Welcome to yet another promising weekend of the Barclays Premier League.
There are huge fixtures at both ends of the division this weekend, with Tottenham travelling to Chelsea and Manchester United facing West Ham as the race for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification heats up.
Down at the bottom, Watford host Norwich in what could be a very tasty relegation six-pointer, whilst Newcastle will be searching for a much-needed win when they travel to face a Leeds side who have pulled clear of danger. Pivotal encounters which could provide us with a intriguing relegation sub-plots as the second half of the campaign heats up.
So without further ado, here are the previews and predictions ahead of this weekend’s Premier League action:
Watford v Norwich City, Friday 8:00PM
Norwich City will be aiming to make it back-to-back Premier League wins when they travel to Vicarage Road on Friday night to take on fellow strugglers Watford.
The Canaries will enter the contest off the back of an hard-fought 2-1 win over Everton, while Watford came from behind to claim a point away to Newcastle United last time out.
Watford will enter the match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday; the Hornets were losing 1-0 until the 87th minute of the clash at St James’ Park, when Brazilian Joao Pedro came up with a vital equaliser to spare Ranieri’s blushes.
Claudio Ranieri’s side were due to return to action away to Burnley on Tuesday evening, but the match had to be postponed due to a lack of available players for the home side.
The draw with Newcastle actually ended a run of seven straight defeats in all competitions, but the Hornets have not managed to triumph in the Premier League since thrashing Manchester United 4-1 on November 20, and a total of 14 points from 19 matches has left them in 17th position in the table.
Ranieri’s team have the worst home record in the Premier League this term, picking up just seven points from their 10 matches, but Norwich have the third-worst away record in England’s top flight this season, losing seven of their 10 matches, collecting only five points in the process, making this game a very watchable battle.
Norwich, meanwhile, will enter the contest off the back of a huge 2-1 win over Everton on Saturday, with an own goal from Michael Keane and an effort from Adam Idah enough to overcome the Toffees at Carrow Road.
The Canaries have managed to move off the bottom of the table into 18th, but they have played three more games than Burnley and one more than Newcastle in 19th, which means Dean Smith’s men need to get points on the board. A lot could well change at the bottom once teams have managed to perform their outstanding fixtures.
Nevertheless, Dean Smith’s side have given themselves a fighting chance to stay in England’s top flight, and they have actually now won two of their last three matches in all competitions, having also overcome Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup on January 9.
Norwich have lost each of their last five league matches against Watford, though, including a 3-1 defeat when the two teams locked horns at Carrow Road in the Premier League back in September.
The Canaries last overcame Watford in England’s top flight back in May 2016, while they have not beaten the Hornets on their travels in the league since February 2015.
FUN FACT: Dean Smith can become the first Norwich City boss to win back-to-back Premier League games since Alex Neil in April 2016.
LEAGUE FORM:
Watford: LLLLLD
Norwich City: LLLLLW
KEY MEN: Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) & Teemu Pukki (Norwich)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Watford: Foster (GK); Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara; Kayembe; Dennis, Sissoko, Cleverley, Pedro; King
Norwich City: Gunn (GK); Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams; Sargent, Sorensen, Lees-Melou, Rashica; Pukki, Idah
SCORE PREDICTION: Watford 0-2 Norwich City
Everton v Aston Villa, Saturday 12:30pm
Everton, fresh from the sacking of Rafael Benitez prepare to welcome Aston Villa to Goodison Park for Saturday’s early kick-off.
The Toffees went down 2-1 to Norwich City in an embarrassing defeat last weekend, while Steven Gerrard’s side came from two goals down to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw versus Manchester United.
Many will argue the writing was always on the wall for Rafael Benitez since his first day at Everton, with the fans making their discontent known up to and during the Spaniard’s final game in charge, which ended in humiliation at Carrow Road.
Duncan Ferguson prepares to take on the challenge for the second time, amid links with Jose Mourinho, Frank Lampard, Graham Potter and former teenage protégé Wayne Rooney taking the reins, but for now, Ferguson’s job will simply be to temper the incredible slide and improve a terrible tally of just one win from their last 13 in the Premier League.
