MY ACCOUNT
The Premier League returns with three games kicking off a busy midweek fixture list in the top flight.
Everyone bar Chelsea and Brighton play over the next three evenings and four of the bottom five are in action in tonight.
Newcastle and Everton meet at St James’ Park as Frank Lampard takes charge of his first league game as Toffees boss, Watford visit West Ham and Burnley host Manchester United.
Newcastle vs Everton (7.45pm, BT Sport)
Eddie Howe’s men will be looking to drag the visitors further into the dogfight at the bottom.
The Magpies are just four points behind the Toffees and come into the game hunting their first back-to-back victories of the season after beating Leeds 1-0 last time out.
But they will need to find their scoring boots soon if they are to maintain their top-flight status after failing to find the back of the net more than once in their past nine league games.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out to bag for the fourth consecutive time at St James’ Park, a feat no player has achieved in the Premier League since Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool between 2011 and 2013.
West Ham vs Watford (7.45pm, BT Sport)
Three points against lowly Watford are a must for West Ham if they are to keep pace in the race for the top four.
The Hammers were beaten in their last two games before the winter break and have not lost three in a row since Project Restart at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.
But they have won their past four games against Watford, including a 4-1 win at Vicarage Road earlier this season.
The Hornets kept their first clean sheet of the campaign at Burnley last Saturday in Roy Hodgson’s first game in charge and will likely set up defensively again as they look to pick up valuable points in the battle to avoid dropping into the Championship.
Burnley vs Manchester United (8pm, BT Sport)
Trips to Burnley have been fruitful for United in recent seasons and they will hope for more of the same after last Friday’s shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Middlesbrough.
The Red Devils have won on each of their past five visits to Turf Moor and would become only the second side ever to win six away games in a row against the Clarets.
United are yet to lose on the road in the league under Ralf Rangnick and have scored in every single top-flight away game this season.
It is also a landmark fixture for Burnley, who join Lancashire rivals Preston as the only clubs to have played 5,000 or more fixtures in English football.
