Sportsmail's guide to this weekend's Premier League action
PREMIER LEAGUE WEEKEND GUIDE: Who will Guardiola and Klopp play in their title showdown? Can struggling Everton snatch a vital three points against Manchester United? And who emerges victorious in a huge six-pointer for Norwich and Burnley
- Manchester City host Liverpool in arguably this season’s championship decider
- Frank Lampard’s Everton must get a vital three points against Manchester United
- Massive clashes at the bottom include Norwich v Burnley and Watford v Leeds
It is arguably the biggest weekend of the Premier League season, with so many clubs in crucial fixtures that could have a decisive impact on their campaigns.
Leaders Manchester City host second-place Liverpool in a tie that could decide this season’s champion. Meanwhile, Frank Lampard is fighting for Everton’s Premier League future in a crunch game against Manchester United, who also need to reignite their Champions League ambitions.
On top of that, Norwich host Burnley in a huge match at the bottom of the table, while Watford versus Leeds could also be relegation battle.
Sportsmail’s Lewis Steele gives all the details ahead of the weekend’s action, with predicted line-ups, teams news, stats and TV details.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool travel to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City for a top of the table clash
EVERTON V MANCHESTER UNITED
Everton: Allan and Michael Keane return to the squad after suspension.
Out: N Patterson (ankle), Y Mina, D Van de Beek, T Davies (all thigh), A Townsend (knee).
Manchester United: Luke Shaw is still injured after limping off last week, though Cristiano Ronaldo returns.
Out: E Cavani (calf), L Shaw (calf), R Varane, S McTominay (both knock).
Everton have won just one of their last 13 league games against Manchester United, who won 3-1 at Goodison Park last season. They haven’t won two straight league games there since 2007. United are also winless in their last four 12.30pm kick-offs on a Saturday.
ARSENAL V BRIGHTON
Arsenal: Huge blow as Kieran Tierney is out for the season, with Thomas Partey also having ‘a significant injury’.
Out: T Partey (thigh), T Tomiyasu (calf), K Tierney (knee).
Brighton: A ‘devastating blow’ saw Jakub Moder ruled out for the season and in a race against time for the World Cup with Poland.
Out: A Webster (groin), M Caicedo (illness), J Moder (knee).
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 14 matches against teams below them in the table. Brighton have converted 6.7 per cent of their shots this season, a record low. They have never won a Premier League game in April in 15 attempts, losing seven.
SOUTHAMPTON V CHELSEA
Southampton: Loanee Armando Broja not eligible to face his parent club.
Doubt: A McCarthy (hamstring), S Long (ankle).
Out: A Broja (ineligible), Lyanco (thigh).
Chelsea: Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech missed training on Thursday due to ‘little problems’.
Doubt: R Lukaku, H Ziyech (both knock).
Out: C Hudson-Odoi (Achilles), B Chilwell (knee).
Southampton have won just one of their last 12 league games against Chelsea. After defeat by Brentford, Thomas Tuchel will try to maintain his run of 48 Premier League games in charge without suffering back-to-back defeats — a record.
WATFORD V LEEDS
Watford: No fresh injury problems, with Kwadwo Baah back in full training after a lengthy injury.
Doubt: N Nkoulou (unfit), K Baah (ankle).
Out: None.
Leeds: Injured group are ‘making good progress,’ said boss Jesse Marsch.
Doubt: J Gelhardt (thigh).
Out: T Roberts (thigh), P Bamford (ankle), J Firpo (knee), J Shackleton (calf).
Watford have lost their last eight at Vicarage Road in the league, the longest run of home losses since Wolves’ nine in 2012. Leeds haven’t lost to a promoted side since they came back up.
ASTON VILLA V TOTTENHAM
Aston Villa: Danny Ings became a father last week but should be back.
Doubt: D Ings (personal), L Digne (illness), K Hause (chest).
Out: M Nakamba (unfit).
Tottenham: Oliver Skipp is still out, but Sergio Reguilon and Ryan Sessegnon are back in training.
Doubt: R Sessegnon (thigh), S Reguilon (knee).
Out: J Tanganga (knee), O Skipp (groin).
Villa have won two of their last 20 league games against Tottenham and have not beaten them at home since 2008. Spurs have scored 43 goals in 20 league games under Antonio Conte.
BRENTFORD V WEST HAM
Brentford: Mads Roerslev might keep his place with Brentford likely to stick with the system that thrashed Chelsea.
Out: J Dasilva (hamstring), J Jeanvier (knee).
West Ham: Manuel Lanzini missed draw with Lyon on Thursday but should be OK. No other injury concerns.
Doubt: M Lanzini (other), V Coufal (hernia).
Out: A Ogbonna (knee).
West Ham have lost six of their last 10 away league games, as many as in their previous 27. Brentford have 11 points from London derbies this term, second only to Chelsea (18).
LEICESTER V CRYSTAL PALACE
Leicester: Caglar Soyuncu and Ayoze Perez missed Thursday’s PSV match with illness.
Doubt: A Perez, C Soyuncu (both illness).
Out: J Vardy, D Ward, R Bertrand, W Ndidi (knee).
Crystal Palace: Nathan Ferguson might make a long-awaited return to the squad.
Doubt: N Ferguson (thigh), M Olise (ankle).
Leicester are unbeaten in their last five league games against Palace, having lost four in a row before that. Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored three in his last four games.
NORWICH V BURNLEY
Norwich: Full back pair Max Aarons and Brandon Williams are fit again.
Doubt: P Placheta (ankle).
Out: A Idah (knee), J Sargent (ankle), O Kabak (hamstring), A Omobamidele (back).
Burnley: Matt Lowton might get a start in place of Connor Roberts.
Out: B Mee (calf), E Pieters (knee), M Vydra (unfit), J B Gudmundsson (shin).
Norwich have not beaten Burnley in the league since 2008. The Canaries have lost 20 matches in each of their last four Premier League campaigns.
MANCHESTER CITY V LIVERPOOL
Manchester City: Phil Foden came off the bench midweek but could start. Kyle Walker likely to return, too.
Out: R Dias (thigh), B Mendy (suspended by club), C Palmer (ankle).
Liverpool: No injury worries. Trent Alexander-Arnold is fit again. The only question is which front three Jurgen Klopp turns to.
Out: None.
Manchester City have lost just one of their last 12 home league games against Liverpool. The Reds haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 11 league trips to the Etihad.
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