Manchester City will look to tighten their grip at the top with victory over Liverpool
League leaders Manchester City entertain Liverpool in Saturday’s late kick-off and while they are the bookmakers’ favourites to reclaim the Premier League title from champions Chelsea, they could have fallen to as low as fourth place by the time this game kicks off.
Jurgen Klopp will still have one eye on an unlikely title challenge despite overseeing a first defeat as Liverpool manager at home to Crystal Palace last time out though it is Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal who are seen as the most likely challengers to Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
The Gunners face a trip to West Bromwich Albion, and are one of four sides who could end Saturday in first place, along with Manchester United and surprise package Leicester City.
Battle of the back-lines
Louis van Gaal’s side travel to Watford in Saturday’s early kick-off having not conceded in their last four games, while Watford also boast an impressive defensive record having conceded just four more than the Red Devils divisional best tally of eight themselves.
All eyes will be on Jamie Vardy as Leicester travel to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon, with the striker expected to feature despite missing England’s recent international friendly double header.
The twenty-eight year old will tie Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in ten consecutive Premier League games if he finds the net, and would further enhance his chances of winning the Golden Boot at the end of the season in the process.
Fifth meets sixth on Sunday afternoon as Tottenham Hotspur host West Ham United with both sides heading into the weekend tied on twenty-one points, just five shy of leaders Manchester City.
Southampton are unbeaten in six and will look to extend that run as they entertain a Stoke City side who themselves have lost just one in seven and could climb into the top half with victory.
Crystal Palace, who ended a three game winless run with that victory at Anfield face Sunderland on Monday evening and the Black Cats currently sit four points from safety.
Sam Allardyce’s side will enter that fixture rock bottom of the table if Aston Villa are able to take anything from their trip to ninth place Everton.
A chance for the Cherries?
Bournemouth could climb out of the bottom three if they take maximum points when they travel to Swansea City, who themselves have taken just five points from their last eight league games – just one more than the Cherries have managed in that time.
Finally, fallen champions Chelsea who begin the weekend just three points above the bottom three welcome a Norwich City side who sit just one place and one point above them to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues must return to winning ways soon if they are to salvage anything from their league campaign, and a treble with Bournemouth and Manchester City can backed at almost 19/2 with Bet 365.
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