PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH PREVIEWS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28 – SUNDAY NOVEMBER 29

Aston Villa v Watford – Saturday 1500

Positions: Aston Villa 20^th, Watford 13^th

Form: (League matches only – earliest matches first):

Aston Villa

LLLLDL (1pt)

Watford

DLWWLL (7pts)

• Any cheer Villa gained from their draw against Manchester City disappeared when they were thrashed by Everton. Five points adrift of safety, they may be hard pressed to get anything out of this match. The club have also suspended Jack Grealish for an unspecified period after his visit to a Manchester nightclub. Watford may have lost their last two, but these were both by a single goal against both of the top two.

Bournemouth v Everton – Saturday 1500

Positions: Bournemouth 19^th, Everton 7^th

Form:

Bournemouth

DLLLLD (2pts)

Everton

DLLWDW (8pts)

• Bournemouth’s poor form looks unlikely to improve here against an Everton side who have scored 11 times in their last three matches. Bournemouth now have the league’s worst defensive record.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United – Saturday 1500

Positions: Crystal Palace 10^th, Newcastle 17^th

Form:

Crystal Palace

WLLDWL (7pts)

Newcastle

LWLDWL (7pts)

• Crystal Palace’s good start has faded, and with just one win in five they now sit in mid-table. However, with Newcastle’s form still inconsistent, they may have a good opportunity to climb a few places once again.

Manchester City v Southampton – Saturday 1500

Positions: Man City 3^rd, Southampton 8^th

Form:

Man City

WWDWDL (11pts)

Southampton

WDDWWL (11pts)

• Two sides here whose unbeaten runs ended last week. Liverpool’s 4-1 win stunned the Etihad Stadium, and City may be anxious. Man for man City’s full squad may be too strong for Southampton, but they may be without both Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart.

Sunderland v Stoke City – Saturday 1500

Positions: Sunderland 18^th, Stoke 11^th

Form:

Sunderland

DLWLLW (7pts)

Stoke

WWLDWW (13pts)

• Sunderland will have been cheered by their win and clean sheet against Crystal Palace, but here they face a Stoke side who continue to display the knack of winning by the odd goal.

Leicester City v Manchester United – Saturday 1730

Positions: Leicester 1^st, Man Utd 2^nd

Form:

Man Utd

LWDDWW (11pts)

Leicester

WDWWWW (16pts)

• A massively intriguing top of the table clash. United’s record of only conceding a penalty in their last five matches will perhaps present the biggest challenge yet to Jamie Vardy’s scoring run of 10 successive matches. 16 points from the last 18 is something to be proud of in any circumstances, but none of these matches were against a top seven side, and the 5-2 defeat by Arsenal seven matches ago might be a sign of what can happen when the Foxes face the very best. Leicester are the league’s top scorers, but have a defensive record similar to that of the bottom six teams.

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea – Sunday 1200

Positions: Tottenham 5^th, Chelsea 15^th

Form:

Tottenham

DDWWDW (12pts)

Chelsea

LWLLLW (6pts)

• Tottenham are understandably buoyant after their comprehensive win over West Ham, which also took their unbeaten run to 12 matches. On league form, Spurs will start as favourites - Chelsea only triumphed by one goal at home to lowly Norwich last time out, after a dismal run prior to that. But the White Hart Lane team’s chances will not be helped by their Europa League trip to Azerbaijan on Thursday. 12 points adrift of fourth place, Chelsea must resign themselves to having no Champions League football in 2016/17.

West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion – Sunday 1405

Positions: West Ham 6^th, West Brom 12^th

Form:

West Ham

DWWLDL (8pts)

West Brom

LWWLLW (9pts)

• Two sides in less than spectacular form meet here. With no win in three and a heavy defeat last time out, West Ham’s good start may be fading. West Brom bounced back from two losses with a spirited win over Arsenal (albeit against the run of play) and the boost from this result many give them the edge.

Liverpool v Swansea City – Sunday 1615

Positions: Liverpool 9^th, Swansea 14^th

Form:

Liverpool

DDDWLW (9pts)

Swansea

DLWLLD (5pts)

• Two high scoring wins in the last three matches, accounting for 41% of their goals for the entire season, have changed the outlook at Liverpool. They still remain ninth however, some six points off the Champions League places. Swansea continue to struggle and they may find a rejuvenated Liverpool too hot to handle.

Norwich City v Arsenal – Sunday 1615

Positions: Norwich 16^th, Arsenal 4^th

Form:

Norwich

LLLLWL (3pts)

Arsenal

WWWWDL (13pts)

• Arsenal lost their last league game, but dominated nonetheless at West Brom, so remain strong favourites here against a Norwich side with five losses in the last six and no win in eight. Anyone who saw Arsenal’s Tuesday night Champions League performance will be in no doubt as to the quality of football they are playing. Francis Coquelin has joined their injury list, but Aaron Ramsey is fit again.