The Premier League campaign is reaching a vital stage. As usual, Saturday’s games involve teams who are competing for the title, fighting for the top-four and looking to survive the drop to the Championship: Here are the pick of Saturday’s games:
Manchester City v Tottenham (Kick-off 12:30 PM)
On Saturday lunchtime, Manchester City host Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium, in a vital game for both teams.
The clash comes just days after Tottenham eliminated City from the Champions League quarter-final on away goals. City will be keen to avenge that loss in this clash.
The Citizens recent Premier League form has been good, as Pep Guardiola’s team has won their last nine games in the English top-flight. They have also kept clean sheets in six of their last eight outings in the Premier League. The Citizens are currently second place in the table, two points behind leaders Liverpool.
City have turned the Etihad into a fortress of late in the top-flight, as the Citizens have won their last seven home matches in the top-flight while finding the net at least twice in six of those seven home wins. City will fancy their chances of another victory in this clash after Wednesday night’s major blow.
Tottenham are third in the table but are just one point ahead of fourth place Arsenal and fifth-place Chelsea, so a Champions League place is far from guaranteed at this point in the campaign. Mauricio Pochettino’s team have recorded two successive league wins over Crystal Palace and Huddersfield. The wins got Tottenham’s top-four challenge back on track after four defeats in five league matches.
Spurs recent away form has been poor, to say the least in the top-flight, as the north London side has suffered defeats in their last four matches on their travels, conceding at least two goals in each loss.
Wolves v Brighton (Kick-off 3 PM)
On Saturday afternoon, Wolves host Brighton at Molineux, in a clash that could prove vital for the visitors fight against relegation.
Wolves are currently eighth place in the table and still in with a shout of sealing a top-seven finish, which may be good enough to secure a Europa League spot this season. The home sides form in the Premier League has been unconvincing, though, as they have won just once in four league outings. Last time out Nuno Espirito Santo’s team suffered a 3-1 defeat at Southampton.
Wolves have been strong on home soil of late in the Premier League, winning four of their last five home games in the top-flight. The side from the Midlands has also scored at least twice in four wins.
Brighton now look to be in major trouble, as the Seagulls are just two points above the relegation zone. Their only comfort is that 18th place Cardiff have played an extra game in the top-flight. A 2-0 home defeat against relegation rivals Cardiff last time out means that Chris Hughton’s team has now suffered four straight league defeats while failing to score in any of the losses.
The Seagulls recent away form in the Premier League has not helped their plight either, as they have won just one of their last eight away games in the English top-flight, suffering six defeats in the process.
Saturday’s other Premier League games (3 PM kick-off unless stated)
Bournemouth v Fulham
Huddersfield v Watford
West Ham v Leicester
Newcastle v Southampton (Kick-off 5:30 PM)
Who will pick up big results on Saturday in the Premier League?