The club can forget about any European ambitions this season, as Ferguson takes temporary charge with his side down in 16th in the table – six points clear of 18th-placed Norwich City with two games in hand – and relegation is simply unthinkable for the Toffees.
The hosts can also boast a measly one win from their last six Premier League encounters at Goodison Park, so the new manager bounce cannot come soon enough for Everton, as their upcoming opponents sure are enjoying life under their recent appointment.
Aston Villa sent shockwaves in the January window with the captures of Philippe Coutinho – the Brazilian once again teaming up with former teammate Steven Gerrard – and Lucas Digne from Saturday’s opponents. Villa were indebted to their new magician as they impressively came back from two goals down to share the spoils with Manchester United on an electric occasion at Villa Park.
Aston Villa playing out a Premier League draw is certainly a collector’s item – the Lions had not shared the points in a top-flight fixture since August before the visit of Man United – and Gerrard’s side now find themselves 13th in the standings ahead of the weekend.
Villa’s draw with the Red Devils was quite the way to end their three-game losing streak across all tournaments, but five defeats from their last seven away from home in the Premier League is an alarming statistic, which the travelling fans will certainly hope to see rectified given their winter arrivals.
Everton fell to a humbling 3-0 defeat at Villa Park when the sides first met back in September and also suffered a 2-1 loss on home soil last term, but not since the 2000-01 season have Aston Villa secured a top-flight double over the Merseyside club.
FUN FACT: Everton could lose back-to-back home league games against Aston Villa for the first time since March 1998.
LEAGUE FORM:
Everton: LWLDLL
Aston Villa: WLWLLD
KEY MEN: Demarai Gray (Everton) & Jacob Ramsey (Villa)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Everton: Pickford (GK); Godfrey, Mina, Keane, Mykolenko; Townsend, Doucoure, Gomes, Gray; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Aston Villa: Martinez (GK); Cash, Hause, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho
SCORE PREDICTION: Everton 2-2 Aston Villa
Brentford vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, 3:00PM
Wolverhampton Wanderers will seek to maintain their charge for a coveted top-four place when they travel to Brentford for Saturday afternoon’s Premier League contest.
The Bees suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in midweek, while Bruno Lage’s resurgent side came up trumps by the same scoreline against Southampton last weekend.
If the first half at the Brentford Community Stadium was anything to go by, Thomas Frank’s side may have felt quietly confident of securing a famous win over Man United, with David de Gea called into action on a couple of occasions before Ralf Rangnick’s men came out all guns blazing in the second 45.
Despite posting some eye-catching results during their first-ever Premier League campaign, Brentford still have plenty of work to do to cement their status as a top-flight club, with the Bees now 14th in the table and 10 points clear of 18th-placed Norwich City having played a game more.
As a testament to Thomas Frank’s newcomers, it would be a genuine surprise to see the Bees dragged into a relegation dogfight at this stage of the season, but Frank has now overseen three successive defeats in the English top-flight, with his side shipping 10 goals in the process.
The Bees have also recorded just one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League games at the Brentford Community Stadium, and now is certainly not the time to face a side with a knack for defensive discipline.
James Ward-Prowse may have put his name in the hat for the Goal of the Season award with his incredibly taken free kick, but the joy ended there for Southampton’s dead-ball specialist, as Wolves took the spoils at Molineux with three goals from three different goalscorers last weekend.
Raul Jimenez’s penalty, Conor Coady’s header and Adama Traore’s first goal of the season at the 19th time of asking propelled Bruno Lage’s side to a precious three points after an enthralling contest, one which has seen them keep pace with the European-challenging pack.
The visitors prepare for Saturday’s contest sitting eighth in the table – now just six points behind fourth-placed West Ham United with two games in hand – but the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have their own games in hand which they will endeavour to take advantage of.
However, Wolves have now taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer in the Premier League and have won their last three in a row across all competitions – conceding just once in that time – and only Manchester City can boast a better defensive record than Lage’s side in the current top-flight season, an impressive feat.
