Will Spurs maintain their top-four charge? Will Moyes end his Anfield hoodoo?
Saturday 24 February 2018 11:17, UK
Will Manchester United capitalise or will Chelsea close the gap? Will Tottenham maintain their top-four charge? Will David Moyes end his Anfield hoodoo?
After a thrilling fortnight of FA Cup and Champions League action, the Premier League returns as the race for the top four and the battle for safety continues.
With Arsenal and Manchester City contesting the Carabao Cup final, live on Sky Sports, here are nine question which could be answered come the end of the top-flight fixtures...
Struggling Stoke City face a tough-looking trip to Leicester City in front of the Sky cameras on Saturday lunchtime, with Paul Lambert's side in desperate need of three points in their bid to beat the drop.
However, Stoke - who are two points from safety - are currently on their longest away run without a win (eight games) in the Premier League since September 2015.
Lambert's side have also won just twice in their last 29 visits to Leicester in all competitions, but will they improve that record at the King Power with a win this weekend.
Fifth-placed Tottenham travel to face London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday lunchtime as the in-form team in the top flight this year.
Tottenham, who are a point behind fourth-placed Chelsea, have collected more points in 2018 than any other side (15 - P7 W4 D3), while they are also the only team yet to lose so far this year.
Harry Kane has scored 19 goals in his last 14 league games on the road, including three hat-tricks, so few would bet against the visitors maintaining that unbeaten run at Selhurst Park this weekend and staying in touch with the top four.
After a week of Champions League football, the race for the top four takes centre stage in a potentially crucial clash at Old Trafford.
Manchester United and manager Jose Mourinho renew their rivalry with Antonio Conte's champions in a game which promises to deliver drama.
It could go a long way to deciding who will play in the Champions League next term too, with a United victory moving them three points closer to leaders Manchester City but, crucially, six clear of Chelsea.
However, having won at Stamford Bridge in October, Chelsea, results permitting, could move joint-second by completing a league double over United for the first time in eight years.
It has been a testing campaign for Eddie Howe's Bournemouth but a quite remarkable January, which yielded victories over Arsenal, Chelsea and Stoke, has transformed the Cherries' fortunes.
That progress, though, came to a halt in their 4-1 defeat at relegation-rivals Huddersfield, leaving Bournemouth's season at a defining crossroads.
Victory over Newcastle will lift the Cherries into the top half but defeat to Rafa Benitez's side would leave them bogged in a relegation scrap, and with a different outlook on their final 10 games.
A few months ago, Burnley were fourth in the Premier League. Sean Dyche was nominated for Manager of the Month in October and November.
Yet results have gone downhill since mid-December, with the Clarets not managing a win in any competition. Their strong start to the season means they are still seventh in the Premier League table and 10 points above Southampton, who are third from bottom.
But this could be a crucial fixture for the Clarets. Win and they will be one point away from last season's 40-point haul, lose and there might be a few more nervous looks down the table ahead of the run-in.
While Swansea have climbed out of the relegation zone with a remarkable run of results under new manager Carlos Carvalhal, Brighton have hovered above it by picking up five points from their last three Premier League outings.
And they have a reinforcement to boost their survival bid in the shape of Jurgen Locadia.
The Seagulls' club-record signing saw his debut delayed by a hamstring injury but scored on his first appearance against Coventry in the FA Cup on Saturday.
But will he start in the Premier League? And where will he start if he does so? Glenn Murray looks as though his place is secure after scoring three in his last four in all competitions, so perhaps the Seagulls might need a tweak of formation to fit Locadia in.
West Ham boss David Moyes has never won a match against Liverpool at Anfield in any competition in his managerial career.
In 14 matches in charge of Everton, Manchester United and Sunderland, the Scot has tasted defeat seven times, and drawn a further seven occasions, at Anfield.
However, the omens are good for Moyes to end that winless run this weekend, with the Hammers currently unbeaten in their last three trips to Liverpool in all competitions.
When you look at this game on paper, everything points to a West Brom win. The Baggies are unbeaten in their last five home games against newly-promoted sides, while Alan Pardew's last meeting with Huddersfield - during his stint at Southampton - ended in a 5-0 victory.
But dig a little deeper and a contrasting state of affairs comes to the surface. West Brom have lost their last four in all competitions and are rooted to the foot of the table, seven points adrift of the Terriers.
After a week which has seen Albion gripped by off-field issues and an abject display, victory against a relegation rival is paramount if they are to start turning the corner.
After easing the pressure with two wins from their last three Premier League games, Everton have been easing off slightly on a warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
Manager Sam Allardyce has taken teams away in the past during this period, and says: "We've always seen a really good increase in their ability to try and get results."
Perhaps of primary concern for the Toffees will be improving their away form, which is the fourth-worst in the Premier League, having only won once on the road this season.
If Everton can start picking up more away points then they should quickly ease any lingering concerns over being involved in a relegation battle.
