Premier League: Matchday 26 Preview

Wolves vs Leicester City

Last time these two teams met it ended in a 0-0 draw as the Foxes struggled to take advantage of their domination of possession, and only Dendoncker's goal being ruled off for a Boly handball, prevented Wolves from taking a smash and grab win back to Molyneux. Now both teams find themselves able to take advantage of the inconsistency from the teams around them and secure European football next season.

Leicester looking comfortable in third spot, with a 10 point cushion between them and surprise package Sheffield United in 5th, are all but certain to make a return to the Champions League after their fantastic run to the round of 16 in 2016/17. However, Leicester have started to leak goals, conceding 7 goals in 5 games since the absence of Ndidi, due to a knee injury. So it will be great relief to Foxes fans that he may be available for selection again this weekend, and hopefully bringing his trademark protection back for his centre backs. They still boast one of the most lethal attacks in the league this year, with only Liverpool and Manchester City scoring more than them.

Wolves on the other hand have dropped down to 9th place, after disappointing results away to resurgent Watford and a difficult to predict Newcastle team, yet still only 5 points off a Europa League place. Raul Jimenez has started to find his clinical touch again with 3 goals in his last 3 games with the help of the relentless Adam Traore. Nevertheless, they have impressively managed to balance both a successful campaign in Europe, and maintain their expectations in the Premier League, something many other teams have struggled to do in the past, see Burnley's marathonesque campaign in 18/19.

With Wolves not winning at home since an impressive 3-2 win over Manchester City, on the 27th December, and Leicester's away form being far from convincing since the turn of the year, beating Newcastle handedly but then unexpectedly slipping to a loss against Burnley. Both teams are looking to get back to their early season consistency and another season of progress.

Southampton vs Burnley

Two teams determined to keep themselves out of the relegation scrap. This season when you look at the Premier League table you could be forgiven for thinking that maybe more than three teams deserve to go down. With one or two of them looking doomed already, now I am not saying either of these teams deserve relegation or that they currently look like the ones struggling the most, but the drama come the end of the season will be found at the bottom of the table rather than the top. With only 7 points currently separating West Ham in 18th and Arsenal in 10th, both Southampton and Burnley if not careful could be dragged into the dogfight once again.

Southampton have started to return to the early Hassenhutl side, from looking like relegation certainties, he has proven his ability in getting his team to follow and implement his system. Continuing to get the best out of Ings, 14 goals so far this season. Their last game was a 4-0 demolition at the hands of Liverpool, despite what was an all round decent performance from the Saints, merely highlighting Liverpool's excellence rather than Southampton's weaknesses. Before that game The Saints registered wins over Tottenham, Leicester City and Crystal Palace, scoring 5 and

conceding only 1.

For Burnley they are currently unbeaten in their last three games, overcoming Leicester at home 2-1, famously securing their first victory at Old Trafford since 1962 whilst keeping a clean sheet, and getting within a few millimetres of what would've been a deserved win over Arsenal. But ultimately having to take a point in a very dull 0-0 draw. A game which will mainly be remembered for the chorus of booing that accompanied the entirety of the game, reminding many of the rarely missed hum of vuvuzelas in the 2010 World Cup. Chris Wood is carrying his good form into 2020 with 3 goals and 1 assist in his 5 appearances so far this year whilst creating a dangerous partnership with Jay Rodriguez, who also has 1 goal and an assist in his last 3 games, who was unlucky not to add to his tally as he saw his thunderous strike bounce off the line against Arsenal.

Norwich City vs Liverpool

Bottom versus top, are there two teams more diametrically opposed in the Premier League than Norwich and Liverpool, well one team can't stop scoring and rarely concede, while the other can't score and can't keep them out at the other end. Liverpool are averaging 2.4 goals a game to The Canaries' 0.9. While Norwich have conceded around 1.8 goals a match so far, compare that to Liverpool's 0.6, only conceding one goal in 2020, and you can only see this game going one way.

They come into this game fresh off the back of a seemingly effortless 4-0 destruction of a still impressive Southampton. So perfect timing for the return of Sadio Mane after he has missed the last two Premier League games with a hamstring injury. He will be keen to get back to goalscoring form to ensure that he keeps his place in the front three that has terrorised so many defences this season. Liverpool will be focusing on getting the Premier League wrapped up as soon as possible, in order to be able to focus on all the other competitions they are still competing for, and this trip to Carrow Road should see them take one step closer to that goal, maybe even allowing them to secure the title in record time.

