1) Fading Brighton face tough task
Brighton’s four defeats on the spin appeared to come from nowhere and, in the space of three weeks, doubled their number of losses for the season. They will not be relegated but a European spot is surely now out of the question, with no guarantees things will turn dramatically when Liverpool visit. “Every team will have a tough period and we’re going through ours now,” said the midfielder Steven Alzate, one of few Seagulls players to come out with much credit from the defeat at Newcastle. Brighton do tend to give Liverpool a game, on the positive side. They drew this fixture last season and their comeback from two down to earn a point at Anfield may yet come to be an episode. Jürgen Klopp regrets bitterly when he looks back at the title race. Before what looks to be a defining four weeks for Klopp’s hopes, with Liverpool due to visit Arsenal and Manchester City, Alzate and company will hope to put another huge spanner in the works. NA
2) A six-pointer for the top-four chasers
The equation is fairly simple for Manchester United and Tottenham. This is a game neither can really afford to lose as they pursue Arsenal for a top-four spot. In the hosts’ case, losing further ground when the Gunners will have four games in hand on Saturday night would be particularly costly. A win would at least put them fourth and give rivals something to topple. It will be intriguing to see how these two sides respond, respectively, to a crushing derby defeat and a thumping win over a dejected Everton. Spurs’ lack of consistency is chronic but a fourth league win in five would alleviate some of Antonio Conte’s concerns and show their sensational victory last time they were in Manchester was no fluke. For United, all bets are off, whether or not Cristiano Ronaldo is able to return from his hip flexor problem. It would not be shocking to see either side win by two or three. Given their new-found position of supremacy, Arsenal can have fun sitting back and seeing who comes off worse. NA
3) Chelsea face Magpies amid turmoil
Even if she had hacked into the Premier League’s fixture computer, a Russian cyber felon could hardly have arranged a more striking match-up for Chelsea. After a week in which the west London club have had a financial clamp put on them because of their owner’s undesirable connections, Thomas Tuchel’s side are to host none other than Newcastle United, a de facto public relations vehicle for a Saudi regime accused of committing war crimes in Yemen, among other atrocities. Sunday’s match at Stamford Bridge will be brought to you in association with Hypocrisy. P.S.
Football Weekly
Football Weekly Extra: what next for Chelsea?
4) Wavering Wolves go to Goodison
Not for the first time since their takeover, Wolves got themselves into a brilliant position from which to attack a top-four spot, then flopped. Last time it happened, in 2019-20, it was easy to blame Nuno Espirito Santo, whose tepid approach did a colossal disservice to a talented group who were capable of much better. Bruno Lage generally sends his team out to play positively and yet, the moment the Champions League was in sight, things again went wrong. Wolves were knocked out of the FA Cup by Norwich and then beaten at home by Arsenal. After rallying with two wins, Lage’s side then lost three in a row, their late collapse in the Arsenal return particularly embarrassing. Victory over Watford, though, means they travel to Merseyside in good heart, to meet another relegation-threatened side. There’s a good chance this will be the nervous, scrappiest match of the weekend – and all the most enjoyable for it. HD
5) No Vardy, maybe a party for Gunners
The good news keeps on coming for Arsenal. Jamie Vardy has scored 11 times against them in 14 appearances and, in Leicester’s last two visits to the Emirates, came up with game-altering goals in the dying minutes. Aaron Ramsdale, who was not on the receiving end of those contributions but has faced Vardy with Bournemouth and Sheffield United, says the striker is “the one I hate playing against most”. On Sunday Ramsdale and his teammates will be spared. Vardy has a knee problem and will miss the next month or so, meaning Arsenal are at no risk of a repeat performance from their nemesis. Not so long ago, Leicester were widely seen as the shining example for a flailing Arsenal. The league table does not make that case anymore and a fifth straight win looks well within Mikel Arteta’s grasp, especially as the Foxes faced Rennes on Thursday night. Vardy’s absence will do the hosts no harm. NA
6) Leeds trip offers hope for Smith
Dean Smith described last weekend’s match against Brentford as a “must-not-lose”. Unfortunately, Norwich lost it. Saturday brings another six-pointer against Leeds, dragged into the relegation look following the desperate run that brought an end to Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure. There is still hope for Norwich, because Everton may also be in free-fall. It was Norwich’s 2-1 win at Carrow Road in January that prompted the dismissal of Rafael Benítez and the subsequent arrival of Frank Lampard. If Norwich can muster maximum points against another relegation rival it probably won’t prompt another managerial change – it will only be Jesse Marsch’s third match in charge – but the battle to avoid the drop could look tighter than ever. LM
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7) Eriksen can deepen Burnley’s problems
Another six-pointer? There is an argument that Burnley’s visit to Brentford constitutes one of those, given Sean Dyche’s side can catch up with the Bees by winning their two games in hand. Brentford have played more times than anyone in the bottom half and are far from out of the woods, although last weekend’s convincing win at Norwich offered huge relief after a torrid run. Safety will loom into view if they can break Burnley down. Christian Eriksen’s presence could work wonders, given the guile he has added. The Danish playmaker was excellent against the Canaries in his first start and has returned in remarkably good shape. Burnley were brought sharply down to earth from their upturn in form by successive home defeats to Leicester and Chelsea, and this is not the time for grinding out draws. NA
8) Palace seek unlikely City double
As one of only two teams to have beaten Manchester City in the Premier League this season, Crystal Palace may be one of the biggest obstacles remaining between Pep Guardiola’s side and another title triumph. Aymeric Laporte certainly cannot dispute that claim. The centre-back seems very likely to start with Rúben Dias out injured, but was given the run-around by Palace in October. Laporte was dispossessed in the build-up Palace’s first goal and was tormented by Wilfried Zaha for 45 minutes before getting himself sent off for hacking the forward down. Liverpool, who certainly know what it is like to blow a title chance at Selhurst Park, will be hoping for more of the same on Monday. P.S.
9) Gerrard seeks another statement win
It’s been a mixed start at Villa Park for Steven Gerrard. In 14 league games, his team have beaten just one side currently sitting in the top half of the table – Southampton, last week. And there remain questions about Gerrard’s management of him. Perhaps he got lucky at Rangers, taking advantage of Celtic’s unsuccessful rehiring of Neil Lennon. Gerrard’s old side, meanwhile, look just as good under Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Though he’s still learning the role, the importance of a “well done” from someone of his standing as a player should not be underestimated. He may have hit upon the formation which serves his best players best. The 4-3-1-2 he has adopted gives him solidity and enterprise in midfield, allows Philippe Coutinho to roam, and imposes both Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings upon opposing centre-backs. Villa should fancy their chances against a weary West Ham. HD
10) Saints to welcome back Salisu’s skills
In addition to Ralph Hassenhüttl’s gripes about Newcastle’s January signings and their postponed meeting, he now has some good old-fashioned fixture congestion to deal with, with three matches to play in nine days. After a heartening run, last weekend’s heavy defeat by Aston Villa was a significant wobble. The return of Mohammed Salisu, one of Saints’ outstanding performers this season among a buoyant squad, is a reason to be cheerful and to enjoy for now. Trying to hang on to Saints’ best players, such as Salisu, in the summer will shift into focus over the coming weeks. LM
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism