Chelsea play Tottenham on Sunday at Wembley in the Capital One Cup, a mouthwatering finale to what was once known as the League Cup. But with the Blues otherwise engaged, their Premier League rivals will be looking to close the gap on the table toppers. Having dropped four points in their last four matches, Chelsea are now just five points clear of Manchester City.
Liverpool v Manchester City
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Arsenal v Everton
It's a Super Sunday of Premier League action with the Gunners hosting Everton. The home side's league form has been good of late – five victories in their last six matches – but their horror show of a performance against Monaco on Wednesday will not easily be erased from the minds of the players or public. Fortunately for Arsene Wenger's team, they're up against an Everton side who – like Liverpool – spent Thursday night in Europa League action. Toffees' striker Romelu Lukaku is a doubt for the clash after hobbling off with a tight hamstring against Young Boys, the Belgian having already scored twice in the first half. In a miserable week for the Gunners, Wenger revealed in his Friday press conference that Jack Wilshere, sidelined since November, has had another operation on his troublesome ankle and will not be seen again for the foreseeable future. As for the Monaco debacle, Wenger says he and his players have a "responsibility" to atone for the abject display. "I expect a strong response in the Premier League because it is a different competition. We have an opportunity to maintain our top-three position."
Manchester United v Sunderland
The pressure is starting to increase on United boss Louis van Gaal after another disappointing result, the defeat at Swansea last weekend. Though they are currently fourth, United have only three points more than Tottenham in seventh and the Old Trafford faithful are beginning to fear that they may miss out on Champions League qualification for the second consecutive season. They face a Sunderland side on Saturday hovering just above the relegation zone but manager Gus Poyet senses United are vulnerable. "We need to look at that game as a good opportunity to play a certain way," explained Poyet.
West Brom v Southampton
Southampton could move back into the top four – for 24 hours at least – if they beat West Brom on Saturday. The Saints are fifth on 46 points, one shy of Manchester United and two behind Arsenal, who host Everton on Sunday. History suggests it won't be a goal fest at the Hawthorns with the last nine league clashes between the two teams producing a paltry 13 goals.
OTHER FIXTURES
Saturday
West Ham v Crystal Palace
Burnley v Swansea
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Stoke City v Hull