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 With only two months remaining in the 2014-2015 English Premier League season, Chelsea is looking commanding at the summit of the standings while their closest challenger falters. Chelsea's week 25 game at Hull helps wrap up the weekend's fixture list so the chasing pack has an opportunity to close in on the leaders, if only briefly. The matchup of the week sees Manchester United travel to Liverpool. The rival clubs are currently sitting fourth and fifth respectively and a victory for either could dent the Champions League ambitions of the other side. At the foot of the table, Leicester will try to reel in the teams directly above them when they visit Tottenham, a venue where they won during the FA Cup earlier this year. Remember to make your Premier League Pickem predictions before the deadline of each game. Week 25's schedule gets going on Saturday with an 8:45 AM ET kickoff. There are then five 11 AM ET games, while the day ends with a 1:30 PM ET matchup. Sunday has two games, with the first starting at 9:30 AM ET and the week concluding with two 12 PM ET fixtures. Note that the Yahoo! Fantasy Premier League game's deadline is on Saturday, 7:45 AM 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. West Bromwich Albion (13th) at Manchester City (2nd) (Sat, 8:45 AM ET) When West Brom hired Tony Pulis, his task was to steer the club to safety. After a fine run of results the Baggies are closing in on that target. In their last ten league matches West Brom has lost just twice and has accumulated 16 points along the way. During that span they've notched four victories, with three of the four coming in their last five. Manchester City's title defense is beginning to fall apart as the champions have now suffered two defeats in their last three league fixtures. Last time out they fell to a 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Burnley. City has recorded just three wins in their last nine league games. They're out of the Champions League, losing to Barcelona on Wednesday. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Manchester City 3-1 West Brom Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester City lead 6-0-0. Last 3 at Manchester City (all competitions): Manchester City lead 3-0-0. All-time (all competitions): Manchester City lead 63-54-29. Team News West Brom (from): Myhill, Baird, Davidson, Dawson, Gamboa, Lescott, McAuley, Olsson, Pocognoli, Wisdom, Fletcher, Gardner, McManaman, Morrison, Mulumbu, Sessegnon, Anichebe, Berahino, Ideye, Nabi. Doubts: McManaman (foot), Anichebe (groin). Out (reason, expected return date): Foster (knee, Apr 18). Suspended: Yacob (final game of two-match ban), Brunt (one-match ban). Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, Aguero, Bony, Dzeko, Jovetic. Swansea City (9th) at Aston Villa (16th) (Sat, 11 AM ET) Just when it looks like Swansea is about to go on a positive run they suddenly hit the buffers. The Swans went into week 23 on the back of a two-game winning streak but they now head into this week 25 encounter looking to snap a two-match losing streak, after defeats to Spurs and Liverpool. Swansea has yet to lose three on the trot this season. Things are starting to happen for Aston Villa and they're now three points clear of the relegation zone. Villa is on a two-game winning streak for the first time since week 14 but perhaps more significantly they're now scoring multiple goals. They've notched six goals in their last two outings, which is the same total their previous 14 games brought. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Aston Villa 0-1 Swansea Last 6 (all competitions): Swansea lead 3-1-2. Last 3 at Aston Villa (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1. All-time (all competitions): Aston Villa lead 15-6-3. Team News Swansea (from): Fabianski, Tremmel, Amat, Fernandez, Naughton, Rangel, Taylor, Tiendalli, Williams, Britton, Carroll, Cork, Dyer, Fulton, Grimes, Ki, Montero, Routledge, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Emnes, Gomis, Oliveira. Out (reason, expected return date): Bartley (knee, Apr 4). Aston Villa (from): Given, Guzan, Steer, Bacuna, Baker, Cissokho, Clark, Hutton, Lowton, Okore, Senderos, Vlaar, Cleverley, Cole, Delph, Gil, Grealish, N'Zogbia, Richardson, Sanchez, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Burke, Sinclair, Weimann. Doubts: Vlaar (calf), Baker (knee), Cissokho (knock), Senderos (calf), Richardson (knock). Out (reason, expected return date): Herd (MCL, Jun), Kozák (broken leg, no date). Arsenal (3rd) at Newcastle United (11th) (Sat, 11 