After last weekend’s FA Cup Third Round drama, the Premier League returns on Saturday lunchtime as West Ham United take on Arsenal at the London Stadium.
The Hammers have won five of their last nine league games, and another triumph here would see them move level on points with seventh placed Leicester City ahead of the weekend’s other games while victory for the Gunners will put them on forty-four points – the same number as Chelsea, who host Newcastle United in the day’s late kick-off.
Outsiders
Some pundits refuse to rule the Blues, who have taken seven points from the last nine available out of the title race though the bookmakers only see them as 125/1 outsiders.
Rafa Benitez’s side are fighting a very different battle, and could be in the bottom three by the time their match kicks off with the three sides above them all in action earlier in the day.
Southampton – who begin the weekend two points from safety head to a Leicester side who have won three of their last four league games under Claude Puel.
The Foxes are leading the chase to be the highest place side outside of the top six and could move to within four points of Manchester United with another win this weekend.
Battle
Fulham travel to in-form Burnley four points behind the Clarets, who have won their last three games in all competitions.
Back-to-back league victories have seen Sean Dyche’s side pull away from trouble though they remain among the favourites to drop down to the Championship.
Huddersfield Town, who remain the most likely side to be relegated in the eyes of the bookmakers face Cardiff City who themselves are odds on for the drop while Crystal Palace, who aren’t really in the discussions over who could fall out of the top flight welcome Watford to Selhurst Park.
The days only other fixture sees leaders Liverpool attempt to return to winning ways at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Beaten
The Reds were the final side in the top four leagues in England to see their unbeaten start to the campaign end as they were beaten by champions Manchester City last time out in the league though they will, if only temporarily, reopen a seven point advantage at the top with victory, with Pep Guadiola’s side not playing until Monday evening.
The Citizens take on a Wolverhampton Wanderers side who are fresh from knocking Jurgen Klopp’s side out of the FA Cup though they suffered a surprise defeat at home to Palace last time out in the league.
Sunday’s action begins at Goodison Park where Everton face Bournemouth, and concludes with the pick of the weekend’s fixtures as Ole Gunnar Solksjaer looks to continue his perfect start as Manchester United’s interim manager at Wembley against Tottenham Hotspur.
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