The Premier League continues this weekend with Matchday 17, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games.
Saturday, Dec. 15
• Manchester City vs. Everton, 7:00 a.m. ET (Sportsnet)
• Wolves vs. Bournemouth, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet ONE)
• Watford vs. Cardiff City, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World)
• Fulham vs. West Ham United, noon ET (Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World)
Sunday, Dec. 16
• Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea, 8:00 a.m. ET (Sportsnet)
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend.
MARQUEE MATCH
Liverpool vs. Manchester United: The latest chapter in this historic rivalry will unfold on Sunday when league-leading Liverpool will welcome sixth-place Manchester United to Anfield.
Sixteen points separate these sides in the table, underlining the obvious gap in class between Premier League contenders Liverpool and pretenders Man United.
Liverpool will be shooting for its sixth straight Premier League win, but recent history is on Manchester United’s side. Liverpool is winless in its last eight Premier League matches against the Red Devils (with five losses).
PLAYER TO WATCH
Raheem Sterling, Manchester City: Sterling has been in fine form this season with eight goals in 13 appearances this season. Since the start of the 2017-18 campaign, the young Englishman has been involved in 26 goals in 21 home matches, with 17 goals and nine assists. He’ll look to add to those numbers on Saturday when Man City hosts Everton.
[snippet id=4152687]
CRYSTAL PALACE vs. LEICESTER CITY
Leicester have won three of their last 14 matches at Selhurst Park in all competitions. Their most recent victory came during the 2015-16 season when they won the Premier League title.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN vs. NEWCASTLE UNITED
The Terriers are attempting to record consecutive top-flight home wins over Newcastle for the first time since 1955.
TOTTENHAM vs. BURNLEY
Harry Kane has scored four goals in five Premier League appearances against Burnley, including a hat-trick in their previous meeting, a 3-0 Spurs win last December.
WATFORD vs. CARDIFF CITY
Watford have lost their last two Premier League home matches. They haven’t lost three in a row at home in the top flight since April 1988 when they lost five in a row.
WOLVES vs. BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth’s last six Premier League goals have come in the first half. The last time they scored in the second half was against Fulham on Oct. 27.
FULHAM vs. WEST HAM UNITED
Chicharito is looking to score his 50th Premier League goal on Saturday when the Hammers visit Craven Cottage.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs. CHELSEA
Brighton’s last victory over Chelsea in any competition came in January 1933, when they won 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup.
SOUTHAMPTON vs. ARSENAL
The Gunners have scored at least two goals in each of their last seven Premier League away matches.
THE BIG QUESTION
Every week, Sportsnet’s soccer panel will debate The Big Question. Have your say by voting in the poll below:
[polldaddy poll=10189744]
WORTH REPEATING
“I don’t really think we are invincible and, if we think that, we have a manager that would put both feet on the ground. We know we have to do a lot to not lose games and even more to win it. We know we have to give a good performance every week to continue the run we are in.” – Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
[relatedlinks]