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Premier League Preview: Matchday 37

Premier League Preview: Matchday 37

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It is set to be an odd weekend in the Premier League. For the first time in a while, Manchester City play their game before their rivals and have the opportunity to move into top spot. It is also a weekend in which the reigning champions will be rooting for neighbours and FA Cup final opponents Manchester United. Aston Villa could claim a top four place while Nottingham Forest, if results go their way, could guarantee their survival. 

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Can City reclaim top spot?

Manchester City travel to Craven Cottage for the early kick-off on Saturday looking to make it 19 games unbeaten against Fulham. Pep Guardiola’s men have won 16 and drawn two of their previous 18 clashes between the sides and it is very much a favourable tie for the champions.

A win here would lift them two points clear of Arsenal with two games left to play. It puts them in a very commanding position. The champions romped to a 5-1 win when these two sides met back in September. 

They face Fulham at a good time too with Marco Silva’s men currently winless in three. Combine that with the fact Erling Haaland has found his goalscoring form again and everything points to a Man City win. 

The Premier League’s leading scorer has seven goals in his last four matches in the English top-flight. He netted four in the 5-1 win over Wolves last weekend to take his haul for the season to 25. 

Can Spurs keep their season alive?

Tottenham Hotspur are seven points off of the final Champions League place with a game in hand over Aston Villa. However, Ange Postecoglou’s side have just three matches remaining. Time really is running out for them to turn this around. A win is desperately needed to keep their hopes of a top four finish alive. 

They host a Burnley side on Saturday afternoon who are also in dire need of a win. The Clarets are five points away from safety with just two games left. Anything other than a win against Spurs would see them relegated. 

To say there’s a lot at stake would be an understatement.

Spurs have lost four on the spin and have conceded 13 goals in these defeats. They aren’t in the greatest of form and this drop-off has occurred at the worst possible time. The top four hopefuls have also conceded a minimum of three in three of the four matches. 

However, they have won their previous three against the Clarets. 

Burnley had been on a three match unbeaten run prior to their 4-1 loss to Newcastle United last weekend. At one stage, it did appear as though they might play their way out of trouble. That heavy loss to the Magpies has put them in a win or be relegated situation though and they are without a clean sheet in 19. It isn’t looking good for Vincent Kompany’s men but this is what makes this match-up so intriguing – it impacts both ends of the table. 

One more result for Forest

The evening game on Saturday sees Nottingham Forest host Chelsea at the City Ground. 

If results go their way, Forest could retain their place in the Premier League this weekend. At the time of kick-off, they will know the Luton Town score and they will know whether or not a single point is all that will be needed to be playing Premier League football next term. 

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side won their last outing away to Sheffeld United to halt a four-game winless run. They are, however, without a clean sheet in 12 and have scored just six goals in their previous five outings. It is an awful combination. They aren’t scoring enough goals and they aren’t able to keep the opposition out. 

They face a Chelsea side making a late dart for a Europa Conference League place. The Blues could end the weekend in sixth if they win at the City Ground and Newcastle United fail to beat Brighton at St James’ Park. 

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are unbeaten in three and looked impressive in their 5-0 win over West Ham United last weekend. Having said that though, they are winless in their last six away matches. So this isn’t a foregone conclusion, despite their positive form over recent weeks. 

Old rivalries revisited 

Manchester United welcome title hopefuls Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday. 

The Gunners could kick off in unfamiliar territory. If City beat Fulham, Mikel Arteta’s side will head to Old Trafford in second position. They’ll be playing catch-up and there aren’t many games left. A poor result here could derail their dreams of a first place finish before their final game of the Premier League season. There is no room for error. 

Arsenal head into this game in good form though having won four on the spin. They have also kept three clean sheets during this period, in the process guaranteeing David Raya the Golden Glove. 

Arteta and his team travel well. In fact, they have the best away record in the Premier League having taken 39 points from 18 matches. 

By comparison, the Red Devils are a little erratic at home. Erik Ten Hag’s side have failed to win eight of their 17 matches at Old Trafford and are without a clean sheet in nine games. They were hammered 4-0 by Crystal Palace last time out and need a win to keep their European aspirations alive. 

They played a part in ending Liverpool’s title hopes. They could do the same to Arsenal here. 

Champions League football for Aston Villa?

Depending on what happens elsewhere, Villa could already have secured a top four finish before this game even kicks off. Alternatively, they could guarantee a Champions League place with a win over Liverpool on Monday night. 

Again, like elsewhere this weekend, there is a lot to play for at Villa Park. Unai Emery’s side have struggled over recent weeks. They are winless in two Premier League matches and lost to Brighton last time out. They have won just four of their previous 10 games in the English top flight and have kept just two clean sheets during this time. 

They’ll need to dig deep, especially after playing in a demoralising Europa Conference League semi-final defeat on Thursday, to get anything out of this game. 

