Premier League preview: the big talking points ahead of the weekend’s action
Manchester City replaced Liverpool as leaders in the Premier League in midweek but could find themselves down in second by the time they host Chelsea on Sunday. Here we delve into some of the big talking points dominating this weekend’s Premier League matches.
Will Marco Silva’s Watford return end in tears?
Marco Silva has been given the dreaded vote of confidence at Everton and it would be ironic if a damaging defeat against former club Watford proved the straw that broke the camel’s back.
It was Everton’s interest in Silva during his time at Watford that started his demise at Vicarage Road and ended up ruining the Portuguese’s relationship with the club. Everton eventually got their man last summer, after Silva was sacked by Watford, and even returned to the Hornets to sign their best player Richarlison.
However, Javi Gracia has commendably re-built Watford into a real mid-table force and they go into Saturday’s home match with Everton one point ahead of the Toffees. Everton are actually two points better off compared to the same stage last season but all is not well for the Merseyside club. They have only won three of their last 13 in the Premier League and defeat against Watford may leave Silva in bother.
How will Liverpool react to City’s midweek win?
Having never previously dropped points against teams outside the top-six this season, they have done so in their last two outings. Liverpool were arguably fortunate not to have lost against both Leicester and West Ham and those results have allowed City to claw back a seven-point deficit over the last two months.
Liverpool’s performances have notably dropped in recent weeks and they have showed signs of mental fragility. Jurgen Klopp’s side will hope to get back on track this weekend when they face Bournemouth and their recent record against the Cherries suggests they should do just that.
Liverpool have won the last three meetings by a combined score of 11-0. Klopp’s side are unbeaten in home league matches this season and anything other than three points will only increase the suspicion they are crumbling under the pressure.
Bournemouth will also be missing Callum Wilson and David Brooks this weekend, who have scored 16 league goals between them this season. Nathaniel Clyne is also unavailable due to the terms in his loan agreement with Liverpool but Dominic Solanke is free to play against his former club.
Eddie Howe’s side shelled out £19m to sign Solanke from Liverpool in January and it would an incredible story if the 21-year-old scored a goal on Saturday that dented the title hopes of his old teammates.
Can Arsenal arrest their poor away form at Huddersfield?
Arsenal are the only side that have failed to keep a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League this season and the Gunners are currently on a winless run of six league games on the road. Arsenal’s poor recent away form has enabled Manchester United to leapfrog them in the table to fifth.
Unai Emery’s side travel to the league’s worst side this weekend and they haven’t lost against Huddersfield since 1971. The Terriers have not scored in each of their last five matches and have failed to score in more than half of their 25 league matches this season.
Arsenal ended a stunning seven-game losing streak away from home last season with a 1-0 triumph at Huddersfield and will be expected to follow suit here. Huddersfield were pummelled 5-0 by Chelsea and Jan Siewert’s appointment has done little to change the fortunes of the league’s bottom side. Huddersfield only have 11 points and need to more than double their total from their last 13 matches to have a chance of beating the drop.
Can Chelsea spoil Manchester City’s party?
Manchester City will have a spring in their step this weekend after returning to the top of the league in midweek but will need to be at their best when they host Chelsea on Sunday.
Chelsea are the only side to ever complete a league double over a Pep Guardiola side in the same campaign, achieving it during their title contest in 2016/17. They could repeat history with a win on Sunday after inflicting City with their first league defeat of the season back in December.
Maurizio Sarri will hope Chelsea are over their rocky patch after thrashing Huddersfield 5-0 last time out, in which January signing Gonzalo Higuain opened his account with two goals. While all of the attention will be on how City perform, there is also a lot riding on this match for Chelsea, as defeat could see them drop out of the top four.
Chelsea have lost their last two away league matches and have failed to score in that time. The last time the Blues went three away league matches without netting was nearly 17 years ago.
