The top two teams in the Barclays Premier League will battle one another on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. Five points separate Manchester City and Chelsea, so a win for either side can change the complexion of the title race.
Here are the five matches to watch this weekend.
Sunday programming alert: Watch Southampton vs Swansea City on Sportsnet World at 11:00 am ET/8:00 am PT. || Sportsnet World NOW || Broadcast schedule
Southampton vs Swansea City
Southampton is still third place in the league, which is incredible considering how much change the club went through in the summer. The Saints will face Swansea City, who is on a four-game winless skid, on Sunday.
Ronald Koeman will have Maya Yoshida and Sadio Mane back in the squad as they return from international duty. It’s timely, given the injuries to Toby Alderweireld, Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin, among others.
Swansea’s Wayne Routledge is the only injured player, but Gylfi Sigurdsson and Kyle Bartley are suspended. Ki Sung-yueng is still at the Asian Cup, so he’s also unavailable.
Southampton has never lost against Swansea in the last six meetings, outscoring the Welsh side by a combined score of 7-3.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Arsenal bolstered its defence with the addition of Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal. He’s expected to be on the bench on Sunday when the Gunners face Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil scored last weekend in their returns, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has six other players out with injuries. Alexis Sanchez is a doubt with a hamstring problem as well.
Aston Villa has three injured players in Libor Kozak, Ron Vlaar and Philippe Senderos. Four others are doubtful, including Fabian Delph, but he might be fit enough to start.
Arsenal has traditionally dominated Aston Villa. The Gunners have lost just three times in its’ last 32 matches against Villa. The Villans haven’t scored in five straight games, so on paper, the North London side should walk out with a victory.
Chelsea vs Manchester City
The last time the Premier League’s two best teams faced each other it finished in a 1-1 draw in September at the Etihad Stadium. Ex-Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard scored the equalizer against his former club to nick a draw for Man City that day.
City was nine points behind Chelsea in November, but the Citizens recovered over the holidays and closed the gap. However, the Blues have since capitalized on the champions’ slip-ups over the last few weeks to regain a five-point lead.
A Chelsea win wouldn’t end the title race, but it would be a monumental task to overcome an eight-point deficit. City has to claim at least a draw to stay within reach.
Manager Jose Mourinho may receive a boost to his squad. Chelsea has sold Andre Schurrle to Wolfsburg and signed Colombian international Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina. The tricky winger could be available for the match on Saturday if he’s registered by Friday afternoon.
Saturday programming alert: Watch Liverpool vs West Ham United on the four main Sportsnet channels at 9:30 am ET, West Bromwich Albion vs Tottenham on Sportsnet World at 9:30 am ET, Stoke City vs Queens Park Rangers on Sportsnet ONE at 9:30 am ET, and Chelsea vs Manchester City on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World an noon ET. || And follow the day’s action from the Premier League on Sportsnet.ca’s live matchday blog starting at 9:30 am ET.
If Cuadrado were available, he probably wouldn’t start the game. However, he would be a terrific option off the bench with his speed, vision and technique.
The addition of the Colombian would be timely considering Diego Costa was suspended Friday for three games for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can.
Mourinho also has a few injury concerns. Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas are both listed as doubtful, but Ivanovic may be fit enough to start. Fabregas, on the other hand, might miss out.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini will be without Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony. The former two are key players for Pellegrini, so those are big losses for the Chilean tactician.
Chelsea has only won two of the previous six matches against Man City. Twenty-three goals have been scored in that span, so this should be an entertaining game.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Liverpool’s League Cup loss to Chelsea was the team’s first defeat since Dec. 14 at Manchester United. The Reds have won four games and drawn two others in the league, which has them just five points behind fourth place.
West Ham has only one win in its last five Premier League games, and the Hammers are only a point above Liverpool, so they need to get back on track in order to secure a spot in European competition next season.
Liverpool doesn’t have any real injury concerns. Kolo Toure, who is away on international duty, is the only marquee absentee for manager Brendan Rodgers. Daniel Sturridge is expected to be available off the bench.
West Ham’s Sam Allardyce has four defenders listed as doubtful. James Tomkins, James Collins, Carl Jenkinson and Joey O’Brien all have niggling injuries.
Liverpool is undefeated in its last 13 home games against West Ham, so the Reds have a fantastic chance of extending their unbeaten streak in the league.
Manchester United vs Leicester City
There have been some worries setting in with Manchester United, but the club has only lost four times in the Premier League this season. However, the Red Devils have won just twice in their previous six matches.
United is just one point above Arsenal for fourth place. However, United has a great chance of staying in a Champions League spot as the Mancunians face lowly Leicester City on Saturday at home.
The Foxes are only three points away from safety, but they’re dead last in the Premier League with just four wins to their name.
Ashley Young is the only injured player for United manager Louis van Gaal. However, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are touch-and-go for the game.
Leicester will be without Kasper Schmeichel, Matt Upson due to injury, while Matthew James is suspended. Thankfully for manager Nigel Pearson, he’ll have new signing Andrej Kramaric available this weekend.
United has won its last five home matches in a row against Leicester, keeping a clean sheet in each one, so it will be a big task for the visitors on Saturday.