This weekend there is the usually crucial battles at the top and the bottom of the Premier League. Here are the crucial games taking place on Saturday:
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (Kick-off 3 PM)
On Saturday afternoon, league leaders Liverpool once again have the chance to extend their lead on reigning champions Manchester City when they welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s side bounced back from two straight defeats by recording a hard-fought 1-0 win at Brighton last weekend. The victory over the Seagulls means that the Merseysiders have won ten of their last 11 Premier League matches. The Reds have also scored at least two goals in six of their last eight league outings.
Liverpool are formidable on home soil, as they are now unbeaten in 41 home league games at Anfield while recording six straight league wins in the process. The home side are red-hot favourites to win this game and regain a seven-point lead over title rivals City.
Crystal Palace faces a tough task getting anything from their trip to Merseyside. The Eagles are just four points above the relegation zone, so are not out the dogfight by any means. A recent inconsistent run of from in the league consisting of one win, one draw and two defeats in their last four matches has not helped their cause.
One big positive for Palace is that they have won their last two away games in the Premier League at Manchester City and Wolves. The win at City will give them a slight hope that they can pull off a shock win at the league leaders considering the Citizens stellar home record in recent seasons.
Arsenal v Chelsea (Kick-off 5:30 PM)
Champions League chasing Arsenal and Chelsea clash at the Emirates Stadium in Saturday’s late kick-off, as the Blues look to consolidate their position in the top-four.
Arsenal are currently six points behind the Blues in the race for fourth spot and can ill afford to suffer a defeat in this clash if they are to stay in touch with their London rivals for the fourth Champions League spot.
The Gunners recent form has been patchy, as they have recorded a solitary one win from four outings in the league. A 1-0 defeat at West Ham last time out certainly dented their hopes of catching the visitors.
However, the team from north London are strong on home soil, as they are unbeaten in ten matches at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League, recording an impressive eight victories. They have also scored at least two goals in seven of those ten unbeaten matches, so should be difficult opponents for the Blues.
Chelsea have moved within a point of third-place Tottenham by winning three of their last four matches in the top-flight. Last time out Maurizio Sarri’s team recorded a 2-1 home win over Newcastle.
One of Chelsea’s biggest strengths of late has been picking up victories on their travels, as the Blues have won their last three consecutive matches on their travels in the league. They have also won five of their last seven on their travels in the Premier League.
Saturday’s other Premier League fixtures (3 PM kick-off unless stated)
Wolves v Leicester (Kick-off 12:30 PM)
Bournemouth v West Ham
Manchester United v Brighton
Newcastle v Cardiff
Southampton v Everton
Watford v Burnley
Who will be the big winners in the Premier League this weekend?
