The Premier League weekend action has already kicked off with a vital 3-1 win for Liverpool at Southampton to take the Reds back to the top of the table. However, the hunt for Champions League spots and survival continue with games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Here is the pick of the games:
Sunday
Everton v Arsenal (Kick-off 2:05 PM)
Arsenal have the chance to consolidate their position in the Premier League’s top-four on Sunday afternoon when they visit Everton’s, Goodison Park.
Everton will head into this clash in confident mood after two straight Premier League wins over Chelsea and West Ham. The Toffees will be looking to make it a hat-trick of wins over clubs from the capital in this one.
Marco Silva’s side has now managed four clean sheets in five top-flight outings in the Premier League, while also scoring at least twice at the other end of the pitch those aforementioned five matches.
The Toffees have an unusually poor home record in the Premier League, winning just two of their last nine outings at Goodison Park. A draw against Liverpool and win over Chelsea in their previous two home league matches have shown how they have improved of late.
Everton have beaten Arsenal just once in the last ten meetings between these two teams, which is a terrible record.
Arsenal are currently fourth place in the top-flight table, ahead of Chelsea in fifth by virtue of superior goal difference. A good run of league form consisting of five wins and a draw from their last six league outings have put the Gunners in a good position in the table.
A 2-0 victory against Newcastle in their last league match means that Unai Emery’s side has scored at least twice in seven of their last nine Premier League games.
The Gunners achilles heel in recent seasons has been their away form. The visitors away form has remained poor of late, as the team from north London have claimed just two wins from eight outings on their travels in the Premier League.
Monday
Chelsea v West Ham (Kick-off 8 PM)
On Monday night, Chelsea will look to enhance their prospects of sealing a top-four spot when the Blues host capital rivals West Ham at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are only outside the Champions League positions by virtue of an inferior goal difference of five goals to fourth place Arsenal. A win over the Hammers would move the Blues into the top-four, with third place Tottenham not in action this weekend.
Maurizio Sarri’s team have won four of their last six league games, including two straight wins over Cardiff and Brighton. The Blues have scored at least two goals in each of their four victories.
Chelsea have maintained a strong home record despite an unconvincing campaign, as the Blues are unbeaten in six home games while recording four victories. They have scored at least twice in four of their last five home league matches, while keeping clean sheets in three of their last four league games at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are big favourites to record what could be a vital victory in the fight for Champions League spots.
West Ham are currently 11th in the Premier League table after enduring a mixed campaign in the English top-flight. The Hammers inconsistency is illustrated perfectly in fact that Manuel Pellegrini’s team has won three and lost three of their last six league games.
The Hammers recent away form has been woeful, as they have failed to win six league games on their travels while failing to score in five of their last six away matches too. The visitors poor away record looks unlikely to improve in this clash.
This weekend’s other Premier League games
Saturday (All 3 PM kick-offs)
Bournemouth v Burnley
Huddersfield v Leicester
Newcastle v Crystal Palace
Who will pull off the biggest win of the Premier League weekend?
