Matchweek 22 Previews
Chelsea v. Burnley
Home matches for Chelsea don’t mean what they used to. The Blues have lost 3 of their last 4 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, after suffering just 1 home defeat all last season. Still, they have just 1 loss in 11 Premier League meetings against Burnley, and will hope to build off of a home win in the FA Cup last weekend. For the Clarets, 3 straight PL losses have them sitting just 4 points above the relegation zone. They’ve lost 6 of their last 8 league matches and are in a bad way right now, plus they have lost all 6 of their encounters against “big 6” sides this season.
Manchester United v. Norwich City
Manchester United have hit another rough patch recently. They are winless in their last 3 matches in all competitions, and have scored just 1 goal in those 3 games. They were soundly beaten in their last Premier League match, losing 2-0 at Arsenal, but they still sit in 5th place. Norwich City, on the other hand, sit rock bottom of the table. The Canaries need to string some results together if they hope to remain in the PL for another season, but with no wins in their last 8 matches in the competition, they aren’t doing themselves any favors. Their 5 points away from home this season are the fewest of any team in the league.
Tottenham Hotspur v. Liverpool
Liverpool continue to storm their way to a first Premier League title in club history. The Reds have dropped just 2 points all season, and are unbeaten in their last 37 PL matches. On top of that, they have not conceded a goal in nearly 500 minutes of Premier League action. That news will feel particularly harsh for Tottenham on the back of the announcement that star forward Harry Kane will be sidelined until April with a hamstring injury. While that is a major blow to Jose Mourinho’s side, they will welcome back Heung-Min Son, who is eligible to return after serving a suspension. Still, Spurs are winless in their last 3 matches in all competitions and come into this match with little momentum.
Bournemouth v. Watford
Bournemouth enter this match on the worst form in the Premier League. Their tally of 4 points since November 8 is the fewest of any PL side, while they are facing off against a Watford team that has won the joint-most points in the league since December 21. The Cherries have 8 losses in their last 10 league matches, and the Hornets come into Sunday’s game on a 4-match PL unbeaten run. Can the Watford renaissance under Nigel Pearson continue, or will Eddie Howe find a way to stop the rot?
Aston Villa v. Manchester City
Manchester City may not be on their way to a 3-peat as Premier League champions, but they are still a formidable opponent. Pep Guardiola’s men have won 8 of their last 9 matches in all competitions, and have scored at least 2 goals in all 9 of those games. That’s bad news for Aston Villa, who will be without first-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton for the remainder of the season. While there have been positives for the Villans, like Jack Grealish’s tremendous form, they sit just 1 point above the bottom-3 and have lost 2 of their last 3 home league matches.
