Premier League Matchday 36: Reds and City resume race for the title

The Premier League title, Champions League qualification and battle to avoid the drop are all at stake as the campaign enters its final fortnight.

Liverpool’s clash with Tottenham is the standout fixture, but elsewhere Manchester City face a tricky task against Newcastle, while Arsenal host a Leeds side perilously close to the bottom three.

We have 10 huge top-flight games previewed for you right here.

Brentford vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm)

Brentford entertain out-of-sorts Southampton in a meeting of two sides still to secure their Premier League status for another season.

Only the Bees’ better goal difference has them above Saints, with both clubs on 40 points, eight clear of the drop.

It is the first time the West Londoners have hosted Saints since a League One meeting in 2011, with the visitors winning three and drawing two of their past five visits.

But Thomas Frank’s side have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three home games, while Saints have only won once in their past 10 outings.

Burnley vs Aston Villa (Saturday, 3pm)

Burnley and Aston Villa clash on Saturday in what will be the latest first meeting of two sides in Premier League history, as the Clarets look to continue their recent good form.

The Lancashire club have won three games in a row and have taken 10 points from a possible 12 since Mike Jackson took temporary charge following Sean Dyche’s sacking.

And with Villa only winning on one of their past 26 league away games at Turf Moor, the hosts will be confident of taking another giant step towards Premier League safety.

Chelsea vs Wolves (Saturday, 3pm)

Two teams stuttering towards the end of the season clash at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have won only one of their past four games and have still not confirmed their spot in the Champions League for next term.

Wolves, meanwhile, have lost three in a row and were booed off the pitch by their home support following a 3-0 defeat to Brighton at Molineux last time out.

The previous two games between these sides have finished goalless but the Blues have never had three consecutive 0-0 draws against the same league opponents in their history.

Crystal Palace vs Watford (Saturday, 3pm)

Roy Hodgson returns to Crystal Palace for the first time since leaving last summer knowing his Watford side will likely be relegated this weekend.

If the Hornets fail to win, or results elsewhere do not go their way, a return to the Championship will be confirmed. 

The Eagles will be looking for back-to-back top-flight wins for just the second time this term, but they have kept a clean sheet in their past four home games.

They can also achieve their first league double over Watford in a decade after winning 4-1 at Vicarage Road back in February.

Brighton vs Manchester United (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports)

Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester United visit Brighton looking to make it eight wins in a row against the Seagulls.

It is the Red Devils’ penultimate game of the season and victory would all-but-secure their place in next term’s Europa League.

The hosts have won three of their past five matches but have not won at the Amex since Boxing Day, losing four and drawing four of their eight games since then.

In Danny Welbeck, they have a former United player looking for his fourth goal in nine games against them since leaving the club.

Liverpool vs Tottenham (Saturday, 7.45pm, BT Sport)

Champions League finalists Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield looking to pile the pressure on Manchester City ahead of their Sunday clash with Newcastle.

Victory for the Reds will move them two points clear of City for a few hours at least as the two sides battle it out for the Premier League title.

They have not lost at home to Spurs since 2011 — and that was the only victory in the North Londoners’ past 27 league visits.

But Antonio Conte has not lost on either of his top-flight trips to Anfield and that will give his side confidence as they look to keep the pressure on Arsenal in the race for the top four.

Arsenal vs Leeds (Sunday, 2pm, Sky Sports)

Arsenal will hope Spurs drop points on Merseyside and that they can take advantage when relegation-threatened Leeds travel to North London.

Three victories in a row have put the Gunners in pole position to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2016.

But their opponents from West Yorkshire are scrapping for their lives and had shown signs of form before their 4-0 defeat at home to Manchester City last Saturday.

The Emirates has not been a happy hunting ground for them though, with no victories in five attempts.

Leicester vs Everton (Sunday, 2pm)

Everton head to Leicester looking to build on their huge win over Chelsea last time out.

The King Power has been a kind venue for the Toffees, with three wins in their last five trips there.

But seven away defeats in a row have left Frank Lampard's men with just six points on the road all season — the lowest in the top flight.

This may be the perfect time to face the Foxes though, after they were knocked out of the Europa Conference League semi-finals by Roma on Thursday night.

Norwich vs West Ham (Sunday, 2pm)

Attention turns back to the Premier League for West Ham after their Europa League run ended at the semi-final stage against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.

Already relegated Norwich are their hosts as the Hammers look to arrest a slip in form, which has seen them win just one of their last six league games.

A visit to Carrow Road could be a perfect opportunity for Michail Antonio to rediscover his scoring touch too — he bagged all four goals in a 4-0 win on their last trip to Norfolk.

This is the fourth time the Canaries have been relegated before the final day of a Premier League season and they are yet to win a game once the drop has been confirmed.

Manchester City vs Newcastle (Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports)

After their dramatic collapse at Real Madrid saw them dumped out of the Champions League, Manchester City will be eager to bounce back against Newcastle.

The Magpies have never won in 14 league trips to the Etihad and have only managed one victory and four draws in their last 28 top-flight meetings with City.

So despite winning more points in 2022 than any other team in the division, aside from the current top two, Eddie Howe's men may head to Manchester with a sense of doom.

That will not be helped by Howe’s 100% losing record in 11 league meetings with the Citizens, who know they need to win to keep the title destiny in their own hands.

Follow each game with our unbeatable live scores service. Simply tap the Scores tab on the web or download the LiveScore app from the App Store for iOS device or Google Play for Android.