Manchester City are fresh off of winning the Carabao Cup against Arsenal at Wembley at the weekend in what was Pep Guardiola’s first trophy in English football but now face two tough tests of their
Premier League title credentials when they will first face Arsene Wenger’s side once more on Thursday evening followed by a trip to the defending champions Chelsea on Sunday. There is a full quote of fixtures though that cannot be ignored and we’ll be keeping a keen on eye on a couple of those.
Full Premier League fixtures:
Thursday, March 1st
Arsenal vs Man City
Saturday, March 3rd
Burnley vs Everton
Leicester vs Bournemouth
Swansea vs West Ham
Tottenham vs Huddersfield
Southampton vs Stoke
Watford vs West Brom
Liverpool vs Newcastle
Sunday, March 4th
Brighton vs Arsenal
Man City vs Chelsea
Monday, March 5th
Crystal Palace vs Man United
Burnley vs Everton – Turf Moor, Burnley
The Toffees make the trip to Turf Moor on Saturday off the back of a 1-0 defeat away to Watford last week, which now leaves Everton without a win in their last five league games away from Goodison Park since the victory at Newcastle midway through December. The Clarets are winless in their last 12 in all competitions, a run that stretches back to the same weekend as the Newcastle-Everton fixture but will look to their recent form against Everton as a ray of hope, having won two of the last three against them including a 1-0 win at Goodison Park earlier in the campaign as well as a 2-1 win in the corresponding fixture last season.
Swansea City vs West Ham United
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Andre Ayew was on the scoresheet in a 4-1 win for Swansea over West Ham in May 2016 before making the move the East London, when he was once again on target in a 4-1 win for West Ham over Swansea in December that same year. The Ghanaian has now made the switch back to South Wales to join younger brother Jordan and could line up against his former club on Saturday. David Moyes’ men currently find themselves 13
th, just three points ahead of Swansea in 18th but could be leapfrogged by their opponents with defeat. West Ham have won six of their 11 Premier League meetings since Swansea’s promotion in 2012.
Southampton vs Stoke City
St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
One fixture that could have real implications at the bottom end of the table this weekend sees Southampton welcome Stoke City to St. Mary’s on Saturday. Paul Lambert has done little to stop the Potter’s slide intp the drop-zone who have just one win in their last ten in all competitions. The Saints have just one defeat in their last nine with recent wins over West Brom helping them move out of the dreaded bottom three and into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Stoke have won four of their last six league meetings against Southampton however including a 1-0 win in this fixture in May, former Saints striker Peter Crouch with the winner.
Liverpool vs Newcastle United
Anfield, Liverpool
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez returns to Anfield once more this weekend looking to do one over his former team. The Reds are unbeaten in their last five, winning four of those and scoring 16 goals along the way. The Magpies will be in buoyant mood after they overturned Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United over a fortnight ago which ended a four-game winless run. Liverpool have won just one of their previous five encounters against Newcastle but have not lost to them at Anfield since Steve Watson’s goal secured a 1-0 win for the Toon in the League Cup in November 1995.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United
Selhurst Park, London
The Red Devils will be looking to make it nine wins in 10 league matches against Crystal Palace in this week’s edition of Monday Night Football when they make the trip to the capital to take on the Eagles who have had their wings clipped in recent weeks after the form that saw them become the team to end Manchester City’s winning streak. Roy Hodgson’s men are now winless in five and are hovering precariously in 17
th and are being kept off the relegation zone on goal difference and face
Chelsea and Liverpool in two of their next three games following the United run-out.
