MY ACCOUNT
Manchester City and Liverpool travel to face relegation-threatened sides as the Premier League completes a quick turnaround following a thrilling midweek slate.
Meanwhile West Ham, Manchester United and Tottenham all face tricky games as the top four race heats up.
Manchester United vs Southampton (Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport 1)
Despite dropping more points in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Burnley, United can climb into a Champions League place with victory over Southampton in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Previous form points only one way, with the Red Devils having gone unbeaten in 11 Premier League games versus the South Coast outfit — though Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men are looking strong with just one defeat in their last nine in all competitions.
United may not worry even if they go behind — they have won 36 points from losing positions against the Saints in the Premier League, more than against any other side.
Cristiano Ronaldo found the net in his last league appearance against Southampton in December 2004 and will be looking to score his first goal in five games in all competitions.
Brentford vs Crystal Palace (Saturday, 3pm)
An all-London affair sees both Brentford and Crystal Palace looking to put an end to disappointing runs of form.
The Bees have lost their last six in all competitions — including five in the Premier League — while Palace have just two wins in their last 12 top-flight games.
Only Southampton (12) are on a longer current run without a clean sheet in the division than Thomas Frank’s men (11), with three of their four shutouts overall coming in their first five outings of the campaign.
Should Eagles striker Odsonne Edouard find the net in this encounter, he would become only the second player to score five Premier League goals in their first five London derbies after Nwankwo Kanu.
Everton vs Leeds (Saturday, 3pm)
Midweek defeat to Newcastle has left Everton just two points above safety, so their game against 15th-placed Leeds is crucial.
Frank Lampard takes charge of just his third game as Toffees boss already in the thick of trouble but it is a clash which the Merseysiders have lost just once in the last eight meetings.
Making Goodison Park a fortress once again is one of the top priorities for the new boss. Since the start of 2021, Everton have lost 12 home league games — more than any other side.
Leeds’ Raphinha has scored in all three of his previous Premier League appearances against Everton — the last Leeds player to score in four consecutive top-flight matches versus an opponent was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in encounters with Arsenal between 1997 and 1999.
Watford vs Brighton (Saturday, 3pm)
Roy Hodgson takes charge of his first home clash as Watford boss in desperate need of a win as the Hornets welcome Brighton to Vicarage Road.
It will be the former England manager’s 150th top-flight game since turning 65, becoming only the third manager to take charge of that many matches after that age behind Alex Ferguson (245) and Bobby Robson (188).
The hosts sit three points from safety in 19th and after managing a clean sheet at Burnley last week, are looking to avoid equalling a record 17 Premier League home games without preventing the opposition from scoring.
The Seagulls, meanwhile, have drawn 12 of their 22 matches this campaign — the joint-most by a team at this stage of the season alongside Ipswich in 1992-93.
Norwich vs Manchester City (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports)
An unbeaten run of three games has lifted Norwich closer to safety but they know they could be in for a tough afternoon when City come to town.
The Canaries have been beaten in eight of their last 12 Premier League meetings with the Citizens, losing their last two each by a 5-0 scoreline.
City have lost just one of their previous eight top-flight trips to Carrow Road, though that defeat did come in their most recent — a memorable 3-2 reverse in September 2019.
But Dean Smith will hope to harness the recent good feeling in East Anglia after scoring six goals in their last three league games, as many as they had in their previous 15.
Burnley vs Liverpool (Sunday, 2pm)
Jurgen Klopp’s men will be hopeful of no issues when they make the short trip to face bottom side Burnley on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds have won six of their last seven away games against the Clarets — the exception being a 2-0 loss in August 2016.
Sean Dyche’s men managed a respectable draw against United in midweek, with goalscorer Jay Rodriguez aiming to find the net in consecutive outings for Burnley for the first time since July 2020.
Roberto Firmino will be a man for the home side to watch as the Brazilian has had a hand in five goals in his last four Premier League starts versus the Lancashire club.
Newcastle vs Aston Villa (Sunday, 2pm, Sky Sports)
Newcastle welcome Aston Villa to St James’ Park in buoyant mood as they look to make it three successive Premier League victories for the first time since November 2018.
Villa are without a win in their last 13 trips to Tyneside, the last being a 3-0 victory in April 2005, with this fixture finishing 1-1 in each of the last three top-flight encounters.
Philippe Coutinho has had a hand in four goals in three Premier League games since joining the Midlands outfit, averaging an involvement every 44 minutes.
None of Villa’s last 15 league away trips have finished level, while only Liverpool have failed to score in fewer games than their three this season — finding the net in all but one of Steven Gerrard’s 11 matches in charge.
Tottenham vs Wolves (Sunday, 2pm)
Bouncing back from a shock defeat 3-2 to Southampton on Wednesday will be the aim for Tottenham as they host eighth-placed Wolves.
Following a 1-0 victory at the start of the season, Spurs can earn their first league double over their opponents since the 2003-04 season.
Having gone unbeaten in their first nine league games under Antonio Conte, the North Londoners have fallen to defeat in their last two — the Italian has not lost three successive league matches since his days in charge of Atalanta in 2009.
Bruno Lage’s visitors will need to pay close attention to Heung-Min Son, who has been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven Premier League outings, scoring five and assisting two.
Leicester vs West Ham (Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports)
Still holding on to their spot in fourth are West Ham, who can move a step closer to European qualification with a victory over an out-of-sorts Leicester.
Without a league win in 2022 and dumped out of the FA Cup as holders last weekend, pressure is beginning to grow on Brendan Rodgers.
And the Northern Irishman has suffered defeat in each of his last three meetings with Hammers boss David Moyes in all competitions — the only managers he has lost four in a row against are Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti.
Michail Antonio has been involved in five goals in as many appearances against the Foxes, including two strikes and an assist in the reverse fixture in August.
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