1) Foxes should fear peaking champions
After Manchester City’s 3-0 humbling of Bayern Munich, next up at the Etihad is the Premier League’s second-bottom team, Leicester. This will be the champions’ last league game before a seismic clash with Arsenal on 26 April. Pep Guardiola’s men are in ripe form just as a treble chance hoves into sight, with next Wednesday’s return at Bayern in the Champions League coming three days before a Wembley trip to take on Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals. Erling Haaland is adding assists to his goal-gluttony, Bernardo Silva’s dancing feet are back, and Rúben Dias is a colossus in defence once more, with Guardiola’s four-man rearguard that becomes a three in possession another key to this upsurge. Do not be surprised, then, if Leicester are swept aside particularly because, after Arsenal dropped two points at Liverpool, a three-peat City title win is now back in their hands. Jamie Jackson
Manchester City v Leicester, Saturday 5.30pm (all times BST)
2) Hammers may try to target Zinchenko
Arsenal’s decision to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from City was a masterstroke. The Ukrainian has provided leadership and been a key influence at left-back, from where his drifting into midfield to support Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey has played a major part in Mikel Arteta’s side turning into title contenders. But if Zinchenko has a weakness, it is his one-on-one defending. He was exposed during the second half of their wild 2-2 draw with Liverpool last Sunday. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah targeted Zinchenko and West Ham should look to do something similar. No doubt David Moyes will remember Jarrod Bowen getting the better of Zinchenko when West Ham drew with City last season. Bowen scored twice that day and the Ukrainian struggled to track his runs inside from the right. Arsenal must make plans for the West Ham winger on Sunday. Jacob Steinberg
West Ham v Arsenal, Sunday 2pm
3) In-form Watkins faces best defence
Unai Emery’s side have won six of their past seven Premier League matches, moving them up to sixth, in serious contention for a European spot, an indication of the impressive job the Spaniard has done since replacing Steven Gerrard. On Saturday, they face another challenger for Europe in Newcastle. In October, Villa were shellacked 4-0 in their final game before Emery took charge. A leading reason behind Villa’s upsurge is the form of striker Ollie Watkins. He had scored only two league goals prior to Emery’s arrival but has hit 10 since, including nine in the past 11 matches. Villa will need Watkins to fire again against the best defence in the league; Newcastle have conceded just 21 goals in 29 matches. They have shown how to keep out top strikers all season but Watkins will be desperate to show he is the man to break their barriers. Will Unwin
Aston Villa v Newcastle, Saturday 12.30pm
4) Struggling Blues need to recall Mount
It is time to accept that Chelsea are not a better team with Mason Mount on the sidelines. The midfielder has not been a regular since being dropped by Graham Potter in February and has been subjected to social media derision. But what has changed without Mount in the team? João Félix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Hakim Ziyech, Noni Madueke and Christian Pulisic have not exactly done much in his absence. It was wrong to pin everything on Mount, who has also struggled with injuries, and Chelsea should still be trying to get him to sign a new deal. Frank Lampard could help after stepping in as interim head coach. Lampard plainly loves Mount and will need his drive when Chelsea host Brighton. He also needs Mount to build some sharpness before the second leg of Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid on Tuesday. JS
Chelsea v Brighton, Saturday 3pm
5) Olise and Eze take on Zaha’s leadership
After a dramatic turnaround at Leeds on Sunday, Palace have a fine opportunity to get one step closer to Premier League survival. The catalyst for Palace’s victory at Elland Road was their skilful attacking play. With Wilfried Zaha out injured, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze have assumed greater responsibility under Roy Hodgson. Palace attracted two of the most exciting Championship prospects of recent years to Selhurst Park, when there was heavy competition for their services. They have another chance to prove their worth and allow Palace to start making plans for next season. With Zaha out of contract and unable to match his form of recent years, Olise and Eze can be key figures for years to come. Most importantly, they need to be able to perform on a regular basis. With the Eagles on a high and a trip to the worst team in the league, they have a great chance to show what a Zaha-less future might look like. WU
Southampton v Crystal Palace, Saturday 3pm
6) Few Spurs guarantees on or off pitch
Mauricio Pochettino used to say Tottenham were the kings of the rumour mill and it certainly feels that way at present. Pochettino himself is in the frame for the vacant role of permanent manager and so are a host of others; the club insist there is no pecking order in terms of candidates. With no appointment imminent, they must manage the external noise and yet the manager search is only one part of the uncertainty. Fabio Paratici, the managing director, faces a reckoning in an Italian appeal court next Wednesday over financial mismanagement charges from his Juventus days; some of the supporters want Daniel Levy, the chairman, out while nobody knows where Harry Kane will play next season. If only match days could provide a bit of calm, something to narrow the focus. It did not exactly play out that way against Brighton but the wild and fortunate victory was huge. When Spurs last played Bournemouth in October, they went 2-0 down before roaring back to win 3-2. Fans are advised to buckle up. David Hytner
