Premier League Weekend Preview: Game-by-Game Guide with London Pride at Stake
Whereas last weekend the headline acts in the Premier League were left until last, this time around the main event is what kicks us off.
Manchester United's 3-0 home win over Liverpool and Arsena's 1-0 win at Tottenham provided us with some thrills and spills (the latter almost exclusively coming from United), but this Saturday sees the top-of-the-table Blues lock horns with a Gunners side who would move to within one point of their opponents should they win at Stamford Bridge.
The other title contenders are also in action on Saturday as they face the bottom two, with Liverpool heading for Cardiff and Manchester City taking on Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.
There are a couple of clashes near the bottom as Norwich host Sunderland and West Brom head for Hull, whilst Manchester United's latest attempt at turning around their league form sees them take on West Ham at Upton Park.
Here's the complete preview of the Premier League weekend.
Chelsea v Arsenal
1 of 10
When: Saturday 22 March, 12:45 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
Following Champions League progression, Chelsea will be determined not to let one of their title rivals get closer to them in the table, especially following their defeat at Aston Villa last weekend.
For Arsenal, the blueprint for this game was set with their 1-0 win at White Hart Lane last Sunday, when they showcased the fact that they can defend well these days as well as impressively attack.
Form
Galatasaray became the sixth visiting team in a row to fail to score at Stamford Bridge in midweek, whilst Chelsea have only conceded five goals in their last 14 Premier League games dating back to the goalless draw with Arsenal before Christmas. The Gunners' win at Spurs last time out followed back-to-back league losses on the road at Liverpool and Stoke.
Key battle
The suspension of Ramires removes a key component in the Chelsea midfield, so Nemanja Matic and probably Frank Lampard are likely to have to take control of an area in which Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be looking to get forward and join the attack.
Prediction: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0
These are the sort of matches that are usually Arsenal's downfall, and as they enter a crucial period of the season, the gap between them and the top of the table looks like getting bigger.
Cardiff v Liverpool
2 of 10
When: Saturday 22 March, 3 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
South Wales is the next stop on Liverpool's whirlwind Premier League title challenge, and they'll face a Cardiff side whose focus is entirely on the other end of the division.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men came within seconds of securing a morale-boosting draw at Everton last weekend, only to succumb to Seamus Coleman's late winner. They'll need to start picking up points fast if they are to pull away from the relegation zone.
Liverpool, for all their recent impressive performances, will have to treat this game just as they did their trip to Manchester United.
Form
Liverpool have won their last five Premier League games in a row and are unbeaten in the division this year. In 10 matches against the current bottom seven this season, they've won eight and drawn the other two. Cardiff have only won one of their last seven.
Key battle
As ever with Liverpool matches, this is likely to come down to how Cardiff can handle the rampant Reds attack. Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have seemingly alternated goalscoring duties recently, with the Uruguayan now the man in form. Keep him in check and Cardiff might have a chance.
Prediction: Cardiff 1 Liverpool 2
This might be a tougher test for the Merseysiders than many imagine, but if they can handle what is likely to be a hostile crowd and a team desperate for three points, they should get the win they'll crave.
Everton v Swansea
3 of 10
When: Saturday 22 March, 3 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
Swansea's defeat at home to West Brom last week has seen them slide uncomfortably closer to the relegation zone, and the inexperienced Garry Monk now has a tough job keeping them in the division. A much-changed Swans side lost at Goodison Park in the FA Cup last month, but whilst that isn't likely to have much of a bearing on events here, it is an uncomfortable precedent.
Former Swansea boss Roberto Martinez will be targeting a strong end to the season at Everton despite the top four now being out of their reach; he'll expect a win.
Form
The Swans haven't won a match since beating Cardiff in early February and have only won once on the road in the league since September. Everton have won nine of their last 10 at home in all competitions.
Key battle
Gareth Barry and James McCarthy will seek to get on the ball and keep it for as long as possible at Goodison Park, something that will obviously dent Swansea's hopes of playing the possession game they are used to. Winning this midfield battle is crucial for them if they want to have any sort of say in the contest.
Prediction: Everton 2 Swansea 1
The Blues have got the job done in these type of fixtures all season, and we can expect to see a similar game to the one against Cardiff last weekend with an identical outcome possible.