Liverpool guaranteed a top three finish but will want to end Jürgen Klopp’s reign as manager on a high, so they will be looking for three points. After all, they could still be in a title race if results elsewhere go in their favour. The Reds are, perhaps surprisingly, unbeaten in seven against Villa. It tends to be a difficult fixture for Klopp’s side but what a way to end matchday 37. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Premier League Preview: Matchday 37

It is set to be an odd weekend in the Premier League. For the first time in a while, Manchester City play their game before their rivals and have the opportunity to move into top spot. It is also a weekend in which the reigning champions will be rooting for neighbours and FA Cup final opponents Manchester United. Aston Villa could claim a top four place while Nottingham Forest, if results go their way, could guarantee their survival. 

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Can City reclaim top spot?

Manchester City travel to Craven Cottage for the early kick-off on Saturday looking to make it 19 games unbeaten against Fulham. Pep Guardiola’s men have won 16 and drawn two of their previous 18 clashes between the sides and it is very much a favourable tie for the champions.

A win here would lift them two points clear of Arsenal with two games left to play. It puts them in a very commanding position. The champions romped to a 5-1 win when these two sides met back in September. 

They face Fulham at a good time too with Marco Silva’s men currently winless in three. Combine that with the fact Erling Haaland has found his goalscoring form again and everything points to a Man City win. 

The Premier League’s leading scorer has seven goals in his last four matches in the English top-flight. He netted four in the 5-1 win over Wolves last weekend to take his haul for the season to 25. 

Can Spurs keep their season alive?

Tottenham Hotspur are seven points off of the final Champions League place with a game in hand over Aston Villa. However, Ange Postecoglou’s side have just three matches remaining. Time really is running out for them to turn this around. A win is desperately needed to keep their hopes of a top four finish alive. 

They host a Burnley side on Saturday afternoon who are also in dire need of a win. The Clarets are five points away from safety with just two games left. Anything other than a win against Spurs would see them relegated. 

To say there’s a lot at stake would be an understatement.

Spurs have lost four on the spin and have conceded 13 goals in these defeats. They aren’t in the greatest of form and this drop-off has occurred at the worst possible time. The top four hopefuls have also conceded a minimum of three in three of the four matches. 

However, they have won their previous three against the Clarets. 

Burnley had been on a three match unbeaten run prior to their 4-1 loss to Newcastle United last weekend. At one stage, it did appear as though they might play their way out of trouble. That heavy loss to the Magpies has put them in a win or be relegated situation though and they are without a clean sheet in 19. It isn’t looking good for Vincent Kompany’s men but this is what makes this match-up so intriguing – it impacts both ends of the table. 

One more result for Forest

The evening game on Saturday sees Nottingham Forest host Chelsea at the City Ground. 

If results go their way, Forest could retain their place in the Premier League this weekend. At the time of kick-off, they will know the Luton Town score and they will know whether or not a single point is all that will be needed to be playing Premier League football next term. 

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side won their last outing away to Sheffeld United to halt a four-game winless run. They are, however, without a clean sheet in 12 and have scored just six goals in their previous five outings. It is an awful combination. They aren’t scoring enough goals and they aren’t able to keep the opposition out. 

They face a Chelsea side making a late dart for a Europa Conference League place. The Blues could end the weekend in sixth if they win at the City Ground and Newcastle United fail to beat Brighton at St James’ Park. 

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are unbeaten in three and looked impressive in their 5-0 win over West Ham United last weekend. Having said that though, they are winless in their last six away matches. So this isn’t a foregone conclusion, despite their positive form over recent weeks. 

Old rivalries revisited 

Manchester United welcome title hopefuls Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday. 

The Gunners could kick off in unfamiliar territory. If City beat Fulham, Mikel Arteta’s side will head to Old Trafford in second position. They’ll be playing catch-up and there aren’t many games left. A poor result here could derail their dreams of a first place finish before their final game of the Premier League season. There is no room for error. 

Arsenal head into this game in good form though having won four on the spin. They have also kept three clean sheets during this period, in the process guaranteeing David Raya the Golden Glove. 

Arteta and his team travel well. In fact, they have the best away record in the Premier League having taken 39 points from 18 matches. 

By comparison, the Red Devils are a little erratic at home. Erik Ten Hag’s side have failed to win eight of their 17 matches at Old Trafford and are without a clean sheet in nine games. They were hammered 4-0 by Crystal Palace last time out and need a win to keep their European aspirations alive. 

They played a part in ending Liverpool’s title hopes. They could do the same to Arsenal here. 

Champions League football for Aston Villa?

Depending on what happens elsewhere, Villa could already have secured a top four finish before this game even kicks off. Alternatively, they could guarantee a Champions League place with a win over Liverpool on Monday night. 

Again, like elsewhere this weekend, there is a lot to play for at Villa Park. Unai Emery’s side have struggled over recent weeks. They are winless in two Premier League matches and lost to Brighton last time out. They have won just four of their previous 10 games in the English top flight and have kept just two clean sheets during this time. 

They’ll need to dig deep, especially after playing in a demoralising Europa Conference League semi-final defeat on Thursday, to get anything out of this game. 

Liverpool guaranteed a top three finish but will want to end Jürgen Klopp’s reign as manager on a high, so they will be looking for three points. After all, they could still be in a title race if results elsewhere go in their favour. The Reds are, perhaps surprisingly, unbeaten in seven against Villa. It tends to be a difficult fixture for Klopp’s side but what a way to end matchday 37. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.