Brentford did manage to secure a 2-0 win at Molineux earlier in the season, but Wolves have gone up a notch or two defensively since the autumn, even if their attacking capabilities do still leave a lot to be desired on some occasions.
FUN FACT: Brentford have suffered a league-high 10 defeats in 15 games since mid-October, conceding 30 goals during that period.
LEAGUE FORM:
Brentford: LLWLLL
Wolves: LLWDWW
KEY MEN: Ivan Toney (Brentford) & Raul Jimenez (Wolves)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Brentford: Fernandez (GK); Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock; Canos, Norgaard, Janelt, Jensen, Henry; Toney, Mbeumo
Wolves: Sa (GK); Kilman, Coady, Gomes; Semedo, Neves, Moutinho, Ait-Nouri; Traore, Jimenez, Podence
SCORE PREDICTION: Brentford 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leeds United v Newcastle United, 3:00PM
With discontent growing around the club especially during this month’s transfer window, Newcastle United continue their battle for Premier League safety with Saturday’s trip to Leeds United.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side edged a thrilling contest with West Ham United 3-2 last time out, while the Magpies were forced to settle for a point against Watford.
Jack Harrison took centre stage during Leeds’ battle with West Ham at the London Stadium last time out, as the former Manchester City man took home the match ball after propelling the Whites to a crucial and impressive win over the top-four challengers.
Having gained an immediate measure of revenge after being dumped out of the FA Cup by the Hammers, Leeds and their 100% start to the Premier League in 2022 have risen to 15th in the standings – nine points above the relegation zone with a game in hand on 18th-placed Norwich City.
Bielsa’s side endured a wholly forgettable first half of the campaign, but they could now win as many games in the first month of 2022 as they did throughout the entire second half of 2021, although their long-standing defensive issues are still coming to the fore.
Indeed, a tally of 39 goals conceded is the most outside the bottom three, and they have shipped 19 of those strikes in their last seven top-flight games, so Newcastle would choose no better time to take advantage of such woes and improve the mood at St James’ Park.
Allan Saint-Maximin may have been up to his old tricks once again, but a priceless three points against a relegation rival passed Newcastle United by against Watford, who rallied to take a point back down to Vicarage Road last weekend.
It’s a recurring theme for Eddie Howe’s men, just when you’ve think they’ve grabbed a priceless win, it get snatched away from them at the last moment due to lapses in concentration in defence.
The boos rang out around St James’ Park following the final whistle, with the home crowd also witnessing their side become the victim of an FA Cup giant killing to Cambridge United seven days before, and Howe’s men remain 19th in the standings and two points adrift of safety.
The signings of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood cannot come good soon enough for the Magpies, who have seen their hopes of landing Diego Carlos from Sevilla take a hit in recent days, and Howe is fighting an uphill battle to finally secure Newcastle’s first away win of the Premier League season.
Newcastle have conceded nine goals across their three most recent Premier League defeats away from home and shared the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate with Leeds earlier this season, but last season’s trip to Elland Road ended in a comprehensive 5-2 defeat for the Magpies, surely no repeat this time round?
FUN FACT: This will be Eddie Howe’s 200th match as a Premier League manager: W57, D47, L95.
LEAGUE FORM:
Leeds United: DLLLWW
Newcastle United: WLLLDD
KEY MEN: Raphinha (Leeds United) & Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Leeds: Meslier (GK); Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Dallas; Koch; Raphinha, Bate, Klich, Harrison; Rodrigo
Newcastle: Dubravka (GK); Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Lewis; Longstaff, Shelvey, Joelinton; Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin
SCORE PREDICTION: Leeds United 2-2 Newcastle United
Manchester United vs West Ham United, 3:00PM
In a potentially pivotal game for both sides’ top-four hopes, Manchester United and West Ham United prepare for battle at Old Trafford in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
The Red Devils prevailed 3-1 at Brentford in midweek, while David Moyes’s men went down 3-2 at home to Leeds United.
It would not be a Manchester United match without David de Gea being forced to bail his side out on one or two occasions, but Ralf Rangnick’s side found their clinical goalscoring touch in the second half to ultimately see off Brentford with ease.
