Premier League Week 23 Fixtures: EPL TV Schedule, Live Stream and Predictions
Saturday's clash between Premier League leaders Chelsea and defending champions Manchester City headlines Week 23 of the 2014-15 campaign, with both teams marching into the highly anticipated match short-handed.
The Citizens will be without Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony, who are still away on AFCON duty; Chelsea are sweating over the fitness of Cesc Fabregas, per the Guardian's Dominic Fifield, and won't have the suspended Diego Costa to spearhead the attack.
Elsewhere, Liverpool will attempt to continue their unbeaten streak against West Ham United, while Southampton will host Swansea City, who are winless in their last four. Here's the full schedule, complete with viewing info and full picks:
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| Saturday, Jan. 31 | 12.45 p.m. | Hull City | Newcastle | BT Sport 1 (UK)/NBCSN (U.S.) | BT Sport app (UK)/Live Extra (U.S.) | 0-0 |
| Saturday, Jan. 31 | 3 p.m. | WBA | Tottenham | Extra Time (U.S.) | Live Extra (U.S.) | 1-2 |
| Saturday, Jan. 31 | 3 p.m. | Sunderland | Burnley | Extra Time (U.S.) | Live Extra (U.S.) | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Jan. 31 | 3 p.m. | Stoke | QPR | Extra Time (U.S.) | Live Extra (U.S.) | 2-1 |
| Saturday, Jan. 31 | 3 p.m. | Man. United | Leicester | NBCSN (U.S.) | Live Extra (U.S.) | 2-0 |
| Saturday, Jan. 31 | 3 p.m. | Liverpool | West Ham | Extra Time (U.S.) | Live Extra (U.S.) | 2-1 |
| Saturday, Jan. 31 | 3 p.m. | Crystal Palace | Everton | Extra Time (U.S.) | Live Extra (U.S.) | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Jan. 31 | 5.30 p.m. | Chelsea | Man. City | Sky Sports 1 (UK)/NBC (U.S.) | Sky Go (UK)Live Extra (U.S.) | 1-0 |
| Sunday, Feb. 1 | 1.30 p.m. | Arsenal | Aston Villa | Sky Sports 1 (UK)/NBCSN (U.S.) | Sky Go (UK)Live Extra (U.S.) | 3-0 |
| Sunday, Feb. 1 | 4 p.m. | Southampton | Swansea | Sky Sports 1 (UK)/NBCSN (U.S.) | Sky Go (UK)Live Extra (U.S.) | 2-0 |
To access the Sky Go app, click here. For the BT Sport app, click here. To access NBC's Live Extra service, click here.
Absentees Will Benefit Blues
As reported by Football 365's Daniel Storey, a host of key contributors will likely be absent for Saturday's clash between Chelsea and City:
Fabregas is Chelsea's main man in midfield, and team-mate Costa is perhaps the Spain international's main rival for the title of best summer acquisition—Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez certainly belongs in the conversation.
Losing the duo hurts Chelsea, but their absence will be less pivotal than that of Toure. Without the Ivory Coast international, City simply aren't the same team, as this statistic of Squawka Football indicates:
Toure is one of the few complete midfielders in world football today. He scores, has the engine to contribute all over the pitch for the full 90 minutes and provides a strong physical presence in front of a defence that hasn't looked as impenetrable as it did a year ago.
The Blues rely on Fabregas and his fantastic vision to open up defences, and without the Spaniard, the dynamic of the team will change. But defending a five-point lead over the Citizens, who at this point appear to be the squad's only realistic title rivals, Jose Mourinho won't have to come up with an intricate new strategy.
Even with the advantage of playing at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea can afford to sit back and defend, aiming for the counter-attack and little more. Despite manager Manuel Pellegrini's insistence City can win without Toure, as reported by the Guardian's Jamie Jackson, the evidence suggests that isn't the case:
"He is very important player for us. But for the moment we must continue playing and not thinking it is impossible to win without him because I don’t think this team depends on just one player.
"
Without Toure, City just don't look threatening when forced to deal with a staunch and compact defence. The full-backs are forced to play ever higher up the pitch, which favours teams with quick wingers. Eden Hazard and Willian must be giddy with excitement.
West Ham Clash Will be Pivotal for Liverpool's Season
As things stand, the Reds sit four points behind the European places, with Arsenal currently occupying fifth in the Premier League standings, a spot that comes with a ticket for the Europa League.
For a club that disappointed throughout the early stages of the 2014-15 season, to be so close to the top of the standings is mighty impressive. An unbeaten streak in the league that started midway in December will do that for you.
The performances in the Capital One Cup tie against Chelsea illustrated the squad has found the form that eluded them in the first few months of the season, according to former England international Gary Lineker:
West Ham, Saturday's opponents, sit just one point above the Reds in the standings. Sam Allardyce's men are talented enough to win the majority of their matches against lesser competition, but it's no coincidence their last two league losses have come against Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Reds don't just have to beat the Hammers on Saturday to keep up with the likes of Arsenal in the race for the European spots—they have to prove to themselves they're just as good as the other top clubs who have beaten West Ham in the previous weeks.
The mental ramifications of a disappointing performance against West Ham could far outweigh the potential growth of the gap between the Reds and Arsenal, while a decisive win on Saturday might give Brendan Rodgers' squad the boost it needs in their attempt to close the gap altogether.
