Brentford vs. Liverpool

Gtech Community Stadium, Saturday, 12:30pm Local, 7:30am Eastern

The weekend kicks off with a critical match in the title race. Brentford, who have stabilized since Ivan Toney’s return, host top of the table Liverpool, who come to West London desperate to keep distance from the chasing pack. Thomas Frank’s side earned a valuable 3 points away to Wolves and are looking more and more like the side that we’ve come to expect since their promotion. Yoane Wissa is also back from his AFCON adventure, so the Bees will have more options in attack. While the sample size is quite small (2 matches), Brentford have never lost to Liverpool at home in the Premier League - there will be seismic implications if they continue that run. 

Liverpool’s last victory over Burnley wasn’t exactly inspiring, but it was businesslike and effective, which will suit Jürgen Klopp just fine - boring wins are still worth 3 points. That said, Alisson looks set to miss this and perhaps several of the next few matches, which ramps up the pressure on Caoimhin Kelleher. In more positive news, Mohamed Salah looks set to be involved again and could prove just the jolt Liverpool need off the bench if the match turns into a grind. The Reds have more than enough to win, but they have very little room for error in the run in.

Burnley vs. Arsenal

Turf Moor, Saturday, 3pm Local, 10am Eastern

Burnley came away from their last defeat at Anfield with some credit, having shown some bright moments only to be thwarted by poor finishing and strong goalkeeping. In fact, the Clarets’ campaign has been defined by exactly this pattern, fine moments with little to show for it. The squad is undoubtedly filled with potential, but it seems increasingly like the Burnley ownership group has written off this season and is preparing for another go at dominating the Championship. This does make for a low pressure environment for Vincent Kompany, who is free to play his brand of football regardless of the results.

If Arsenal are serious about their recent burst up the table (and back into the title race), this match is a must win. Mikel Arteta will demand 3 points from his side, and - after putting West Ham to the sword last weekend - there’s absolutely no reason why the Gunners shouldn’t come away victorious. That said, there’s a reason you play the games. Arsenal have looked newly vibrant in attack, netting 9 goals in their last 2 matches, but they’ve had a tendency to lose their shooting boots at times this season. A regression is the only thing Arteta needs to fear; if his side play to their potential, this match will be over by halftime.

Fulham vs. Aston Villa

Craven Cottage, Saturday, 3pm Local, 10am Eastern

Marco Silva’s side notched an impressive win over Bournemouth in their last match, which lifted the cottagers up to 12th place. With a 10 point buffer over the relegation places (and no pending points penalties), Fulham find themselves in a position where they have complete freedom to attack and experiment for the rest of the season. It’s been a bumpy ride this campaign, but after so many years bouncing between first and second divisions, perhaps boring stability is welcome at Craven Cottage. Alex Iwobi is back from AFCON, which adds a valuable element to Fulham’s attack and could spur the Cottagers on to a top half finish.

Villa’s disappointing loss to Manchester United pegged them back down to 5th place and - more troublingly for the Birmingham outfit - is indicative of a newfound fragility in the side. There are plenty of reasons for this downturn in form, not least of all the injury crisis in defense. Unai Emery will take solace in their performance even in defeat, and the Spanish manager will know that they perhaps should have come away with something. Unfortunately, in order to keep pace with the top 4 (and ward off a push from suddenly semi-competent Manchester United), Villa need to earn points while wounded. This match is winnable for Aston Villa, but Fulham will not roll over, and Emery needs to ensure his side can score without opening up for counter attacks.

Newcastle United vs. Bournemouth

St. James Park, Saturday, 3pm Local, 10am Eastern

The Eddie Howe derby returns to St. James Park, with Bournemouth making the long trek northeast. The Magpies, though coming off a win, look very dodgy in defense after conceding 6 goals in their last 2 matches - a far cry from their form earlier this season. There are two sides to this coin, however, as the Tyneside juggernauts have also scored 7 goals in those same matches and have Harvey Barnes back in the frame - which has the additional benefit of providing some backup for Anthony Gordon. Newcastle will have their hands full containing Dominic Solanke, and Dan Burn is likely to be targeted by Andoni Iraola, but Howe will back his side to - at the very least - find the net themselves.

Bournemouth, despite the positivity around the club, have yet to win in the league this year. Spirits are still high, but - with Manchester City next on their bingo card - the Cherries could really use a win on their trip north. Teams have had success against Newcastle attacking their fullbacks with speed on the wings, and Bournemouth have built a whole system around just that strategy. It could especially be a big fixture for Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier, as Dan Burn at left back has looked particularly ragged. Milos Kerkez is also back from a spell on the sidelines, and his pace will keep Kieran Trippier honest on the other flank.

Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham United

City Ground, Saturday, 3pm Local, 10am Eastern

Forest’s change of manager has yielded improved performances but not results, and the Midlands side is still firmly in a relegation struggle. That said, their opponents, West Ham, are at a nadir as well, making the trip to Nottingham after being obliterated 6-0 in their last match. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side looks most dangerous on the break, with Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi in particularly strong form. That could pose a problem on Saturday as even a struggling West Ham is likely to put the impetus on their opponent to craft their own chances. Forest are also abysmal at defending set pieces, and Jame Ward-Prowse is coming to town.