AM ET) Arsenal has closed to within one point of second position after piecing together some great results since Christmas. Since the start of the festive period, the Gunners have produced ten league victories and just two losses and they're currently boasting a five-game winning span. They're out of the Champions League but beat Monaco 2-0 in midweek. Newcastle's form has been erratic at best since their five-game winning streak between weeks 8 and 12. The Magpies have only won four times since and just one of those victories has come in their last six attempts. Newcastle has scored one goal in their last four games and chances are at a premium with their top scorer Papiss Cissé suspended. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Newcastle 1-4 Arsenal Last 6 (all competitions): Arsenal lead 6-0-0. Last 3 at Newcastle (all competitions): Arsenal lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Arsenal lead 71-66-38. Team News Arsenal (from): Martinez, Ospina, Szczesny, Bellerin, Chambers, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Cazorla, Coquelin, Flamini, Gabriel, Gnabry, Ozil, Ramsey, Rosicky, Akpom, Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott, Welbeck. Out (reason, expected return date): Debuchy (dislocated shoulder, Apr 11), Arteta (ankle, Apr 11), Wlshere (ankle, Apr 4), Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring, Apr 4), Diaby (calf, no date). Newcastle (from): Elliot, Krul, Good, Janmaat, R. Taylor, Williamson, Anita, Cabella, Colback, Guiterrez, Obertan, Sissoko, Ameobi, Armstrong, Ferreyra, Gouffran, Perez, Riviere. Out (reason, expected return date): S. Taylor (calf, Oct), De Jong (collapsed lung, Jun), Tioté (knee, Jun), Dummett (knee, May 9), Abeid (thigh, Apr 5), Aarons (thigh, Apr 5), Haidara (knee, Apr 5). Suspended: Cissé (second game of seven-match ban), Coloccini (first game of three-match ban). Burnley (18th) at Southampton (6th) (Sat, 11 AM ET) Burnley is still sitting in the bottom three of the league standings but they should go into this week 25 matchup with confidence having beaten Manchester City last week. That victory ended a two-game losing run and a seven-match winless streak. However, that winless stretch did include a 1-1 tie at Chelsea, though there were also five defeats. Southampton is beginning to lose touch with the top 4 after a poor run of form has led to them slipping to six points behind fourth placed Manchester United. The Saints are unbeaten in their last two games, including a 1-1 tie against Chelsea, but they've won just once in their last five. Southampton has scored three goals in their last seven games. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Southampton 0-1 Burnley Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2 (includes 1 FA Cup game). Last 3 at Southampton (all competitions): Southampton lead 2-0-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Burnley lead 19-18-14. Team News Burnley (from): Gilks, Heaton, Duff, Keane, Mee, O'Neill, Reid, Shackell, Trippier, Ward, Arfield, Boyd, Jones, Kightly, Ulvestad, Wallace, Barnes, Ings, Jutkiewicz, Sordell, Vokes. Out (reason, expected return date): Long (ACL, Oct), Taylor (Achilles, Apr 5), Marney (ACL, no date). Southampton (from): K. Davis, Forster, Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Gape, Gardos, Targett, Yoshida, S. Davis, Djuricic, Elia, Mane, McQueen, Reed, Schneiderlin, Tadic, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher, Long, Pelle, Seager. Out (reason, expected return date): Mayuka (groin, Jun), Rodriguez (ACL, no date). Crystal Palace (12th) at Stoke City (8th) (Sat, 11 AM ET) At the halfway point of the season, Crystal Palace was in the bottom three of the standings and was struggling to score goals. The Eagles are on the brink of safety now, though, after a run of nine games where they have recorded five victories. During that stretch they scored 14 goals, 11 more than they managed in their previous eight outings. Stoke lost last time out, a 1-0 defeat against an in-form West Brom, but overall their recent results have been positive. The away loss snapped a three-game winning streak, the first time this term the Potters had managed to string together a trio of victories. Stoke has five wins in their last eight attempts, losing two games along the way. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Stoke 1-1 Crystal Palace Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2 (includes 2 FA Cup games). Last 3 at Stoke (all competitions): Stoke lead 2-1-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Crystal Palace lead 21-18-13. Team News Crystal Palace (from): Hennessey, Kettings, Speroni, Dann, Delaney, Fryers, Hangeland, Kelly, Mariappa, Souare, Ward, Bolasie, Guedioura, Ledley, Lee, McArthur, Puncheon, Thomas, Williams, Ameobi, Anderson, Chamakh, Gayle, Sanogo, Zaha. Doubts: Puncheon (hamstring), Zaha (knock). Out (reason, expected return date): Mutch (thigh, Apr 6), Campbell (hamstring, Apr 6). Suspended: Jedinak (third game of four-match ban). Stoke (from): Begovic, Butland, Sorensen, Bardsley, Cameron, Pieters, Shawcross, Teixeira, Wilkinson, Wilson, Wollscheid, Adam, Ireland, N'Zonzi, Palacios, Sidwell, Whelan, Arnautovic, Crouch, Diouf, Moses. Out (reason, expected return date): Bojan (ACL, Sep), Odemwingie (ACL, Jun), Muniesa (hamstring, Apr 4), Walters (fractured cheekbone, no date). Leicester City (20th) at Tottenham Hotspur (7th) (Sat, 11 AM ET) You would have to go back to week 12 to find the last time Leicester didn't prop up the league standings. Week 12 was followed by a six-game losing streak and then a brief upturn in fortunes with two wins in three. However, the Foxes haven't recorded a single victory since, going on a seven-match winless stretch, which includes five defeats. Tottenham was right in the thick of the battle for a top 4 finish but a defeat by a direct rival last weekend has put them on the back foot. Spurs are now six points off the top 4 after a 3-0 defeat away at Manchester United. That heavy loss ended a two-game winning streak and a longer run of five victories in the space of seven league games. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Tottenham 2-1 Leicester Leicester 2-1 Tottenham (FA Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Leicester lead 3-2-1 (includes 2 FA Cup games). Last 3 at Tottenham (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Tottenham lead 50-33-18. Team News Leicester (from): Hamer, Schmeichel, Schwarzer, De Laet, Huth, Konchesky, Moore, Morgan, Simpson, Upson, Wasilewski, Albrighton, Cambiasso, Drinkwater, James, King, Mahrez, Schlupp, Kramaric, Lawrence, Nugent, Ulloa, Vardy. Out (reason, expected return date): Hammond (calf, Apr 4). Tottenham (from): Friedel, Lloris, Vorm, Chiriches, Davies, Dier, Fazio, Kaboul, Rose, Vertonghen, Walker, Yedlin, Bentaleb, Capoue, Ceballos, Chadli, Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela, Mason, Paulinho, Stambouli, Townsend, Adebayor, Kane, Soldado. Sunderland (17th) at West Ham United (10th) (Sat, 1:30 PM ET) Although Sunderland has never dropped into the bottom three this season to date, their current poor run of results has led to a change. Gus Poyet has been fired and promptly replaced by Dick Advocaat, who last coached in the UK with Scottish club Rangers between 1998 and 2002. He arrives with Sunderland currently on a six-game winless run. Just like their visitors, West Ham has notched just one win in their last 12 league games. Their current winless run is worse than Sunderland's, however, with the Hammers mired in a seven-game winless stretch and they're hoping to end a three-game losing streak. In the last seven matches, West Ham has scored four goals and none in the last two. Head-to-Head Stats This season: West Ham 1-1 Sunderland Last 6 (all competitions): Sunderland lead 2-1-3. Last 3 at West Ham (all competitions): Sunderland lead 1-0-2. All-time (all competitions): West Ham lead 33-31-23. Team News Sunderland (from): Mannone, Pantilimon, Brown, Coates, Jones, O'Shea, Reveillere, Van Aanholt, Vergini, Alvarez, Bridcutt, Buckley, Gomez, Johnson, Larsson, Rodwell, Defoe, Fletcher, Graham, Wickham. Doubts: Fletcher (thigh). Out (reason, expected return date): Giaccherini (ankle, May 16). Suspended: Cattermole (final game of two-match ban). West Ham (from): Adrian, Jaaskelainen, Collins, Cresswell, Demel, Jenkinson, O'Brien, Potts, Reid, Amalfitano, Downing, Jarvis, Kouyate, Lletget, Noble, Nolan, Poyet, Song, Cole, Sakho. Doubts: Reid (hamstring). Out (reason, expected return date): Tomkins (dislocated shoulder, Jun), Valencia (foot, Apr 4), Carroll (MCL, no date). Manchester United (4th) at Liverpool (5th) (Sun, 9:30 AM ET) The performances of Manchester United have been questionable at times but they're still on course in their bid to return to Europe. They head into this week 25 encounter on the back of a three-match winning streak and United has suffered just two league defeats in their last 19 encounters, a span that stretches back to the start of November. Liverpool has been doing well for many months themselves and they're arguably currently the division's in-form team. The Reds are impressing with a 13-game unbeaten streak and this weekend they're seeking to improve on their five-match winning stretch. During their 13-game unbeaten run, Liverpool has failed to score in just one game. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Liverpool 0-3 Manchester United Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester United lead 4-2-0 (includes 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Liverpool (all competitions): Liverpool lead 2-1-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Manchester United lead 76-64-51. Team News Manchester United (from): De Gea, Johnstone, Valdes, Lindegaard, Blackett, Jones, McNair, Rafael, Rojo, Shaw, Smalling, Blind, Carrick, Di Maria, Fellaini, Herrera, James, Januzaj, Mata, Powell, Valencia, Young, Falcao, Rooney, Wilson. Out (reason, expected return date): Vau Persie (ankle, Apr 4). Suspended: Evans (second game of six-match ban). Liverpool (from): Jones, Mignolet, Ward, Johnson, Jose Enrique, Lovren, Manquillo, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Williams, Allen, Can, Coutinho, Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Lucas, Markovic, Balotelli, Borini, Lambert, Sterling, Sturridge. Out (reason, expected return date): Flanagan (knee, Apr 4), Ibe (LCL, Mar 28). Chelsea (1st) at Hull City (15th) (Sun, 12 PM ET) The season-long English Premier League leaders Chelsea are now odds-on favorites to win the title having opened up a six-point advantage with just two months left. The Blues haven't always hit top form recently but they're still on an eight-game unbeaten streak. They've been held to 1-1 ties by Burnley and Southampton in their last three, though. Hull appeared to be moving away to safety when they defeated Aston Villa and QPR in successive matches but since then they've stalled. The Tigers lie just three points from the relegation zone and they're looking to gain their first victory in four attempts. Hull's last three fixtures have seen very few chances, with only three goals scored in total. Head-to-Head Stats This season: Hull 0-2 Chelsea Last 6 (all competitions): Chelsea lead 4-0-2. Last 3 at Hull (all competitions): Chelsea lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Hull lead 29-4-10. Team News Chelsea (from): Blackman, Cech, Courtois, Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Cuadrado, Fabregas, Hazard, Matic, Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Costa, Drogba, Remy. Out (reason, expected return date): Mikel (knee, Apr 4). Hull (from): Harper, Jakupovic, McGregor, Bruce, Chester, Davies, Dawson, Dudgeon, Figueroa , Lenihan, McShane, Robertson, Rosenior, Townsend, Brady, Diame, Elmohamady, Livermore, Meyler, Quinn, Ramirez, Aluko, Hernandez, N'Doye, Sagbo. Out (reason, expected return date): Snodgrass (knee, May), Jelevic (knee, May 9). Suspended: Huddlestone (first game of two-match ban). Everton (14th) at Queens Park Rangers (19th) (Sun, 12 PM ET) Everton can now concentrate on moving up the Premier League table having been dumped out of the Europa League after Dynamo Kyiv beat them 5-2. Their domestic form has been hugely disappointing, with the Toffees winning just once in 12 matches going into last week's fixture. Everton, though, beat Newcastle 3-0, their best win since week 8. Queens Park Rangers have slipped to within three points of last place having suffered yet another long losing streak. Rangers go into this encounter hoping to snap a four-game losing stretch and they're seeking their first victory at Loftus Road in seven attempts. QPR's home form had been impressive but they've lost their last four home fixtures. Head-to-Head Stats This season: QPR 1-3 Everton QPR 0-4 Everton (FA Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Everton lead 3-1-2 (includes 1 FA Cup game). Last 3 at QPR (all competitions): QPR lead 1-0-2. All-time (all competitions): Everton lead 24-15-12. Team News Everton (from): Griffiths, Howard, Joel, Stanek, Alcaraz, Baines, Browning, Coleman, Distin, Garbutt, Jagielka, Stones, Atsu, Barkley, Besic, Gibson, Junior, Lennon, McCarthy, Osman, Kone, Lukaku, Naismith. Out (reason, expected return date): Mirallas (thigh, Apr 4), Oviedo (hamstring, Apr 4), Hibbert (knee, Apr 4), Pienaar (knee, Apr 4). Suspended: Barry (final game of two-match ban). QPR (from): Green, McCarthy, Murphy, Caulker, Ferdinand, Hill, Isla, Onuoha, Traore, Yun, Barton, Doughty, Henry, Hoilett, Kranjcar, Phillips, Sandro, Wright-Phillips, Austin, Taarabt, Vargas, Zamora, Zarate. Doubts: Isla (knee), Furlong (calf). Out (reason, expected return date): Faurlin (ACL, Jul), Dunne (MCL , May 9), Fer (MCL, Apr 25). |
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