Norwich on the other hand are looking stranded at the bottom of the table, currently 7 points from safety and teams around them starting to pick up results or string together runs of form, they need to improve quickly if they are to stand any chance of beating the drop. The Canaries' win over Manchester City back in September is without a doubt the highlight of their season so far, but it feels a million miles away right now. They have taken points off some of the “top 6” clubs, so maybe they can spring a surprise and take a result here. If that is to happen they need goals, only scoring 3 in their 5 games so far this year. Only two players have scored more than one goal in the Premier League for Norwich this season, Pukki on 11 and Cantwell on 6. They desperately need their team-mates to pick up some of the slack and start contributing.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham

3 goals in the last 15 minutes spared Tottenham's blushes last time these two met, as Ndombele's first goal for the club and a Kane brace helped Spurs see off a brave Aston Villa. Villa had lead since the 9th minute through a McGinn goal. It was ultimately a sign of what was to be a trend this season for Villa, playing well but ultimately ending in defeat.

Tottenham will be looking to make it three victories on the bounce heading to Villa Park. Last weekend saw a memorable three points for Spurs. A stunning goal for debutant Steven Bergwijn after City were reduced to ten men, and there was more VAR controversy and Mourinho hysterics than I can fit into this article. With Harry Kane still missing Spurs will be hoping that Son can continue his recent form, two goals in his last two games. Meanwhile Mourinho might finally be getting his defence into shape as they have only conceded two goals since January 1st.

As for Villa they are still 1 point above the relegation zone, but also one point behind Bournemouth. The Cherries handed the Villains a possibly pivotal defeat with two first half goals, one just on the cusp of half time in the last round of fixtures. Villa were much improved in the second half but their slow start had already cost them. Jack Grealish seems to be on a one-man mission to keep Villa up this year, and if anyone can it's him. He has impressed just about everyone this year and at this rate should be a shoe in for the Euros this summer. But their problem remains the same, lack of goals. The Villains have only scored more than 2 goals in a game once this season, against Norwich in a 5-1 away win, and for a team averaging 1.8 goals conceded a game, they need to find some equlibrium. They brought in reinforcements in January to try and beef up their attack, and Trezeguet seems to be finding his feet, maybe it will be enough to see them get revenge against Spurs and take a step towards extending their stay in England's top division.

Arsenal vs Newcastle

Arsenal's key man was the difference at St James' Park when these two teams met last time, his 58th minute goal proved the difference in a close encounter that foreshadowed both team's struggles this season. Newcastle failed to take advantage of the opportunities they created and Arsenal scraped a win in an underwhelming performance.

Arsenal have arguably been more reliant on Aubameyang this year than they have on any player in their history. People used to talk about the team with Henry being a one man team, well this is a new level. Without the Gabonese striker's goals Arsenal would be sat in the relegation zone, which feels like a mad sentence even as I type it. So will Arteta finally give Lacazette the rest he seems to need and play Aubameyang through the middle? Nevertheless The Gunners have looked much improved under Arteta, they are still unbeaten in 2020. A clear style and almost defensive stability seem to be settling in, now it's time to address the attack, Arsenal's failure to kill off games has seen them draw 13 games already this season. Fresh from their warm weather training in Dubai the Arsenal faithful will be hoping it was a productive camp.

Is it ok to admit the Bruce is doing a good job yet? Newcastle fans were less than impressed with his appointment in the summer as he replaced fan's favourite Benitez, but they are currently 6 points better off than they were at this point last season and are three places higher in 12th. The Magpies are 6 points above the relegation zone and they look far from worried about getting themselves dragged into the scrap. As with a typical Bruce team they are well organised, disciplined and no thrills, but with players like Saint-Maximin, a great follow on Twitter by the way, and Almiron adjusting to life in the Premier League, maybe the entertainment value will start to rise at St James' Park and not just from the local's recent trend of genital antics.

Chelsea vs Manchester United

Earlier in the season the return fixture offered so much promise to the Manchester United supporters, an emphatic 4-0 victory over a blues side that boasted more possession, more shots on target and more completed passes. This showed a clinical side to United that flattered to deceive, but Solskjaer's record against the “top 6” remains impressive and few wouldn't fancy him against a Chelsea team whose season has certainly begun to lose it's shine.

The Red Devils still have absences to deal with as they await the return of the eternally blamed Pogba and midfield linchpin McTominay. New boy Fernandes will have to adapt to life quickly to provide that creative spark in midfield that they have lacked so much since the frenchamn's fitness concerns began. Add to this the aggravated back injury to Rashford and all of a sudden their attack looks a lot less potent. United have failed to score in their last 3 Premier League games, including a home loss to Burnley and a 0-0 draw with Wolves. United simply need to win if they are to have any hopes of making the Champions League, which after how this season has gone for them seems bizarre that it is still even a possibility.

Frank Lampard finds his team in a run of three without a win, two 2-2 draws where they let leads slip three times and a shock 1-0 defeat to Newcastle. Not the preparation I'm sure Lampard had in mind running up to three important games at Stamford Bridge. This weekend they must try and make their place in The Champions League next season more secure, before facing Spurs next weekend and them the home leg to Bayern Munich following that. Injuries have troubled The Blues for some time but they might finally see the return of Pulisic this weekend, as Abraham and Kante seem to be returning to full fitness.