Man City vs Tottenham Hotspurs
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Saturday, 20-04-2019 @2:30pm
Referee: Michael Oliver
Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho could be fit to start, having played as a substitute against Spurs in midweek on his return from a muscular problem. Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has been out with a hamstring injury, will be assessed.
Tottenham look likely to be without Moussa Sissoko, who was substituted on Wednesday because of a groin problem. Eric Dier will return to training on Friday after a hip injury and could be involved this weekend. Serge Aurier, Harry Winks and Harry Kane remain out.
Manchester City are vying to equal their club record of four consecutive top-flight wins against Spurs. Tottenham have lost seven of their past nine visits to the Etihad Stadium in all competitions, conceding 27 goals. Their only victory in that period came in the league in February 2016.
City’s streak of nine successive Premier League wins equals the best run by any club this season. Liverpool won nine in a row during November and December. Pep Guardiola’s side have won 24 of their past 26 league and cup matches, including the penalty shootout victory in the Carabao Cup final. They need two more goals in all competitions to equal the record of 156 by a top-flight side in a season, set by City themselves in 2013-14. Manchester City have earned an unsurpassed 19 points this season in games against established top-six rivals. Liverpool have accrued as many points but played one game more. City have won eight of their past nine home league matches against the rest of the current top six, including all four this season. Sergio Aguero has gone six league appearances without a goal against Tottenham. He scored 10 in his first seven matches in this fixture. Aguero needs one goal to become just the second player to score 20 times in the Premier League in five successive seasons, emulating Thierry Henry.
Spurs are on a run of four Premier League away defeats in a row, conceding two goals each time. They haven’t fared worse since a six-match losing streak on the road between March and May 2004. They have lost seven of their past eight away fixtures in all competitions, with the exception being a 1-0 victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on 5 March. Nonetheless, Spurs are the division’s leading scorers in away matches, with 33 goals. They are one point shy of matching the club’s best Premier League away tally in a season: 34 in 2012-13, 2015-16 and 2017-18.Tottenham have the second poorest record in league games between the established top-six sides this season, with seven points (W2, D1, L6). Manchester United have six points. Mauricio Pochettino’s side have won all five of their league games without Harry Kane this season.
AFC Bournemouth vs Fulham
Vitality Stadium, Dorset
Saturday, 20-04-2019 @5pm
Referee: Dean Coote
Bournemouth have no fresh injury concerns for Eddie Howe’s 500th match as a manager. Captain Steve Cook returned to action last weekend after a seven-match lay-off with a groin injury.
Fulham defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a doubt because of a knee ligament problem. Floyd Ayite could return from a muscle injury, while Alfie Mawson is close to recovering from the knee injury he suffered while changing boots.
Bournemouth’s only defeat in the past 11 league meetings came at home in January 1994 when both sides were in the third tier (W7, D3). Fulham have had a player sent off in each of their last two games against Bournemouth: Fernando Amorebieta in March 2015 and Kevin McDonald in last October’s reverse fixture. The 3-0 win for Bournemouth last autumn was the first top-flight match between the clubs.
Huddersfield Town vs Watford
The John Smith Stadium, West Yorkshire
Saturday, 20-04-2019 @5pm
Referee: Roger East
Huddersfield winger Isaac Mbenza has recovered from illness but forward Karlan Grant is still struggling with it and could miss out. Philip Billing is in contention after overcoming a back problem, while Laurent Depoitre is training after a foot injury but not yet ready to play.
Watford will be without Troy Deeney, who begins a three-match ban. Gerard Deulofeu and Roberto Pereyra face fitness tests on respective ankle and hip injuries.
Huddersfield did the double over Watford last season but the Hornets won 3-0 when the teams met at Vicarage Road in October. Watford have won on three of their last five visits to Huddersfield in the league.
West ham vs Leicester City
London Stadium, London
Saturday, 20-07-2019 @5pm
Referee: Lee Probert
West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic is fit again after illness and Aaron Cresswell could return from a knee problem. But Manuel Lanzini is a major doubt because of a groin injury, as are Javier Hernandez and Samir Nasri with respective ear and calf problems.
Jack Wilshere is fit after an ankle injury but might not be risked. Leicester winger Marc Albrighton could start after returning from two months out with a hamstring injury as a substitute last weekend.
Leicester are unbeaten on their last three league visits to West Ham (W2, D1). West Ham have only managed one victory in the past nine meetings in all competitions (D3, L5). The Hammers have scored in 22 of their last 23 home league games against Leicester, with the exception a 1-0 defeat in August 2000.
Wolves vs Brighton
Molineux Stadium, West Midlands
Saturday, 20-04-2019 @5pm
Referee: Craig Pawson
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has a fully-fit squad to choose from as his team continue their pursuit of a top-seven finish. Defender Ryan Bennett will be hoping for a recall after being dropped to the bench for the past two matches.
Brighton have no new injury concerns following the midweek defeat at relegation rivals Cardiff. Anthony Knockaert serves the second game of a three-match suspension, while Jason Steele is a long-term absentee.
Brighton have triumphed in all seven top-flight meetings, keeping a clean sheet in the past six. The Seagulls can equal Manchester City’s top-flight record of winning their first eight matches against the same opponent.
