[PREVIEW] 5 Things To Expect From The Premier League Week 17

ALL OR NOTHING: Liverpool vs Arsenal is undoubtedly the pick of the weekend. The Reds welcome the Gunners on the back of a victory against D...

ALL OR NOTHING:

Liverpool vs Arsenal is undoubtedly the pick of the weekend. The Reds welcome the Gunners on the back of a victory against Division team Bournemouth in Carling Cup.

While it might be looked to as a routine win for Liverpool, all it does is guarantee calm… for now.

If any game summed up Liverpool’s previous season, it was this same fixture where they ran out 5-1 winners demolishing Arsenal in every position of play.

Both teams at the moment are not where they feel they are supposed to be on table and neither is able to pose a serious threat to current title challengers.

If for anything they have in common, would be two strikers who are finding their touches back- Olivier Giroud and Raheem Sterling, with both players finding the back of the net in recent games.

Mario Balotelli is out for this one and it is hard to say, given his performances this season, would have been much of a threat.

So much talk of the sack for Brendan Rodgers, so much work for the boss to do this Sunday.

HAMMER THE FOXES:

Not necessarily a walkover fixture, but with Big Sam having the media praises and Nigel Pearson the butt of the jokes, West Ham would be delighted to welcome Leicester City to Boelyn Ground this weekend.

The Hammers sit in Champions League spot and face a side yet to win a Premier League match in three months.

Nigel’s side are five points away from safety at the bottom and pulling a surprise win at Sam’s turf is a long shot.

Truth is, Allardyce is enjoying his top run while it lasts, too early to say West Ham would be there come the end of the season, but for now, the Foxes would be the perfect prey to extend his enjoyment this weekend.

UNLUCKY VILLA:

Paul Lambert and his side would have to be worried about the fact they get to face a Man Utd side that is gradually coming with the fear factor aura that once surrounded them.

The Red Devils are likely to welcome Angel Di Maria back from injury to the line-up, with Marcos Rojo a possible inclusion as well.

The last time Villa beat Man Utd at their ground was in 1995, and while history does not suggest continuity, a single win in 35 meeting against Man Utd suggests what the Villains are up against.

Critics have argued the Red Devils have rode their luck in their run of six straight wins, and a forward line up of Andreas Weimann, Gabby Agbonlahor, and Christian Benteke should be enough to put to test, a susceptible defensive back four. But then again, this is United.

TYNE-WEAR DERBY:

Would have been my pick of the weekend or a close second but media hype around this fixture seems a bit lazy this season, perhaps based on not much expectations from the two sides this season.

Newcastle would be the ones under more pressure, 8 goals from Arsenal and Tottenham is not the best of ways to go into this game.

Newcastle’s Jak Alwinck would continue to be in goal despite his injury sustained against Spurs, Sunderland’s boss Gus Poyet can only order a shoot-on-sight directive given that the young Toon’s confidence would be on dwarf low.

 Pardew has won just one of seven derby games and would be hoping a repeat of last season’s performance is avoided, so that the calm among the Toon Army remains. Hostile army that group can be, hostile.

SAINTS DIP:

Bad weeks for Ronald Koeman and it does not look like ending anytime soon. The Saints have lost five games in a row with recent loss coming at Bramall lane to Sheffield United.

Not only is their morale broken so is their midfield steel, Southampton welcome Everton to St. Mary’s- midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama, and Florin Gardos would not be part of the welcoming party.

Also, Dusan Tadic and Jake Hesketh have joined a long injury list, while Steven Davis and Graziano Pelle are both doubts for the match.

Roberto Martinez, while happy to see Pelle miss the fixture, would be hoping to remind his players were the opposition goal is. His team lost this same fixture thanks to two first half own-goals.

The Toffees have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six matches and failed to do similar in their last six away outings.

Saints would be relishing the chance of getting back to winning ways with history saying Everton have only won twice at St. Mary’s in fifteen meetings.

Written by: @ChukaMvp