Premier League Matchweek 36: betPawa BIG match insights
So many Premier League issues edge closer to resolution this weekend, and so many of them intertwine. Here’s a look at 6 BIG matches between Saturday and Monday which cover the title race, the push for Europe and the desperate fight to escape relegation.
Saturday 13th May
Assuming Southampton go down, a fate that can only be avoided if they win all 3 of their remaining matches and lots of other results go their way, it’s likely that 2 of Nottingham Forest, Everton, Leicester and Leeds will join them in the Championship next season.
Master escapologist needs to produce one more trick
Sam Allardyce has been tasked with the unenviable job of keeping Leeds safe, and his interim stint began with arguably the most difficult job in the division, a trip to leaders and champions Man City. They lost 2-1 after a spirited performance, and they know they will temporarily climb out of the drop zone if they win in this early kick-off.
Big Sam knows all about keeping teams in the top-flight, only being relegated with one of his 8 previous Premier League employers, and he’s got the extra motivation of facing one of those here. Newcastle’s grip on 3rd is less secure after their 0-2 defeat against Arsenal, but they do travel with confidence having won 4 of their last 5 league matches on the road.
Leeds face virtually-safe West Ham and underperforming Tottenham after this, which perhaps doesn’t present the most daunting final run-in, but first they’ve got a physical assignment to contend with against a spirited Magpies unit.
Did you know?
There have been 988 goals scored in 347 Premier League matches this season, at an average of 2.85 goals per game (via OptaAnalyst)
Tricky Trees chase rare away points
Although Chelsea won at Bournemouth, they’re still very much a work in progress with a 6-point gap to make up if they’re to achieve a top-half finish.
Forest holding midfielder Danilo scored again in their thrilling and pivotal 4-3 win over Southampton, and now he’s aiming to become the first Brazilian ever to net in 4 consecutive Premier League matches. Forest’s last 4 league encounters have produced a total of 19 goals.
Steve Cooper’s visitors may need at least a point here because next up for them is a home game against title-chasing Arsenal. That’s easier said than done though with Forest possessing the worst away record in the entire division: they’ve only claimed 1 win and 6 points in total on the road all season.
Did you know?
Forest have kept a first-half clean sheet in their last 3 away league matches, although they’ve lost each of their last 7 such contests
Red Devils looking over their shoulders
When Julen Lopetegui took over the Wolves job during the WC22 break, they were rock-bottom of the Premier League with 10 points after 15 games. With safety secured, they might travel to Old Trafford in a relaxed mood. That being said, they haven’t won an away match in the league since beating Southampton in February (P6 D2 L4).
What to make of their hosts Man Utd? A Champions League place looked just about tied up not so long ago but now they’re sweating with Liverpool, among others, breathing down their necks.
Each of Man Utd and Wolves’ last 3 Premier League H2Hs resulted in a 1-0 win for the away side on the day, and such a result would be hugely damaging to Erik ten Hag’s side. After this, they’ve got a trip to Bournemouth and then home matches against Chelsea and Fulham. 3 wins are required to guarantee Champions League football.
United have opened the scoring in 11 of their 16 home matches in the league this season and will demand a fast start against Wolves. Incidentally, United’s last home defeat in the Premier League came on the opening day of the season against Brighton.
Did you know?
The Red Devils are currently unbeaten in 26 matches (W22 D4) across all competitions at Old Trafford
Sunday 14th May
Sunday will take us one step closer to finding out the identity of this season’s champions. However, there are other deeply fascinating parallel matters to resolve too.
Arsenal’s next opponents Brighton took a surprising 5-1 hammering at the hands of Man City’s next opponents Everton on Monday. The Gunners kept their hopes alive with an impressively physical 2-0 win at Newcastle, a fixture they lost by the exact scoreline last season, but they’re still reliant on BIG favours from elsewhere. Could they get one from Everton?
Toffees out of the bottom 3
Sean Dyche’s side might only need 1 more win to secure their top-flight status. Their impressive 5-1 win at Brighton took most people by surprise, perhaps even Dyche himself, and they’ll be keen to replicate that excellent counter-attacking display against the leaders.
Pep Guardiola seemed satisfied with Man City’s 1-1 draw at the Bernabéu after a high-quality Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, achieved by a cracking equaliser from Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian always performs on the BIG occasions. Quite how they’re feeling, both physically and psychologically, is anybody’s guess, with Guardiola electing not to make a single substitution in the Spanish capital. They have a strong squad so rotation is likely.
Everton boss Dyche is far less likely to ring the changes. He’ll again place faith in the excellent Alex Iwobi, Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucouré, whose transitional brilliance tore Brighton apart on a Monday where chaotic results dominated England’s top-flight.
A point or more for the Toffees would be huge for their survival prospects, and it would put a cat among the pigeons in the title race too. After this, City still need to play Chelsea at home, and Brighton and Brentford away.
Did you know?
These sides drew 1-1 in this season’s reverse fixture with Erling Haaland and Demarai Gray on the scoresheet, but Everton went on to lose their next 3 league games
Gunners have no margin for error
The Seagulls have received plenty of praise from around the world for their recruitment strategy and on-field excellence under Roberto De Zerbi. That’s why their dismantling at the hands of Everton was such a shock, but that’s the Premier League for you.
De Zerbi hasn’t been shy to rotate his team of late, with Alexis Mac Allister, Moisés Caicedo and Kaoru Mitoma all named as substitutes in their 6-0 win over Wolves. The star trio returned for their 1-0 win over Man Utd, settled by a 99th-minute Mac Allister penalty, and it would be a surprise to see those star men rested at the Emirates. Brighton’s defeat to Everton was a blow to their top-4 hopes, but they do have games in hand on their rivals in that regard.
As for Arsenal, they need to win their remaining matches and hope results go their way if they are to be crowned champions for the first time since 2004. Their blip in form saw Mikel Arteta’s excellent young side draw with West Ham and Southampton and then lose to Man City. However, a revival has followed with wins over Chelsea and Newcastle. Arsenal have to exploit any insecurities Brighton show after Monday’s humbling loss.
Did you know?
Brighton have won on their last 2 visits to Emirates Stadium
Monday 15th May
Foxes in dire straits
An abject performance away to Fulham leaves 2016 Premier League champions Leicester perilously close to relegation from the top-flight just 7 years after their miraculous coronation. The Foxes lost 5-3 at Craven Cottage last time out, and also missed a penalty through Jamie Vardy, but in truth the scoreline flattered them having trailed 4-0 after 51 minutes.
If they are wide open defensively against an in-form Liverpool they’ll be shipping goals again, that’s for sure. Leicester face Newcastle and West Ham in the run-in, with the Hammers having a potentially massive say on the relegation issue as they face Leeds and Leicester on the final 2 Sundays of the campaign.
As for Liverpool, they’ll feel now is their time to strike in the Champions League chase, with 4th-placed Man Utd faltering in recent games. Since a 2-2 draw with Arsenal, Jürgen Klopp’s team have found their heavy metal brand of football again and won 6 matches on the bounce. It’s a terrible time to face the Reds, but Leicester need to summon their powers of recovery before it’s too late.
Did you know?
Leicester have won the last 2 Premier League meetings between these sides at King Power Stadium