Such a result was a convincing way for Man United to end their two-game winless streak in the top flight, but the Red Devils are still rank outsiders when it comes to the top-four battle, as Rangnick’s side lie seventh in the rankings before this weekend’s crunch battle.
The Hammers sit just two points above Man United having played a game more, so the hosts could certainly blow the Champions League race wide open with victory here, and not since 1985 have the Red Devils opened the calendar year with back-to-back top-flight defeats at home.
A tally of just one clean sheet from their last 15 Premier League games at Old Trafford will be of some concern to Rangnick, though, and the attacking talent in the visitors’ ranks are primed to make their manager’s return to the Theatre of Dreams a memorable one.
The visit of Leeds to the London Stadium was never going to be an encounter where defences would take centre stage, but unfortunately for the home faithful, West Ham were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller in the capital.
The Hammers’ four-game winning streak across all competitions came to a bitter end on their own turf at the weekend, but Moyes’s side are clinging onto that fourth and final Champions League spot by the thinnest of threads, as Man United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal all apply the pressure.
West Ham’s 3-2 defeat to Leeds represented the fifth Premier League game in a row that Moyes had witnessed his side chalk up at least two goals, and bagging seven goals in their previous two away wins versus Watford and Crystal Palace stands them in good stead before a daunting trip north.
Moyes’s side have already got the better of Man United at Old Trafford in this season’s EFL Cup, but the Red Devils edged a tightly-fought contest 2-1 in the capital back in September, as former Hammer Jesse Lingard sunk the London club.
FUN FACT: West Ham will be aiming to become only the fourth side ever to win to away twice against Manchester United in the same season.
LEAGUE FORM:
Man Utd: WDWLDW
West Ham: LLWWWL
KEY MEN: Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) & Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Man Utd: De Gea (GK); Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Telles; Fred, McTominay; Greenwood, Fernandes, Elanga; Rashford
West Ham: Fabianski (GK); Coufal, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals; Antonio
SCORE PREDICTION: Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United
Southampton v Manchester City, 5:30PM
Premier League leaders Manchester City will be looking to claim their 13th successive league victory when they face Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday evening.
The Saints, meanwhile, who played out a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, could move into the top 10 if they were to secure all three points on home soil.
Southampton’s five-game unbeaten run across all competitions came to an end last weekend when they were beaten 3-1 away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That result has seen Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men slip to 12th in the table, 11 points clear of the relegation zone and the same number of points behind the top seven.
Hasenhuttl’s side also suffered defeat against Wolves on home soil earlier this season, but that has been their only league loss in 10 games at St Mary’s this campaign – drawing six and winning three of the other nine – a record which will give them confidence ahead of Saturday’s clash with the champions and current run-away leaders.
The Saints will also take note of their resilient display at the Etihad Stadium in September last year when they played out a goalless draw, though many would argue that Hasenhuttl’s men were unlucky not to come away with all three points on that occasion.
Another impressive defensive masterclass will be required on Saturday if they are to avoid defeat in both league meetings with City for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign.
However, since keeping a clean sheet against the Citizens, Southampton have only recorded three shutouts in their last 16 league matches, shipping 27 goals in the process.
While Pep Guardiola insists that the title race is not over just yet, Manchester City fans are sure to feel confident of clinching their fourth top-flight crown in five years following their slender 1-0 win over title rivals Chelsea last weekend.
Kevin De Bruyne haunted his former club with the decisive strike in the 70th minute to seal all three points for the Citizens, who now sit 11 points clear of Liverpool in second place, having played a game more.
City are unstoppable at present, and without a recognised striker, Guardiola’s men continue to excel in front of goal, netting 34 times during their 12-game winning streak in the Premier League.
However, the Sky Blues were unable to breach Southampton’s backline on home soil earlier this season, taking 16 shots on goal but registering only one on target. City have in fact failed to score in two of their last four league meetings against the Saints despite finding the net in each of their previous 16 against them.
