Graham Potter takes struggling Chelsea to the joyful searching floor of Tottenham on Sunday determined for a Premier League win as Manchester City seeks to show domination into targets.
Leaders Arsenal faces a tough journey to Leicester, whereas Liverpool is seeking to bounce again from a 5-2 humbling by the hands of Real Madrid when it travels to Crystal Palace.
Third-placed Manchester United will not be in motion because it faces Newcastle United in Sunday’s League Cup closing at Wembley.
Potter underneath stress
Potter is underneath mounting stress to supply outcomes together with his expensively assembled Chelsea squad however will take coronary heart from the membership’s spectacular file in opposition to London rival Tottenham.
Chelsea is aiming to increase its unbeaten Premier League run in opposition to Spurs to 9 video games and for a fourth straight-away win in league fixtures between the golf equipment.
Antonio Conte’s Spurs are fourth within the desk, 11 factors away from Chelsea, who’ve gained simply two of their previous 14 matches in all competitions.
Despite their heavy outlay in January, the Blues look desperately in need of firepower — scoring just one purpose of their previous 5 matches.
Reports counsel the Stamford Bridge hierarchy is ready to provide former Brighton boss Potter time regardless of the depressing run and the supervisor himself known as for persistence in the direction of his new signings after final week’s residence defeat by backside membership Southampton.
But defeat at Tottenham would inevitably heap extra stress on the Englishman with sections of the Chelsea help already calling for him to be sacked.
Inconsistent City
City’s 4 Premier League titles prior to now 5 seasons have been constructed on placing collectively a protracted streak of victories in some unspecified time in the future within the marketing campaign.
However, the defending champion continues to be ready to hit prime type this season.
Pep Guardiola’s males appeared to have turned the tide within the title race once they beat Arsenal on the Emirates earlier this month to maneuver to the highest of the desk.
But they conceded a late purpose final week to attract 1-1 in opposition to Nottingham Forest after dominating the sport, with Chris Wood punishing their profligacy.
It was an identical story at RB Leipzig within the Champions League in midweek as City didn’t make a dominant first-half rely earlier than the Germans hit again after the break to stage the primary leg of their last-16 tie.
“It was a brilliant performance, we played really good but we didn’t score,” stated Guardiola after dropping factors at Forest. “We have to score.”
Arsenal is 2 factors forward of City on the prime of the desk but in addition has a recreation in hand.
The Gunners ended a four-game winless run by coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-2 final weekend.
But Leicester’s 4-1 thrashing of Tottenham in its final residence recreation serves as a warning of the menace posed by the Foxes.
Relegation dog-fightJust eight factors separate the underside 9 groups within the Premier League, establishing an intense battle for survival.
Four of these sides play one another this weekend, together with Leeds and Southampton, who occupy the underside two spots.
Leeds will likely be hoping for a bounce after naming former Watford boss Javi Gracia as their new supervisor.
Bournemouth, simply outdoors the relegation locations, face the daunting activity of internet hosting City, whereas struggling West Ham host Nottingham Forest.
Sean Dyche is searching for a 3rd straight residence win as Everton tries to inch in the direction of security at residence to Villa.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com