By Lewis Rollins
- Is it all over at the top? Maybe but it does not stop Tottenham Hotspur from pressing Chelsea to the end
- David Moyes found himself in hot water this week, and with Sunderland struggling – can he keep his head above water?
- Also feeling the heat – can Arsene Wenger deliver a much-needed three points this weekend?
PREMIER LEAGUE – We are into the run-in and while it looks to be all Chelsea, what else is there to play for this weekend? Here are our five talking points for Match-week 32.
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Can Spurs keep the pressure on?
Spurs will be looking to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea in the lunchtime kick-off against Watford. However, Watford can play with freedom after moving 10 points clear of the relegation zone. Watford effectively guaranteed Premier League survival by beating West Bromwich Tuesday night and they now go to Spurs with nothing to lose.
However Spurs know that every game is huge for them in order to catch Chelsea in the race for the Premier League title. They will fancy their chances at catching Chelsea seeing as though their final eight Premier League fixtures feature just two teams in the top half of the table.
Tottenham will be very wary of what happened in the final weeks of last season – where second spot was ultimately snatched away, however they are well-placed to finish as runners-up this time around. That would be another big step in the right direction as Mauricio Pochettino looks to ultimately build a title-winning team.
LAST FIVE GAMES:
Tottenham
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Watford
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Can Chelsea cope with the pressure?
After the shock defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday, Chelsea responded in true champion fashion with a resolute 2-1 victory at home to Manchester City. Eden Hazard hit a brace for the blues who keep the distance between them and Spurs to seven points.
Chelsea travel to the South Coast on Saturday afternoon to play Eddie Howe‘s Bournemouth side who snatched a late point at Anfield on Wednesday. Although Antonio Conte‘s men will be huge favorites for the match, Josh King is in outstanding form for The Cherries and definitely a player to be watched closely.
LAST FIVE GAMES:
Chelsea
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Bournemouth
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Must win game for Moyes?
Sunderland host a Manchester United side that are unbeaten in their last 19 league games. United were lucky to grab a point at home to Everton in mid-week when Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to the lineup and calmly converted a 94th minute penalty, denying Everton three points.
Sunderland have one win in their last ten Premier league games and a defeat here will make the fight for survival all but over for the Black Cats. With Hull City bagging a crucial three points over relegation rivals Middleborough, Sunderland need a miracle at this stage.
Jose Mourinho‘s chances of getting his side a top four spot are slowly slipping away after Arsenal coasted past West Ham 3-0 and bagged an easy three points.
LAST FIVE GAMES:
Sunderland
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Manchester United
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Will the Eagles winning streak continue?
Monday Night Football returns! We will see the in-form Crystal Palace welcome Arsenal to Selhurst Park in what could be a make or break game for Arsene Wenger’s side. The Eagles go into the game off the back of a disappointing defeat away to Southampton, a game in which they led in through Christian Benteke. Despite the defeat Palace have been in immense form, having won their last four games in a row before Southampton.
Wenger will have added pressure due to his team having to play after all of his top four rivals, whether the results go Arsenal’s way on the weekend or not, three points is a must!
If history if anything to go by then there are positive signs for the Gunners as Crystal Palace have won only one of their 15 Premier League games against Arsenal, drawing three times and accumulating 11 losses in that time. They are winless in 12 games against them. Add to that Arsenal haven’t lost away to the Eagles in the top-flight since November 1979, winning six and drawing five times).
LAST FIVE GAMES:
Crystal Palace
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Arsenal
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What Else is Happening?
Burnley will fancy their chances of a first away win this season. when they travel to the Riverside to play relegation bound Middlesborough,.
West Ham could be dragged into a relegation battle if they lose to Swansea on Saturday.
Liverpool will be looking to recover when they travel to Stoke, after dropping points to Bournemouth in mid-week. Can they finally win a game without Mane in the side?
Marco Silva‘s Hull side continue the search for Premier League safety with a trip to the Eithad. Meanwhile, West Brom welcome Southampton to The Hawthorns and Craig Shakespeare looks to make it seven wins from seven in a tough encounter with Everton on Sunday.
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