Premier League Preview Gameweek 24
Manchester City expanded the gap at the top of the Premier League last weekend following an emphatic 4-1 win away at Liverpool. Man United conceded a late goal in their 3-3 draw with Everton, creating a five-point gap between the two Manchester rivals in first and second place in the table. Towards the bottom, West Brom and Sheffield United lost again, leaving a huge gap between them and safety, while Fulham picked up a solid point at home to West Ham.
This weekend, two big clashes take place with Leicester hosting Liverpool and Man City facing Tottenham. Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back against the Foxes, while City could extend their excellent winning run to 15 games with a win on Saturday. In mid-table, out of form Southampton take on stuttering Wolves, Arsenal play Leeds and an improving Brighton take on Aston Villa.
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Leicester v Liverpool
After a disappointing 3-1 loss to Leeds two weeks ago, Leicester have bounced back with a 2-0 win over Fulham and a 0-0 draw away at Wolves. The results keep the Foxes’ in third place and seven points off leaders Man City. Brendan Rodgers’ side have only lost one in their last 10 Premier League games, winning five and drawing four. Leicester have won just five of their 13 wins have come at the King Power this season but three of these wins have come in the last six home games.
Liverpool were dismantled 4-1 by Man City last weekend and have now suffered back-to-back losses, following a 1-0 home defeat to Brighton two weeks ago. In their last nine Premier League games, the Reds have won just two and suffered four defeats. However, Liverpool’s away form has been a saving grace; they have won three of their last five on the road and lost just one, scored 14 and only conceded three goals.
Wes Morgan is ruled out for Leicester with a back injury while Timothy Castagne, Wesley Fofana, and Dennis Praet are unavailable due to respective thigh injuries. Virgil van Dijk (knee), Joe Gomez (knee), Naby Keita (match fitness), Joel Matip (ankle), and Diogo Jota (knee) remain unavailable for Liverpool.
Liverpool have not suffered three defeats in a row this season and they will be raring to get a victory against Leicester on Saturday. Leicester will get on the scoresheet, but Liverpool may just edge this one by the odd goal.
Man City v Tottenham
Man City extended their winning run to 14 games last week with a 4-1 away win over Liverpool – a joint record for most consecutive wins ever in England’s top-flight. City looked comfortable in the victory and have not lost in the Premier League for 14 games. Pep Guardiola’s side have also conceded just one in their last seven and scored 19 goals. At home, City have dropped just seven points from a possible 33, winning their last five on the bounce.
Tottenham returned to winning ways last weekend following a three-match losing streak, beating relegation threatened West Brom 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The returning Harry Kane was on the scoresheet and helped his side to just their second league win in their last six games. Spurs’ away record has been poor of late. The North London side have won just once in their last six on the road, losing two and drawing three.
Kevin De Bruyne (thigh), Sergio Aguero (coronavirus), and Nathan Ake (match fitness) are ruled out for City. Spurs will be without Giovani Lo Celso (thigh) and Sergio Reguilon (muscular injury).
In the last meeting between these two sides, Tottenham comfortably won 2-0 and went top of the Premier League. However, fast forward three months, and the tables have turned. City are top, look unbeatable, and should record an 11th consecutive league win on Saturday.
Brighton v Aston Villa
Following a nine-match run without a win, Brighton have started 2021 brightly and extended their unbeaten run to five games following a 1-1 draw with Burnley last time out. Graham Potter’s side have picked up three impressive wins in their last five, defeating Leeds and Liverpool away and Spurs at home. Brighton have also conceded just one goal in their last five matches and kept consecutive clean sheets at the Amex for the first time this season, shutting out Fulham and Spurs in their last two home games.
Despite beating Arsenal 1-0 at home last weekend, Aston Villa’s form remains patchy. In their last seven matches, Villa have won three, lost four, and failed to put together a run of two games without defeat since late December. Dean Smith’s side have struggled away recently too losing three and drawing one of their last five on the road. However, Villa did beat Southampton 1-0 in their last away game.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (thigh), Davy Propper (groin), Tariq Lamptey (thigh), Florin Andone (knee), and Solly March (knee) are all unavailable for Brighton but Adam Webster is set to return from an ankle injury. For Villa, Wesley (knee) and Kortney Hause (ankle) remain side-lined long-term.
Brighton have been much improved since the turn of the year, while Villa have struggled to reclaim their excellent early season form. As a result, Brighton should continue their unbeaten run with a win at home this weekend.
Arsenal v Leeds
Arsenal suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time since mid-December last week. Away losses to Wolves and Aston Villa abruptly ended the Gunners previous spell of seven games unbeaten and has seen them slip to 10th in the league. But Arsenal’s home form looks solid. Mikel Arteta’s side are five games unbeaten at the Emirates in the Premier League and have kept three consecutive clean sheets against Crystal Palace, Newcastle, and Man United recently.
Leeds breezed past Crystal Palace earlier this week with a straight forward 2-0 victory at Elland Road. It was Leeds’ third win in four matches and their first clean sheet in six games. Marcelo Bielsa’s side also recorded back-to-back away wins for the first time since October recently, beating Newcastle and Leicester on the road in recent weeks. Six of Leeds’ 10 Premier League wins have come away from Elland Road this season and they are yet to record a league draw away.
David Luiz and Bernd Leno will return from suspension this weekend but Kieran Tierney (calf) and Thomas Partey (thigh) could miss out. Robin Koch (knee), Ian Poveda (ankle), Adam Forshaw (groin), Gaetano Berardi (knee), Rodrigo (groin), and Diego Llorente (muscular injury) are all ruled out for Leeds. Pablo Hernandez could return from a small muscular injury this weekend.
Although Leeds are in better form, Arsenal will be hard to beat at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta will be eager to avoid defeat so a narrow Arsenal win, or a score draw could be likely between these two.
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