Premier League Matchday 34: Gunners look to cling on in title race

Cian Cheesbrough
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Arsenal face Chelsea on Tuesday desperately hoping to stay in the title race
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Arsenal face a must-win clash in the Premier League title race against London rivals Chelsea on Matchday 34 as Manchester City travel to Fulham.

Manchester United host Aston Villa and Liverpool collide with Tottenham as the battle for the Europa League hots up, while Leicester and Everton face off in a relegation six-pointer.

Read on as we preview all 10 top-flight games.

Crystal Palace vs West Ham (Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport)

Both Crystal Palace and West Ham are within touching distance of safety as the pair kick off the Premier League weekend.

Roy Hodgson's Palace are eight points clear of the relegation zone, while two wins and a draw from West Ham's last four games means survival can be all but sealed with another victory.

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The Eagles ran out 2-1 winners in November's reverse fixture but the Hammers will be buoyed by their record of just one defeat in eight league games at Selhurst Park.

Declan Rice is in line to make his 200th Premier League appearance, making the 24-year-old the ninth youngest to do so in the history of the competition.

Brentford vs Nottingham Forest (Saturday, 3pm)

Brentford and Nottingham Forest go head-to-head with both having secured superb midweek victories that have bolstered their respective European and survival prospects.

The Bees beat West London rivals Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, while their Europa League-chasing rivals Brighton were beaten 3-1 at the City Ground.

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That lifted Steve Cooper's men a point out of the bottom three and focus will now turn to ending a disastrous run of six straight away defeats.

In contrast. Brentford have lost just twice at their home ground all season, only failing to score in two of their 16 clashes at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Brentford have been in imperious form at home this season

Brighton vs Wolves (Saturday, 3pm)

Brighton will hope to end a difficult week on a high by getting the better of Wolves at home.

The Seagulls suffered FA Cup semi-final heartbreak against Manchester United on penalties last Sunday before their top-six hopes were dented by Forest.

Julen Lopetegui's men are beginning to prepare for Premier League football last season with three wins from four taking them up to 37 points.

Following his consolation goal for Brighton in midweek, Facundo Buonanotte has a chance of becoming the youngest player in Premier League history to net in his first two starts at 18 years and 127 days.

Bournemouth vs Leeds (Sunday, 2pm)

Bournemouth saw off Southampton to take themselves within touching distance of safety and will now look to plunge Leeds into further danger.

The Cherries raced six points clear of the drop zone with that 1-0 win at St Mary's, while their Yorkshire opponents remain just one clear after being held by Leicester on Tuesday.

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Gary O'Neil's men were soundly beaten 4-0 by West Ham in their last home game and have lost 22 of their last 30 Premier League games played on a Sunday.

Only Forest (six) have claimed fewer away points than the Whites this season (nine) and they have kept just one clean sheet in their last 18 on the road.

Fulham vs Manchester City (Sunday, 2pm)

A sensational 4-1 win over Arsenal means City have the Premier League title firmly within their grasp ahead of a trip to Fulham.

The Citizens remain two points behind the Gunners at the top but crucially have two games in hand over their title rivals.

They head to a team they have not lost to in 15 meetings in all competitions, including wins in each of the most recent 13.

Kevin De Bruyne was the star of the show at the Etihad on Wednesday, taking his tally to a sensational three goals and four assists in the last four games.

Kevin De Bruyne has spearheaded Manchester City's charge to the title

Manchester United vs Aston Villa (Sunday, 2pm)

Just three days after surrendering a two-goal lead against Tottenham, United have another tough fixture as in-form Villa visit Old Trafford.

The Villans enter the weekend in sixth after a 10-game unbeaten run with 26 points from 30 available allowing them to dream of a return to European football.

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Villa have beaten the Red Devils in two of the last three meetings, while Unai Emery has two wins and two draws in his four Premier League clashes against them.

Marcus Rashford can become the first player to score in 20 home games in a season for United since Wayne Rooney in 2009-10, while Jacob Ramsey will look to score in his third successive game against the Red Devils.

Newcastle vs Southampton (Sunday, 2pm)

Qualification for the Champions League looks to be a formality for Newcastle after seeing off Everton 4-1, with Southampton's relegation seemingly all but sealed too.

The Saints' 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Thursday leaves them six points off safety with five games to play and with no win in eight, hopes of extending their 11-year top-flight stay are fading fast.

To make matters worse, the South Coast club have won just one of their last 17 trips to St James' Park, while they are without a win in 18 games against teams starting the day in the top four.

Joe Willock has scored more goals against Southampton than he has versus any other team (three) and is looking to add to his three goal involvements in his last three home games (one goal, two assists).

Liverpool vs Tottenham (Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports)

A key clash in the race for Europa League qualification sees Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield.

Spurs proved there are still signs of life in their season in their spirited comeback draw with United, with the Reds overcoming West Ham 2-1 on Wednesday.

It leaves Jurgen Klopp's men a point adrift of fifth-placed Spurs having played a game less, while they boast a far superior goal difference than their North London counterparts.

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Liverpool have lost just one of the last 20 Premier League meetings between these two and only two of the last 35 against them at Anfield.

Harry Kane is enjoying one of his best ever seasons in front of goal

Leicester vs Everton (Monday, 8pm, Sky Sports)

Monday sees potentially the most pivotal game in both Leicester and Everton's seasons as the relegation-threatened pair face off.

Defeat for either side, who are 18th and 19th respectively, could well consign them to the Championship next season — making this a real six-pointer.

The Toffees are enduring a tough run of form at the worst time with no wins in their last six — but they have enjoyed successes in their last two trips to the King Power Stadium.

Dean Smith has picked up four points from three games as Foxes boss, while he has won four and lost none of his six previous Premier League meetings with the Merseysiders.

Arsenal vs Chelsea (Tuesday, 8pm, Sky Sports)

Arsenal know they need three points against Chelsea to have any chance of remaining in the title race.

Mikel Arteta's men are without a win in four after three successive draws and a damaging 4-1 defeat to City in midweek.

Chelsea have lost all five games in all competitions since Frank Lampard returned to the Stamford Bridge hotseat, their worst run of defeats since a six-game sequence between October and November 1993.

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The Gunners have never lost a midweek Premier League game against the Blues, winning four and drawing six.

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Tags

Premier LeagueArsenalAston VillaBrighton & Hove AlbionAFC BournemouthBrentfordChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeicester CityLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSouthamptonTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersLeeds United

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