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LEICESTER CITY vs LEEDS UNITED (1230)
Jesse Marsch makes his Premier League bow at the Kingpower. There are easier places to start your career in England, particularly as the Foxes look to have regained some form. Avoiding defeat is a priority, with Leeds sitting just two points above third from bottom Burnley, who have a game in hand. Should be an interesting watch. Draw.
ASTON VILLA vs SOUTHAMPTON (1500)
With a favourable win behind them, the visitors will be looking to take something from their visit to a disappointing Villa side that seems to have little left to play for this season. The Saints go marching on. Away win.
BURNLEY vs CHELSEA (1500)
How will things Russian affect a Chelsea side that looks destined for third spot at the end of the season? Burnley have a massive incentive to put in a performance, with the opportunity to climb three places on offer. This will be a hard-fought and close encounter, but the visitors should edge it. Away win.
NEWCASTLE UNITED vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (1500)
Newcastle’s climb from bottom to fourteenth hardly comes as a surprise, but they still have work to do to ensure survival this season. Brighton have lost some of their momentum of late and now occupy a comfortable upper-mid-table position. They’d certainly have taken that in August. Home win.
NORWICH CITY vs BRENTFORD (1500)
A brief surge in form saw the Canaries climb out of the relegation zone temporarily, which was an achievement of sorts given their first half of the season. They’ve now returned to their rightful spot at the bottom and will look to drag Brentford towards them. For the Bees, who have played more games than al of their relegation rivals, each point is like gold dust. Draw.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs CRYSTAL PALACE (1500)
Wolves sit tantalisingly outside the European places, but can overtake Spurs if they beat Palace today. Patrick Viera’s side have enjoyed a moderately successful campaign to date and will hope to cement their mid-table place. Home win.
LIVERPOOL vs WEST HAM UNITED (1730)
As unlikely as it looked a few weeks ago, the hosts still have a realistic chance of overtaking City by the end of the season. Our record at Anfield is anything but encouraging, with one or two memorable exceptions, but with little other than Antonio in the attacking department we’ll be depending once again on the range of scorers – Bowen, Soucek, Dawson, Fornals – to pose an offensive threat. Perhaps it’s the day when a long-range screamer from Declan Rice will curl its way past a despairing glove and into the top corner? Then like my dreams. Home win.
*SUNDAY*
WATFORD vs ARSENAL (1400)
Even with the wily old Roy Hodgson in charge, few would bet on Watford staying up. It seems like an age since Arsenal, one place behind us on goal difference, were in Watford’s position. Is it too much to hope for a home win? Yes. Away win.
MANCHESTER CITY vs MANCHESTER UNITED (1630)
A fixture full of meaning beyond local rivalry. If City lose, if we beat Liverpool… so many ifs. One but: who’s the better side? Home win.
*MONDAY*
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs EVERTON (2000)
The Toffees will find themselves in a sticky position in the unlikely event that Burnley overcame Chelsea yesterday. You just don’t know which Spurs team is going to show up – one day, they pull off an impossible win, the next they struggle to get past Morecambe and lose to Middlesboro. Draw.
*CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP*
A resurgent Huddersfield side moved into second place last night with a win over bottom-placed Peterborough. But Bournemouth, in third, have little to worry with a whopping five games in hand and three in hand over fourth-placed Blackburn, who visit runaway leaders Fulham in today’s early game. The Cherries head to Preston, while QPR, in fourth, entertain Cardiff and Sheffield Utd, sixth, dropped valuable points as they drew with Forest last night. Middlesboro, ninth, host Luton, seventh, giving both sides the chance to return to the play-off places. At the bottom, Posh and the unfortunate Derby County look doomed, while six points separate Barnsley, third from bottom, and Reading, one above the dotted line, who visit Millwall this afternoon. There’s everything to play for at both ends of this highly entertaining division.
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