Hull v West Brom
4 of 10
When: Saturday 22 March, 3 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
At the eighth time of asking, Pepe Mel finally picked up his first win as West Bromwich Albion manager last weekend. The 2-1 success at Swansea was a crucial one as the Baggies moved three points clear of the relegation zone and dragged a rival closer to them, and they'll now be looking to do the same to a Hull side they'd move above with a win.
The hosts have got their eyes on an FA Cup semi-final and were disappointing in trying to deal with Manchester City's 10 men last weekend. Steve Bruce will expect a response.
Form
This is a fifth straight home game for a Hull side who haven't played away for a month. Having previously impressed at the KC Stadium, they've now lost four of their last five there in the league and have not recorded a win since the 6-0 hammering of Fulham in December.
West Brom's win at Swansea was their first away league success since winning at Old Trafford in September.
Key battle
Former West Brom forward Shane Long will be looking to get one over on his old employers, and the Irishman's link-up with Nikica Jelavic will be vital against a visiting defence that struggles for clean sheets.
Prediction: Hull 1 West Brom 1
The win at Swansea will inject a little more confidence into the visitors, and they'll be determined to give a good account of themselves on the road again. They can pinch a point here.
Manchester City v Fulham
5 of 10
When: Saturday 22 March, 3 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
Suddenly Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester City have a chance to heap the pressure on Jose Mourinho and Chelsea and not the other way around. The Londoners' loss at Aston Villa last time out has given City a chance to stake their claim, and they should win here and then go to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby on Tuesday full of confidence.
Fulham got a vital win at home to Newcastle last time out, as boss Felix Magath dispensed with the club's traditions and fielded several younger players. However they are still bottom of the table and won't really expect anything from this clash.
Form
Fulham haven't won away since Boxing Day in their only win on the road in the last 14 games. City may have slipped up in their last Etihad Stadium match in the FA Cup against Wigan, but Fulham's neighbours, Chelsea, are still the only team to have left there with anything other than a defeat this season.
Key battle
Magath is likely to go with youth again as it worked last week, and so forward Cauley Woodrow will be turned to against a City defence that will be missing the suspended Vincent Kompany. If the visitors are to make any form of impact, then he'll need to lead the line well.
Prediction: Manchester City 4 Fulham 1
The absence of Kompany might mean that Fulham can get at the City defence somewhat, but ultimately the firepower that the hosts possess should be far too much for the visitors to handle. They are likely to win with room to spare.
Newcastle v Crystal Palace
6 of 10
When: Saturday 22 March, 3 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
That defeat at Fulham came as Newcastle boss Alan Pardew served the first of three-match stadium ban, with a four-game touchline suspension to follow. Undoubtedly not having their manager there will affect how the Newcastle players approach this match, and it will be up to long-serving assistant John Carver to try and right any wrongs.
Tony Pulis will be overseeing an almost complete opposite situation at a much more stable Crystal Palace, but they haven't won any of their last four and are still just three points and one place above the relegation zone. They'll be targeting this clash against a mid-table side as one they can impress in.
Form
Palace haven't won away in the league since a trip to Aston Villa on Boxing Day, whilst Newcastle were able to stop the rot of five straight home losses with their own victory over Villa last month. They've only scored twice in front of their own fans since the end of December.
Key battle
Full-backs Paul Dummett and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa failed to impress at Fulham. If Pulis picks Tom Ince and Yannick Bolasie to play down the Palace flanks, then the pair could have some joy.
Prediction: Newcastle 1 Crystal Palace 2
The Magpies season is really just petering out, and Palace's greater need for the points could just see them claim what would be a huge and incredibly welcome victory.
Norwich v Sunderland
7 of 10
When: Saturday 22 March, 3 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
This isn't likely to be one for the faint-hearted, with just four points and the relegation zone currently separating these two.
Sunderland have three games in hand on Norwich, but two of those are at Liverpool and Manchester City, so picking up a win over their relegation rivals will make this match be seen as a huge one for Gus Poyet.
Norwich boss Chris Hughton will be having much the same thoughts too, and he'll be hoping that his players deliver a big win in a manner that they frequently seem to do for him whenever he needs it. With both needing the points so much, tension is likely to rule at Carrow Road.
Form
Norwich are actually unbeaten at home in 2014, drawing four games and winning two. Goals remain their big problem though, as they scored just four times in those six games and have found the net more than once on just one occasion in front of their own fans all season.
