EPL Week 25 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixture Info
The title race took a fascinating twist in the previous week's play as Manchester City failed to beat Hull City, allowing Jose Mourinho's Chelsea the opportunity to extend their lead at the summit of the table.
The Blues now sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and will fancy their chances of opening a 10-point gap as City face a difficult trip to Stoke City in Week 25's midweek fixtures.
Arsenal will be looking to put their north London derby disappointments behind them as they welcome bottom-club Leicester City to the Emirates.
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But the big game of the week is at Anfield as an in-form Liverpool take on Tottenham Hotspur in the race for the top four:
Here is the upcoming EPL programme, as well as picks for each match, and players to watch out for:
| Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET | Arsenal | Leicester City | Arsenal |
| Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET | Hull City | Aston Villa | Hull City |
| Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET | Sunderland | QPR | Sunderland |
| Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET | Liverpool | Tottenham Hotspur | Draw |
| Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET | Chelsea | Everton | Chelsea |
| Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET | Manchester United | Burnley | Draw |
| Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET | Southampton | West Ham United | Southampton |
| Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET | Stoke City | Manchester City | Draw |
| Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET | Crystal Palace | Newcastle | Draw |
| Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET | West Brom | Swansea City | West Brom |
Key Players
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
Given Tottenham Hotspur's recent form, Arsenal's defeat at White Hart Lane should not have come as a surprise.
The Gunners fell to the burgeoning genius of Harry Kane on Saturday, losing 2-1 to their nearest and dearest rivals.
But the return of German superstar Mesut Ozil will not have gone unnoticed as the attacker opened the scoring early in the match, continuing his fine run of goalscoring form.
Ozil now has three goals in his nine EPL appearances this term, per Squawka.com, and it is clear the diminutive talent has come back to the first team, after injury, refreshed and focused.
And the Mail Online's Hamish Mackay praised Ozil for his finishing in the north London derby, highlighting the German's ability to utilise space as a huge threat for Arsenal:
"One of his strengths is his ability to find space—whether he is playing in the centre or on the left—and it was that ability that earned him the goal."
Ozil's return to action is well timed for Arsene Wenger, as the coach looks to find a way to get ahead of Tottenham and Manchester United.
The top four is once again the minimum requirement for the Emirates team and their form has steadily improved in recent times.
Wenger's side have won four of their last six EPL games, and currently sit fourth in the form guide.
But they will need to continue this kind of quality if they want to leapfrog Spurs—who have found an extra gear.
The biggest boost will come in the shape of the returning Alexis Sanchez, who missed the away-day defeat for his team at Spurs.
Wenger confirmed the Chile superstar is likely to return in some capacity against Leicester City, per John Cross of the Mirror, with the former Barcelona player fast becoming Arsenal's key talent.
Sanchez has hit the goal trail since his arrival in the EPL, and the Gunners look a different prospect when he is at their disposal.
The player has 12 goals from his 21 league outings this term, per Squawka.com, and the Foxes should be soft pickings at the Emirates.
Journalist and Arsenal fan, Piers Morgan, paid tribute to Sanchez and his impact, on Sunday, declaring he is the only player from the present day who would grace the great Gunners teams of the past:
Morgan makes a good point, and the quality of the Arsenal team has not been as good as it once was. But Sanchez is a throwback to the club's better days and he could be the man that takes Wenger back to the summit of the EPL in the next few seasons.
But we will have to wait and see if Ozil and Sanchez can co-exist in the same team, with both players having very similar attacking qualities.
Sanchez is naturally the harder worker of the two, with the German floating in and out of games, deliberately being elusive and difficult to pick up.
This was displayed at Spurs where Ozil grabbed the first goal but the inclusion of both players might be tricky for Wenger.
However, it is a great problem for the manager to have with both talents sitting in the world-class bracket when they are on their best form.
If Wenger can get both talents showing their worth on a weekly basis, the top four will be a breeze for the north London outfit.
