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Premier League questions: Can Arsenal do the double over Chelsea? Will Leicester finally score?

Theo Walcott goal celeb, Arsenal v Chelsea, Premier League
Image: Can Arsenal do the double over Chelsea this weekend?

Can Arsenal do the double over Chelsea and revive their title bid? Will Leicester claim an unwanted record? We take a look at this weekend's Premier League questions.

Arsenal kick off the weekend's Premier League action on Sky Sports when they travel across London to face league leaders Chelsea in a mouth-watering clash at Stamford Bridge, ahead of seven other games on Saturday afternoon.

The race for the Champions League places continues to hot up in a Nissan Super Sunday double-header, as Manchester City host Swansea before Manchester United visit reigning champions Leicester City.

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Watch a preview of Saturday's Premier League fixtures including Arsenal's trip to Stamford Bridge

Which clubs at the top and bottom of the table will emerge victorious this weekend and will any January signings make an instant impact for their new clubs? Read on for the latest round of Premier League questions...

Can Arsenal do the double over Chelsea? Chelsea v Arsenal - Saturday, 12.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD

Chelsea could move a giant step closer to reclaiming the Premier League title if they beat cross-city rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

After seeing results largely go their way again in midweek, the Blues will go 12 points clear of second-place Tottenham if they beat the Gunners in the opening game of this weekend.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31:  David Luiz (C) of Chelsea celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chels
Image: Chelsea remain nine points clear at the top of the Premier League following their draw at Liverpool

However, Antonio Conte's side suffered a 3-0 mauling at the Emirates back in September - equalling the club's worst-ever defeat to Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger's side are currently nine points off the pace in the league and desperately need a victory at Stamford Bridge to revive their failing challenge for the title.

The Gunners have not done the double over Chelsea in the same season since 2003/04 - the last time they won the Premier League.

Will Gabriel Jesus continue his impressive start? Manchester City v Swansea - Sunday, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD

Pep Guardiola gave us a glimpse of the future on Wednesday night as a youthful Manchester City attack demolished West Ham at the London Stadium.

While Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling both impressed, it was the performance of new arrival Gabriel Jesus which stood out.

Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ha
Image: Gabriel Jesus scored his first goal for Manchester City against West Ham

The Brazilian, who joined City in a £27m move from Palmeiras earlier this season, was preferred to Sergio Aguero in attack and did not disappoint - scoring his first goal for the club and setting up another to help secure a comfortable win away from home.

Jesus has now had a hand in three goals since his debut against Tottenham last month and it will be interesting to see if Guardiola keeps the 19-year-old in his starting line-up to face Swansea on Sunday.

Will Leicester claim an unwanted record? Leicester City v Manchester United - Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports 1 HD

How times have changed for Leicester City and Claudio Ranieri. It's now nine months on from their remarkable Premier League triumph and the Foxes find themselves firmly involved in yet another fight against relegation.

Little seems to be going right for the Ranieri. His defence is consistently leaking goals, while his midfield looks a shadow of its former self following N'Golo Kante's departure to Chelsea.

However, the sudden drop in form of his attacking players will no doubt be of most concern to the Italian manager.

Leonardo Ulloa reacts after a missing a chance on goal during the Premier League against Everton
Image: Leicester City have failed to score a single Premier League goal since the turn of the year

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have together scored just eight Premier League goals this season, compared to 35 during the last campaign. Leicester as a team have failed to register a single goal in the league since the turn of the year.

The Foxes are only the fifth Premier League team to fail to score in their opening four matches of a calendar year, following Newcastle (2008), Swansea (failed to score in their first four Premier League games in August & September 2011), Hull (2014) and Aston Villa (2015) - no team has ever failed to score in their first five.

Will the January signings make an impact? Crystal Palace v Sunderland - Saturday, 3pm

Crystal Palace and Sunderland were, perhaps unsurprisingly, among the busiest Premier League clubs during the January transfer window.

Sam Allardyce and David Moyes have both signed a number of new players as they look to guide their respective clubs to safety following a disappointing first half of the campaign.

Mamadou Sakho shows off his new colours (Twitter @Mamadou Sakho)
Image: Mamadou Sakho could make his debut for Crystal Palace this weekend

Joleon Lescott, Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo could all make their debuts for Sunderland at Selhurst Park, while Luka Milivojevic and Mamadou Sakho are set to bolster the Palace ranks.

The Black Cats are still one point adrift at the bottom of the Premier League table, while Crystal Palace remain in the bottom three despite their win over Bournemouth in midweek.

This game really does have the feeling of a relegation six-pointer - can any of the new signings make themselves an instant hero?

Can Bournemouth stop the rot against the Toffees? Everton v Bournemouth - Saturday, 3pm

After starting the campaign in impressive form, problems are starting to mount for Eddie Howe at Bournemouth.

