Premier League Matchday 14: Gunners out to shoot down United optimism

For the first time this season, there is a full slate of midweek fixtures in the Premier League.

A huge relegation six-pointer between Newcastle and Norwich headlines Tuesday, before Rafa Benitez’s first Merseyside derby in charge of Everton takes centre stage on Wednesday.

And Manchester United’s clash with Arsenal rounds off an exciting three days of football on Thursday.

Newcastle vs Norwich (Tuesday, 7.30pm, Amazon Prime)

Newcastle and Norwich face off in a relegation six-pointer at St James’ Park to kick off the midweek action.

The Magpies have not lost a home game against Norwich since September 1988 but remain winless after 13 matches — all three previous clubs who failed to win in their opening 14 games have gone on to be relegated.

This is Newcastle’s first top-flight clash at home while sitting bottom of the league since October 2015 when they beat Norwich 6-2 thanks to four goals from Gini Wijnaldum.

But new Canaries boss Dean Smith is unbeaten in five top-flight games against Newcastle and the visitors have picked up seven points from their previous three matches.

Leeds vs Crystal Palace (Tuesday, 8.15pm, Amazon Prime)

Leeds know they need to start picking up points if they are to avoid a relegation battle — starting with the visit of Crystal Palace.

The Whites are yet to score more than two goals in a game this campaign and have only scored six in six at home after averaging 1.5 per match last season.

They will welcome the sight of Palace, who have lost on each of their last five trips to Elland Road and only beaten Leeds twice in six Premier League attempts.

But with one victory and two draws from their past three away games, Patrick Vieira’s Eagles will fancy their chances of bouncing back following Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa.

Southampton vs Leicester (Wednesday, 7.30pm, Amazon Prime)

Southampton has proven a happy hunting ground for Leicester in recent visits and they will hope for three more points at St Mary’s on Wednesday.

The Foxes have won on three of their past four visits to the South Coast, including that infamous 9-0 win in October 2019.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have scored and conceded in each of their past 13 away games, while the nine goals scored at St Mary’s this season is a league-low, so something has to give when the two meet.

The Saints have also had a player sent off in each of their last three home clashes with Leicester — though two of the men to see red (Ryan Bertrand and Jannik Vestergaard) now play for the visitors.

Watford vs Chelsea (Wednesday, 7.30pm, Amazon Prime)

Leaders Chelsea have Manchester City and Liverpool breathing down their necks as they travel to Watford.

The Blues are going for a third successive victory at Vicarage Road for the first time with defeat there in 2018 the only occasion they failed to beat the Hornets in their past eight meetings.

Thomas Tuchel’s side have taken 12 points from their last four top-flight trips without conceding — their best winning run of clean sheets on the road since December 2008.

After losing to former club Leicester on Sunday, Claudio Ranieri can become the first ex-Chelsea boss to beat the Blues with two different Premier League clubs if Watford cause an upset.

West Ham vs Brighton (Wednesday, 7.30pm, Amazon Prime)

West Ham face bogey team Brighton still looking for their first ever victory over them in the Premier League.

The eight meetings between the two sides saw the Seagulls win the first three before five consecutive draws.

While Graham Potter’s men are on an eight-game winless run, the Hammers are looking to avoid a third consecutive top-flight defeat for the first time since June 2020.

It is David Moyes' 50th home game in charge of West Ham and he is just the third manager to reach that landmark in the Premier League after Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce.

Wolves vs Burnley (Wednesday, 7.30pm, Amazon Prime)

Victory over Burnley will give Wolves a fourth consecutive top-flight home win for the first time since 1975 as they continue to impress under Bruno Lage.

Their formidable record at Molineux has come despite scoring the joint-least goals at home in the league (five).

They will also be keen to end a dismal recent record against the Clarets, who did the double over them last term and have not lost in their past five meetings.

That has been partly down to Chris Wood, whose hat-trick in the 4-0 win at Molineux in April made it five goals in three games against Wolves.

Aston Villa vs Manchester City (Wednesday, 8.15pm, Amazon Prime)

Steven Gerrard faces the toughest test of his short Aston Villa reign as Pep Guardiola brings Manchester City to Villa Park.

But he could create history with no Villans manager ever winning their first three games in charge of the famous old club.

City have not been beaten by Villa since September 2013, winning 10 of their past 11 meetings and drawing the other.

Guardiola has also lost just three of 64 Premier League games against English managers — only Roy Hodgson, Frank Lampard and Graham Potter have got the better of him in his five years at City.

Everton vs Liverpool (Wednesday, 8.15pm, Amazon Prime)

City rivals Everton and Liverpool meet in the first Merseyside derby in front of fans at Goodison Park since March 2019.

There have been more red cards (22) and more 90th-minute winners (five — all for Liverpool) in this fixture than any other in the Premier League era.

And the Reds know that victory could spell the end for former boss Rafa Benitez, who is under huge pressure after just 13 league games in charge of the Toffees.

Though the Blues ended their 20-game winless run against their neighbours at Anfield last term, they have only taken two points from their last seven games.

Tottenham vs Brentford (Thursday, 7.30pm, Amazon Prime)

Tottenham and Brentford meet in the top flight for the first time in their history with the Bees winning only one of their six second-tier meetings in the late 1940s.

Spurs have lost each of their past five games against fellow Londoners but come into the match fresh after Sunday’s postponement at Burnley.

The Bees meanwhile ended a five-game winless run last time out and are looking for back-to-back victories for the first time since promotion to the Premier League.

They have impressed on the road with two wins, three draws and just one defeat in their six away days so far.

Manchester United vs Arsenal (Thursday, 8.15pm, Amazon Prime)

Interim boss Ralf Rangnick will not be in the dugout for Manchester United’s clash with Arsenal with his work permit yet to be cleared.

That means Michael Carrick will have to try and end the Red Devils’ six-game winless run against the Gunners in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta's side won 1-0 at Old Trafford last term and are looking for back-to-back league victories there for the first time in 42 years.

They face a United team on their worst eight-game run since the 1989-90 campaign, with just five points won from a possible 24.