Saturday 28 November 2015 16:19, UK
Ahead of an important round of Premier League fixtures, we take a look at 10 questions that could be answered by the end of the weekend...
Will Villa be cut adrift at the bottom of the Premier League? (Aston Villa v Watford, Saturday, 3pm)
Villa's hard-fought 0-0 draw with then-leaders Manchester City earlier this month was encouraging, but Remi Garde was brought straight back down to earth with a 4-0 thumping at Everton last weekend.
A tepid showing at Goodison Park promises little as the Premier League heads into the busy winter period, and Villa desperately need to start picking up points.
Paul Merson described this match as Villa's biggest game in years, but the hosts may be stuck between attacking and remaining resolute in front of ever-expectant fans.
No Premier League side has survived having accumulated five points or fewer after 13 games, and Birmingham City fan Troy Deeney would not mind putting them further in the mire…
Will Bournemouth do a Leicester, or continue to fall short? (Bournemouth v Everton, Saturday, 3pm)
Eddie Howe's side have been huffing and puffing with few positive results in recent weeks, but he does not have to look far back in time for optimism.
For most of the 2014/15 season, Nigel Pearson's newly-promoted Leicester were coming up just short, before an unstoppable run was put together in early spring.
Bournemouth picked up just a point from their games against Newcastle and Swansea, but their play deserved six. In this league, in this season, it makes the world of difference.
The injuries to Tyrone Mings, Max Gradel and Callum Wilson were huge blows, but the rest of the Cherries' side must now step up and add the one thing missing: a clinical edge.
Will Newcastle players respond to reports of a bust-up? (Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Saturday, 3pm)
It is understood Steve McClaren delivered a few "home truths" to his Newcastle players following a training ground bust-up - with Fabricio Coloccini singled out for criticism.
The former England manager's tenure at St James' Park has not gone all according to plan, his side sitting 17th in the Premier League with just nine points from 13 games.
McClaren desperately needs points, and the feeling is that Thursday's revelations of a bust-up could either make or break the season.
It is thought McClaren explained how most fans on the Gallowgate End at Newcastle's St James' Park will not earn in a lifetime what his players earn in a few months - and that being a footballer was as much about "bottle and will to win" as it was about skill. Will that have irked or spurred the Newcastle players?
Which side will bounce back from poor defeats last weekend? (Manchester City v Southampton, Saturday, 3pm)
Southampton suffered only their second defeat in 11 Premier League games last weekend, a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Stoke, while City were poor in a 4-1 defeat by Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
Form has counted for very little in this season's Premier League, but a win for Southampton puts them right in contention for a top-four spot with just over a third of the season gone.
Judging by the early runners and riders, the title race will not be decided anytime soon, but City will be keen to avoid losing back-to-back league games for the second time this season.
The return of Sergio Aguero is key, but three disappointing performances and three games without a win in all competitions is a slight concern for Manuel Pellegrini.
Who will push on after fine away wins last weekend? (Sunderland v Stoke, Saturday, 3pm)
Stoke are on a run of four successive clean sheets away from home in the Premier League, and their 1-0 win at Southampton was described by Merson as the second-best performance of the weekend behind Liverpool's win at the Etihad.
Stoke sit at the bottom of a six-team pack separated by just two points between sixth and 11th, with this season's mid-table and European contenders yet to take concrete shape.
Sunderland and Sam Allardyce are on a roller coaster from one week to another, but a home win could consign rivals Newcastle to the bottom three, and would mean back-to-back league wins for the first time since the tail-end of last season.
Which Manchester United will turn up at the King Power Stadium? (Leicester v Man Utd, Saturday Night Football, 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD)
The last-gasp 2-1 win at Watford reminded many of a Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United side, but the performance in the 0-0 draw with PSV did the opposite.
There is no doubting Louis van Gaal has shored things up in the United defence, but at what cost? Jeers rang around Old Trafford on Wednesday, but on paper United are at least meeting, if not succeeding, Premier League expectations.
To a man, Leicester are in the form of their lives, but will they face a wall of red shirts or contest a free-flowing, top-of-the-table clash on Saturday Night Football?
No neutrals saw this being first versus second in August, and no neutrals will want to see a stalemate. Of course, all eyes will be on Jamie Vardy as he looks to break Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of scoring in 10 consecutive Premier League games.
Will the long journey back from Azerbaijan have an impact on Spurs? (Tottenham v Chelsea, Sunday, midday)
Spurs have dealt with the continental conundrum well this season, drawing two and winning two of their Premier League clashes just days after Europa League games.
Still unbeaten since the opening day of the season, White Hart Lane will be rocking for the visit of Chelsea, who are starting to show signs of life with two wins in two.
But Spurs' biggest trip yet, the 5,000-mile round journey to and from Qarabag, is a concern, as voiced by Mauricio Pochettino earlier this week.
"It's not fair to have two days less recovery than the opponent," he said. If Chelsea come out with a long-overdue league away win, we will no doubt hear those complaints crop up again.
Can West Ham prove they can live without Dimitri Payet? (West Ham v West Brom, Super Sunday, 2.05pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD)
West Ham have lost two and drawn one of their three games since the 2-1 win over Chelsea in October, and were noticeably absent in midfield in the 4-1 defeat by Tottenham last Sunday.
This time they face a West Brom side fresh from pulling off an unpredictable win over Arsenal at the Hawthorns, but a Tony Pulis side who will look to frustrate the Payet-less Hammers.
West Ham had nobody in midfield to unlock Spurs at White Hart Lane, and with possession expected to be in abundance, must prove they can challenge for the European spots without the Frenchman, who is out for three months.
Will Jurgen Klopp win his first Premier League game at Anfield against the stuttering Swans? (Liverpool v Swansea, Sunday, 4.15pm)
The highlights of Klopp's colourful tenure at Liverpool so far are without doubt the away wins at Chelsea and Manchester City, but their home form will be a concern.
The Reds have won just twice in the league at home all season, scoring seven goals, and face a Swansea side with just one win since late August.
The return of Daniel Sturridge is a boost, as Liverpool's attacking armoury begins to take devastating shape, but with Swansea conceding eight of their 18 goals this season from set pieces, Klopp must decide whether Christian Benteke's aerial prowess is the way to see off Garry Monk's side.
Another side in the mid-table clump, a win could lift Liverpool to within three points of the top four come end of play on Sunday.
Can Arsenal form a strong title challenge without Francis Coquelin? (Norwich v Arsenal, Super Sunday, 4.15pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD)
There were plenty of questions asked of Arsene Wenger come the close of the summer transfer window after he opted not to sign an outfield player, but that criticism quietened come the end of October with the Gunners sitting top of the Premier League.
The usual injury glut arrived earlier in the season, but the recent loss of Coquelin for three months could be pivotal as the busy winter period arrives.
The return of Aaron Ramsey, who played 23 minutes in the 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday, could be key, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be back in the squad. But Coquelin's protection of the back four should not be underestimated, and a trip to Carrow Road should test the waters.
