With the major leagues around Europe getting over another demanding weekend of highs and lows the English Premier League is back on track with a host of games on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is because the weekend was taken over by the FA Cup. These Premier league fixtures look irresistible as the league title is still on for some, then there is the scrap for a Champions League place and relegation is open to a few clubs too.
TUESDAY
Arsenal will take on Watford it what is expected to be a home win. The Gunners are currently in 2nd place and a win here could see Arsene Wenger’s team put genuine pressure on Chelsea. Arsenal have won their last 5 games at home and have only lost 1 game at the Emirates all season.Watford in mid-table has drawn 3 of their last five games.
The pressure is on Leicester City to start collecting points and fast as they head to tricky Turf Moor to play Burnley. The Premier league champions are just five points from safety and losing this game could see them getting sucked down to the danger zone.Burnley have been terrific at home where they have won their last 4 games in a row and based on home matches only would be the fourth best team in the league.
If Tottenham want to stay with the chasing pack and have a possible title chance they must travel to Sunderland and get all three points. On the face of it this should be a straight forward win for the north Londoners. Sunderland have lost 4 of their last 5 matches and have conceded at least 2 goals per game in their last five matches. Tottenham have looked superb in January, scoring 4 goals on three different occasions.
The big match today is of course the meeting of Liverpool and Chelsea. The home team have been in meltdown since the turn of the year, slipping in the league, knocked out of the FA and EFL Cups, it has been back to the drawing board for manager Jurgen Klopp. Many believe that a loss here would scupper any chances of a league title as they would drop 13 points behind the leaders Chelsea. The Blues have the best away record in the league.
Wednesday
Manchester City have all the qualities to beat their opponents West Ham United as was seen in the FA Cup when they destroyed the Hammers 5-0. However in the league it hasn’t been all plain sailing for Pep Guardiola’s side, in fact some believe considering the money spent in the summer the return has been rather poor. City are now down to 5th place and 12 points behind Chelsea. They have won just 1 match in their past four games. West Ham West Ham have been in good solid form and have risen to 10th place well within safety of the relegation zone.
Manchester United will be expected to beat Hull City- with the team finding a rich vein of form, the players finally look settled. And unpredictable Everton will face a tough and tricky trip against Stoke City.