The Cherries are yet to pick up a win since the turn of the year and have now conceded 13 goals in five matches, following their 2-0 defeat to struggling Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

Jason Puncheon fouls Jack Wilshere at the Vitality Stadium
Image: Bournemouth are yet to claim a victory in 2017

Bournemouth narrowly defeated Everton 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium back in September - Junior Stanislas scoring the winning goal with the home side's only shot on target in the match.

Howe would certainly take a repeat result at Goodison Park.

Can Liverpool pick up their first league win of 2017? Hull City v Liverpool - Saturday, 3pm

Liverpool, like Bournemouth, are still searching for their first win in the Premier League in 2017 - remarkable considering Jurgen Klopp's side were considered genuine title contenders only a matter of weeks ago.

Costly slip-ups against Sunderland and Swansea have all-but ended the club's title hopes, while recent defeats to Southampton and Wolves saw the Reds crash out of both domestic cup competitions in the space of four days.

Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates his equaliser against Chelsea
Image: Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates his equaliser against Chelsea but can the Reds finally get all three points in 2017?

Klopp is now under pressure for the first time in his career at Anfield and the German knows anything other than a victory against second-bottom Hull City would be seen as an unacceptable result.

However, a win at the KCOM Stadium is by no means a certainty. Hull have proven to be a stubborn opponent since new boss Marco Silva arrived at the club last month and the Tigers managed to hold Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in midweek.

With just five points separating second to sixth in the Premier League, Klopp knows a win is a must.

What reception will Jose Fonte receive? Southampton v West Ham - Saturday, 3pm

All eyes will be on Jose Fonte as he returns to Southampton for the first time since joining West Ham in an £8m move in January.

The Portugal international could receive a frosty reception from the home support at St Mary's after choosing to hand in a transfer request at the end of last year, rather than sign a new contract with the south coast club.

West Ham's Jose Fonte warms up
Image: Jose Fonte is preparing to return to Southampton with West Ham

Fonte made his Hammers debut against Manchester City on Wednesday but the 33-year-old was exposed on a number of occasions as Pep Guardiola's side romped to a 4-0 victory at the London Stadium.

Slaven Bilic's side have already conceded 40 goals this season - the sixth worst record in the division - so Fonte can expect to put in another busy shift against the Saints this weekend.

Can Burnley finally claim their first away win of the season? Watford v Burnley - Saturday, 3pm

Burnley have defied the odds this season and sit proudly in the top half of the table thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over defending Premier League champions Leicester on Tuesday.

The Clarets' recent success has undoubtedly stemmed from their impressive form at Turf Moor, where they have taken 28 points out of a possible 39.

Sean Dyche
Image: Can Sean Dyche lead Burnley to their first away win of the season?

While Burnley would be challenging for the title based on their home form, Sean Dyche's side remain rock-bottom of the division when it comes to away games - having picked up just a single point on their travels this season.

Burnley defeated Watford at Turf Moor earlier this season but the Hornets head into this weekend's game at Vicarage Road buoyed by their shock win over Arsenal in midweek.

A win for either side would go a long way to securing their Premier League status for another season.

Will Saido Berahino start against West Brom? West Brom v Stoke, Saturday 3pm

Saido Berahino could be in line to make his first start for Stoke against former club West Brom at the Hawthorns.

The 23-year-old finally secured his long-awaited move away from the Baggies last month following two years interrupted by transfer speculation, contractual disputes and concerns over the striker's fitness.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis sent Berahino on a personal training programme in France earlier this season after accusing the forward of being unfit and overweight.

Stoke City's new English striker Saido Berahino poses with his jersey ahead of the English Premier League football match between Stoke City and Manchester
Image: Saido Berahino could start against his former club West Brom

However, Berahino has hit back at those suggestions and claims he was dropped by Pulis for failing to sign a new contract with West Brom.

"I was accused of being fat, but how can you become fat after starting three games in the league and then being dropped? Suddenly you are unfit? So it is a question mark," Berahino said.

"They never actually told me why I wasn't playing. It could be because I didn't sign a new contract."

Will Spurs draw a blank again? Tottenham v Middlesbrough - Saturday, 5.30pm

Tottenham missed out on a golden opportunity to cut Chelsea's lead at the top of the Premier League after being held to a goalless draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in midweek.

Mauricio Pochettino's usually free-scoring side wasted a number of chances against the Black Cats and as a result failed to score in a match for the first time since December 11.

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur is challenged by Jason Denayer
Image: Tottenham were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Sunderland last time out

Spurs have not failed to score in back-to-back Premier League games since May 2015 but Pochettino's men face a tough test against one of the most miserly defences in the division this weekend.

While Middlesbrough remain the lowest scorers in the league, Aitor Karanka's side have conceded just 26 goals - the best record in the bottom half of the table.

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