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 There was another change at the top of the English Premier League standings last week and the once title outsiders have now become the frontrunners. Liverpool produced another fine performance last weekend to return to the top of the standings and in week 29 West Ham will look to halt their progress. Manchester City currently sits four points off first place but a perfect record from hereon in would see them regain their crown. They continue their quest in the weekend's opening fixture against Southampton. Chelsea slipped up last time out at Crystal Palace and they'll hope to bounce back against Stoke on Saturday. At the foot of the table, bottom-of-the-pile Fulham travels to Aston Villa, second-from-bottom Sunderland journeys to Tottenham and two relegation six-pointers sees Cardiff host Crystal Palace and West Brom clash with Norwich. Remember to make your Premier League Pickem predictions before the deadline of each game. Week 29's schedule begins on Saturday at 7:45 AM ET, followed by five 10 AM ET games. Saturday's final match is at 12:30 PM ET. The two fixtures on Sunday are at 8:30 AM ET and 11 AM ET. The week's final contest is on Monday, kicking off at 3 PM ET. Here we preview the ten games in the upcoming week of the English Premier League. The title of each game section is a link to pick the result of that game. Southampton (8th) at Manchester City (3rd) (Sat, 7:45 AM ET) There might be little to play for now other than pride for Southampton but they appear to be hitting their best form of the campaign since early-November. The Saints thrashed Newcastle 4-0 last time out, their third league victory in their last four games. There have been 15 goals in Southampton's last three games, with Southampton scoring ten. Manchester City might have been denied all three points last time out but they're still in a position where if they win all of their remaining fixtures then they'll regain the title. The Citizens had to settle for a 1-1 tie against Arsenal last week, bringing to an end their four-game winning streak. City has lost just one league game in their last 18 outings. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Manchester City 1-1 Southampton Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester City lead 3-1-2 (includes an FA Cup meeting). Last 3 at Manchester City (all competitions): Manchester City lead 3-0-0 (includes an FA Cup meeting). All-time (all competitions): Southampton lead 30-25-24. Team News Southampton (from): Boruc, Gazzaniga, Fonte, Hooiveld, Lovren, Shaw, Chambers, Cork, S. Davis, Guly, Lallana, Ramirez, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher, Lambert, Rodriguez. Doubts: Wanyama (knock). Out (reason, expected return date): Yoshida (knee, May 17), Clyne (groin, no date), K. Davis (back, no date). Manchester City (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Lescott, Nastasic, Richards, Zabaleta, Garcia, Fernandinho, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Rodwell, Silva, Toure, Dzeko, Jovetic, Negredo, Nimely. Out (reason, expected return date): Agüero (hamstring, Apr 13), Nastasic (knee, no date). Fulham (20th) at Aston Villa (12th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Fulham's chances of survival are looking extremely bleak after yet another defeat last week. The Cottagers lost 3-1 at home against Everton, their second consecutive loss and fourth in five games. Fulham has already racked up 22 defeats during this campaign, four more than any other team. Fulham has just one victory in their last 12 attempts. Aston Villa's attempt to finish the campaign in the top half of the standings has suffered a couple of setbacks in their last two encounters. The Villans lost 4-1 to Stoke in week 27 and they succumbed to Manchester United by the same scoreline last time out. Villa has now lost five times in their last eight fixtures, winning just twice during that period. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Aston Villa 0-2 Fulham Last 6 (all competitions): Fulham lead 2-1-3. Last 3 at Aston Villa (all competitions): Aston Villa lead 1-0-2. All-time (all competitions): Aston Villa lead 21-20-22. Team News Fulham (from): Etheridge, Stekelenburg, Stockdale, Amorebieta, Briggs, Burn, Hangeland, Heitinga, Riether, Riise, Boateng, Cole, Dejagah, Diarra, Holtby, Kacaniklic, Karagounis, Kasami, Kvist, Parker, Richardson, Sidwell, Tunnicliffe, Zverotic, Roberts, Rodallega, Tankovic, Woodrow. Out (reason, expected return date): Duff (knee, no date), Mitroglu (knee, no date). Unavailable: Bent (loanee). Aston Villa (from): Given, Guzan, Steer, Baker, Bennett, Bertrand, Clark, Lowton, Luna, Vlaar, Albrighton, Bacuna, Delph, El Ahmadi, Gardner, Herd, Johnson, Sylla, Tonev, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Bowery, Helenius, Holt, Weimann. Doubts: