Premier League Matchday 32: City and Reds lock horns in title battle

All eyes will be on the top of the Premier League this weekend as Manchester City and Liverpool face off in a potential title decider.

Elsewhere, Tottenham head to Aston Villa and top-four rivals Arsenal host Brighton, while there are some huge clashes at the bottom of the table.

Read on as we preview all 10 games on Matchday 32.

Newcastle vs Wolves (Friday, 8pm, Sky Sports Main Event)

Newcastle and Wolves kick off the weekend, with the eighth-placed visitors still European football next season.

Both teams have scored in all of the previous 13 meetings between this pair, making it the most played fixture without a clean sheet in England’s top flight.

The Magpies will be desperate to bounce back from a 5-1 mauling by Spurs last time out, though they are winless in five home league meetings with the Midlands outfit.

They are buoyed by a run of three straight victories at St James’ Park — but boss Eddie Howe has never triumphed in four consecutive home Premier League games.

Everton vs Manchester United (Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport 1)

A 3-2 midweek defeat to Burnley has left Everton in the thick of relegation trouble ahead of the visit of Manchester United.

The Toffees have lost seven of their nine league games under Frank Lampard, while only the three promoted sides have suffered defeat at home more than their seven overall this term.

To make matters worse, they have won just one of their last 15 meetings with the Red Devils, though that solitary success was a 4-0 victory at Goodison Park in April 2019.

United’s Bruno Fernandes will be a man to watch — the Portuguese midfielder has been directly involved in six goals in his last four games against the Merseysiders (four goals, two assists).

Arsenal vs Brighton (Saturday, 3pm)

Arsenal will be determined to prove Monday night’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace was just a blip in their pursuit of a top-four spot when Brighton visit the Emirates.

After a five-game winless streak against the Seagulls, Mikel Arteta’s men are unbeaten in the last three meetings with the South Coast club.

Graham Potter’s visitors ended a run of six straight losses with a stalemate against Norwich last week, where they had an astonishing 31 shots without scoring. 

Remarkably, Gunners captain Alexandre Lacazette has not scored from open play in any of his last 16 appearances in all competitions, with two penalties the only goals to his name in 22 hours and 28 minutes of football.

Southampton vs Chelsea (Saturday, 3pm)

Following a humbling 3-1 Champions League loss against Real Madrid, Chelsea must show they are still alive and kicking when they head to Southampton.

Mid-table Saints have won just one of their last 12 league meetings with Blues — a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in December 2019.

Thomas Tuchel’s men were beaten 4-1 at home by Brentford in their last top-flight outing but have never lost consecutive league games under the German.

Chelsea academy graduate Tino Livramento is looking to become the fourth Southampton teenager to make 25 appearances in a season after Matt Oakley, Luke Shaw and current skipper James Ward-Prowse.

Watford vs Leeds (Saturday, 3pm)

A three-game unbeaten run has eased Leeds' relegation fears but they could be dragged back into danger if they lose at Watford.

The seven points Jesse Marsch’s men have picked up in their last three games are as many as they had in their previous 13 outings combined, while they have not gone four without defeat since the end of last season.

The Hornets, meanwhile, have lost their last eight home games in the league — the longest streak of its kind since Wolves did so between January and April 2012.

Kalvin Phillips made his first Leeds appearance since December in their 1-1 draw with Southampton. The Whites have conceded just 14 goals (one every 80 minutes) with the England man in the team compared to 54 without (one every 36 minutes).

Aston Villa vs Tottenham (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event)

Spurs can strengthen their position in the top four when they head to an Aston Villa side who have lost their last three.

The North Londoners' record against the Villans suggests they will not have too many issues, losing just two of their last 20 Premier League encounters with them and winning six in a row at Villa Park.

In-form Spurs have scored 21 goals in their last six league games, netting four or more in three of those clashes.

Striker Harry Kane failed to net in a 5-1 victory over Newcastle last time out but has scored in his last three visits to Villa Park.

Brentford vs West Ham (Sunday, 2pm)

Last week’s stunning 4-1 victory at Stamford Bridge means Brentford’s Premier League status is all but secure and they will look to claim the scalp of another London club on Sunday.

The Bees are bidding to complete their first league double over the Hammers since 1953-54, though this is just the second time the pair have been in the same division since.

Thomas Frank’s men have won three of their last four league games — as many as they had in their previous 20 in the top flight.

The Hammers' top-four hopes are in doubt after losing six of their last 10 away games, though they can go level with both Arsenal and Spurs if results go their way.

Leicester vs Crystal Palace (Sunday, 2pm)

It is 10th versus ninth at the King Power Stadium as a resurgent Leicester come up against Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace.

The Foxes have picked up 10 points in their last five games to climb back into the top half, while Palace have only lost once in their last 11 games in all competitions.

It is the Midlanders who have the more favourable form in recent fixtures between their pair, however, winning three and drawing two of the last five meetings.

Eagles striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has three goals in his last four games in all competitions and is looking to notch in three consecutive top-flight clashes for the first time.

Norwich vs Burnley (Sunday, 2pm, Sky Sports Main Event)

Norwich know defeat in their home game against fellow strugglers Burnley could virtually consign them to relegation.

Dean Smith’s side are currently seven points from safety at the foot of the table after picking up just two points in their last eight Premier League games.

The Canaries boss has lost 12 of his 19 league games since taking over in November, while he also suffered defeat in seven of his 11 outings as Villa boss earlier this season — making him the only Premier League manager ever to lose more than 50% of his games at two different clubs in the same campaign.

Burnley, meanwhile, are right back in the survival picture thanks to their 3-2 victory over Everton on Wednesday — their first victory in five seeing them to within one point of safety.

Manchester City vs Liverpool (Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event)

The weekend’s final game is not one to miss as City welcome Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to the Etihad with just one point separating them at the top.

Recent encounters between the two point in favour of the Citizens. They have lost just one of their last 12 home league games with the Merseysiders and are unbeaten in the last four top-flight meetings.

Of the last eight Premier League clashes between the top two during a season’s final 10 games, the side in second has won seven of them — including each of the last five.

Phil Foden has scored in his last three league games against Liverpool, while forward Mohamed Salah has four strikes in the last five top-flight encounters.

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