Guardiola’s buoyant bunch will be anything but concerned about such a statistic, and having opened the scoring in more different Premier League fixtures than any other side this season, going on to win all 17 matches in the process, another potential opener on Saturday should give them the platform to secure yet another top-flight victory.
City are six points better off than at this stage last season, and another win on Saturday would see them move 14 points clear at the summit before Liverpool face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
FUN FACT: Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has kept a clean sheet in exactly 50% of his Premier League games (83 in 166 matches).
LEAGUE FORM:
Southampton: LDWDWL
Man City: WWWWWW
KEY MEN: James Ward-Prowse (Saints) & Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Southampton: Forster (GK); Bednarek, Lyanco, Salisu; Walker-Peters, Diallo, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Perraud; Adams, Broja
Manchester City: Ederson (GK); Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, B. Silva; Jesus, Foden, Sterling
SCORE PREDICTION: Southampton 1-3 Manchester City
Arsenal vs Burnley, Sunday 2:00PM
Seeking to put the disappointment of Thursday’s EFL Cup exit behind them, Arsenal return to Premier League action with the visit of Burnley to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners currently find themselves sixth in the table – two worse points off fourth-placed West Ham United – while Sean Dyche’s men remain rooted to the bottom of the pile.
Another day, another Arsenal red card – this time to a player who had barely become accustomed to life back in England again before being made to take the walk of shame, as Thomas Partey’s sending off rounded off a miserable Thursday evening for Mikel Arteta’s side.
It is now top four or bust for Arsenal after Thursday’s EFL Cup defeat – whose request to postpone last weekend’s North London derby was granted amid widespread condemnation from rival fans and pundits – and they have now been leapfrogged by their bitter rivals following their dramatic late comeback versus Leicester City.
January has been a truly forgettable month for the Gunners with three defeats and a draw from four games in all competitions – failing to score in each of their last three – but Premier League games at the Emirates is where Arteta’s men have typically excelled.
Arsenal’s tally of 22 points from 10 home games this term is the third best in the league, and they even gave Manchester City a good run for their money on New Year’s Day, so the Premier League’s basement side have their work cut out to make one of their several games in hand count for something.
Many Arsenal fans were quick to point out that Burnley’s wave of postponed matches did not lead to similar uproar which we saw for the North London derby cancellation, as Dyche’s side saw their relegation six-pointer with Watford called off due to a long list of absentees.
Amid calls for rule changes from the under-fire Premier League bosses regarding the criteria for postponements, Burnley – who have now played six games fewer than Chelsea, the busiest team in the league with 23 – travel to the Emirates with a glimmer of hope of clambering to safety.
The Clarets have not taken to the pitch since being dumped out of the FA Cup by Huddersfield Town on January 8 – their third loss on the bounce in all tournaments – but they are only three points adrift of 17th-placed Watford with two games in hand on the Hornets.
Many eyes will be on how Burnley plan to replace Chris Wood after somewhat inexplicably allowing their top Premier League goalscorer to leave for a direct relegation rival, but it is also desperate times on the turf for this week’s visitors, who are one of only two teams – along with Newcastle United – still winless away from home in the 2021-22 top-flight season.
It will take something of a miracle for Sean Dyche’s men to get something away to Arsenal, and how the Burnley boss needs many of those during the latter half of the season.
FUN FACT: Burnley have dropped 14 points from winning positions, compared to five at the same stage last season.
LEAGUE FORM:
Arsenal: LWWWWL
Burnley: DDLDLL
KEY MEN: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) & Josh Brownhill (Burnley)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Arsenal: Ramsdale (GK); Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Lokonga, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Lacazette
Burnley: Pope (GK); Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Cork, Westwood, Brownhill; Lennon, Rodriguez
SCORE PREDICTION: Arsenal 3-0 Burnley
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool, 2:00PM
Fresh from booking their place in the EFL Cup final, Liverpool return to Premier League action seeking another Selhurst Park spectacular against Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, the hosts are returning to action nine days after playing out an enthralling 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in the M23 derby.