Newcastle United vs Southampton
St. James Park, Newcastle
Saturday, 20-04-2019 @7:30pm
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Newcastle have no new injury problems ahead of the visit of Southampton. Florian Lejeune has had surgery on the knee ligaments he ruptured earlier this month, and Sean Longstaff is another long-term absentee with a knee injury.
Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard is a doubt with a groin problem but Yan Valery is fit after a thigh injury. Alex McCarthy, Matt Targett and Charlie Austin should overcome minor niggles but Saturday may be too soon for Mario Lemina after his abdominal injury. However, the midfielder has returned to training and is expected to feature before the end of the season.
Newcastle have only lost one of their past 13 Premier League home games against Southampton (W9, D3). However, Saints have won 15 Premier League matches against Newcastle, more than versus any other team. Southampton’s only defeat in the past nine meetings came at St James’ Park last season.
Everton vs Man United
Goodison Park, Liverpool
Sunday, 21-04-2019 @3:30pm
Referee: Paul Tierney
Everton are without Andre Gomes, who has been handed a retrospective three-match ban for a challenge on Aleksandr Mitrovic in the defeat at Fulham. Tom Davies and Morgan Schneiderlin are vying to replace him, while Yerry Mina is still sidelined through injury.
Manchester United may rotate their squad following the midweek Champions League exit, with Ander Herrera back in training after a thigh injury. Nemanja Matic and Alexis Sanchez are available but Luke Shaw is suspended.
Everton have lost 36 Premier League matches against Manchester United, a competition record for defeats against a single opponent. United’s 16 Premier League victories at Goodison Park is also a competition record for away wins at one stadium. Everton’s only win in the past nine league meetings was a 3-0 home triumph in April 2015 (D2, L6).
Manchester United have lost four consecutive away matches in all competitions for the first time in 20 years. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer featured in all four of those defeats in 1999. They could lose three Premier League away games in a row for the first time since January 1996. United have not kept a clean sheet for 10 games in all competitions, their worst run for seven years. They have conceded 44 goals, one short of the club Premier League record for the most conceded in a season, set in 1999-2000 and 2001-02. Solskjaer was unbeaten in all 10 Premier League appearances as a player versus Everton and scored seven goals – his joint-best return against any side. Paul Pogba has been directly involved in a career-best 22 Premier League goals this season, scoring 13 and setting up nine. However, seven of those goals have been penalties. Only Ruud van Nistelrooy, with eight in 2002-03, has scored more penalties in a single Premier League campaign for United.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Emirates Stadium, London
Sunday, 21-04-2019 @6pm
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery is unsure if Juventus-bound midfielder Aaron Ramsey has played his last game for the club after suffering a hamstring injury against Napoli on Thursday. Granit Xhaka and Denis Suarez will have their respective hip and groin problems assessed, while Sokratis is suspended.
Crystal Palace are without Jeffrey Schlupp, who will miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury. Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins are also unavailable.
Arsenal’s only defeat in their 18 top-flight home meetings with Crystal Palace came in October 1994 (W14, D3). Following their 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park in October, Palace are looking to avoid defeat in both league encounters in a season for the first time since 1979-80.
The Gunners are vying for an 11th successive top-flight home win, which they’ve never achieved in a single season. Arsenal have won 30 of their last 31 Premier League home fixtures against sides outside the established top six, drawing the other game against Wolves in November. They have earned twice as many points at home as away this season: the margin of 22 points is the biggest in the division. If Arsenal win each of their remaining five league matches, they will finish with more than 80 points for the first time since 2007-08. Arsenal have won six straight London derbies at home in the Premier League, their best run since 11 victories in a row between December 2001 and November 2003. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored six Premier League London derby goals this season, more than any other player.
Cardiff vs Liverpool
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Sunday, 21-07-2019 @6pm
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Cardiff City midfielder Harry Arter has been ruled out with the calf strain he sustained last weekend while running off the pitch to be substituted. Aron Gunnarsson faces a late check on a back spasm, with Leandro Bacuna on standby to replace him.
Liverpool came through their midweek win at Porto without any new injuries. Dejan Lovren should be fit after illness while Joe Gomez could start after making his return from a broken leg as a substitute in midweek.
Cardiff have lost their three Premier League meetings with Liverpool, conceding 13 goals. Liverpool have won the last five encounters in all competitions, including a penalty shootout victory in the 2012 League Cup final. It is 60 years since the Bluebirds last beat Liverpool – a 4-0 Division Two triumph at Anfield in December 1959 in Bill Shankly’s first match as manager of the Reds.
Liverpool could win nine consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time since April 2014. They are one point shy of equalling their club record Premier League tally of 86 from the 2008-09 season. Liverpool have won their last nine league matches against newly-promoted sides, scoring 27 goals and conceding three. They have taken 49 points from a possible 51 against teams in the bottom half of the table (W16, D1). Mohamed Salah is one goal shy of becoming the third Liverpool player to score 20 in consecutive Premier League seasons, emulating Robbie Fowler and Luis Suarez. Sadio Mane has scored 10 goals in his last 12 league appearances.
Chelsea vs Burnley
Stamford Bridge, London
Monday, 22-04-2019 @10pm
Referee: Kevin Friend
*Details to follow shortly