It wasn’t exactly stellar week for Barclays Premier League teams competing in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
Tottenham was the only English side to win in Europe, and even they needed the aid of a dubious red card to overcome their Ukrainian opponents.
With the continental competitions out of the way, English clubs can refocus on domestic matters this weekend, as the title and relegation battles continue to heat up.
Here are five matches to keep close tabs on:
Sunday programming alert: Watch Aston Villa vs. Norwich City (on Sportsnet World, 11:30 am ET). | Sportsnet World Online | TV schedule
Aston Villa vs. Norwich City
The number four must haunt Chris Hughton. Four is the number of points Norwich currently hovers above relegation, the team’s total offensive production in 2014, and the number of victories Hughton has earned as Canaries boss away from Carrow Road (19 losses and nine draws). Considering two of those wins came this season, an optimist would call this progress. However, a realist would say Hughton is in trouble, and might not last the season. Norwich has failed to find the target in half of their last 12 games, only netting one goal in each of the other six fixtures. Goals are at a premium, which is why Robert Snodgrass’ match-winner last weekend against Tottenham was celebrated with much enthusiasm.
Aston Villa has lost just one of their last 11 Premier League games against Norwich (five wins, five draws), and earned a 1-0 victory in the opposite fixture. However, similar to his counterpart, former Canaries boss Paul Lambert has also watched his side struggle to score goals, failing to register on the score sheet in their last three games. Both teams have identical records heading into this six-point relegation bout, and neither can afford to let this one slip away.
Tottenham vs. Cardiff City
I’m almost positive Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has begun to regret his decision to accept Vincent Tan’s invitation to South Wales. The writing is already on the wall that the former Manchester United striker has placed himself in a bad position, jumping rather blindly onto a sinking ship. Cardiff have won one of seven games with Solskjaer on the bench (five losses, one draw), and currently reside in the danger zone. They’ve failed to score in more games than any other team in the league this season (15), including the last three, and in five of their last six meetings with Spurs. Cardiff is in a desperate state, and cannot afford to secure anything less than a morale-boosting victory.
Paulinho netted the last gasp match-winner at Cardiff City Stadium in September, and Spurs are primed to complete the double on Sunday. Defeat to Norwich (1-0) in their previous match has left Tottenham six points back of fourth place, and it was the first time the team failed to score a goal under Tim Sherwood. Interesting note ahead of kick-off: Spurs have conceded fewer headed goals than any other team, while 32 percent of Cardiff’s 19 goals this season have been from headers—the highest proportion in top-flight.
Saturday programming alert: Watch Fulham vs. Chelsea (on Sportsnet, 9:30 am ET), Everton vs. West Ham United (on Sportsnet World, 9:30 am ET) and Southampton vs. Liverpool (on Sportsnet, noon ET). | Sportsnet World Online | TV schedule
Fulham vs. Chelsea
As the season winds down, Fulham’s chances of salvaging their top-flight status shrinks. Despite Fulham acquiring necessary reinforcements in January (Lewis Holtby, William Kvist and Kostas Mitroglou), positive results continue to remain elusive. The Cottagers’ last victory came on New Year’s Day (2-1 over West Ham), collecting only two points in the seven games that followed (five losses). Felix Magath has earned a reputation for being a relegation magician, arriving at a club late on the scene and somehow managing to achieve salvation. Ruling with an iron fist has been the secret to his success. Magath demands loyalty and is well known for his rigorous training methods and strict discipline. But the Premier League is an entirely different beast than the Bundesliga, and it would be foolish to assume his heavy-handed management will produce an optimal outcome.
After playing out a 1-1 draw in Istanbul on Wednesday, Jose Mourinho will be quite upset about having only two days of preparation ahead of his weekend trip to Craven Cottage. The Blues have won 14 and lost just one of the 25 league encounters versus their west London rivals, with Fulham’s last victory coming eight years ago. The hosts have also failed to score in six of their last nine meetings against Chelsea, and given their current form, the prospect of pulling off a resounding upset are rather slim—especially when you consider Chelsea have recovered more points from losing positions than any other team this season (14).
Stoke City vs. Arsenal
Stoke has long abandoned their previous aggressive long-ball tactics, with Mark Hughes introducing a possession-based brand of football. But despite attempting to steer clear from their reputation for physicality and indiscipline, Stoke leads the league in fouls committed (360) and most cards (58 yellows and three red). Three points separate Stoke from a relegation position, which is largely to do with their poor form away from the Britannia (six points from 14 matches). A fifth-best home record (21 points in 13 matches) has kept the ship afloat, and will be put to the test on Saturday against Arsenal’s impressive road record (26 points from 13 matches). The reverse fixture produced a 3-1 victory for the Gunners, adding to their superior record over their opponents: seven wins and one defeat in last 10 meetings.
Mesut Ozil is expected to make a return to the starting lineup after a short sabbatical, having been benched for last weekend’s 4-0 victory against Sunderland. Arsene Wenger decided to sit Ozil amid plenty of scrutiny over the German’s recent lifeless performances. All eyes will be on the club’s most expensive transfer to awaken out of his early hibernation and rediscover his best form. Arsneal’s title ambitions depend on it.
Southampton vs. Liverpool
Great teams find a way to win, even when not at their best. Liverpool is beginning to fit that description. In both of their last two league fixtures, the Reds battled through adversity against an inferior opponent to secure maximum points. Only four points off the summit with 11 games left on the schedule, it would be foolish to overlook Liverpool’s title challenge. However, that could be exactly what Brendan Rodgers wants. A top-four finish and long-awaited return to the Champions League is the club’s main target, but the Reds have silently kept off the radar and within striking distance of the leaders. Daniel Sturridge has scored in eight consecutive league appearances, and is only two behind Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record mark. For all the focus on Luis Suarez’s eye for goal—23 to lead the league—it’s worth mentioning he also is tied with Steven Gerard with the most assists in the league (nine).
Saturday’s late afternoon kick-off at St. Mary’s has all the signs of a potential banana skin for Liverpool, given Southampton have won four of their five Premier League home encounters, including their last three. However, the Reds will be out for revenge following a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture. The Saints are the only team to defeat Liverpool at Anfield this season.
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