Tottenham v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm
7) Awoniyi could offer Cooper Forest fix
Continuity and Nottingham Forest are not close acquaintances. Steve Cooper is still spending most weeks tinkering with his team to get the best out of them. Last week he reverted to a 3-5-2 setup at Aston Villa but that could not provide the desired result. Forest have been at their best this season with Morgan Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi on the pitch. Awoniyi has not started a match since 4 January when he scored the winner at Southampton. The Nigerian striker missed more than two months with injury and has only been on the bench in recent weeks. Forest are desperate to pick up points at home in front of a raucous crowd at the City Ground, starting with the visit of United. If they have a chance of winning against Erik ten Hag’s side, Cooper needs to make bold decisions there and in the coming weeks to stay in the job. Backing Awoniyi seems like a sensible start. WU
Nottingham Forest v Manchester United, Sunday 4.30pm
8) Dyche should gamble on Calvert-Lewin
Fulham are discovering what Everton have known to their cost all season: Premier League points are hard to come by without a proven striker in the ranks. The former Everton manager Marco Silva returns to Goodison Park on Saturday – although not the technical area as he serves out a two-match ban – seeking to avoid a sixth successive defeat in all competitions. Fulham’s downturn commenced before Aleksandar Mitrovic received an eight-match ban for his implosion at Old Trafford but they have toiled in front of goal without their focal point. Will Everton be reacquainted with theirs for what looks a must-win game? Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back in full training having been sidelined for 10 weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in Dyche’s first match in charge. The Everton manager kept his counsel on whether the centre-forward will be fit to start against Fulham but, given the predicament and the occasion, the temptation will be huge. Andy Hunter
Everton v Fulham, Saturday 3pm
9) Brentford look to recover spark
Welcoming a west London club to Molineux will not provide too much fear for Julen Lopetegui after seeing off Chelsea. Brentford are a couple of places higher than Frank Lampard’s side but are at risk of seeing their season peter out. They have lost their past two matches and are winless in four. Thomas Frank’s side find themselves in ninth, probably unable to qualify for Europe yetdistant from the nine-team relegation battle. It can be hard to motivate players at this stage of the season when there is nothing to play for but Frank will be keen to test the personality of his players, to prove they have the character to take the club forward. They will have set markers to improve on. Last season Brentford won six times away from home, but have only achieved three wins on the road this year. With only four away days to go, they have a serious task to match that target. WU
Wolves v Brentford, Saturday 3pm
10) Wöber and Adams missed by Leeds
Max Wöber is thought to have an outside chance of being fit enough to be on the bench for Leeds when Liverpool visit on Monday night. Javi Gracia will doubtless be praying the Austria defender passes a late fitness test after his side’s concession of 10 goals in their last three Premier League matches. It is surely no coincidence that Wöber sat out that trio of games after injuring his hamstring on international duty last month. The 25-year-old was particularly missed as Gracia’s team endured a second-half collapsein losing 5-1 to Crystal Palace on Sunday. Until Wober – signed by Jesse Marsch for around £10m from Red Bull Salzburg in January – damaged that hamstring the Leeds defence appeared to have tightened appreciably. While that has highlighted Wöber’s importance, Tyler Adams is also much missed in central midfield. How badly a hamstring tear expected to sideline the United States international for the remainder of the season might affect his club remains to be seen. Louise Taylor
Leeds United v Liverpool, Monday 8pm
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 30 | 43 | 73 |
| 2 | Man City | 29 | 48 | 67 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 29 | 27 | 56 |
| 4 | Man Utd | 29 | 7 | 56 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 30 | 13 | 53 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 30 | 1 | 47 |
| 7 | Brighton | 28 | 16 | 46 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 29 | 15 | 44 |
| 9 | Brentford | 30 | 7 | 43 |
| 10 | Fulham | 29 | -1 | 39 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 30 | -2 | 39 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 30 | -11 | 33 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton | 30 | -18 | 31 |
| 14 | West Ham | 29 | -12 | 30 |
| 15 | AFC Bournemouth | 30 | -29 | 30 |
| 16 | Leeds | 30 | -15 | 29 |
| 17 | Everton | 30 | -20 | 27 |
| 18 | Nottm Forest | 30 | -30 | 27 |
| 19 | Leicester | 30 | -12 | 25 |
| 20 | Southampton | 30 | -27 | 23 |
