Manchester City will gear up for one of the toughest tests in the Premier League on Saturday when they face Tottenham Hotspur. Yet the pressure appears to be off.
City’s triumph in the Manchester derby and impudent swatting aside of Swansea City has left them 11 points clear of their local and primary title rivals. It’s a gap, a chasm perhaps, that feels insurmountable already, with the top-flight trailblazers having won their last 15 games in succession.
Still, it’s imperative that opposition sides are in a position to capitalise should Guardiola’s sky-blue machine break down. United must do a professional job on West Brom as a result, whereas Chelsea must dispatch of what’ll be a dispirited Southampton.
Elsewhere, a fascinating showdown between Leicester City and Crystal Palace kickstarts the weekend action.
Here’s a preview of the three standout tussles of Week 18 and a line on the remaining seven games.
Leicester City vs. Crystal Palace
Southampton supporters who branded Claude Puel as a boring manager were made to eat their words in midweek, as the Frenchman’s Leicester side rocked up at St Mary’s and pulled Saints apart in a 4-1 win.
It was the Foxes’ fourth win in succession under Puel. Gradually, they’re a team that has found an attacking verve. The trio of Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki and particularly Riyad Mahrez—all of whom were key in the club’s shock title win in 2015-16—have been brilliant as of late.
Looking at the table, Leicester supporters would be extremely confident of their side extending their winning run against the team that are in 18th position at home. Palace are currently performing to a much higher standard than their spot in the standings suggests, though.
After all, the Eagles haven’t suffered a defeat in their last six games and in midweek they produced a stunning late comeback to beat Watford 2-1. Roy Hodgson, much maligned when appointed earlier in the campaign, is beginning to get a tune out of a side who appeared destined for relegation.
The next step for the former England manager and his players will be setting similar standards away from Selhurst Park. Although they’ve avoided defeat in their previous two away games, Palace have yet to find the back of the net on their travels in 2017-18.
Against a vibrant Leicester team that’ll be tough, as the Foxes only trail Manchester City in the current form table. Puel’s side will do enough, but this one should be an eye-catching clash to raise the curtain on Week 18. 3-1 (18.00 BetVictor)
Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur
There should be a massive sense of excitement accompanying this fixture between two of the Premier League’s best. And although it’s a feast of football to look forward to, at the moment it doesn’t feel as crucial as a standard City vs. Spurs encounter should.
That’s to City’s credit of course. Guardiola’s men have been perfect over their last 15 games, negotiating some major challenges along the way. Factor in the flair and fluidity that accompanies their ruthless winning mentality and it’s clear we’re talking about a special football team.
So much so that they’re big favourites against Spurs. Tottenham performed well against City in the two fixtures against them last season, but the latter of the two sides have taken a couple of massive leaps forward; Spurs, you could argue, have shuffled back.
Back-to-back wins against Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion have stopped to rot for Tottenham. Now they face a major challenge at the home of the league leaders, especially given how poor Spurs have been in matches away from home against the rest of the Top 6 under Mauricio Pochettino; he\’s won just once in 17 of these games.
Still, City’s run will eventually come to an end and Spurs are a side, at their best at least, who are capable of living with Guardiola’s men. Harry Kane will certainly fancy his chances against a defence missing Vincent Kompany and John Stones.
Yet with 15 victories strung together, it’d be foolish to back against City. They’ll need to work hard for it against a defensively sound Spurs, but in the end the attacking variety and midfield incision from the men in sky blue will get them by. 2-1 (8.00 Betfair)
West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester United
Alan Pardew would’ve been delighted with the way in which his team went about their business in the 0-0 draw at Liverpool on Wednesday. But West Brom are a team that could really do with a win. And a goal.
Not since the second week of the season, when the Baggies produced a smash and grab at Burnley, have the Midlands club picked up three points. Pardew has steadied the ship somewhat and there was promise against the Reds, yet they’ve still been unable to find the net in his three games in charge so far.
A win would help, although it’s tough to see three points coming against United, even if Jose Mourinho’s men have lost some momentum as of late.
United were well beaten by City before following that loss up with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Bournemouth. The fact that goalkeeper David De Gea was the Red Devils’ star man against the Cherries says plenty about the overall showing the Old Trafford outfit turned in. Mourinho will want to see more.
He will at least be encouraged after Romelu Lukaku found the back of the net, as the striker has been going through a lean spell as of late. Factor in the pace of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial flanking the burly Belgian and the Red Devils still look capable of scoring goals.
At the moment, the same cannot be said for West Brom, who lack the guile and dynamism required to unpick defences of this standard. United will take this one in a satisfying victory for the away supporters, but a drab spectacle for the neutrals. 0-1 (6.00 William Hill)
Arsenal vs. Newcastle United
Once again, Arsenal have made a mockery of those tipping them for a surge up the table, as a positive run has been undone by three games without a win, including disappointing draws at Southampton and West Ham. This contest, against a free-falling Newcastle, will at least be enough for them to get back to winning ways. 3-0 (8.00 Ladbrokes)
Brighton vs. Burnley
Burnley’s incredible Premier League form shows little sign of slowing down, as they temporarily moved up into fourth place in the table in midweek. Brighton have struggled in recent encounters against some of the division’s top sides. Still, they’re tough to beat at home and have the quality needed to earn a draw. 1-1 (6.50 William Hill and other green listed bookmakers)
Chelsea vs. Southampton
Chelsea’s title defence may be a weak one in the face of City’s relentlessness, though it’s important the Blues find some consistency over the festive period and stay at the head of the chasing pack. Against a Southampton side that disintegrated defensively in midweek, the champions will be fine. 3-0 (9.50 Betfair)
Stoke City vs. West Ham United
West Ham have got their tails up under David Moyes after four points from two matches with Chelsea and Arsenal. Stoke are on their knees at the moment and have structural and fitness issues to cope with at the back. We should see the Hammers adopt a more enterprising style here, but that’ll leave them open in defence. 2-2 (17.00 William Hill)
Watford vs. Huddersfield
Marco Silva watched on as his Watford team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory once again on Tuesday, as Palace struck twice late on against the Hornets. Huddersfield are an ideal opponent next for Watford, with David Wagner’s side having failed to score away from home since the opening day of the season. 2-0 (8.50 William Hill)
Bournemouth vs. Liverpool
After successive disappointing draws at Anfield, Liverpool will hope a jaunt to the south coast will give them a chance to find their devastating attacking swagger again. Bournemouth, who are one of a few teams in the league likely to attack the Reds, will play perfectly into the hands of Jurgen Klopp’s team. 0-3 (12.00 Betfair)
Everton vs. Swansea City
The Toffees have turned a corner since Sam Allardyce took charge and are now looking up the table as opposed to over their shoulder at the relegation zone. Swansea, by contrast, lack any sort of impetus and head to Goodison Park at the bottom of the Premier League; you sense the journey back to South Wales will be a long one for the visitors. 2-0 (7.50 William Hill)
Calculators
