The Premier League is entering a busy period. This midweek, all twenty teams will be in action and there’ll be lots of exciting matches to look forward to including the Merseyside derby and Mourinho’s return to Old Trafford when Spurs visit Man United. Here are Things to look out for in Matchweek 15. Bet on the Premier League here.
Merseyside Derby
High-flying Liverpool host crisis-hit Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the season. The Reds are eight points clear at the top of the table and would definitely like to beat their bitter rivals to maintain that gap. Meanwhile, Everton sit two points above the relegation zone and are in desperate need of a result. The stats make grim reading for the Toffees. They haven’t won a Merseyside derby at Anfield since 1999. Liverpool’s defence were dealt a big blow after goalkeeper Alisson Becker was sent off on Saturday and the hosts have kept only two clean sheets in 14 Premier League matches. Marco Silva’s side have also scored in three of their last four visits to Anfield. Can they cause an upset?
Mourinho’s Old Trafford return
Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur in a highly-anticipated Premier League encounter on Wednesday. Although both teams are looking to close the gap on the top four, the match’s attention will be shifted to the return to Old Trafford of the Special One, Jose Mourinho. Mourinho, who was sacked last December by United, now occupies the hot seat at Spurs and this will be the first time he returns to the Old Trafford dugout. Since he was appointed by Spurs, the London club have won three straight matches and are meeting a struggling United side who are winless in their last three matches.
Another tough test for Manchester City
Burnley welcome reigning champions Manchester City to Turf Moor in the Premier League tonight. Pep Guardiola’s grip on the title that he won last season is gradually slipping away after dropping two more points at Newcastle last weekend. Taking into account how last season’s title race was, City will have to be near perfect from now on. The Clarets might have lost four of their past six Premier League games, but this won’t be a walkover for City. With Sergio Aguero out with injury, Gabriel Jesus will need to step up from a poor showing at Newcastle. Can they bounce back?
Relegation six-pointer: Southampton v Norwich
Southampton breathed a huge sigh of relief following their late comeback at home against Watford on Saturday. Still, another huge match awaits. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side host fellow relegation strugglers Norwich City on Wednesday in a battle between the two worst defences in the league. The Saints are under pressure but have a favourable run of fixtures this month and they face Norwich, Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham in their next four. The Canaries almost beat Arsenal last weekend and should be going for it at St Mary’s again. Who will win this relegation six-pointer?
Jamie Vardy form
Jamie Vardy has scored thirteen Premier League goals in 14 games already this season which places him at the summit of the goalscoring charts by three. High-flying Leicester City host bottom club Watford on Wednesday night and Vardy has now scored in six successive games after Leicester’s dramatic turnaround against Everton on Sunday. Can he keep this up against the manager-less Hornets?
Arsenal to get back to winning ways?
Since Unai Emery was sacked by Arsenal last Friday the Gunners, under interim manager Freddie Ljungberg, produced another lacklustre performance as they drew 2-2 with Norwich. Arsenal’s defensive problems were laid bare after they were torn apart by Teemu Pukki and company. Were it not for some brilliant saves from Bernd Leno, Arsenal would have surely lost. They host Brighton on Thursday and can’t afford to drop more points. The Seagulls have lost five of their seven away games in the league; therefore, this shouldn’t be hard for Ljungberg. Or will it?