Skip to content

Premier League questions: Who keeps their nerve at the top and bottom of the table?

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino (left) celebrates a goal with Philippe Coutinho

The return of the FA Cup means we have just six Premier League fixtures this weekend but there's plenty at stake at both ends of the table.

Hull and Swansea - seemingly locked in a shoot-out to avoid the final relegation place - will be keeping tabs on one another as they both play at home on Saturday at 3pm.

And we turn our attention to the race for Champions League qualification on Nissan Super Sunday, as Man Utd travel to Burnley and Liverpool host Crystal Palace.

Let's take a look at six key Premier League questions...

Will Tom Heaton frustrate his old team again? Burnley v Manchester United, Super Sunday from 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD

The former Manchester United goalkeeper made 11 saves in the goalless draw in October, the joint-most in a league game this season.

It prompted Jose Mourinho's assistant Rui Faria to call Heaton "the best player on the pitch" at Old Trafford after both Mourinho and Ander Herrera were sent off as frustrations boiled over.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Tom Heaton’s starfish save from Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford

United's luck has not been much better at Turf Moor, where they have scored just once in their last four league outings. That goal came back in 1976 and was scored by Lou Macari.

Also See:

And who could forget Burnley's famous triumph over their illustrious opponents back in 2009?

Robbie Blake scored the winner that day as the Clarets marked their Premier League home debut by taking three points off Sir Alex Ferguson's United.

Playing after the Europa League makes United's task that little bit harder too but the motivation is there. If they win, they close to within one point of fourth-place Man City.

Live Nissan Super Sunday

Will Zaha and Benteke extend Palace's Anfield run? Liverpool v Crystal Palace, Super Sunday from 4.15pm, Sky Sports 1 HD

Christian Benteke has scored three goals in his last four league games and enjoys returning to Anfield, notching three times in his previous two appearances.

With the electric Wilfried Zaha providing the assists - only Kevin De Bruyne has more from open play this season - Crystal Palace should have the firepower to trouble Liverpool.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Pa
Image: Christian Benteke was on target for Palace again last weekend

Jurgen Klopp's side looked solid enough at West Brom but the physical power one expects from a Tony Pulis team never really materialised at The Hawthorns.

That's almost certainly not going to be a problem when Sam Allardyce pitches up on Super Sunday, with Palace looking for their third straight Anfield win.

And United could be breathing down Liverpool's neck if they beat Burnley in the early kick-off, further upping the stakes in the race for the top four.

Live Nissan Super Sunday

Can Hull keep Swansea at arm's length? Hull City v Watford, Saturday 3pm

Two points and one place separate Swansea in 18th and Marco Silva's Hull, perched perilously above the relegation zone.

The Tigers have been exceptional at home this season, winning a remarkable 83 per cent of their Premier League points at the KCOM.

Harry Maguire celebrates his equaliser against Stoke City
Image: Harry Maguire celebrates his equaliser against Stoke City

With Swansea hosting Stoke at the same time, Silva will be targeting three points against a Watford team that has struggled on its travels.

That would at least maintain Hull's advantage ahead of what looks to be a tricky trip to Southampton next weekend.

Walter Mazzarri's side are unlikely to roll over but they are effectively safe, having surpassed the 40-point mark for the second consecutive season.

Does Swansea's turnaround start against Stoke? Swansea v Stoke, Saturday 3pm

There are compelling reasons both for and against Swansea this weekend as they entertain Stoke.

A run of five defeats from their last six leagues games - having won five of their previous eight before that - has seen the trap door swing open.

All that momentum earned in Paul Clement's early days seems to have evaporated, leaving the Swans on the wrong side of history in their fight to avoid relegation.

No team that has conceded at least 68 goals at this stage of the season has ever survived.

STRATFORD, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Alfie Mawson of Swansea City is dejected after the Premier League match between West Ham United and Swansea City at London S
Image: Swansea seem to have run out of steam in recent weeks

With Manchester United and Everton to come next and a two-point deficit to Hull to make up, this Saturday's match is approaching "must-win" status.

Xherdan Shaqiri's return will juice Stoke's attack but the Potters have been shockingly lifeless away from home, failing to score on their travels since January at Sunderland.

Swansea's relegation hopes would be significantly boosted should that record continue.

Will Romelu Lukaku punish West Ham again? West Ham v Everton, Saturday 3pm

If you can't stop him, try and sign him.

That was surely the thinking behind West Ham's recent attempts to pinch Everton forward Lukaku, who has tortured the Hammers in recent seasons.

Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates scoring his side's third goal with his Everton team mates during the Premier League match
Image: Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley have been in fine form since the turn of the year

The Premier League top scorer has been consistently excellent this campaign but seems to particularly enjoy playing West Ham.

The Belgium forward, who has scored 14 times from just 23 shots on target in 2017, has netted in each of his nine previous games against West Ham.

Will Bournemouth's defence tighten up against goal-shy Boro? Bournemouth v Middlesbrough, Saturday 3pm

No team has conceded more goals than Bournemouth since the turn of the year.

Eddie Howe's side have shipped 32 so far, at least six more than any other Premier League club.

That should give hope to a Middlesbrough team urgently searching for an answer to their goal struggles as they bid to halt a worrying slide towards relegation.

Alvaro Negredo appears dejected after the final whistle at the King Power Stadium
Image: Alvaro Negredo is Middlesbrough's leading league scorer with eight goals

To illustrate the depth of Boro's attacking crisis, the two goals scored in their 4-2 defeat to Hull City was more than they managed in their previous eight away games combined.

And six points off safety, they are desperate for a victory having missed big opportunities against Swansea, Hull and Burnley in recent weeks.

With Sunderland at home to come on April 26, Steve Agnew's side need maximum points to keep their slim hopes of survival alive.

Around Sky