The FA Cup dominated mid-week proceedings but now the focus is firmly back on the Premier League. Once again, one of three teams could finish Matchday 27 in top spot while the race for the final Champions League place is heating up. With that in mind, here’s your Premier League preview.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Liverpool play first again
Some feel playing first is an advantage, others feel it is a disadvantage. Liverpool, once again, play before their title rivals this weekend. A win would open up a four point lead at the summit, ensuring they hold on to first place in the Premier League for another week.
This puts pressure on them to begin with but, if they win, it is Manchester City and Arsenal feeling the pressure. The Reds travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon looking to make it six wins on the spin across all competitions. Jürgen Klopp is still without a host of top players but the kids he’s been calling upon recently have been doing a fine job.
Liverpool are the highest scoring team in the Premier League this term and have the third best away record in the English top flight having taken 25 points from 13 matches. Only Manchester City (28) and Arsenal (26) have picked up more.
Everton’s points deduction being reduced means Nottingham Forest have plummeted to 17th and are just four points above the drop zone having played a game more.
Are Brentford in a relegation battle?
It seems to have gone under the radar but Thomas Frank’s side have just a five point advantage over Luton Town in 18th. The Bees have lost their last three matches, conceding four goals in two of those games. In terms of the form table, only Burnley (one) have picked up fewer points than Brentford (three).
Even the return of Ivan Toney hasn’t been enough to get their season back on track. Yes, he played a part in their win over Nottingham Forest and he does have four goals in seven outings, but Brentford are struggling to put points on the board.
However, they do have a fairly good record against Chelsea, the team they face this weekend. The Bees have won their last two matches against the Blues and they are unbeaten in three in this fixture, conceding zero goals and scoring four.
Chelsea are without a clean sheet in seven matches and continue to be the definition of inconsistent. Mauricio Pochettinos’s side beat Aston Villa and claimed a point at the Etihad before losing to a weakened Liverpool team in the Carabao Cup final and needing a last-minute winner against Championship side Leeds United in the FA Cup. A win here could lift them as high as ninth. A loss, depending on other results, could see them finish the weekend in 12th.
Can Luton dent Villa’s Champions League hopes?
Luton find themselves in a bit of a predicament after Everton were given four points back. The Hatters went from being a point away from safety with a game in hand to being four points adrift of 17th place.
They host Aston Villa this weekend needing to pick up a win. Rob Edwards’ side are without a win in five. They are also without a clean sheet in five. Despite the narrative that Kenilworth Road is a tricky place to go, only Burnley (five) and Sheffield United (eight) have picked up fewer points than Luton (11) at home this season. It hasn’t been a safe haven for them.
They face a Villa side who have returned to winning ways recently after a bit of a blip. The Villans have a five point lead over fifth-placed Spurs and are just six points behind Arsenal. A win here puts some pressure on the Gunners.
Unai Emery’s men are unbeaten in five away games and have the fifth best away record in the Premier League with 21 points from 13 matches.
The Manchester Derby
The Manchester United bubble burst last weekend after a good run of results. The Red Devils lost to Fulham at Old Trafford but did bounceback in mid-week with a narrow 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.
They travel to the Etihad on Sunday to face neighbours Manchester City. The champions are unbeaten at home, taking 31 points from 12 games. They are the third-highest scorers in the Premier League on a per game basis with 2.3 goals and they possess the league’s top scorer in Erling Haaland.
Goals haven’t been flying in lately but perhaps the 6-2 win over Luton in mid-week will open the floodgates after a run of just three goals across three games.
United, perhaps surprisingly, have the fourth best away record in the Premier League this term and they are currently unbeaten in their last six away from Old Trafford. However, it is worth noting that City have won four of the last five Manchester derbies.
Title challengers take on relegation candidates
A rampant Arsenal side travel to Sheffield United on Monday evening looking to keep the pressure on at the top. There’s even a possibility that they move into top spot with maximum points here. The Gunners are averaging 2.4 goals per game and have scored 15 in their last three Premier League matches. They’re clicking at the right time as far as Mikel Arteta is concerned.
They also have the meanest defence in the league having conceded the fewest number of goals while keeping the most clean sheets (10). By comparison, the Blades are averaging the fewest number of goals per game (0.8), they’re without a goal in their last two games and without a clean sheet in seven.
This should be a formality for the Gunners but this could be one of their biggest games of the season. If they put in a professional and dominant performance, it will show a level of maturity that was lacking during their pursuit of the title last term.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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