A missed penalty, a woodwork hit and plenty of VAR controversy – Palace’s showdown with Brighton typified a proper Premier League derby. However, Patrick Vieira may be counting his lucky stars that his side travelled back from the Amex with a point to their name, with Brighton missing a whole host of chances including Jack Butland saving a Pascal Gross penalty.
Palace’s search for a first Premier League win of 2022 goes on, but Vieira’s side are sitting comfortably in 11th position before the weekend’s fixtures kick off, with 10th-placed Leicester City one point clear having played two games fewer.
For all of the attacking talent at Vieira’s disposal, a paltry tally of two wins from their last 10 in the Premier League represents that of a side still with great strides to make if they are to establish themselves as a top-half outfit, but home is where the heart is for the Eagles.
Vieira’s side have only lost two of their 11 top-flight games at Selhurst Park this season and have scored at least two goals in each of their last four on home soil, but Liverpool certainly have fond memories of playing at this ground.
Any fears of Liverpool producing an equally woeful attacking performance without Sadio Mane and Mo Salah in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final with Arsenal were quickly extinguished on Thursday, as Diogo Jota lit up the Emirates to propel the Reds into next month’s final, taking his tally against Arsenal to six goals in his last six, and also his 14th of a stunning season.
The Portuguese spun Takehiro Tomiyasu before seeing his scuffed effort put Liverpool in the ascendancy before the half-time whistle, and he proceeded to double his side’s tally with a delightful dink over the onrushing Aaron Ramsdale – initially chalked off for offside before a VAR review – with Jurgen Klopp’s men now preparing for a shot at glory versus Chelsea.
The Anfield faithful will certainly welcome that opportunity for silverware as the Premier League title slips further and further away from them, with Klopp’s side currently 11 points behind Manchester City with a game in hand after putting three unanswered goals past Brentford last Sunday.
Three consecutive clean sheets across all competitions certainly serves as reason for optimism for this Liverpool side, who will be determined to end their three-game winless run away from home in the Premier League at a stadium which was certainly kind to them last year.
Ex-Palace boss Roy Hodgson was forced to witness his Crystal Palace side succumb to a humiliating 7-0 defeat in this fixture last season, which marked Liverpool’s ninth Premier League win on the bounce versus the Eagles, and their sixth in succession away from home.
FUN FACT: 11 competitive wins for Jurgen Klopp against Crystal Palace – his highest tally versus a single club as Liverpool manager.
LEAGUE FORM:
Crystal Palace: WDLWLD
Liverpool: LDWDWW
KEY MEN: Conor Gallagher (Palace) & Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Crystal Palace: Butland (GK); Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Schlupp, Hughes, Gallagher; Olise, Edouard, Eze
Liverpool: Alisson (GK); Alexander-Arnold; Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Jones; Jota, Firmino, Minamino
SCORE PREDICTION: Crystal Palace 1-3 Liverpool
Leicester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion, 2:00PM
Brighton & Hove Albion will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six matches when they travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.
The Seagulls are currently ninth in the table, picking up 29 points from their 21 league games this term, while Leicester are 10th, four points behind their opponents here with two matches in hand.
Leicester have not been able to launch a top-four challenge thus far this season, with a total of 25 points from 19 matches leaving them in 10th spot in the table, some 12 points behind fourth-placed West Ham United.
The Foxes were on the verge of securing what would have been a huge three points against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, leading Antonio Conte’s side 2-1 entering the final exchanges, but Steven Bergwijn scored in the 95th and 97th minute to hand Spurs a 3-2 victory at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester have now lost three of their last five in the league, but they have been victorious in three of their last four Premier League fixtures at the King Power Stadium, beating Watford, Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Brendan Rodgers’s side have struggled badly with injuries this season, and they are entering a difficult run of games, facing Liverpool and West Ham in their next two league matches after this one, in addition to travelling to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup at the start of February.
The FA Cup holders suffered a 2-1 loss to Brighton in the Premier League at the Amex back in September but were 3-0 winners in the corresponding match at the King Power Stadium last term.
Brighton, meanwhile, will enter the contest off the back of a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Tuesday evening, with Adam Webster cancelling out a first-half goal from Hakim Ziyech at the Amex.
