The Premier League returns with Matchday 22, a repeat of the opening round of fixtures, being played throughout the mid-week. Here, we detail what matches we believe are going to provide the footballing world with the biggest talking points, that is until the next round of fixtures this weekend.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Jekyll and Hyde Arsenal
Believe it or not, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest both have two wins each in their last four matches against one another.
The Gunners have won both ties at the Emirates while Nottingham Forest claimed 1-0 victories in each of the two matches at the City Ground. Though Arsenal are clear favourites heading to Nottingham on Tuesday evening, they will no doubt be a little wary of that record.
Another interesting fact is that there hasn’t been a draw between these two sides across their last seven matches in all competitions. If we’re being honest, a draw doesn’t help either side this time around either. A point for Arsenal would leave them four points off the summit having played a game more while it would move Nuno Espírito Santo’s men five points clear of 18th-placed Luton but the Hatters would have two games in hand.
Arsenal’s freshness could play a part here. Their last outing was the 5-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace on January 20th while Forest had an FA Cup tie against Bristol City over the weekend.
Fortress Villa Park
Aston Villa have taken 28 points from a possible 30 at home this season. Sheffield United are the only team to escape Villa Park with anything. On Tuesday evening, Unai Emery’s men take on an out-of-sorts but dangerous Newcastle United side.
The hosts are unbeaten in four following their shock 3-2 loss to Manchester United on Boxing Day. However, they haven’t scored a goal in their last two matches across all competitions, so they head into this game needing to find a spark in the final third. In fact, over the past five games in the Premier League, Villa are eighth in the form table and have a goal difference of just one.
Newcastle, by comparison, are 17th in the form table having picked up three points from five matches. They need a win. They might fancy their chances against Villa though, despite everything. The Magpies have found the back of the net on 12 occasions across their last four meetings with the Villans.
A win for Villa could see them move into second place in the Premier League. A win for Newcastle would lift them into eighth.
Can Toney provide another spark for Brentford?
An Ivan Toney-inspired Brentford ran out 3-2 winners over Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League outing to register their first win since early December. Thomas Frank will be hoping his main man can deliver a similarly dominant performance against Tottenham.
It’ll be a big ask with the Bees struggling for players right now. They have four away on international duty and five first-team players, including top scorer Bryan Mbeumo, are ruled out through injury. Furthermore, Brentford haven’t kept a clean sheet in 12 matches and are winless in five away games this season.
Spurs have the third best home record in the Premier League and though they lost last time out, 1-0 to Manchester City, they have impressed in front of their home fans this term. They too are without their top scorer, Heung-Min Son, who remains at the Asian Cup with South Korea, but they have added reinforcements during this transfer window and are currently averaging 2.1 goals per game.
Ange Postecoglou’s men should have enough but you just never know in the Premier League, do you?
The Klopp farewell tour continues
Another Liverpool match, another chance for Anfield to say goodbye to the departing Jürgen Klopp. This time around the Reds face Chelsea. A win for the Premier League leaders would see their lead at the summit return to five points, though that does depend on how other rivals fare. They could finish matchday 22 seven points clear if things go their way.
Klopp’s men are averaging the second-highest number of goals on a per 90 basis with 2.2, they have the second-best home record in the Premier League with 26 points from 30 and they have kept the joint-most clean sheets in the English top-flight with eight.
The Reds haven’t lost to Chelsea in any of their previous seven matches, though five of these have ended as draws.
If Chelsea do the unthinkable and gatecrash Klopp’s extended farewell party, they could move up to seventh in the Premier League. The Blues have been awarded the most penalties in the league this season (eight). Mauricio Pochettino’s side are also second in the form table over recent weeks so should not be taken lightly.
The Hammers and the Cherries
This has the potential to be one of the best games of matchday 22 with both teams heading into this game in form. In fact, West Ham are fourth in the form table while Bournemouth currently rank seventh.
David Moyes’ men will be confident of maximum points though. They are unbeaten in nine at home and have a fairly good record against the Cherries having won four of their last five. Bournemouth’s only success against West Ham during this period came in a friendly.
Yet the way in which Andoni Iraola’s team swept Swansea aside in the FA Cup, you have to feel they will be full of confidence, and with Dominic Solanke in attack, they will always be a genuine threat.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.