It is derby day this Sunday, with no less than three fiery clashes taking place in the final part of matchday fourteen in the Premier League.
The day commences with the clash between local rivals Chelsea and Fulham, and the Blues will be keen to get back to winning ways after losing for the first time in the league last weekend while their opponents will want to build on last week’s win over Southampton.
The Cottagers were rooted to the bottom after losing seven games in a row – a run that spelt the end for Slavisa Jokanovic though his replacement – ex-Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri could see his new side rise to as high as fifteenth place if they win record a surprise victory this weekend and other results fall in their favour.
Rivals
The fun continues in the capital with Arsenal hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby and the Gunners will move level on points with Spurs if they win while the action concludes on Merseyside with Everton’s short trip to Liverpool.
Saturday’s action concludes at St Mary’s, where Southampton will be desperate for a positive result at the end of a week which has been filled with speculation surrounding the future of manager Mark Hughes.
The Welshman would like nothing more than to get three points against a team he served with such distinction during his playing career though the Red Devils need a win themselves, with a clutch of sides hot on their heels at the bottom end of the top half.
Two of those sides – Leicester City and Watford face each other at the King Power Stadium while another – Bournemouth face a tough trip to leaders Manchester City.
Goal rush
The Cherries were the surprise package in the English top flight in first quarter of the season and while their league position is still relatively impressive, defeat here would be their fourth in succession.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won their last five league games in a row, averaging a touch under four goals in each of those games, and you can back them to score four this time around at 11/10.
Huddersfield Town will look to continue their recent resurgence as they welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to the John Smith’s Stadium while there is a potential six-pointer at Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace take on Burnley – both sides looking over their shoulder as they sit just a point above the bottom three.
Opposite
The weekend’s action commences on Friday evening with the meeting of the two sides that clinched automatic promotion from the Championship last season.
The pair have different objectives this time around though, with Cardiff City favourites for relegation and Wolverhampton eyeing a top half place at the very least, despite taking just one point from the last fifteen available.
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