Premier League Matchday 26: Heavyweights clash on Merseyside

Mitchell Fretton
LiveScore
  
Old foes Liverpool and Manchester United will renew their rivalry on Sunday
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Matchday 26 will see Liverpool host Manchester United in what is set to be a crucial battle in the quest for Champions League qualification.

Elsewhere, Manchester City entertain Newcastle and Everton travel to Nottingham Forest in a relegation six-pointer.

Read on as we preview all 10 fixtures ahead of another action-packed weekend.

Manchester City vs Newcastle (Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport)

City have won all of their last 13 home Premier League meetings with Newcastle.

Which bodes well for the champions as they seek to close the gap to league leaders Arsenal to just two points in the early kick-off

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But they will face a stubborn Toon side who, despite their loss in the Carabao Cup final, will be looking to continue their push for the Champions League places and extend their unbeaten away run to nine matches in the Premier League.

Eddie Howe will have to formulate a plan to stop Kevin De Bruyne from tallying his 100th top-flight assist for the Citizens, with the Belgian two away from that personal milestone.

Kevin De Bruyne is close to achieving 100 Premier League assists for Manchester City

Arsenal vs Bournemouth (Saturday, 3pm)

The Gunners overcame Everton in midweek to extend their lead at the summit and have another opportunity to pick up three points against struggling Bournemouth.

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The Cherries have never kept a Premier League clean sheet against Arsenal and have won just once in their last 11 meetings in the competition.

Gary O'Neil's men have picked up fewer points (five) and scored fewer goals (four) than any other side in the division since the World Cup and are set to be tested against the league's second-top scorers.

Bukayo Saka recorded his 50th goal contribution in the top flight in the 4-0 win over the Toffees on Wednesday night and will be looking to link up with the in-form Gabriel Martinelli, who has scored four goals in three games.

Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace (Saturday, 3pm)

Aston Villa bounced back from defeat at home to Arsenal with an impressive win over Everton last weekend and will be keen to carry on their momentum with victory over Crystal Palace.

The Villans have lost only one of their last 12 home matches against the Eagles and face a side who have failed to win in nine matches in 2023.

Palace emerged victorious in the reverse fixture in August and a win at Villa Park would see them go within one point of Unai Emery's men.

The Spanish head coach will be eager for his side to continue their excellent scoring run — Villa have netted in all of his 11 league games in charge, their longest streak since the 2009-10 campaign.

Brighton vs West Ham (Saturday, 3pm)

Jarrod Bowen has scored four Premier League goals this season

Brighton boast an exceptional record against West Ham. The Seagulls have not lost in any of their last 11 meetings and have scored on every occasion.

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The Hammers looked much improved in their 4-0 win over Forest and are hoping to record consecutive league victories for only the second time this season.

Danny Welbeck will be eager to feature against the East Londoners and adding to the six goals he has scored against his favourite foes — no side has fallen victim more times to the Mancunian forward.

West Ham will be relying on Jarrod Bowen to conjure up some magic on the South Coast — the winger has been involved in four goals in his last five league games and has enjoyed a welcome return to form.

Chelsea vs Leeds (Saturday, 3pm)

Chelsea's troubles continued against Tottenham but they next have an opportunity to pick up three points against Leeds.

The Blues are undefeated in the previous six times they have welcomed their rivals from West Yorkshire but have only won two of their last 15 games.

Graham Potter's men are having difficulty finding the back of the net, scoring only 23 times in 24 league matches in 2022-23 which is their worst return in 19 years.

Leeds got off to a good start under Javi Gracia with victory over Southampton, but no Premier League side have won fewer away games than the Whites this term, with their only victory coming against Liverpool in October.

Wolves vs Tottenham (Saturday, 3pm)

Raul Jimenez has not found his best form for Wolves this season

Tottenham have a good record at Molineux and arrive on Saturday undefeated in their last seven visits.

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Antonio Conte's side have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five league matches, but Wolves have won two of their last three home outings in the competition, as many as in their previous 12.

The visitors have scored a league-high 12 goals from corners this season and will be looking to use their dominance from set-pieces to pile more misery on Julen Lopetegui who could see his side slip into the relegation zone with a loss.

He will be keen for Raul Jimenez to add to the four goals he has notched against Spurs. The Mexican poacher has only scored more times against Everton and Southampton during his time in England.

Southampton vs Leicester (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports)

Bottom-placed Southampton are looking to complete a league double over Leicester in the top flight for the first time since the 1986-87 season.

The Saints won 2-1 at the King Power Stadium on Matchday 3 but the Foxes are unbeaten in their last five trips to St Mary's, famously winning 9-0 in October 2019.

Brendan Rodgers' side are making a habit of going behind in games and have done so in their last seven league games, but no team in the division has conceded the first goal more times than the Saints this term (18).

James Maddison loves facing the South Coast outfit — against no team has he scored more often (five) and he has netted in each of his last three appearances against them.

Nottingham Forest vs Everton (Sunday, 2pm, Sky Sports)

Everton conceded four times to Arsenal in midweek

Everton were given a reality check at Arsenal after enjoying a relatively good start to Sean Dyche's reign, but this weekend will see them travel to Forest, who are unbeaten in their last eight home league games.

Only United can boast a better record on their own patch than the Tricky Trees with the promoted outfit on target in all but one of their 12 top-flight outings at the City Ground this season.

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Morgan Gibbs-White is likely to be the man to test the Toffees' resolve having been involved in five goals in his last six home league games for Forest (two goals, three assists).

The Merseysiders have a poor record against promoted sides too and are winless in their last eight meetings.

Liverpool vs Manchester United (Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports)

Matchday 26 reaches its crescendo at Anfield when two footballing giants go head-to-head in an eagerly-anticipated clash in the race for Europe.

Liverpool are unbeaten against the Red Devils on home turf since January 2016 but will face a tough test against a flourishing side who have lost just one of their last 22 games, stretching back to the start of November.

United have completed the double over the Reds a record eight times but if they are to increase that total then they will have to improve on the one goal they have scored at Anfield in their last seven visits.

Mohamed Salah will have the opportunity to equal Robbie Fowler as Liverpool's top Premier League goalscorer and may fancy his chances against a team he has netted against 10 times in 11 games, his best record against any opposition.

Marcus Rashford is in scintillating form at the moment and is a good bet to add to the 17 strikes he has netted in 20 matches since the World Cup.

Brentford vs Fulham (Monday, 8pm, Sky Sports)

Fulham won their last meeting with Brentford

Monday night football returns as Brentford host Fulham at the Gtech Community Stadium in what should be an intriguing West London derby.

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The Cottagers won a 3-2 thriller back in August but face a stern challenge against their local rivals who are on the longest unbeaten run of any team in the top flight (11 matches).

Marco Silva needs to mastermind three more victories to equal Fulham's best return of 14 wins in a single Premier League season which they last achieved in 2011-12.

The Bees have a favourable record against the Cottagers at home, winning five of their last six.

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Tags

Premier LeagueArsenalAston VillaAFC BournemouthChelseaEvertonFulhamBrighton & Hove AlbionLeicester CityLiverpoolManchester UnitedManchester CityNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestTottenham HotspurSouthamptonWolverhampton WanderersWest Ham UnitedCrystal PalaceLeeds UnitedBrentford

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