Premier League Table: Latest 2015 EPL Standings and Predictions for Matchday 26
Manchester United leapt back into third in the Premier League standings thanks to Southampton's goalless draw against West Ham United in Week 25, the only significant change at the top of the table heading into Matchday 26.
Liverpool sit just three points out of the European spot after their win over Tottenham Hotspur, while Chelsea maintain a seven-point lead at the top of the standings and are still the heavy favourites for the title.
The Reds will visit Southampton and Tottenham host West Ham on Sunday, the two marquee matchups of Week 26. Here's the full schedule:
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| Saturday, Feb 21 | 3 p.m. | Aston Villa | Stoke | 0-1 |
| Saturday, Feb 21 | 3 p.m. | Chelsea | Burnley | 2-0 |
| Saturday, Feb 21 | 3 p.m. | Crystal Palace | Arsenal | 1-2 |
| Saturday, Feb 21 | 3 p.m. | Hull | QPR | 1-0 |
| Saturday, Feb 21 | 3 p.m. | Sunderland | WBA | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Feb 21 | 3 p.m. | Swansea | Man Utd | 0-2 |
| Saturday, Feb 21 | 5.30 pm. | Man City | Newcastle | 2-0 |
| Sunday, Feb 22 | Noon | Tottenham | West Ham | 1-1 |
| Sunday, Feb 22 | 2.05 p.m. | Everton | Leicester | 2-1 |
| Sunday, Feb 22 | 4.15 p.m. | Southampton | Liverpool | 2-2 |
The current Premier League standings:
| 1 | Chelsea | 25 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 55 | 21 | 34 | 59 |
| 2 | Man City | 25 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 51 | 25 | 26 | 52 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 25 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 43 | 24 | 19 | 47 |
| 4 | Southampton | 25 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 38 | 17 | 21 | 46 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 47 | 28 | 19 | 45 |
| 6 | Tottenham | 25 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 39 | 34 | 5 | 43 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 25 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 42 |
| 8 | West Ham | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 38 |
| 9 | Swansea | 25 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 28 | 33 | -5 | 34 |
| 10 | Stoke | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 33 | -5 | 33 |
| 11 | Newcastle | 25 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 31 | 37 | -6 | 32 |
| 12 | Everton | 25 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 31 | 35 | -4 | 27 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 25 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 27 | 35 | -8 | 27 |
| 14 | West Brom | 25 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 24 | 34 | -10 | 26 |
| 15 | Sunderland | 25 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 55 | 21 | 34 | 59 |
| 16 | Hull | 25 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 51 | 25 | 26 | 52 |
| 17 | QPR | 25 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 22 | 36 | -14 | 24 |
| 18 | Aston Villa | 25 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 23 | 34 | -11 | 23 |
| 19 | Burnley | 25 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 43 | -17 | 22 |
| 20 | Leicester | 25 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 34 | -22 | 22 |
No Upsets in Week 26
Burnley put together a fantastic performance against Manchester United in Week 25, while Chelsea struggled tremendously breaking down Everton. Likewise, Manchester City needed a strong second half to forget about the debacle that was the first 45 minutes of their match against Stoke City—Newcastle already beat the Citizens back in October.
Don't expect any major upsets, though. City will finally get Yaya Toure back, as the Ivorian returns triumphant from AFCON 2015, and the midfielder should provide the squad with a massive boost, via Squawka Football:
Everton had been on a great run defensively until Wednesday's match at Stamford Bridge, and while Burnley deserve a lot of credit for their courageous showing at Old Trafford, even Louis van Gaal saw United's incompetence was as much responsible for their close encounter as Burnley's strong play, per the league's official Twitter feed:
Defending champions City and Chelsea have consistently been the two best teams in the Premier League this season, and with injury concerns at a minimum—Aguero's back concerns are "not serious," per Manchester Evening News' Stuart Brennan—neither squad looks like folding right now.
Add plenty of time between now and the next round of fixtures, and complacency or looking past the current opponents also don't appear to be factors. Football is a funny game, but don't expect either team to drop points in Week 26.
Southampton vs. Liverpool Could Be Match of the Season
Southampton and Liverpool will both enter Week 26 with plenty of momentum. The Saints have the Premier League's best defence, while Mario Balotelli and Daniel Sturridge finally have the chance to show they can be a deadly duo up front for the Reds.
The England international certainly believes the partnership has plenty of potential, as he told the Liverpool Echo (h/t Rise of the Kop):
Both squads are young and energetic, play a fast-paced brand of football and are chasing a Champions League spot for next season. And while the Reds do look like the hotter team entering the contest, the Saints' defensive proficiency should not be underestimated.
The clash has aptly been scheduled as the final match of Week 26, and it's one fans simply can't miss. Sunday's battle will have huge implications in the race for the European spots, particularly with Arsenal and Spurs engaging in rivalry matches against other London-based clubs.
Crystal Palace and West Ham both have the potential to cause an upset and help the Reds and Saints in the process, but once those fixtures have been played, it will be up to the two sides themselves to ensure they rise from Matchday 26 as clear winners. If you like Premier League football, you simply can't miss it.
