The English Premier League is in full swing and edging closer to that time of the season where we often see rollercoaster and shocking results as various teams fight for the title, others for the champions league spot, while others simply to survive relegation.
Govima Sport bring you the fixtures to look out for over the weekend.
EPL Match Day 24 fixtures is set to go ahead across the UK. With the following fixtures slated for this weekend.
All matches in EPL are difficult and any team could hurt the other even the so called top clubs as we have seen in the past, however we will take a look at the ones we predict to spring up surprises.
1. Man City vs Everton: Manchester City look to be once again storming towards another strong end to the season, and with it, an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title. They came from behind to beat Brentford 3-1 on Monday night, extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to 12 matches with each of the last nine in that streak ending in victories. Most crucially though, they moved to within two points of leaders Liverpool, meaning a win in this early kick-off against their rivals Everton would see them reclaim top spot – for the time being at least.
They’re fancied to achieve that target with H2H history heavily weighted in their favour, as the champions are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home games against Everton (W 7, D5). One of those draws did come last season, but the fact City have dropped points in just three of their 20 home league games since then (D3) shows how formidable they are at the Etihad.
A daunting battle therefore awaits Everton, who have had an indifferent start to 2024, The Toffees have drawn four of their six competitive matches so far (WI, L1), with the latest stalemate in that run a 2-2 draw with Tottenham last weekend. That exhilarating contest was the first to produce four or more match goals in their last seven contests – coincidentally since a 3-1 defeat to City in late December’s reverse fixture.
That’s contributed to Everton coming into the round with the lowest goals-per-game average in the league, with their 23 fixtures so far generating an average of just 2.43 per fixture. Sean Dyche’s men would most likely take another tight affair here, especially if it leads to them adding to their 17 away league points – that’s already more than in any of their last two campaigns (2021-22 – ten points, 2022/23 — 1 5 points).
Key battle: Phil Foden scored a hat-trick in Monday’s win, the 39th by a City player in the Premier League • only Liverpool (41) and Arsenal (42) have managed more. Jordan Pickford finished the last round with a league-high eight clean sheets, but he’s never kept one against City in 14 attempts, while against only Spurs (36) has he conceded more goals (35).
Hot stat: City’s five clean sheets after 22 Premier League games is their lowest tally since 2016/17
2. Liverpool vs Burnley: Jurgen Klopp’s men were well beaten 3-1 last weekend at Arsenal. It was so comprehensive that their goal was scored by the Gunners’ Gabriel Magalhaes. Although Burnley have not pulled up trees under Vincent Kompany, they could pose a problem for Liverpool, who will still be without their talisman, Mohamed Salah.The Premier League title race was blown wide open in the last round, as long-time league-leaders Liverpool produced their worst performance of the season in their 3-1 loss to fellow contenders Arsenal, while Manchester City took full advantage with a 3-1 of their own against Brentford a day later.
City can apply even more pressure on Jürgen Klopp’s side, as a win over the Reds’ Merseyside rivals Everton in the early kick-off will see them claim top spot prior to Burnley’s visit to Anfield.
Luckily for the Reds, a game against a relegation candidate provides the perfect chance to get back on their title-chasing horse, having won four of their last six encounters with sides in the bottom three (D2). This particular matchup has proven particularly fruitful too, with Liverpool winning nine of the last 12 H2Hs (D2, L 1), while keeping a clean sheet in each of the last four (W4).
But it was five H2Hs ago that one of the biggest upsets in recent seasons occurred, when Burnley arrived at Anfield in January 2021 and walked away with a 1-0 victory to end Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten run at home in the league at the time. A repeat could be the launching pad Vincent Kompany’s men need to enact a great escape, with their deficit to safety standing at seven points ahead of the round.
That’s largely due to the Clarets securing just two points from their last six games, but the last in that poor run should serve as encouragement having battled back from two goals down to rescue a draw against Fulham. Their fighting spirit hasn’t been present on the road recently though, having lost eight of their last ten away games in all competitions (WI, DI).
Players to watch: The Kop will be cheering on one of their own in Curtis Jones, whose five goals this season have all come in home wins (W4).
Contrastingly, Burnley’s hopes may be in the hands of recent signing David Datro Fofana, who’s made an instant impact by being involved in their last three Premier League goals (G2. Al).
Hot stat: Burnley have scored in all but one of their last seven away league matches.
3. West Ham vs Arsenal: Mikel Arteta’s men have already played the Hammers twice this season and lost both times. The first was a 3-1 loss in the FA Cup, while they were beaten 2-0 in front of their supporters just before the New Year. Arsenal will also do well to remember that the London Stadium is where their title chase began to crumble last season. The Gunners have a lot at stake here and must produce an excellent performance to overcome the Hammers.
4. Tottenham Vs Brighton: Tottenham were left to rue a late equaliser from Everton (D 2-2) in their last Premier League match, denying them the chance to move within three points of Manchester City and Arsenal.
But on a positive note, it was the seventh of their eight most recent league games in which they picked up points (W5, D2i L1), with the only defeat at the hands of upcoming opponents Brighton.
Four consecutive league wins at home is enough on its own to inspire Spurs to avenge that 4-2 loss away to Brighton late last December, despite not managing a clean sheet in any of those four triumphs. Most importantly for Ange Postecoglou and his players, a fifth straight home victory would return them to the Premier League top four, even if potentially only for one day.
Brighton’s players were asked to respond to their embarrassing 4-0 loss to Luton and did so in style, piling on four goals of their own at home to Crystal Palace (W 4-1) to keep their dreams of another season in European football alive. But it wasn’t the perfect day for manager Roberto De Zerbi, who had recently been linked with a possible move to Liverpool or Real Madrid, as he collected another yellow card and will have to serve a touchline ban.
He subsequently won’t be pitchside to inspire his players to end their drought in Premier League away football that spans five games (D2, L3) over two months, which has ultimately held them back from joining the likes of Tottenham in the top six.
Brighton have also struggled to regularly upset the odds this league season, losing four of their five away games (WI) when starting as the underdogs of the day, a tag they carry here.
Players to watch: Richarlison appeared on the scoresheet in each of Tottenham’s four straight league home wins, albeit opening their account just once. Brighton’s Joåo Pedro clocked up two goals and an assist in the reverse H2H, and five of his six competitive goals scored since then came away from home.
Hot streak: The last 12 H2Hs in all competitions produced a winner (eight wins to Tottenham, four to Brighton).
5. Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: Monday Night Football will see Chelsea travel to Selhurst Park for a London Derby. Although Crystal Palace’s form has been up and down, they will prove to be a handful for the Blues, who are out of sorts this season. Under the lights and in front of their fans, Roy Hodgson’s men could pull off a shock.
The Excitement Continues And Be Rest Assured This Weekend Won’t Be An Exception In The English Premier League.