El Ahmadi (thigh strain), Agbonlahor (illness). Out (reason, expected return date): Okore (ACL, Apr 26), Benteke (Achilles, no date), Kozák (broken leg, no date), N'Zogbia (Achilles, no date). Crystal Palace (16th) at Cardiff City (18th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Tony Pulis was brought in as Crystal Palace manager to save the club from the drop and six wins in 12 league games helped them up to 14th in the table. However, the Eagles then had a poor stretch of results, going winless in their five matches heading into last week's encounter with leaders Chelsea. Palace shocked Chelsea, though, winning 1-0. Cardiff needs something to spark their fight for survival and maybe that came last weekend. The Bluebirds were 2-0 down to West Brom and also conceded a stoppage time goal to trail 3-2. But with the last attack of the match Cardiff scored an equalizer to grab a point and end a two-game losing streak. Cardiff has won once in their last eight games. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Cardiff 0-2 Crystal Palace Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 3-3-0 (includes 2 League Cup meetings). Last 3 at Cardiff (all competitions): Cardiff lead 3-0-0 (includes a League Cup meeting). All-time (all competitions): Crystal Palace lead 33-16-19. Team News Crystal Palace (from): Alexander, Price, Speroni, Hennessey, Dann, Delaney, Gabbidon, Mariappa, McCarthy, Moxey, Parr, Ward, Bannan, Bolasie, Dikgacoi, Guedioura, Ince, Jedinak, Ledley, O'Keefe, Puncheon, Thomas, Chamakh, Murray. Out (reason, expected return date): Gayle (ankle, Apr 12). Cardiff (from): Lewis, Marshall, Amondarain, Caulker, Connolly, John, Fabio, McNaughton, Taylor, Theophile-Catherine, Turner, Cowie, Daehli, Eikrem, Gunnarsson, Kim, Medel, Mutch, Noone, Whittingham, Bellamy, Berget, Campbell, Jones, Smith, Zaha. Doubts: Fabio (knock). Out (reason, expected return date): Hudson (hamstring, no date). Swansea City (13th) at Hull City (14th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Heading into their match with Norwich last weekend, Swansea had been slowly slipping towards the relegation zone. However, they bought some respite with a convincing 3-0 win over their opponents. It was the Swans first victory in seven attempts. Most of Swansea's woes have come on the road, with the club winless in their last 10 away fixtures. Hull is one place below their week 29 visitors but they're level on points. A victory for either team this week would push them to the brink of safety. Wins have recently been hard to come by for the Tigers, though. Hull has just one victory in their last five league outings, losing the other four games, including the last two, at West Ham and Stoke. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Hull 1-1 Swansea Last 6 (all competitions): Hull lead 3-1-2 (includes a League Cup meeting). Last 3 at Hull (all competitions): Hull lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Swansea lead 28-23-16. Team News Swansea (from): Cornell, Tremmel, Vorm, Zabret, Amat, Chico, Davies, Rangel, Situ, Taylor, Tiendalli, Williams, Britton, Canas, De Guzman, Dyer, Pablo, Pozuelo, Richards, Routledge, Shelvey, Bony, Emnes, Lamah, Lita, Michu, N’Gog, Vazquez. Hull (from): Harper, Jakupovic, Bruce, Chester, Davies, Dudgeon, Faye, Figueroa, Rosenior, Boyd, Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Koren, Livermore, Meyler, Quinn, Aluko, Fryatt, Jelavic, Long, Sagbo. Out (reason, expected return date): McGregor (kidney, no date), Brady (groin, no date), McShane (ankle, no date). Manchester United (7th) at Newcastle United (9th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Some Manchester United fans have already become so disenchanted with David Moyes' tenure that they've resorted to outlandish protests. To the team's credit, they responded in the best possible way last week and eventually saw off Aston Villa 4-1. It was their fourth league victory in six games. They tied 1-1 with Bayern in the Champions League. Newcastle's mini-revival looks to be over with the team going through another run of poor performances right now. The Magpies lost 3-0 to Everton in their second week 27 fixture and then last time out they were defeated 4-0 away to Southampton, making it three losses in four matches. Newcastle has failed to score in ten of their last 14 contests. