Premier League Matchday 26: Struggling Spurs head to leaders City

Out-of-sorts Tottenham face a daunting trip to Manchester City while a resurgent Newcastle come up against top-four chasers West Ham in the Premier League this weekend.

On a busy Saturday, Arsenal host Brentford, Chelsea head to Crystal Palace and Liverpool welcome strugglers Norwich.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of a full slate of games.

West Ham vs Newcastle (Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport 1)

For the first time in nearly four years, Newcastle will look to record four consecutive top-flight victories when they head to the London Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

The mood has lifted on Tyneside as they come up against West Ham, who they have recorded 10 away league victories against in the past — more than versus any other team.

Exploiting the Magpies at set-pieces could be key for David Moyes’ men. Since the Scot returned to the club, only Liverpool (27) have scored from more corners than the Hammers (25).

Eddie Howe’s side meanwhile have scored goals direct from free-kicks in their last three games — no side has ever done so in four consecutive Premier League fixtures.

Arsenal vs Brentford (Saturday, 3pm)

After a humbling 2-0 defeat on the first day of the season, Arsenal meet Brentford again looking in much finer fettle as they chase a return to the Champions League.

That defeat at the Brentford Community Stadium in August was the first of three straight defeats to start the Gunners’ Premier League campaign — since then, only Manchester City and Liverpool have won more games than them.

The Bees are winless in their last seven games in all competitions and have lost their previous four on the road, but can become the first promoted side to complete the double over Arsenal since Blackburn in 1992-93 if they secure an unlikely victory.

The North Londoners are unbeaten in their last 28 home games which have kicked off at 3pm on a Saturday, last losing such a game in a 3-1 reverse by Aston Villa at the start of the 2013-14 season.

Aston Villa vs Watford (Saturday, 3pm)

Steven Gerrard will hope his Villa side can put a dismal 1-0 defeat at Newcastle behind them when they come up against relegation-threatened Watford.

The Villans have lost just one of their last nine home league games versus Watford, though the Hertfordshire outfit have won four of the last five meetings between these two.

Three points for Roy Hodgson’s men is much needed — since beating Manchester United 4-1 in November, they are winless in 12 matches in all competitions.

With Ollie Watkins out of form, Danny Ings could return to the starting XI for the Villa Park clash — the 29-year-old has found the net in his last three games against the Hornets.

Brighton vs Burnley (Saturday, 3pm)

Another team deep in relegation trouble are Burnley, who head to Brighton hoping to claw themselves off the foot of the table.

But the Seagulls will be no easy team to beat as Graham Potter’s men hunt their first league double over their opponents since the 2012-13 Championship campaign.

The hosts have drawn the most games out of any Premier League team this season (12), while eight of the last 12 league meetings between these two have ended level.

January signing Wout Weghorst has shook off an injury scare and will be eager to notch his first goal for the Clarets — since arriving from Wolfsburg, no Burnley player has had more shots (eight) or created more chances (three) than the Dutch striker.

Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (Saturday, 3pm)

Chelsea will hope their Club World Cup triumph last weekend reignites their Premier League campaign starting with an all-London clash at Crystal Palace.

While the title may look out of the question, Thomas Tuchel will be desperate to keep up the pace with leaders Man City and Liverpool by securing a ninth straight league victory over the Eagles.

The Blues have a 76% top-flight win rate over Palace — of teams to have faced each other 20 times or more, it is the highest such record any side has over another.

Palace attacker Michael Olise has been directly involved in seven goals in as many games in all competitions, averaging a goal or assist every 75 minutes overall this season.

Liverpool vs Norwich (Saturday, 3pm)

In-form Liverpool will expect no slip-ups in their pursuit of an eighth straight victory in all competitions when they welcome strugglers Norwich to Anfield.

That run of wins includes four in the Premier League, while the Reds are unbeaten in their last 15 home games in the competition.

Meetings with the Canaries have proved fruitful for the Merseysiders in years gone by, winning 14 of their previous 16 encounters, including a 3-0 Carabao Cup victory at Carrow Road in September.

But following their 3-0 success at Watford last month, the East Anglians will be looking to secure back-to-back Premier League away victories for the first time in more than a decade.

Southampton vs Everton (Saturday, 3pm)

Frank Lampard takes his Everton side to Southampton buoyed by securing his first league victory as Toffees boss last weekend.

And following a 3-1 win on the first day of the season, Everton can do the double over the Saints for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign.

But the hosts have been in fine form at St Mary’s this term with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men losing just once — their last defeat coming in a 1-0 reverse by Wolves in September.

Recent Blues recruit Dele Alli has been directly involved in nine Premier League goals against the South Coast club (five goals, four assists), though eight of those came in his first four appearances with only one assist in his most recent five.

Manchester City vs Tottenham (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports)

Man City continue to bulldoze everyone in their path in their charge for another title as they set out to secure their 15th win in 16 Premier League games when they face Tottenham.

After going unbeaten in their first nine league games under manager Antonio Conte, Spurs have lost their last three games — they have not been beaten four times in a row in the competition since 2004.

In those three defeats against Chelsea, Southampton and Wolves, the North London side have conceded seven goals — more than the six they had leaked in the previous nine games with the Italian in charge.

But games against Spurs have proved tricky for the Citizens in the recent past, losing three of their last four league meetings including a shock 1-0 defeat on the opening day.

Leeds vs Manchester United (Sunday, 2pm, Sky Sports)

Two old rivals meet in a crunch clash on Sunday with Leeds and Manchester United desperate to pick up points at different ends of the table.

While unbeaten in their last six Premier League away games (two wins, four draws), Ralf Rangnick’s men have dropped six points from winning positions on that run — throwing away leads against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Burnley.

United midfielder Bruno Fernandes was back on the scoresheet in midweek and has been involved in six goals in his last three meetings with Marcelo Bielsa’s side — including a hat-trick in a 5-1 win at Old Trafford in August.

Having started for the Red Devils in that encounter, Dan James will face his former club for the first time since his switch to Elland Road.

Wolves vs Leicester (Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports)

A statement victory over Spurs last weekend saw Wolves exhibit their top-four credentials and they will hope to build on that momentum against Leicester.

The men from Molineux are winless in their last five games against the Foxes, failing to score a single goal during that run.

That said, Leicester are not their previous formidable selves this season and are looking for their first victory in four league games.

On the scoresheet for Wolves last weekend was Raul Jimenez — four of his five Premier League goals this term have ended up being the game’s winning goal.

Follow each game with our unbeatable live scores service. Simply tap the Scores tab on the web or download the LiveScore app from the App Store for iOS devices or Google Play for Android.