this one. The pair drew 0-0 at Old Trafford and a repeat scoreline is available at very nice odds of 10/1.
Sheffield United v Liverpool
19:15, Sky Sports, Bramall Lane
Premier League champions Liverpool are in dreadful form, losing each of their last four in the league. Their poor run also includes four consecutive defeats at home, so they may be glad to be away from Anfield here. Jurgen Klopp’s men simply must pick up all three points when they travel to Bramall Lane to face bottom club Sheffield United on Sunday night. Their fans are already hurting but anything other than three points against the division’s worst team would be a real hammer blow.
Since a huge 7-0 win at Palace in mid-December, the Reds have won just two of 11 in the Premier League. As a result, the Merseysiders have slipped down to sixth, so only three points will do in Sheffield this weekend. However, the Reds have major defensive issues, with yet another injury striking in the recent Merseyside derby loss (2-0). The Blades struggle for goals but even they might get some joy against whatever back four Klopp fields. Liverpool nicked a 2-1 win in the reverse game at Anfield in October, and the away victory and both teams to score on Sunday is available at 2/1.
Everton v Southampton
20:00, Sky Sports, Goodison Park
On Monday night, the Premier League weekend concludes when Everton welcome Southampton to Goodison Park. These two will come into this game in very different moods, the Toffees buoyant and well rested after beating Liverpool last Saturday. In contrast the Saints slipped to yet another defeat on Tuesday, going down 3-0 to Leeds. After their famous win at Anfield, can the Toffees make it back-to-back victories on Monday?
Everton have been in patchy form, but they finally got the better of rivals Liverpool last time out, with Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson netting in a 2-0 win. As for the Saints, they have lost seven and drawn one of their last eight league games. They also picked up an injury to key midfielder Oriol Romeu in midweek, whilst Everton are starting to get more and more of their key players back fit. Football is a funny old game, especially this season, but we see only one winner here, so back Everton to win -1 at the very decent odds of 3/1.