The Seagulls are unbeaten in their last five matches in England’s top flight, beating Brentford and Everton, in addition to drawing with Chelsea (home and away) and Crystal Palace.
The visitors will be without head coach Graham Potter this weekend, as the Englishman has tested positive for coronavirus, so assistant manager Billy Reid will lead the team.
Brighton have won six, drawn 11 and lost four of their 21 Premier League matches this season to collect 29 points, which has left them in ninth position in the table, just two points behind eighth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, so it has been a brilliant campaign for the club to date.
The Seagulls have also lost just one of their 10 away top-flight matches this season, holding West Ham, Southampton and Chelsea, in addition to beating Everton, in their last four on their travels.
FUN FACT: Brighton earned their first Premier League victory against Leicester at the ninth attempt in September this season (D2, L6). Albion could do the league double against them for only the third time.
LEAGUE FORM:
Leicester City: DLWLWL
Brighton: LWDWDD
KEY MEN: James Maddison (Leicester City) & Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Leicester City: Schmeichel (GK); Justin, Amartey, Soyuncu, Thomas; Dewsbury-Hall, Tielemans; Lookman, Maddison, Barnes; Daka
Brighton: Sanchez (GK); Veltman, Webster, Burn, Cucurella; Moder, Gross; Lamptey, Mac Allister, Trossard; Maupay
SCORE PREDICTION: Leicester City 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur, Sunday 4:30PM
One of the standout fixtures on the Premier League calendar will take place at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, as Chelsea welcome London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The Blues are currently third in the table, eight points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, but Antonio Conte’s side have four games in hand on the hosts, having seen a number of recent matches postponed.
Chelsea’s hopes of maintaining a title challenge this season have evaporated in recent weeks, with the Blues winning just one of their last seven in the Premier League, picking up just three points from their last four matches during a disappointing run.
The Blues fought back to claim a point in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the start of the month but suffered a damaging 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the league last weekend before being held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex on Tuesday night.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are now third in the table, 12 points behind leaders Man City, who have a game in hand, while the European Cup holders are eight points clear of fifth-placed Spurs, who have four matches in hand, so their position in the Champions League spots is far from secure.
Chelsea have already beaten Tottenham twice this month, though, recording a 2-0 victory in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge before winning the reverse match in North London 1-0.
The Blues have also won their last four games against Spurs in all competitions, including a 3-0 success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in September, while they are unbeaten against the North London club in England’s top flight since November 2018.
Tottenham were involved in an incredible match against Leicester City on Wednesday; Conte’s side were losing 2-1 until the 95th minute, when Steven Bergwijn levelled the scores, before the Netherlands international came up with a winner for the capital side in the 97th minute.
The 3-2 success made it three wins in their last four Premier League matches, while Spurs are still unbeaten in England’s top flight since Conte’s arrival as head coach, with the Italian winning six and drawing three of his nine league fixtures at the helm.
Tottenham’s position in the table is even more impressive considering that they have a number of games to make up due to COVID-19-related postponements, and the North London side could end the weekend in fourth depending on what happens between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Conte will certainly know what to expect at Stamford Bridge, with the 52-year-old managing the Blues between 2016 and 2018, delivering one Premier League title and one FA Cup, and there is no question that he will be determined to get one over on his old club this weekend.
Spurs have certainly had their problems this season but securing a top-four spot would have to go down as a positive campaign, while they can still secure cup success this season, with Brighton their opponents in the next round of the FA Cup at the start of February.
FUN FACT: Spurs have failed to score in their last five games against Chelsea in all competitions. The club have never gone six without a goal against an opponent.
LEAGUE FORM:
Chelsea: DWDDLD
Tottenham: WDWDWW
KEY BATTLES:
Romelu Lukaku v Eric Dier; Sergio Reguillon v Cesar Azpilicueta
LIKELY-LINE-UPS:
Chelsea: Kepa (GK); Sarr, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Lukaku, Werner
Tottenham: Lloris (GK); Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Skipp, Winks, Hojbjerg, Reguilon; Kane, Lucas
SCORE PREDICTION: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
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