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Newcastle 1-0 Manchester United Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester United lead 3-2-1 (includes a League Cup meeting). Last 3 at Newcastle (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1. All-time (all competitions): Manchester United lead 81-41-37. Team News Manchester United (from): Amos, De Gea, Lindegaard, Buttner, Evans, Evra, Ferdinand, Jones, Rafael, Smalling, Varela, Vidic, Carrick, Cleverley, Fellaini, Fletcher, Giggs, Januzaj, Kagawa, Mata, Nani, Valencia, Young, Hernandez, Welbeck. Doubts: Giggs (groin), Rafael (hamstring). Out (reason, expected return date): Van Persie (knee, no date), Rooney (toe, no date). Newcastle (from): Alnwick, Elliot, Coloccini, Dummett, Haidara, Santon, Streete, S. Taylor, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Anita, Ben Arfa, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux, Tiote, Sh. Ameobi, Cisse, De Jong, Gouffran. Out (reason, expected return date): Krul (knee, Apr 19), Sissoko (hamstring, Apr 19), Debuchy (groin, Apr 12), Remy (calf, Apr 12), R. Taylor (ACL, no date), Sammy Ameobi (ankle, no date). West Bromwich Albion (17th) at Norwich City (15th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) West Brom's inability to finish off the opposition was very evident last weekend. Their 3-3 tie with Cardiff was the league-leading 14th time this campaign the Baggies have shared the spoils. West Brom has won just once in their last 11 contests. The club will have to try to put aside the behind-the-scenes problems which flared up last weekend. Norwich has found it impossible to string together positive results all throughout this campaign. The Canaries have notched eight wins this term but none of them have been back-to-back a only two have come in their last ten games. Norwich was beaten 3-0 by Swansea last week, the third time in their last five they've conceded at least three goals. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Norwich 2-0 West Brom Last 6 (all competitions): Norwich lead 4-2-0 (includes an FA Cup meeting). Last 3 at Norwich (all competitions): West Brom lead 2-1-0. All-time (all competitions): West Brom lead 24-19-15. Team News West Brom (from): Daniels, Foster, Myhill, Dawson, Jones, Lugano, McAuley, Olsson, Popov, Reid, Ridgewell, Amalfitano, Dorrans, Gera, Morrison, Mulumbu, Sessegnon, Thorne, Yacob, Anichebe, Berahino, Bifouma, Sinclair, Vydra. Doubts: Yacob (hamstring, late fitness test), Jones (hamstring, late fitness test). Out (reason, expected return date): Brunt (MCL, Apr 12). Norwich (from): Bunn, Nash, Ruddy, Bassong, R. Bennett, Garrido, Martin, Olsson, Turner, Whittaker, E. Bennett, Gutierrez, Hoolahan, Howson, Fer, Fox, Johnson, Pilkington, Redmond, Snodgrass, Tettey, Becchio, Elmander, Hooper, Van Wolfswinkel. Doubts: Yobo (calf, late fitness test). Stoke City (10th) at Chelsea (2nd) (Sat, 12:30 PM ET) At the end of January, Stoke was heading in the wrong direction after hitting a six-match winless stretch. However, improved form over the last couple of months has probably confirmed their Premier League status for another term. The Potters head into this encounter boasting a three-match winning streak and they're unbeaten in their last five. Chelsea now has to rely on others slipping up if they're to become league champions. The Blues had been heading the standings for most of the last two months, but two defeats in their last three games, including at Crystal Palace last week, has seen them slip down to second place. Chelsea also succumbed 3-1 at PSG in the Champions League. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Chelsea 2-3 Stoke Stoke 0-1 Chelsea (FA Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Chelsea lead 4-1-1 (includes an FA CUp meeting). Last 3 at Chelsea (all competitions): Chelsea lead 3-0-0 (includes an FA Cup meeting). All-time (all competitions): Chelsea lead 42-28-21. Team News Stoke (from): Begovic, Sorensen, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters, Shawcross, Shotton, Wilkinson, Wilson, Adam, Etherington, Ireland, Ness, N’Zonzi, Palacios, Whelan, Arnautovic, Crouch, Odemwingie, Walters, Guidetti. Out (reason, expected return date): Huth (knee, no date), Assaidi (knee, no date). Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Schwarzer, Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Cole, Ivanovic, Kalas, Luiz, Terry, Chalobah, Hazard, Lampard, Matic, Oscar, Salah, Willian, Ba, Schurrle, Torres. Out (reason, expected return date): Eto'o (hamstring, Apr 13), Mikel (knock, no date), Van Ginkel (match fitness, no date). Suspended: Ramires (final game of three-match ban). Arsenal (4th) at Everton (5th) (Sun, 8:30 AM ET) Come the end of this campaign, Arsenal will have led the table for the majority of the season but it looks as if their title ambitions might come up short. The Gunners have faltered badly over the last two months, winning just twice in their last eight league games. They held Manchester City to a 1-1 tie last time out, but they're now winless in three. Going into week 29, Everton is one of the division's form teams, with only neighbors Liverpool bettering their current winning streak of five games. It puts the Toffees four points behind their fourth-placed visitors and four points ahead of Spurs in sixth. Everton has recently upped their scoring rate, netting three goals in their last three league fixtures. