Matchweek 35 of the 2020-21 Premier League season kicked off yesterday at the King power stadium, as Newcastle recorded a big win over Leicester City in their quest to avoid relegation this season.
The premier League title race is all but over, but the formality of mathematical confirmation still remains. Manchester City will have to chance to seal the deal this weekend, when they play hosts to Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday evening, in what will also be a dress rehearsal of sorts for the UEFA Champions League final later this month.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool will also be in action this weekend!
Plenty of exciting actions in the Premier League this weekend!! Join in the discussion and share your views on the various matches and anything in between!
Manchester City have been absolutely sensational since December, although in the past month or so, they have surprisingly lost a couple of league game at home. But, with the Citizens boasting the best defensive and attacking record in the division, it is hardly a surprise that they are cruising to the title, with nearest challengers Manchester United 13 points adrift.
Chelsea have been transformed under the tutelage of Thomas Tuchel, having kept a clean sheet in 18 of their 24 games since the German tactician took charge. Furthermore, Chelsea are starting to show better pedigree in attack with every passing game, as has been seen in the recent wins over Fulham and Real Madrid.
Manchester City and Chelsea have already locked horns twice this season, with the Citizens getting the better of the Blues in the reverse fixture before Thomas Tuchel’s charges handed them a 1-0 loss in the FA Cup semi-final last month.
John Stones will serve the last game of his three-match ban for the hosts, who have a fully fit squad to choose from.
Mateo Kovacic is the only injury concern for the away team, as he continues to recover from the hamstring issue that has kept him out for the past month.
Manchester City probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Mendy; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Sterling, Aguero, Foden
None of the last 11 Premier League meetings between Manchester City and Chelsea have finished level, with the Citizens winning seven to Chelsea’s four. Man City had only won seven of their first 36 Premier League meetings with the Blues (D7 L22).
Chelsea have lost their last three away league games against Man City by an aggregate score of 9-1. Their last win at the Etihad was in December 2016 under Antonio Conte (3-1).
Victory for Manchester City would see them win the Premier League title for the fifth time, with only Manchester United (13) winning the trophy more since its foundation in 1992.
Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in 11 of their 15 Premier League games under Thomas Tuchel - the most shutouts recorded by any manager in their first 15 games in the competition’s history. The Blues are looking to win three league games in a row without conceding for the first time since November 2017.
Having failed to win any of his first five meetings with Pep Guardiola in all competitions, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel won the last meeting between the two managers in the FA Cup semi-final last month.
Liverpool will be hoping to close the gap to the top four in the Premier League table when they lock horns with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton side at Anfield in Matchweek 35 on Saturday night.
heading into the match, find themselves in the seventh place in the standings, seven points off of Chelsea in fourth, although the Reds do have a game in hand courtesy of their cancelled fixture against Manchester United last weekend due to protests at Old Trafford. Prior to that, though, Jurgen Klopp’s side had drawn three games in a row in all competitions, most recently being held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle United.
Southampton on the other hand, have won just three of their 11 league games since the turn of the year and are without a win in their last four in all competitions, although they did manage to hold Leicester City to a 1-1 draw last time out. As a result, the Saints have dropped down to the 16th place in the standings, but are safe from the threat of relegation, sitting ten points clear of the drop zone.
The reverse fixture, played at St. Mary’s Stadium, saw Southampton pick up a hard-fought 1-0 win over Liverpool.
Nat Phillips has returned from the injury that kept him out of the last two matches, although Caoimhin Kelleher, Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Divock Origi and Jordan Henderson are all ruled out.
Takumi Minimino is ineligible to face his parent club, while Michael Obafemi is doubtful and Oriol Romeu, William Smallbone, Ryan Bertrand and Danny Ings are sidelined.
Liverpool probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Kabak, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Southampton are looking to complete the league double over Liverpool for just the third time in their history, previously doing so in 1960-61 (Second Division) and 2003-04 (Premier League).
Liverpool have conceded at least once in each of their last eight Premier League home games. Only twice have they had longer runs without a home clean sheet in the competition, going nine games between September - December 1996 and nine between December 1998 - May 1999.
Liverpool have won just six points from their last 30 available in Premier League home games (W1 D3 L6). They had only dropped 22 points from their previous 66 league games at Anfield (W55 D11 L0).
17 - Only teammate Harry Kane (21) and Liverpool forward Mo Salah (20) have scored more Premier League goals than Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min (17) this season.
