Liverpool heads to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday for what could be an epic shootout. Both sides are high scoring, joining Chelsea and Brentford as the only sides bagging more than 30 goals this season. Defensively, Liverpool’s defense had been miserly most of this season before wilting as the Reds dropped points each of the last two weeks. Spurs, meanwhile, plays virtually no defense at all though that didn’t matter in a 5-0 annihilation of hapless Southampton last weekend. Against bigger clubs, Spurs lost 4-3 to Chelsea two weeks ago and won by that some score over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on Thursday.
Liverpool needs to win on Sunday to hold off a streaking Chelsea side. Dropped points by the Reds and a five-match winning run by the Blues has brought Chelsea to within two points of the table lead. The irresistible force, which is Chelsea’s league leading attack, will now meet an immovable object, which is an Everton defense which has posted clean sheets in four of its last five matches. The savvy Toffees will present an interesting challenge for the youthful Chelsea attackers.
A scheduling quirk, meanwhile, will see Arsenal play Crystal Palace for a second time in four days. The Gunners triumphed 4-3 at home in the Carabao Cup versus the Eagles on Wednesday. Saturday, the sides rinse and repeat at Selhurst Park. Former Arsenal player Eddie Nketiah could get the start against his old squad in place of the hard luck Eberechi Eze. Thought to be a rising star in the league, Eze has suffered a miserable season to date marked by injury and poor performances. After being selected for the England squad based on his strong play last year, Eze has but one goal and two assists for Crystal Palace in the Premier League this season. After missing weeks with a hamstring problem, Eze now has a foot injury which will keep hm out of Saturday’s match. Arsenal have had their way in this London derby with five consecutive league wins including clean sheet victories on the Gunners’ last two visits to Selhurst Park. Bukayo Saka & William Saliba training 🆚 Palace#CRYARS pic.twitter.com/cUOYNPTRcT
Nottingham Forest has been a great story this season as Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has taken the Tricky Trees from a relegation threatened 17th place finish last season to a current top four position in the table. The Trees face a challenge this weekend at Brentford where the Bees have the best home record in the entire Premier League, taking 22 of 24 points from their home matches to date. The Bees have been winning shootouts with more combined goals being scored at their Gtech Community Stadium than any other Premier League venue this season. Nottingham Forest, however, is in fine form after a signature win over Aston Villa last week.
The Villans will host struggling Manchester City Saturday. The Citizens have won just one of their last eleven matches and were embarrassed at home in the Manchester derby last week. Making matters worse for Manchester City is the news that defender Reuben Dias will be out multiple weeks with a muscle injury. A win on Saturday would launch Aston Villa past Manchester City in the table.
Bournemouth, currently level on points with Aston Villa, travels to Old Trafford this weekend to face Manchester United. The Cherries are on a four-match unbeaten run that has boosted Bournemouth into the European places. Benched Manchester United players Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are now predictably the subject of January transfer rumors as new Red Devils Manager Reuben Amorim sorts through the pieces he currently has to work with, those which must be discarded, and those he needs to acquire. Amorim’s arrival has seemingly given a second chance to center back Harry Maguire, who has played well in his new opportunity at the heart of the defense.
Brighton will be seeking its first victory in almost a month when the Seagulls alight in London to face West Ham on Saturday. A win and draw in the Hammers’ last two outings have muted some of the din surrounding new manager Julen Lopetegui whose sacking seemed a fait accompli before the last two outings. Lopetegui will sadly miss Saturday’s match due to the passing of his father in Spain.
Wolverhampton, having axed Manager Gary O’Neil, will have its new man in place for the match with Leicester. Vitor Pereira arrives from Saudi Arabia to man the touchline against the Foxes. Unsurprisingly, the manager churn is at the bottom of the table where clubs are panicking. Leicester replaced its manager weeks ago.
Southampton sacked Russell Martin last week and is reportedly set to bring in Ivan Juric who was sacked by Roma after just 12 matches this season. The Saints’ U-21 manager, Simon Rusk, will handle interim duties versus Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
The sole managerial survivor of the three promoted clubs is Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town whose victory over Wolverhampton last week not only improved his own standing but saw counterpart Gary O’Neil sacked. The Tractor Boys are two points from safety as they entertain Newcastle at Portman Road. Newcastle’s attack has fired up over the last three matches to mixed results as the Magpies have a win, a draw and a loss to show for a run in which they scored nine goals.
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