Sunderland lost at Arsenal in their last away game, but they were unbeaten in the six they played before that.
Key battle
Norwich have shipped nine goals in their last three games, and so the movement and pace of Sunderland's Fabio Borini is likely to be crucial against a back line that struggles against such players.
Prediction: Norwich 0 Sunderland 1
The Mackems just have a little bit more quality in certain areas, and they can use that to their advantage to deliver a vital three points and heap the pressure on Hughton.
West Ham v Manchester United
8 of 10
When: Saturday 22 March, 5.30 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
Boosted by their fine Champions League win over an admittedly poor Olympiakos side, Manchester United now have to get back to domestic business and try to put right the wrongs of their embarrassing defeat to Liverpool last Sunday. That loss leaves them seventh, 12 points off the top four and surely now needing to win the Champions League in order to get back into it next season.
West Ham's relegation worries have been eased by some good home form, and boss Sam Allardyce will doubtless now be targeting a top-half finish and looks to rebuild for next season.
Form
As mentioned above, the Hammers have won the last three in front of their own fans before back-to-back away defeats at Everton and Stoke. Manchester United are unbeaten in their last three on the road, drawing at Arsenal before wins at Crystal Palace and West Brom.
Key battle
Nemanja Vidic was sent off against Liverpool for the fourth time in his career last weekend, and that means he's suspended here and won't be able to deal with the giant threat of Andy Carroll. The big forward will be determined to impress as he tries to make a late run at England's World Cup squad, and whichever visiting centre-back has to mark him will be in for a tough time.
Prediction: West Ham 2 Manchester United 2
This was the score in this clash last season, and we are likely to see another entertaining game that the Hammers will be determined to get something from.
Tottenham v Southampton
9 of 10
When: Sunday 23 March, 1.30 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
Things have gone a little sour for Tottenham, who have gone from challenging for a place in the top four to looking over their shoulder at Everton and Manchester United behind them. They were a little unfortunate to lose the North London derby to Arsenal last weekend, but seemingly lacked the ingenuity to break down their rivals.
For this one they'll be fatigued from their Europa League trip to Lisbon, and Southampton will fancy their chances of frustrating them. The Saints have emerged from a mini-slump to win their last two and ensure that allegations that their potential England World Cup players were just cruising to the end of the season remain unfounded.
Form
Before the second leg at Benfica on Thursday, Spurs have lost their last three and five of their last seven in all competitions. The Arsenal defeat means that they've now lost five times at home in the league this season, whilst Southampton have won three of their last four on the road, all without conceding a goal.
Key battle
Spurs are struggling for centre-backs, meaning that it could be a makeshift back four that tries to deal with Southampton's in-form Jay Rodriguez, with the England forward looking to use this match as another chance to impress.
Prediction: Tottenham 1 Southampton 1
More frustration for fans at White Hart Lane, as the visitors can earn another impressive result in what has been a successful season for Mauricio Pochettino.
Aston Villa v Stoke
10 of 10
When: Sunday 23 March, 4 p.m. GMT
Lowdown
This is a mid-table meeting between a team that starts the weekend at the bottom of the top half and one that starts it at the top of the bottom half.
Both Aston Villa and Stoke are locked together on 34 points with Villa having played a game less, and the hosts will be eager to continue their good form in front of their own fans following back-to-back Villa Park wins over Norwich and, more impressively, Chelsea.
Stoke's success at home to West Ham last week ensured that they have now lost just one of the last seven, beating Manchester United and Arsenal in that run. There wouldn't appear to be an awful lot on the line on Sunday afternoon, but both Paul Lambert and Mark Hughes won't accept complacency.
Form
Those aforementioned home wins have lifted some of the gloom from Villa Park, where the hosts had won just one of the previous eight matches. Stoke's away record in the Premier League has never been particularly great, but they are now on an extremely miserable run of just one win on the road all season, going winless in their last 13 matches of which they lost nine.
Key battle
Christian Benteke led the line well against Chelsea and he'll be vital again as Stoke come calling. The big Belgian bossed the Norwich defence in the clash here earlier this month, and with Robert Huth out for the rest of season following knee surgery, Ryan Shawcross will have to handle the Villa forward well.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2 Stoke 1
Confidence is suddenly high at Villa Park now, and that combined with Stoke's woes on the road point a Benteke-inspired home win.
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