Premier League players who could haunt former clubs in the title race

By James Kilpatrick

Image: Michael Carrick played for Tottenham while Jesse Lingard had a spell at Leicester

The Premier League title race is heading into the final straight - but could former players derail the hopes of Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal or Man City?

Premier League leaders Leicester and their rivals for the title all come up against familiar faces in the title run-in - and could see their challenge scuppered by their old employees. 

From Peter Crouch to Jesse Lingard, we look at the players who could haunt their former clubs...

Leicester City

Two former Leicester players will come up against the high-flying Foxes in their remaining seven league matches.

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Image: Jesse Lingard has been a regular starter for Manchester United over the second half of this season

Manchester United regular Jesse Lingard has impressed in attack for Louis van Gaal's side this season and played on loan for almost two months with Leicester in 2012/13, making just five appearances in the Championship.

Image: Tom Cleverley had a loan spell at Leicester in 2009

And after Leicester's trip to Old Trafford on May 1, they will play Everton just six days later where Tom Cleverley now plays his club football.

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Cleverley spent most of the first four months of 2009 on loan at Leicester. He'll likely go head-to-head against either Danny Drinkwater or N'Golo Kante in the penultimate game of the season. 

Tottenham

Image: Michael Carrick will face Tottenham in a Manchester United shirt for the 23rd time of his career

Tottenham take on Manchester United away on April 10, and Michael Carrick - who played 75 times for the White Hart Lane side - will be set to face his former club for the 23rd time of his career.

Image: Peter Crouch was a key figure at Tottenham

Eight days later and it could be the turn of Stoke City's Peter Crouch to spoil the party if he starts or makes a substitute appearance. The former England man scored 24 goals in 93 appearances for Spurs between 2009 and 2012.

Similarly, Sandro, who spent four seasons with Tottenham, could start for West Brom on April 25, while Andros Townsend, who left Spurs in January, could deliver a final-day blow to his former side for relegation-threatened Newcastle. 

Image: Sandro has made seven appearances for West Brom

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Arsenal

Image: Alex Song could face Arsenal on April 9

Arsenal's second game after the international break sees them take on West Ham at Upton Park, where Alex Song - who made over 200 appearances for the Gunners - now plays. Song has featured 15 times this season for the Hammers and could play a significant role in central midfield.

Eight days later Arsenal visit Crystal Palace, where they'll face two of their former strikers in Emmanuel Adebayor and Marouane Chamakh.

Adebayor is to make his 10th Premier League appearance against the Gunners - he memorably scored against his old club for Manchester City in 2009 and then ran the length of the field to celebrate in front of the Arsenal supporters. 

Image: Vito Mannone is now the first-choice goalkeeper at Sunderland

On April 24, Arsenal travel to Sunderland where Seb Larsson and Vito Mannone will be looking to cause an upset. When at Arsenal, both players were on the fringes of the first-team set-up, but have fully established themselves at different times of their careers at Sunderland.

And with the Wearside club fighting for points at the bottom of the table, they will be desperate to get a positive result.  

Image: Bacary Sagna left Arsenal in 2014

May 7 sees Arsenal travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City, and despite Samir Nasri being unlikely to play because of injury, full-backs Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy will be expected to feature.

Manchester City

Image: Sylvain Distin made 178 appearances over a five-year span at Manchester City between 2002 and 2007

Bournemouth defender Sylvain Distin could be fielded to mark Sergio Aguero on April 2. Distin, who made 178 appearances over a five year spell at Manchester City, will want to help his side to a comfortable mid-table finish.

And on April 24, Stephen Ireland and Shay Given, who were both prominent players at Manchester City during the 2009/10 season, will be in the Stoke squad at the Britannia Stadium. However, with neither of them regular starters, perhaps Ireland could make a difference off the bench.

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