EPL Table: Standings, Schedule and Predictions Heading into Week 24
Matchday 24 of the 2014-15 Premier League season is all about the two big derbies, as Tottenham Hotspur get ready to take on Arsenal and Everton play host to bitter city rivals Liverpool.
The Reds needed some last-minute heroics to beat Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round of the FA Cup and come into this match with plenty of momentum. But while the Toffees are yet to kick into gear in the 2014-15 season, they'll surely be capable of doing something extra against their rivals.
The Gunners and Spurs are locked in a tight battle for the European tickets and know full well Saturday's clash could be decisive, and with both teams in top form, fans should be in for a cracker. Here's how the Pemier League standings look heading into Week 24:
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| 1 | Chelsea | 23 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 52 | 20 | 32 | 53 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 23 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 46 | 23 | 23 | 48 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 23 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 39 | 22 | 17 | 43 |
| 4 | Southampton | 23 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 37 | 17 | 20 | 42 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 44 | 29 | 14 | 42 |
| 6 | Tottenham | 23 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 35 | 30 | 5 | 40 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 23 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 27 | 6 | 38 |
| 8 | West Ham | 23 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 35 | 27 | 8 | 36 |
| 9 | Swansea | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 30 | -3 | 33 |
| 10 | Stoke City | 23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 28 | -2 | 32 |
| 11 | Newcastle | 23 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 29 | 35 | -6 | 30 |
| 12 | Everton | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 31 | 34 | -3 | 26 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 23 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 25 | 34 | -9 | 23 |
| 14 | Sunderland | 23 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 21 | 33 | -12 | 23 |
| 15 | WBA | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 32 | -12 | 22 |
| 16 | Aston Villa | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 29 | -19 | 22 |
| 17 | Burnley | 23 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 21 | 38 | -17 | 20 |
| 18 | Hull City | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 33 | -13 | 19 |
| 19 | QPR | 23 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 24 | 42 | -18 | 19 |
| 20 | Leicester | 23 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 21 | 37 | -16 | 17 |
The full schedule for Matchday 24:
| Saturday, Feb. 7 | 12.45 p.m. | 7:45 a.m. | Tottenham | Arsenal | Draw |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 | 3 p.m. | 10 a.m. | Aston Villa | Chelsea | Chelsea |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 | 3 p.m. | 10 a.m. | Leicester | Crystal Palace | Draw |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 | 3 p.m. | 10 a.m. | Manchester City | Hull City | Manchester City |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 | 3 p.m. | 10 a.m. | QPR | Southampton | Southampton |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 | 3 p.m. | 10 a.m. | Swansea | Sunderland | Swansea |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 | 5.30 p.m. | 12:30 p.m. | Everton | Liverpool | Liverpool |
| Sunday, Feb. 8 | 12 p.m. | 7 a.m. | Burnley | WBA | Draw |
| Sunday, Feb. 8 | 2.05 p.m. | 9:05 a.m. | Newcastle | Stoke City | Newcastle |
| Sunday, Feb. 8 | 4.15 p.m. | 11:15 a.m. | West Ham | Manchester United | Draw |
David Ospina's Clean-Sheet Streak Will Come to an End
Since supplanting longtime starter Wojciech Szczesny, goalkeeper David Ospina is yet to concede a single goal for the Gunners. In Week 24, that's about to change.
As shared by OptaJoe, the Colombia international has already accumulated as many clean streaks as his main rival for the starting position with three:
The 26-year-old has made it very clear he intends to keep his spot in the starting XI, via Goal, and fans are inclined to agree with the Colombian, according to a poll conducted by ITV Sport:
Fans have every right to be excited with the performances of Ospina so far, though some context is in order. Stoke City and Aston Villa are hardly worldbeaters, and Manchester City looked dreadful in Week 22, albeit against a fantastic Arsenal squad.
Still, Ospina has looked confident and capable, and in the process, Arsenal have benefited. So, why should his clean streak come to an end? Enter Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane.
The Dane has scored four goals in his last five matches, per WhoScored.com, while Kane found the net twice against West Bromwich Albion in Week 23. The duo is in sensational form, and largely responsible for Spurs' recent form.
Tottenham have won five of their last seven Premier League matches and trail Arsenal by just two points, so while it's easy to take shots at the fragility of their back four—courtesy of Google, per Metro Sport—Mauricio Pochettino's squad shouldn't be overlooked:
Arsenal will be favourites on Saturday, as they should be, but if Arsene Wenger's men want to beat their north London rivals, they'll have to do it by out-scoring them.
Paul Lambert's Job Security Will Be Seriously Questioned After Saturday
Given Aston Villa's lack of success in 2015, it's almost incomprehensible how little has been written about Paul Lambert and his position as manager of Aston Villa.
The Claret and Blue haven't been bad in the new calendar year—they've been downright horrible, and things weren't much better in the first half of the season. Squawka Football shared the results since the manager signed his new deal:
The Villans haven't scored a goal in their past six matches, a new record in their long history. And while Lambert certainly carries the full blame for those lackluster performances, it's still odd to hear so few voices in a league that often sees managers sacked for far less.
Sure, the 45-year-old oversaw a largely successful winter transfer period, and if the signings pay off, the team's outlook should change drastically. But no goals in six matches? ESPN FC's Richard Jolly is having a hard time understanding the lack of calls for his sacking:
A visit from league-leading Chelsea and the second best defence in the country couldn't come at a worse time, and barring an upset for the ages, I fully expect to hear more pundits and fans questioning his future with the club past Week 24.
Will it result in his sacking? No. For all of the team's faults, Lambert likely still gives the club its best chance of surviving the drop, and his comments after the debacle against Arsenal show he still has enough passion to put in the work, via the Telegraph:
I'd rather not see Lambert sacked before the end of the season, but perhaps the team will thrive once fans and pundits start asking more questions.
