The spoils have been split between West Brom and Manchester United over the last five games with a draw and two wins each. The current West Brom side, however, are slipping closer and closer to relegation trouble and are only above the red line due to goal difference. They are still without a win since August and are about to begin a difficult run of games. Manchester United, however, go into Sunday’s game with four wins from the last five. They currently sit 2nd and should stay there no matter the result. They will be keen to increase their advantage over the rest of the top four though.
Manchester City against Tottenham is arguably the game of the weekend but it could prove to be a big test for the league leaders. Despite Tottenham’s inconsistency, City haven’t beaten them in the league since May 2015. City have won 15 league games in a row now though and hold an 11 point advantage in the table. It will be difficult for anyone to catch them this season but with a tough winger schedule coming they may start to falter. Spurs have not won in any of their last four away league games but two wins in a week at home has moved them to 4th.
Chelsea go into their game against Southampton on a run of four straight home wins. They currently sit in 3rd place in the league but with only four points separating them and the teams down to 7th a win is needed. Southampton have won just once in their last seven and not away since September. They are 11th and have scored just four goals in their last four games.
Liverpool have not lost in their last eight league games and travel to Bournemouth on Sunday looking to increase on that. Two wins from their last five though have seen them slip to 5th in the table. Bournemouth have been on a poor run themselves and have picked up just three points in their last five games. They are in a respectable 14th place in the table, but only two points above the bottom three.
Arsenal have won their last nine league games against Newcastle and face them once more at home on Saturday. Following three games without a win they have slipped to 7th in the table but are still only one point outside the top four. Newcastle, on the other hand, haven’t won since October and are now just one point above the relegation zone. They face three other sides around them over the next five games but need to pick up points in as many games as possible.
Leicester and Crystal Palace are two of the league’s in-form sides at the moment and the pair meet on Saturday. Leicester have won four in a row in the league moving into 8th and giving them an outside chance of European qualification. Palace have picked up 10 points in their last six games and are unbeaten over that time. That run has lifted them off the bottom of the league and they could escape the bottom three with more points this weekend.
Not since August have Burnley lost to a team outside the current top eight and they travel to Brighton looking to maintain that record. Currently sitting in 6th, Burnley have been a surprise package this season and will be looking to take maximum points from their trip to the south coast to close in on the top four. Many expect their run to end and it may well do this weekend but with just one point in their last five games, Brighton may find it difficult.
Both Stoke and West Ham have only one win in their last five games. The two have the worst defensive records in the league and are the only sides to concede more than 30 goals this season. Stoke, with 36 goals shipped, have the worst record and are in a real downward spiral. A win for West Ham on Saturday would move them above their hosts and out of the bottom three.
Despite picking up Just a single point in their last four games Watford remain in the top half of the table. They are now eight points adrift of the top seven and looking unlikely to make up the difference. This weekend though is a time to return to some form as they take on Huddersfield who are on a similarly bad run. One win in their last six league games was enough to keep them out of relegation danger for now but they also need to improve over the winter period.
Everton, with one loss in eight, have now moved into the top 10 and look a completely different side to that which started the season so poorly. A win in Monday nights home game against Swansea would help to keep them in the top half for the coming weeks. Swansea, however, need points. They are bottom of the league and two points adrift of safety, a situation which could get worse before kickoff.
United face winnable games over the next five but many of the sides have seen an upturn in form of late. Although looking secure in second place at the moment, they need to keep winning games to ensure the best possible finish to the season.