Matchweek 28 Preview: Hammers and Moyes Visit Old Trafford; North London Derby; City Defends Away Streak

This weekend’s matchups include West Ham’s visit to Manchester United and the north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. West Ham manager David Moyes has not won in 13 matches as a visiting manager at Old Trafford, but the former Manchester United manager has the Hammers just 2 points outside the top four as he travels to face his former club. The Hammers have won 3 of their last 4 matches, losing only in their last Manchester visit to the league leading Citizens, and have accumulated more points in 2021 than all but Manchester City. Manchester United have kept clean sheets in their last three league matches. Goals have come in bunches of late at Old Trafford for the Red Devils who have scored 15 in their last 3 home matches which includes the 9-0 destruction of Southampton. United forwards Rashford, Cavani and Martial are all injury doubts against the Hammers.  

Spurs make the short trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal hoping to continue a run in which they have won three consecutive league matches to put them again in the conversation for European places. The improvement of Gareth Bale provides Spurs with a fearsome attack when the Welshmen joins Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in Jose Mourinho’s lineup. Spurs are undefeated in their last 5 matches against the Gunners. Arsenal’s performance has been patchy this season and the Gunners sit 10th in the table.

Younes Kaboul on the North London derby:

“To win at the Emirates is not easy but it’s not impossible at the same time. I’m sure this season, Tottenham have a big chance to win this game.” pic.twitter.com/jzM5bd0k0y

— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) March 12, 2021

 

Manchester City travels to London to face Fulham this weekend. The Cottagers will be looking to end a stretch in which City has outscored Fulham 18-0 in 6 consecutive matches won by the Citizens. Fulham’s defense, however, has been much improved during a current run of form which has rekindled hopes of league survival. The Cottagers have conceded but twice in their last 7 league matches. City is unbeaten in its last 16 away matches across all competitions and will be anxious to put last week’s home loss to Manchester United behind them.  

Leicester will face cellar dwelling Sheffield United who announced the departure this week of manager Chris Wilder. The Blades have won but 4 times in the league this season. Forward Kelechi Iheanacho has provided production for Leicester in the recent absence of the injured Harvey Barnes and James Maddison. Iheanacho is looking to score in a third consecutive league appearance.  

Chelsea travels to Leeds looking to extend an 11-match unbeaten run under manager Thomas Tuchel. The Blues have conceded only two goals during those 11 matches which includes clean sheets against their last three league opponents. Leeds have failed to score in their last two league matches while losing five of their last seven.  

Everton hopes to improve on its poor home form when Burnley visits Goodison Park. Six of the Toffees’ nine league defeats this season have come on their home turf and the Toffees have managed only seven goals in their last 10 league matches at home. Burnley has lost seven and failed to score in eight of 13 away matches. Sixth in the table Everton continues to battle for a European place while Burnley sits just 4 points from the relegation zone after winning just one of their last nine league matches.  

Liverpool, losers in six of their last seven matches, travels to Molineux Stadium to face Wolves. Wolves has lost but once in the past seven league contests while conceding more than a single goal only in their match with Manchester City during that stretch. 

Aston Villa, winners of just one match in their last 5 league contests, visits St. James Park on Friday to face Newcastle. Aston Villa, expected to still be without the injured Jack Grealish, has failed to score more than one goal in any of its last eight league matches. Newcastle’s eight defeats in 2021 are more than any Premier League club not named Southampton as the Magpies have fallen to within one point of the relegation zone.  

Nineteenth place West Brom, winners of just one of 13 away matches this season, have scored just twice in their last six matches as they wearily trudge to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Place. Crystal Palace will hope not to equal a club record of four consecutive home matches without a goal. The Eagles’ leading goal scorer, Wilfried Zaha, could possibly make his first start since February 2nd.