After one day without Premier League football on our TV, it is back on our screens. The mid-week round of fixtures came to an end on Thursday evening and matchday 16 starts on Saturday afternoon. The goals are flowing, the games are thrilling and the results have huge consequences. Here’s your weekend preview.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Hogdson under pressure
Selhurst Park plays host to the opening game of the weekend with Crystal Palace welcoming Liverpool.
Palace are in freefall right now having won just two of their last 10 in the Premier League. They are currently winless in four and have just a single clean sheet in their previous five outings.
Following the defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday evening, a result that Palace fans booed, manager Roy Hodgson implied the supporters had been spoilt over recent seasons. The pressure is mounting on the former England boss and a loss to one of his former clubs on Saturday afternoon won’t help his cause.
Liverpool are unbeaten in the league since September and a win at Selhurst Park lifts them into top spot. They haven’t necessarily travelled well this season, though they did pick up a point at the Etihad and defeat Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Wednesday night, so their form isn’t that bad. They have, however, scored just 13 goals away from home in eight fixtures.
It isn’t make or break for Hodgson, not with the credit he has in the bank, but a win here would relieve some pressure, for sure.
Two form teams clash at Old Trafford
Bournemouth travel to Manchester United on Saturday as one of the form teams in the Premier League. Only Arsenal (15) and Liverpool (14) have taken more points than the Cherries (13) over the past six matches.
Over this period, Andoni Iraola’s men have averaged two goals per game. They’ve had positive results against Newcastle United and Aston Villa. They may fancy their chances of causing an upset against the Red Devils.
Erik Ten Hag’s side should not be underestimated though. They too have picked up 13 points across their last six Premier League outings and they recently dismantled Chelsea at Old Trafford, racking up an Expected Goals haul of over four in their 2-1 win.
If United win on Saturday, they will be level on points with reigning champions Manchester City. Incredible when you consider the pressure on Ten Hag, and his players this season, for their supposed underperformance. They are in the race for a top-four finish.
Title Credentials
Arsenal make the trip to fortress Villa Park on Saturday evening in what has the potential to be a season-defining game for both teams.
Aston Villa are perfect at home this term having won all seven of their Premier League matches at Villa Park. In their last outing, they had Manchester City on the ropes and claimed a 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s side. A win for Unai Emery’s men would see them move to within a point of Arsenal and people might consider the top-four hopefuls to be genuine title contenders.
The Gunners can make a statement with a win against Villa. Mikel Arteta’s side are in fine form and seem to be finding ways to pick up maximum points – a sign of champions. But this trip on Saturday is a huge test, if they manage to return to the Emirates with three points, they are going to be viewed as favourites for the title.
Arsenal romped to a 4-2 win at Villa Park last season but needed two stoppage-time goals to get over the line. This time, it looks set to be a little trickier.
A Kenilworth Road conundrum for Pep Guardiola
Manchester City are without a Premier League win in four. Yes, you read that right. The reigning champions have drawn three of their last four and lost 1-0 to Aston Villa in their last outing.
City are now fourth in the English top-flight and are six points off the top. They face a Luton Town side who fell to a narrow defeat against Arsenal on Tuesday evening. The Hatters scored three against the Gunners before a Declan Rice header won the game for the league leaders in stoppage time. Rob Edwards’ were also minutes away from taking all three points against Liverpool too, hammering home the fact Kenilworth Road is a tricky ground for big teams.
The pressure is on City to respond following the mid-week loss but if there’s no balance to their tactics, Luton could cause them problems. It is going to be a fascinating watch to see how an under-fire Man City team adapt to having to win rather than people just expecting them to pick up maximum points.
Everton climb out of the relegation zone
Without their points deduction, Everton would be ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League table following their 3-0 win over Newcastle United on Thursday evening.
They welcome Chelsea to Goodison Park on Sunday and they’ll be confident of picking up maximum points.
Everton have won three of their previous four outings in the English top-flight, scoring seven goals in the process. Their only defeat was against Manchester United but the 3-0 loss wasn’t deserved in the slightest. Sean Dyche’s side actually created chances against the Red Devils and should’ve taken at least a point.
If Chelsea’s form is to follow the pattern of the season so far, they’ll likely turn up on Sunday after a disappointing showing in midweek. It could be a decent watch for the neutral.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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