Premier League week 16 preview: Big guns in action, Manchester Derby takes center stage

 

West Ham will be looking for points when Chelsea visit the Olympic Stadium on Saturday. The Hammers are yet to register a win under new manager David Moyes as they lie 19th with 10 points from 15 games, a point above bottom placed Swansea.

Chelsea came from behind to defeat Newcastle in their last game. Eden Hazard was the star of the show, grabbing both goals to ensure the Blues remained in the 3rd place. They remain 11 points behind League leaders Man City, though that could change after the Manchester Derby.

Tottenham will look to build on their midweek win against Stoke at Wembley. A run of draws and defeats has seen them drop out of the top four to 6th, with the likes of Dele Alli coming under criticism for inconsistency. They have already lost the same amount of games they lost in the whole of last season.
Stoke City have been in good form, with Xherdan Shaqiri chipping in with some crucial goals and assists. They will be hoping the Swiss maestro will be on top of his game against the Lilywhites.
Leicester will be eyeing another three points away to Newcastle at the Sports Direct Arena.

Bottom of the log Swansea will entertain West Brom at the Liberty Stadium.
Crystal Palace will tackle Bournemouth at Selhurst Park in a match that victory could go either. But considering the desperation of the home team, they will leave nothing to chances to brighten their position on the log.

Burnley and Watford go head-to-head at Turf Moor and the encounter is expected to produce firework, considering the fact that both sides are not doing badly in the currenmt campaign.

Two new boys in Huddersfield and Brighton face off at the John Smith Stadium. The former took off so menacingly at the beginning of the season. But going by their current form, their initial showings now appear to be a nine days’ wonder.

On Sunday, the top of the table clash takes center stage as Manchester United battle Manchester City at Old Trafford. Both teams enter the game in winning form, with United seeing off Arsenal and City sneaking past West Ham.

City are arguably the better side going into this clash. Top of the log with an eight-point lead, 13 consecutive Premier League wins and playing probably the best football in the club’s history.

The Red Devils aren’t far off though. This is their best start to a season since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, they are unbeaten in their last 40 games at the Theatre of Dreams, with City being the last team to beat them, and they have conceded just one goal at home all season. They will have to do without Paul Pogba, however, after the midfielder was controversially sent off for a stamp on Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin.

David Silva is an injury doubt for Man City, or at least that’s what Pep Guardiola wants us to think. Either way, it’s a match to look forward to.

Liverpool and Everton will face off at Anfield in another installment of the Merseyside Derby. The Reds have put together a string of results to break into the top four, with Mohammed Salah, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane continuing to show what they are made of.

A 7-0 win over Spartak Moscow in midweek is just a sign of things to come, but Everton seem to have found their feet. They are on a two match winning run in the League and they are sure to give the Reds something to think about.

Southampton play Arsenal at St. Mary’s Stadium. Arsenal can take a lot of positives from their match against Man United despite losing 3-1, and they will be confident of victory against a Saints side they have beaten in three of their last four encounters.

Southampton are 11th on the log with 17 points, eight behind the Gunners. They have shown more signs of life under new manager Mauricio Pellegrino, and the man himself will relish a victory against a side in the top six.

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