Premier League Matchday 25 Preview

Leicester City vs Chelsea

The last time these two teams met it was a close game that ended in a 1-1 draw, Mason Mount opening the scoring, whose early season form has started to quieten, and two of Leicester's key players Maddison and Ndidi linking up for the equaliser.

With The Foxes' impressive first half of the season seemingly on the wane, in no small part to Ndidi's absence, they seem to have started a turn it around. Last weekend admittedly against a less than impressive West Ham with an impressive 4-1 victory. That result should help Leicester push on against an unpredictable Chelsea, whose fans have also seen early season promise slowly fade away. They were pulled back twice by a stubborn ten man Arsenal at home last Monday, and conceding such a late goal would have surely felt like a defeat.

Both teams will have much different line-ups this time out as Chelsea have had to add Abraham to their growing list of injuries, that has already been effecting their goalscoring, meanwhile Leicester will be missing James Maddison, who has often been the player to make the difference for them in key moments.

Newcastle vs Norwich City

Two teams who are very hard to work out, both teams on their day are capable of pulling off a surprise result, and also of having their pants pulled down in front of everyone. These teams share a huge similarity in not showing up against the teams around them. Which team will finally take advantage of a game against a team “they should be beating”?

Norwich got the better of Newcastle in the reverse fixture way back in the second round of fixtures. A 3-1 win with a hattrick from Pukki, when he was setting the Premier League alight, and a last minute consolation from Jonjo Shelvey. Both teams look in very different shape now though, for Newcastle Almiron is starting to add end product to his impressive and lively start to life in the Premiership and Saint-Maximin can give unpredictability to another wise lethargic attack. For Norwich they need their key man Pukki to refind his early season form and for his midfielders to provide him with some help in doing so.

Crystal Palace vs Sheffield United

When these teams met earlier in the season Sheffield United edged a narrow 1-0 win through an early second half goal from Lundstram back in August. The Blades continue their remarkable season, currently standing in 8th place, 1 point off the Europa League, with no sign of slowing down despite a narrow loss to Manchester City in their last match.

Crystal Palace on the other hand haven't won since Boxing Day and continue to start games slowly and salvage draws late on. Scoring has been an issue for Palace with Ayew their top scorer on 6 goals followed by the possibly dissillusioned Zaha on 3, who has struggled to find form after an unpredictable summer for the Ivorian. Sheffield United have been sharing the goals around the team with Fleck and Mousset both on 5 and the now fan's favourite McBurnie chasing them on 4. West Ham vs Brighton

For me two of the least impressive teams in the Premier League recently, both going through very tough runs of form, Brighton haven't won in 4 and West Ham in 3. David Moyes' first game back in charge, in January, showed signs of a resurgence in a 4-0 win over Bournemouth, but that promise has most definitely faded. They now find themselves level on points with both Bournemouth and Watford, only above the relegation zone on goal difference. Moyes has also made 5 substitutions at half time in the last two games, pointing to that he either doesn't know his starting eleven or his tactical preparation for games isn't quite there.

With fan sentiment almost returning to the dark days we saw last season, in the now infamous game against Burnley at the London Stadium, where fans crowded the director's boxes and some fans invading the pitch, broken promises about the stadium and a lack of progress on the field are starting to pile the pressure on the board with protests at the last home game to Everton, another disappointing performance against a team also struggling to find form.

Brighton have flattered to deceive so far, while it's easy to see that Graham Potter has started to implement his style on the team, which was what he was brought in to do. To entertain the fans more than the undeniably effective but slightly too efficient Chris Hughton. But now the focus has to shift to their results, they lack a clear goalscorer, Connolly is still very young and inexperieinced and Glenn Murray very experienced, but now looking like his time may be up in the Premier League after an impressive career. Neil Maupay has been trying to pick up the slack with seven goals, but he still needs time to fully settle into Premier League life. Brighton are only two points above West Ham and need to do everything they can to stop themselves being dragged into the dogfight. Bournemouth vs Aston Villa

Is time running out for Eddie Howe? The, in the past, seemingly untouchable manager seems to be faltering, in no small part down to a crowded physio room and a defence that leaks like a Newcastle United takeover rumour. They've conceded 37 goals already this season and their selection of strikers leaves much to be desired. They miss Callum Wilson when he is injured of course, but his apparent replacement Dominic Solanke looks like he could do with some time in the Championship to earn his stripes and find his goalscoring touch, the £20 million price tag now looks even worse.

Aston Villa fresh from knocking out Lecicester to book their place in the Carabao Cup final in a thrilling second leg, could finally have got the boost their season needs, There is no doubt they have quality in their squad, beyond Jack Grealish, who has undoubtedly stood out this year and could well find himself a seat on the plane for Euro 2020, but they need a striker who can take advantage of their creativity. Maybe their new signing Samatta can sharpen their attack, 7 goals in 20 games so far in Belgium this season Villa will be hoping he makes the difference. Watford vs Everton

Two teams who prior to this season had their sights set at much loftier goals than where they currently find themselves, both teams having to sack their once promising looking managers, both teams with mercurial talents aplenty, both struggling to find consistent form.