It’s very hard to erase the memory of a 6-0 defeat, but that’s exactly what David Moyes and his side need to do. They, on paper, are stronger than Nottingham Forest, and have better difference makers in their squad. However, if they can’t shake the cloud of their last defeat, the Hammers’ recent poor run could begin to snowball. There are still a few weeks before European commitments rear their ugly head again, it’s crucial that West Ham manufacture some momentum before even more demands are put on their thinning squad. A win here would start that process.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Tottenham Hotspur, Saturday, 3pm Local, 10am Eastern

Tottenham are suddenly at nearly full strength and are riding the high of a last minute winner which fired their side back into the top 4. Things are certainly looking up in North London. However, despite all the great aspects of Ange Postecoglou’s early reign, one thing Spurs has lacked is consistency. All too often steps forward like last weekend are followed up by disappointing draws like their recent match against Everton. Wolves are no pushovers, so Postecoglou’s men have to keep their wits about them - though they won’t need to be reminded of this, having lost dramatically to Gary O’Neill’s side earlier this season. Son Heung-min should be ready to start; his leadership could very well define the back end of this season for Spurs.

This season has been largely positive for Wolves and their new manager, but the Midlands side was dealt a cruel blow last weekend when Matheus Cunha pulled up with a nasty looking hamstring injury. The Brazilian forward has been instrumental to their success, and his absence will ramp up the pressure on the returning Hwang Hee-chan to hit the ground running. O’Neill and co will still remember their dramatic victory over Spurs - a win sealed by 2 late goals - and Wolves will likely focus on keeping a compact defense and hoping to exploit their opportunities on the break.

Manchester City vs. Chelsea

Etihad Stadium, Saturday, 5:30pm Local, 12:30pm Eastern

In the match of the weekend (at least on paper), Manchester City host the enigma that is Chelsea Football Club at the Etihad. City’s slow march of victories has begun, and the Champions have the air of a slasher movie villain who just won’t stop gaining on their fleeing victims. Center to this phenomenon is Kevin De Bruyne, whose return has coincided with his side’s improvement, but Erling Haaland announced himself last weekend with 2 clinical goals. Pep Guardiola’s side should have more than enough to beat Chelsea, but he won’t be able to banish the memory of their 4-4 draw earlier this season. City know what they have to do, but they’ll have no idea which version of Chelsea will rock up to the pitch on Saturday evening.

Many clubs put their supporters through ups and downs, but no club can hold a candle to Chelsea this season. Each week - each match - brings a seemingly new set of problems or reasons to celebrate. They can look abject as they did against Liverpool and Wolves, or they can look pristine as they did in the cup against Aston Villa. Whatever side shows up at the Etihad, Cole Palmer will be the most integral part of it. His goals and - frankly - his consistent quality has been one of the major reasons for hope around the West London club. A big performance against his old side could send shockwaves through the title race.

Sheffield United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Bramall Lane, Sunday, 2pm Local, 9am Eastern

The Blades pulled off a shock last weekend by comfortably beating Luton Town, a feat which put them past Derby County’s unwanted record low points total. Whether that win was the start of a renaissance at Bramall Lane remains to be seen, but it’s at the very least a reminder to the rest of the league that Sheffield United has some real quality. Cameron Archer in particular caught the eye both for his scoring prowess and his ability to shake off an early poor finish. Brighton aren’t in their best moment, perhaps the likes of Archer or Gustavo Hamer could engineer another shocking result.

Brighton were unlucky to come away from their last match with nothing, with the Seagulls falling to a last second Brennan Johnson goal. There is still plenty of quality in the South Coast club’s squad, but Roberto De Zerbi hasn’t had the team firing on all cylinders in a while. Simon Adingra, fresh off a starting role in the Ivory Coast’s triumphant AFCON, is back in the fold, and he’s shown that he can spark a side to life. The Seagulls really should have more than enough to handle the Blades, and a comfortable win could go a long way for the club’s confidence.

Luton Town vs. Manchester United

Kenilworth Road, Sunday, 4:30pm Local, 11:30am Eastern

Luton were brought down to earth last weekend after a great run, losing to bottom-dwellers Sheffield United. It was perhaps the first match this campaign where the Hatters came in as favorites, and it seems as though Rob Edwards’ men prefer their underdog status. Kenilworth Road has played host to several strong performances against favored sides, so Luton will hope they can tap into that magic again. While United needed a last minute winner in their first match of the season, they come into the showdown on a strong run of form. This could be a bridge too far for the Hatters.

Manchester United appear to be reinvigorated, coming into this match on a run of 4 straight wins and undefeated this calendar year. Rasmus Højlund has settled into his role leading the line, and Kobbie Mainoo has filled a gap in midfield which has stabilized the center of the park. That said, there have been plenty of false dawns this season for the Red Devils, so it’s no guarantee that they’ll keep the winning run going. If they can keep the positivity rolling, however, they’re only 5 points away from 5th place, which still could mean Champions League qualification - a drastic improvement on their status a few months ago.

Everton vs. Crystal Palace

Goodison Park, Monday, 8pm Local, 3pm Eastern

Neither side come into this Monday night showdown in great form. Everton have stumbled into the relegation zone, and it seems a foregone conclusion that Roy Hodgson will be leaving his position soon. With that backdrop, this is a tremendous opportunity for both clubs if they can nab all 3 points at Goodison Park. The Toffees come into the weekend just a point from safety (though Luton have a game in hand), having only lost 1 league match this calendar year (last week’s 2-0 to Manchester City). Scoring has been the main issue, and there isn’t a clear solution other than hoping that their strikers will find form. A win could kick start the Merseyside Club, a loss would be devastating. 

Roy Hodgson’s departure from the club, while yet to be confirmed, shouldn’t shock anyone. He was always meant to be a stabilizing - and temporary - fix before moving onto a manager looking to build the club long term. His tenure has been an overwhelmingly positive thing for the Eagles, but he’s become emblematic of the stagnation in South London which sees Palace genuinely fighting relegation. 3 points and - more importantly - a vital performance would lift the spirits of both the players and the supporters, but without Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, they are already fighting an uphill battle.