Matchweek 25 Previews
Liverpool v. Southampton
Liverpool continue to sweep aside all opponents, as they’ve now beaten all 19 other teams in the league. They sit 19 points clear at the top of the table, and would guarantee themselves a first-ever Premier League title with 24 points from their final 14 matches. Considering the Reds have won each of their last 15 league games, it feels like those final 24 points are more of a formality at this point. While Liverpool will grab all the headlines in this matchup, it should be noted that Southampton are enjoying a great run of form recently. The Saints have 1 loss in their last 9 matches in all competitions and sit in the top-half of the table. Still, they have lost each of their last 5 encounters against Liverpool.
Watford v. Everton
After a little bit of a renaissance following the appointment of Nigel Pearson, Watford have dropped off lately. They have just 1 win in their last 5 matches in all competitions and still sit in the relegation zone. The Hornets do have reasons to be optimistic, as they are now only in the drop zone on goal difference, and have plenty of time to earn a place in next season’s Premier League. Everton, on the other hand, have been rock solid since Carlo Ancelotti took over. The Toffees have 1 loss in their last 9 matches in all competitions, and despite back-to-back draws, have looked strong in recent weeks. They’ll want to take full advantage of playing a slightly “weaker” opponent on Saturday, as their next 5 matches will pit them against some tough opponents.
Manchester United v. Wolves
The ups and downs never seem to stop with Manchester United. The Red Devils have lost 3 of their last 4 Premier League matches, including both of their last 2. They now have more losses (12) than they do wins (11) since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed permanently back in March. With all of that in mind, Man United did make a marquee signing this week, penning Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Wolves, meanwhile, have maintained their hold on 7th place despite a slight dip in form. They have just 1 win in their last 7 matches in all competitions, and the goals have dried up lately. New attacker Daniel Podence could help with that issue, but Wolves last won an away match at Manchester United almost 40 years ago, so they’ll likely need more than just a little help.
Burnley v. Arsenal
Arsenal lead all of Europe’s “big 5” leagues in one category: draws. The Gunners have notched 12 stalemates so far this season, as they continue to struggle with getting over the line. A favorable run of fixtures comes at a good time for the north London outfit, as they are entering a run of 5 matches that are all against teams in the bottom-half of the table. The first on that list is Burnley, who come into this match with 2 straight wins. The Clarets have had an inconsistent season, losing several matches in a row before stringing together a couple of wins and starting the cycle over again. One thing that has been quite consistent for Sean Dyche’s side is their record against Arsenal, as they have lost each of their last 11 encounters against the Gunners.
Tottenham v. Manchester City
The Jose Mourinho-Pep Guardiola rivalry adds another chapter on Sunday. In the past, Guardiola has gotten the better of his Portuguese opponent, and the same can be said for the sides they currently manage. Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 6 Premier League meetings against Spurs, last losing to the north Londoners in October 2016. Spurs have just 2 wins in their last 8 matches in all competitions, but those wins have come in their last 4 games. Manchester City, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last 5 PL matches and advanced to their third straight EFL Cup Final during the week.
