Wednesday 25 April 2018 15:42, UK
Will Arsene Wenger have the last word over Jose Mourinho? Will Man City reach a century of goals?
The Premier League title race may have concluded but the champions' record-breaking crusade and the countdown to Arsene Wenger's departure provide plenty of talking points this weekend.
Champions League final-chasing Liverpool kick the Premier League weekend off against Stoke at Anfield on Saturday before champions City travel to West Ham and Wenger's takes his Arsenal side to Manchester United for the last time on Nissan Super Sunday.
With Tottenham also hosting Watford on Monday Night Football, we look at some potential questions that could be answered come Monday evening...
With Liverpool needing all the energy they can muster for their Champions League semi-final second leg against Roma on Wednesday, a home clash with struggling Stoke gives them the perfect opportunity to rest their stars.
Will that allow Paul Lambert's side to capitalise? Expect one or two of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane to be rested, and Liverpool's injury-hit midfield will no doubt see a few surprise faces ahead of the trip to Italy four days later.
Stoke can at least put some pressure on Southampton, Swansea and Huddersfield with a win in the early kick off, but history is against them at Anfield.
Liverpool have never lost in 54 previous home top-flight clashes against Stoke, winning 43 and drawing 11.
We've run out of superlatives to describe Manchester City's insatiable title-winning campaign, but their potential record-breaking finish speaks for itself.
Pep Guardiola's men are two goals shy of hitting the 100-goal mark - a feat which looks inevitable given they've scored nine goals in their two visits to the London Stadium - and five away from the all-time Premier League record of 103, set by Chelsea in 2009/10.
Victory in east London would see City equal the record for the most wins in a season (30) and move them to within two points of the all-time points tally of 95, also set by Chelsea in 2004/05.
Chelsea will be hoping their London rivals halt the champions' procession to a record-breaking finale but it appears too late for anything other than sitting back and admiring City.
After years of unrest and underachievement, Arsene Wenger's revolutionary 22-year tenure at Arsenal will come to an end this summer. Fittingly, the Frenchman's long goodbye presents him with one last chance to get one over old adversaries Manchester United and their manager, Jose Mourinho.
Once the highlight of the Premier League calendar, the significance of this fixture has undoubtedly diminished in recent years. But what it lacks in title-deciding significance, it more than makes up for in drama.
Old Trafford has been the scene of some defining moments in Wenger's reign, whether it be winning the title in 2002 or relinquishing a 49-game unbeaten run in 2004, and with Alexis Sanchez set to play against his former club for the first time, Sunday's encounter promises plenty of entertainment.
There have been so many highlights during Wenger's time at Arsenal but beating Mourinho away from home for the first time at the eighth attempt would be as sweet as any.
With White Hart Lane under redevelopment, many dismissed Tottenham's hopes of reaching the heights of last season in their year-long stay at Wembley.
Mauricio Pochettino's men have undoubtedly made the trip across London a success, putting themselves in pole position for a top-four finish and treating supporters to a couple of memorable Champions League nights.
But defeat in the FA Cup semi-finals to Manchester United - their eighth consecutive setback at that stage of the competition - has somewhat dampened the mood, and a run of three games without victory has not helped either.
Spurs have not gone four without a win in all competitions since October 2016, something they will been keen to address against the Hornets.
Against the odds, Brighton are just a win away from securing Premier League survival in their first top-flight season since 1983.
Despite not winning since early March, six games ago, Chris Hughton's side have edged towards safety, and could realistically stay up without picking up a single win in their final 10 games.
If safety is confirmed, the challenge for Hughton will be how to manage expectations as they inevitably begin to rise for next season.
Burnley stand in their way for now, with sixth place looking less realistic, but European football secured if they keep hold of seventh.
Saturday could be the day Palace secure survival, an achievement which seemed out of the question following a nightmare start to a season that promised so much.
Roy Hodgson took over in September with Palace bottom of the Premier League, having failed to score in all four of their league matches under Ronald De Boer.
They went another three without a point or a goal, but Hodgson has steadied the ship again after a worrying February and early March, and has Palace playing effective football.
Leicester must be wary early on; six of Crystal Palace's last eight home Premier League goals have been scored in the opening 25 minutes of matches.
A win for Huddersfield will all-but secure safety for next season, but an upturn in form for any side below them could be detrimental if they don't win, given the Terriers' run of fixtures.
After the visit of Everton on Saturday, David Wagner's side face champions Man City (away), Chelsea (away) and Arsenal (home), the least-favourable fixture list of all relegation-threatened Premier League sides.
Everton slightly improved the dull mood around Goodison with a win over Newcastle on MNF, and no side has failed to score in more Premier League home games than Huddersfield this season (six).
Cast your minds back to November 28, 2017. Eight days after Tony Pulis' sacking, West Brom, under the stewardship of Gary Megson, were on the cusp of a first league win since August.
Goals from Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Field had the Baggies in firm control of their clash with Newcastle but a second-half collapse, which came to typify their season, unfolded.
Ciaran Clark and a Jonny Evans own-goal handed the Magpies a point after a run of four straight defeats. Albion would not win a game in the league until mid-January. Since then, West Brom have gained just 13 points to leave themselves on the brink of relegation.
Darren Moore has undoubtedly provided some optimism since taking caretaker charge of the club but with Newcastle able to put the Baggies out of their misery with a victory at St. James' Park, tough times lie ahead for Albion.
Southampton have never lost a home match against Bournemouth; now would not be a good time for that run to change. In fact, only a win will do this weekend.
"We need to win. There are no grey areas, we have to win," said Saints boss Mark Hughes after defeat to Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday.
While the plan to play Shane Long and Charlie Austin up front against Chelsea failed to pay off, Hughes suggested afterwards that he may consider the idea again this season.
Whoever plays up front for Saints, they need to start scoring some goals. They have the worst shot conversion rate in the top division and Austin remains their top scorer with seven goals despite starting just six Premier League games this season.
Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal revealed to Sky Sports last week that he has a bottle of wine from Jose Mourinho that he is waiting to uncork when Premier League survival is secured.
He might have expected that he would have tasted the wine already after his impressive start at the Liberty, yet a run of five league games without a win has left Swansea still firmly in the relegation battle.
Ahead of the weekend they are four points above the relegation zone and have only scored two goals in their previous six matches in all competitions. They were also thrashed 5-0 by Manchester City last time out.
Carvalhal said that result will have "zero effect" on Swansea's confidence, but they could do with getting back to winning ways sooner rather than later. Otherwise, they could face a nervy finish to the season when they host relegation rivals Southampton and Stoke in their final two games. And that wine might have to age a little longer.
