Burnley vs. Brentford

Turf Moor, Saturday, 3pm Local, 11am Eastern

Despite their relegation seeming a formality, Vincent Kompany’s side nearly shocked West Ham in their last match, before Danny Ings found a late equalizer (and nearly a winner as well). This weekend, the Clarets host Brentford who are still searching for consistency. It’s tempting to say that this match sets up well for Burnley, but this season has shown that it’s impossible to trust them to capitalize on opportunities. It’s been a campaign to forget for supporters of the Lancashire side, and this match is much more of an opportunity for Brentford to pull away than for Kompany’s men to start a late survival push.

The Bees acquitted themselves well against Arsenal, but couldn’t hold out for a point. Thomas Frank’s side is still in a slightly precarious position, only 5 points above the drop - but with 2 of their immediate rivals likely to be docked points, the West London side probably only need a few more wins to confirm their Premier League status for next season. To that end, this is a huge chance for Brentford to earn valuable points against below par opposition. Supporters will be quietly confident going into the match, a feeling bolstered by Bryan Mbeumo’s potential return. Their striker was crucial in the first half of the season, but he’s been unable to play since Ivan Toney’s return. If both play the rest of the campaign, the Bees could well be comfortably safe.

Luton Town vs. Nottingham Forest

Kenilworth Road, Saturday, 3pm Local, 11am Eastern

Kenilworth Road plays host to a crucial game in the relegation battle on Saturday afternoon, with 17th place Nottingham Forest squaring off against 18th place Luton. The Hatters are likely still reeling from their late loss to Bournemouth in midweek, when a 3-0 advantage at halftime wasn’t enough to come away with anything. While Forest and Everton are both likely to be docked points, Luton’s survival hinges on either overtaking one of those sides or getting close enough that a deduction could propel them to safety. A win of any scoreline guarantees that Rob Edwards’ side would end the weekend out of the danger zone, and a draw likely keeps them in healthy touching distance. Luton can’t afford to lose, and they’ll need to set up accordingly.

Nottingham Forest continue to be such a frustrating team to watch. They’re full of talented players and frankly should be higher up the table, but they seem incapable of earning victories. On a slight positive note (wrapped in a negative), Nuno Espírito Santo’s side has lost their last 3 matches 1-0, which - while still not exactly great - represents an improved defensive base. If they can rediscover their scoring form, they could still salvage their season. Realistically they need to build up around a 9 point buffer from the relegation zone to protect themselves from their upcoming penalty. A win this weekend would put them at 6 and make the rest of season look much friendlier.

Fulham vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Craven Cottage, Saturday, 5:30pm Local, 1:30pm Eastern

Fulham were unlucky to lose in their last match, having outplayed Wolves for large stretches of the game. Marco Silva has the West London side safe, and the most interesting storyline for the rest of their season is what happens with Armando Broja, who’s arrival on loan hasn’t led to playing time - a fact which may see the Albanian striker forced to start or the Cottagers will incur a penalty fee to Chelsea. Rodrigo Muniz’s resurgence has powered Fulham in recent weeks, but they’ll potentially need to make a tough call to save money. 

Ange Postecoglou’s side took a huge step forward in the race for the top 4 with their thumping of Aston Villa last week. Spurs come into this weekend 2 points behind the Birmingham side and in a good vein of form. Their injury list looks a lot better than earlier in the season, but Micky van de Ven - whose speed is critical for the Spurs’ high line - is out until at least the end of the month. The North London side should have more than enough to beat Fulham, but the Cottagers have proved stubborn opponents for a slew of strong sides over the season. If Tottenham want 4th (and a guaranteed Champions League place), they’ll need to avoid taking their eyes off the ball and dropping points in matches like this.

West Ham United vs. Aston Villa

London Stadium, Sunday, 2pm Local, 10am Eastern

Both teams go into this showdown on Sunday off of massive wins in Europe on Thursday, and both can strengthen their bids for next season’s continental competitions with a victory. West Ham needed late heroics to earn a draw to lowly Burnley in their last league match, and their last clash with Aston Villa didn’t end well. Working in David Moyes’ favor, Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paquetá are both in incredible form, and their explosive and dynamic offensive talent could prove crucial at home. In what should be a finely poised match, which side can be the most clinical on the break will be decisive.

Aston Villa suffered a major setback in their quest for automatic Champions League football, losing to Spurs, and now have to navigate the rest of the season with the North London side even closer on their heels. Unai Emery’s side subsequently smashed Ajax 4-0 in midweek, but they’ll be without John McGinn after his booming red card against Tottenham. The Scottish midfielder is a major threat both as a scorer and facilitator, and it will be a challenge for Villa to maintain their offensive fluency without such a key piece.