Premier League

Southampton just aren’t getting the rub of the green at the moment. The Saints are in too much of a precarious position to sit back and feel sorry for themselves, though. Last weekend saw them turn in an impressive display against a resurgent Arsenal side, yet they still left the Emirates without a point for their 
endeavours. Manager Mark Hughes was able to draw on the positives despite the defeat but he must now rally his troops for the visit of Chelsea on Saturday. The Blues, meanwhile, now have a real fight on their hands to finish in the top five with Arsenal breathing down their necks. Antonio Conte’s side aren’t in good form having won just two of their last eight Premier League outings. They must pick themselves up if they are to go on and cement that Europa League place for next season.

Burnley’s victory at Watford last weekend was their 13th in the Premier League this season. The Clarets are in imperious form having taken 13 points out of a possible 15 from their last five matches. For all the plaudits Pep Guardiola has received for the way he has got his Manchester City side playing this season, Sean Dyche deserves just as much credit, if not more. It would be a travesty were Dyche not to be in the running for the manager of the year accolade. Burnley’s opponents Leicester can narrow the gap on the Lancashire side to just three points with victory at Turf Moor.

The Crystal Palace players must have been sick to the stomach at conceding a last-minute equaliser to Bournemouth last time out. Joshua King’s late intervention denied Roy Hodgson’s men the chance to pull themselves five points clear of the relegation zone. Palace certainly have the more favourable run-in than those around them and that starts with the visit of Brighton to Selhurst Park this weekend. The Seagulls halted a three-game losing streak after their 1-1 stalemate with Huddersfield. Brighton are currently seven points better off than 18th-placed Southampton and that should be enough to see them safe. However, another couple of wins would make things a tad more comfortable between now and the end of the season.

With fixtures still to come against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal next month, Huddersfield really have to capitalise on home advantage this weekend by taking all three points when opponents Watford come calling. The Terriers are far from safe as they are just four points better off than Southampton who currently occupy the final relegation spot. With the Hornets nine points clear of the drop zone, although not mathematically impossible, manager Javi Gracia can already start planning ahead for next season’s assault on the top flight. Watford are likely to still be reeling from having led Burnley last weekend to end up succumbing to a 2-1 defeat in front of their own supporters. Gracia will feel his players owe the fans who make the journey to West Yorkshire a positive result this time out. 

There is a lot more at stake for hosts Swansea than opponents Everton that’s for sure. The Swans have been rejuvenated under Carlos Carvalhal since taking over from Paul Clement who was sacked in December but are still not safe from the drop. The Swans are in 15th but just four points above Southampton in 18th. This season’s relegation dogfight looks destined to rumble on until the final week next month but Swansea will aim to have guaranteed their safety by then. Everton, meanwhile, should have taken the bragging rights in the Merseyside derby last Saturday but were let down by some poor finishing in the final third. The best the Toffees are now looking at is an eighth-placed finish, one spot higher than they are just now.

West Ham’s survival prospects received a huge boost with a well-earned point at Chelsea last weekend. The Hammers are now six points in the clear and will be hoping to widen that gap when Stoke are the visitors to the London Stadium. 
However, the Potters are scrapping for their lives and are in desperate need of some points themselves. Paul Lambert’s side are currently four points from safety with the manager himself admitting his players will need at least three wins from their remaining five matches to give themselves any chance of staying up. On paper, Liverpool would appear to pose the biggest threat but their remaining four fixtures are all ones Lambert would deem winnable.

If Manchester United had played with the same attacking intent this season that they showed in last Saturday’s incredible derby comeback then Jose Mourinho’s men could have been a lot closer to their city neighbours Manchester City at the top. United look odds on to finish best of the rest and should have little problem this weekend in seeing off a West Brom side who managed to end their eight-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw at home to Swansea. The Baggies’ fate could be sealed within the next fortnight but the inevitable drop has been looming for quite some time now. To take anything from Old Trafford would be a bonus.

Newcastle will be hoping they can take advantage of any fatigue Arsenal may be suffering from their long trip to eastern Europe.
Despite reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 6-3 win over CSKA Moscow, Arsene Wenger’s men didn’t have it easy in Thursday night’s 2-2 draw, and a long trip north to face the Magpies two days 
later is hardly ideal.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have had a week to prepare at home, and they’ll be confident of taking at least a draw at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon.
Should Rafa Benitez’s men take all three points, they will secure their Premier League status for next season with five games still to play – and you’d expect the Spanish coach will try to get his players on the front-foot straight away against 
potentially jaded opponents.

Not so long ago, pundits and fans alike were saying Manchester City seemed almost unbeatable. 
Three defeats in the space of seven days, however, have raised serious questions about the attitude of Pep Guardiola’s men. 
Just four days after squandering a two-goal lead in the Mancunian derby, City rounded off a terrible week when they crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool on Tuesday night, and now they turn their attention back to clinching the Premier League.
And while it’s a question of when, not if, City will be crowned champions, there are easier places for them to go than Wembley, where they’ll face a Tottenham side who continued their unbeaten league run in 2018 by defeating Stoke City 2-1 at the bet365 Stadium last weekend.
 “We now have to recover mentally for Tottenham,” said Guardiola in the aftermath of his side’s Champions League exit. “We have six games and have to focus on that.”
The impressive form of the north Londoners, who have not lost since December 16, will no doubt concern the City boss, whose players now face a massive test of character.
Momentum counts for a lot in football – and Spurs have it.
If they win on Saturday and Chelsea lose at Southampton earlier in the day, Mauricio Pochettino’s men could guarantee Champions League qualification with a win away to Brighton next week.
“It would be fantastic to be there for a third time in a row,” said the Argentinian coach. “I think to have the possibility to play Champions League in the new stadium would be a great achievement.”
It’s going to be fascinating to see how this plays out. 
City’s slump will have Spurs smelling blood – so expect them to have a right go at the champions-in-waiting.

Having reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in a decade, Liverpool turn their attention to pipping Manchester United to second place.
Considering the high Jurgen Klopp’s men must be on, it’s hard not to see them taking three points at home to a Bournemouth side who have only won one of their last five games.
Regardless of the outcome, it will no doubt be a very emotional afternoon as the club hold a minute’s applause before kick-off to mark the 29th anniversary of Hillsborough.