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Everton 1-1 Arsenal Everton 1-4 Arsenal (FA Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Arsenal lead 3-0-3 (includes an FA Cup meeting). Last 3 at Everton (all competitions): Arsenal lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Arsenal lead 99-58-54. Team News Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Monreal, Flamini, Arteta, Cazorla, Podolski, Rosicky, Giroud, Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanogo, Bellerin, Jenkinson, Kallstrom, Ramsey. Doubts: Gibbs (ankle), Gnabry (knee). Out (reason, expected return date): Wilshere (foot, Apr 28), Özil (hamstring, Apr 19), Koscielny (calf, Apr 12), Walcott (ACL, no date), Diaby (ACL, no date), Miyaichi (hamstring, no date). Everton (from): Howard, Coleman, Distin, Stones, Baines, Barry, McCarthy, Osman, Barkley, Naismith, Lukaku, Robles, Browning, Garbutt, Alcaraz, McGeady, Mirallas, Deulofeu. Out (reason, expected return date): Gibson (ACL, May 3), Jagielka (hamstring, no date), Pienaar (knee cartlidge, no date), Traore (hamstring, no date), Oviedo (broken leg, no date), Kone (knee, no date). Liverpool (1st) at West Ham United (11th) (Sun, 11 AM ET) When they lost successive games against Manchester City and Chelsea at the end of 2013, Liverpool had become the outsiders in the title race. A 13-game unbeaten run and an eight-game winning streak later, the Reds' fate is in their own hands. Liverpool's record scoring continues unabated with the team notching 30 goals in their last eight outings. Around the turn of the year, West Ham was caught up in the relegation dogfight. Despite hitting a three-game losing streak at the start of March, they've rallied strongly and their safety is all but assured now. The Hammers responded well to their three-match losing stretch by winning their last two league games 2-1 against Hull and then Sunderland. Head-to-Head Stats This season: West Ham 1-4 Liverpool Last 6 (all competitions): Liverpool lead 4-1-1. Last 3 at West Ham (all competitions): Liverpool lead 2-1-0. All-time (all competitions): Liverpool lead 67-24-35. Team News Liverpool (from): Mignolet, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Flanagan, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Sterling, Sturridge, Suarez, Jones, Sakho, Cissokho, Toure, Lucas, Alberto, Coutinho, Aspas, Teixeira, Moses. Out (reason, expected return date): Enrique (knee, no date), Coates (ACL, no date). West Ham (from): Adrian, Jaaskelainen, Demel, Tomkins, Johnson, Collins, Johnson, Reid, Armero, Noble, Nocerino, Diame, Taylor, Nolan, J. Cole, Downing, Jarvis, Vaz Te, C. Cole, Carroll. Out (reason, expected return date): O'Brien (dislocated shoulder, Apr 19), McCartney (hamstring, Apr 15), Borriello (calf, no date). Sunderland (19th) at Tottenham Hotspur (6th) (Mon, 3 PM ET) Sunderland is currently four points from safety and they might find it difficult to bridge that gap any time soon. The Black Cats face top-6 opposition in their next four fixtures and so they'll have to rediscover their form quickly if they don't want to be completely adrift in the next month. Sunderland has lost their last three and they're winless in six. Things have begun to go wrong for Tottenham over the last month, leaving them facing the prospect of no European action next season. Spurs fought back to defeat Southampton in week 27 but that's their only win in their last four outings. Tottenham lost 4-0 to Chelsea, 1-0 to Arsenal, and then last time out they were thumped 4-0 by Liverpool. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Tottenham 2-1 Sunderland Last 6 (all competitions): Tottenham lead 5-0-1. Last 3 at Tottenham (all competitions): Tottenham lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Tottenham lead 45-37-29. Team News Sunderland (from): Mannone, Ustari, Celustka, Bardsley, Brown, O'Shea, Vergini, Cuellar, Roberge, Bridcutt, Cattermole, Gardner, Ki, Giaccherini, Johnson, Colback, Larsson, Ba, Mavrias, Borini, Altidore, Scocco, Wickham. Out (reason, expected return date): Fletcher (ankle, no date), Westwood (shoulder, no date). Tottenham (from): Lloris, Friedel, Archer, Naughton, Vertonghen, Kaboul, Chiriches, Dawson, Fryers, Rose, Sandro, Chadli, Veljkovic, Eriksen, Sigurdsson, Paulinho, Bentaleb, Dembele, Lennon, Townsend, Kane, Soldado, Adebayor. Out (reason, expected return date): Walker (groin, Apr 12), Vertonghen (calf, no date), Soldado (hamstring, no date), Lamela (back, no date), Capoue (ankle, no date). |
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