What you must not miss in the EPL this week

Local derby offers Spurs chance to be kings of the capital

Arsenal v Tottenham

Sunday, December 02, 07:35 PM

Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur can cement their status as the top dogs in the capital if they end an eight-year wait and defeat Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday.

Spurs produced an outstanding display to crush Chelsea 3-1 last week and a repeat performance at The Emirates on Sunday would make them the leading London challengers to Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

Tottenham have lost just once in the last eight league clashes with the Gunners but they have not won at Arsenal since a 3-2 victory in 2010.

Spurs are third in the table, three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal, but Unai Emery’s side are unbeaten in their last 17 games in all competitions.

That run includes a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool, a performance which suggested they are making good progress under the Spaniard as they seek to return to the elite status they lost in the final spell of Arsene Wenger’s reign.

“Of course, when you want to win against Tottenham you know you have to play at your top level,” said Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi.

“We did that against Liverpool at home, so we know how to compete, we can compete with everyone and I think that we are looking forward to this game,” he said.

Tottenham beat Inter Milan 1-0 on Wednesday to keep alive their Champions League last-16 hopes, setting up what is almost certainly a must-win match in Barcelona next month.

The games are coming thick and fast for Pochettino’s side and no sooner were the points in the bag against Inter — courtesy of substitute Christian Eriksen’s late winner — than he was switching his thoughts to Arsenal.

“Now we have another tough game against Arsenal first, and we need to be ready again,” he said.

Sunday also features another local derby with Liverpool taking on Everton at Anfield.

Juergen Klopp’s side will start as favourites but Everton are coming along nicely under their Portuguese coach Marco Silva and have the advantage of no European midweek fixture.

But the Toffees have not won at Anfield since 1999 when Kevin Campbell scored the only goal in the game.

Chelsea v Fulham

Sunday, December 02, 05:30 PM

Chelsea come up against a familiar face as they look to bounce back from their loss to Spurs with former Blues boss Claudio Ranieri now in charge of opponents Fulham.

Ranieri, who famously lifted the Premier League title with outsiders Leicester City, won his first game since taking over at Craven Cottage with last week’s success against Southampton.

Chelsea have lost only one of their 26 Premier League meetings with Fulham, a 1-0 defeat in March 2006.

Fulham have won on just one of their 24 top-flight visits to Chelsea, a 2-1 victory in the old First Division in March 1964.

Fulham have the worst defensive record in the league, conceding 33 goals in 13 matches so far.

Fulham have lost all three of their league games against London-based sides this season, scoring two goals and conceding 10.

Manchester City v Bournemouth

Saturday, December 01, 08:30 PM

City have beaten Bournemouth in all six previous Premier League meetings, scoring 21 goals and conceding two.

Champions City are one of two unbeaten sides remaining in the competition and maintained their lead at the top of the table run with a 4-0 win over West Ham last time out.

Bournemouth are looking to end a run of three straight league defeats, all by a 2-1 scoreline. They last lost four in a row in Sept. 2017.

City forward Raheem Sterling has scored seven goals and assisted two in five league appearances against Bournemouth.

Seven of the eight goals scored by City striker Sergio Aguero this season have come at home.

Crystal Palace v Burnley

Saturday, December 01, 08:30 PM

Four of the last five Premier League games between Palace and Burnley have been decided by a difference of one goal.

Palace are without a victory in eight league games and have not scored in five of those matches.

Sean Dyche’s Burnley have lost their last three league games against London sides, conceding at least four goals in each match.

Burnley, who are one place below Palace in 17th, have not won in the league since beating Cardiff in September.

Palace boss Roy Hodgson has won only one of his last 10 Premier League games against English managers.

Leicester City v Watford

Saturday, December 01,  08:30 PM

Leicester have won all four of their home Premier League games against Watford, scoring eight goals and conceding one.

Tenth-placed Leicester are unbeaten in four league games, although they have drawn three of those matches.

Watford, who are a spot above Leicester, are looking for their first win in four matches.

Watford’s Jose Holebas has played a part in six league goals, more than any other defender. He has scored two and assisted four.

Leicester have conceded 11 out of 17 goals in the first half of matches this season.

Newcastle United v West Ham United

Saturday, December 01, 08:30 PM

After starting the season with a run of 10 Premier League games without victory, Newcastle have won their last three league games in a row.

Newcastle have won their last three league matches against West Ham by an aggregate scoreline of 8-3.

Both teams are tied on 12 points, but 13th-placed Newcastle are a place above West Ham on goal difference.

West Ham striker Andy Carroll is likely to make his first appearance of the season against the club where he started his career, after recovering from an ankle injury.

West Ham have one victory in their last six league games - a 4-2 win over Burnley on Nov. 3.

Southampton v Manchester United

Saturday, December 01, 11:00 PM

Southampton have played six home games this season without a single victory, which marks their longest winless run at home from the start of a league season.

The Saints have not beaten United at St. Mary’s Stadium in their last seven attempts, with their last home victory coming in August 2003.

United have come from behind to beat Saints eight times in the Premier League, while the Saints have dropped more points (10) from winning positions than any other Premier League team this season.

The match against seventh-placed United marks a tough run of games for third-bottom Southampton, who will face four of the current top five teams in the league by Jan. 2.

Southampton have one victory in their last 17 league home matches, a 2-1 win over Bournemouth in April.

Liverpool v Everton

Saturday, December 02, 09:45 PM

Liverpool are on their longest-ever unbeaten run against their Merseyside rivals, going 17 games without defeat in all competitions.

Second-placed Liverpool have the joint-best defensive record in the English top flight this season, conceding five goals in 13 matches.

Liverpool are unbeaten in the league so far (W10, D3), while sixth-placed Everton have six wins, four draws and three defeats.

An Everton victory would see their manager Marco Silva become the first Everton boss in history to win his first-ever league match against Liverpool at Anfield.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah should make his 50th Premier League appearance for Liverpool on Sunday. The Egyptian has scored 39 league goals since joining last season and has seven in 13 Premier League matches this term.