Pearson has come in and started well halfway through a season that once looked like certain relegation is now starting to look not so grim. He created a miraculous survival with Leicester, why not again with Watford? With talismanic striker Deeney back to full fitness and looking like he's able and of course willing to single-handedly drag Watford out of this mess they could have a chance.

Not quite the electric start to Ancelotti's reign that I'm sure the Everton faithful expected, but there are signs on progress, Calvert-Lewin has continued his spectacualr recent form and much anticipated signs of progress from Italian wonderkid Moise Kean. Now unbeaten in three matches scoring 4 goals, they need to bolster their defence, conceding 3 goals in the last 4 games, and two of them in the final two minutes of an added 3 minutes against Newcastle, and also to remind keeper Pickford to stand on the right side of the goal line. Liverpool vs Southampton

Not much to say here about Liverpool apart from the fact that they will almost certainly win this game, most likely by 2 or 3 goals and the machine will continue to rumble on. They are a team that looks like breaking every record going, could they better Arsenal's Invincibles and Man City's Centurions in one season? I get the feeling that they very much will.

Southampton on the other hand have been rewarded by showing patience in Hassenhutl, and since the 9-0 defeat at home to Leicester there has been an impressive upturn in form. Landmark wins along the way against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and against Spurs stand out in particular, and hit man Ings has been instrumental in this turn around and maybe he will have something to say against his old team. Manchester United vs Wolves

A change in tide and a sudden drop in the intimidation factor of Old Trafford makes this a fascinating fixture, somehow United still find themselves in 5th place despite their best efforts to fall. Solskjaer's press conferences are getting more and more bizarre and now the fans have turned to throwing flares at their Chief Executive's house.

Manchester United's problems are clear for all to see, recognised strikers injured, Rashford is due to be out until April, out of form, Martial has 2 goals in his last 5 games or sold to other clubs, and a huge lack of creativity in midfield. New signing Fernandes from Sporting could give them that much needed spark, but he will surely need time to settle in to the Premier League, nevertheless Manchester United are very hard to predict, against teams lower down the table they tend to struggle, and against the fellow “top teams” they play well and usually get a result, so where does that leave them against Wolves.

Wolverhampton have been great value since their promotion to the Premier League and already look like they have been here for years. The standout player this year is undoubtedly Adam Traore, 4 goals and 7 assists so far this season, who seems to have added the end product to his game that he was so desperately missing in his time at Middlesbrough, and defences so far have found it impossible to handle, partner that with the reliability and clinicalness of Jimenez, 11 goals, and Wolves could well find themselves in the Europa League again next year. Burnley vs Arsenal

Burnley looked like they might have been sleepwalking into a relegation battle, but with two straight wins against Leicester and most noticeably the 2-0 defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford have put them 7 points clear of the main pack and maybe looking comfortable in mid-table. Chris Wood has been impressive this season clocking up 10 goals and Westwood in midfield has been their main playmaker, leading their assists, passing and key pass charts. But of all the teams you would expect Arsenal seem to be something of a bogey team for Sean Dyche, playing them 10 times and losing all 10.

Arsenal are starting to look like a team with an identity and direction, results haven't been great and they are still languishing in 10th place and European football next year almost certainly off the table. This could be good for Arteta and Arsenal though, they can now concentrate on polishing a style of play with less pressure than usual. Aubameyang will be serving the last game of his suspension, leaving the door open for Lacazette to end his goal drought, 1 goal in his last 7, or maybe Nketiah, scoring on his loan return from Leeds, or Story of the season Martinelli, 10 goals abd 4 assists in 22 appearances across all competitions this year, to force their name into the starting line-up.

Tottenham vs Manchester City

Potentially the game of the weekend, last time these two sides met it was an exciting 2-2 draw, with games between these teams tending to be exciting affairs and often packed with goals.

But with Harry Kane still out injured and no real option upfront to replace him, Tottenham may be struggling for fire power, only scoring two goals in their last 4 matches, only winning one of them. Mourinho hasn't managed to bring his trademark defensive stability with him either, but if anyone is capable of closing out an apparent irresistible attacking force it's Mourinho.

Manchester City are trying to make the most out of a title race that has definitely escaped them, many thought they may struggle to keep their focus and start to wobble. Now unbeaten in 5, scoring 13 in that time, with Gabriel showing that he's not just a backup to Aguero, providing 3 goals and two assists in this run, Manchester City look intent on showing the rest of the league that they are still the power that trampled the every one last season.