MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 7, 2018: Manchester City's Raheem Sterling and Manchester United's Ashley Young during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Manchester derby headlines weekend action – Premier League Preview

The Manchester derby is the headline of the weekend Premier League action away from Anfield.

The Reds entertain Fulham in Sunday’s midday kick-off. Jurgen Klopp‘s men haven’t lost at home in the league since April 2017.

Elsewhere, there are nine top-flight matches taking place, with interesting tussles at both ends of the table.

Here’s a look at the rest of the action over the next two days.

 

Cardiff vs. Brighton – Saturday, 12.30pm – Sky Sports

CARDIFF, WALES - Sunday, September 2, 2018: Cardiff City's Víctor Camarasa celebrates scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Cardiff City FC and Arsenal FC at the Cardiff City Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Cardiff continue to look strong favourites for relegation, having collected just five points from their opening 11 matches.

It’s tough to see where the goals are going to consistently come from and the required quality doesn’t appear to be in their ranks.

The Bluebirds host a tricky Brighton side on Saturday afternoon, one who sit 12th in the table and are showing signs of improving all the time.

It’s feasible that the visitors could nick it, but Cardiff will probably scrape a draw.

Prediction: Cardiff 1-1 Brighton

 

Huddersfield vs. West Ham – Saturday, 3pm

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 26, 2017: Huddersfield Town's Aaron Mooy during the FA Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Southampton at the John Smith's Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Huddersfield recorded a vital win on Monday night, edging out fellow relegation candidates Fulham 1-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The Terriers have another home game to look forward to this weekend, with a solid West Ham side arriving full of confidence.

Their 4-2 victory over Burnley was richly deserved and they will feel the only way is up from this point on.

Player for player, they look a top-half team and Manuel Pellegrini is a manager full of pedigree—they will pick up three points at Huddersfield.

Prediction: Huddersfield 1-2 West Ham

 

Leicester vs. Burnley – Saturday, 3pm

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 21, 2017: Burnley's James Tarkowski applauds the supporter after the FA Premier League match between Manchester City and Burnley at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by Peter Powell/Propaganda)

Leicester secured an emotional win at Cardiff last weekend, following the tragic passing of chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Football may be the last thing on the players’ minds at the moment, but they go into Saturday’s visit of Burnley as resounding favourites.

Along with Everton, the Foxes are arguably contending to be the seventh-best team in the Premier League, with quality from front to back.

Burnley, meanwhile, look a shadow of the side that came seventh last season and it would be a surprise if they got a positive result at the King Power.

Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Burnley

 

Newcastle vs. Bournemouth – Saturday, 3pm

Newcastle United's Jamaal Lascelles applauds the fans after the final whistle - Richard Sellers/EMPICS Sport

Few Premier League teams—aside from final-day skirmishes to avoid the drop—in history needed a win like Newcastle United last weekend, as they battled their way to a 1-0 success over Watford.

It was a vital first victory of the season for Rafa Benitez and his players and they will be desperate to prove it is the starting of a resurgence.

The Magpies host Bournemouth on Saturday, with Eddie Howe no doubt still stinging from the last-minute defeat to Man United.

This has a draw written all over it.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Bournemouth

 

Southampton vs. Watford – Saturday, 3pm

Southampton's Danny Ings during the Premier League match at St Mary's, Southampton (Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/PA Images)

Southampton are in a dire state of affairs and their 6-1 annihilation at the hands of Man City summed up their current plight.

Goals are coming at a premium, the football is poor and there is a feeling that the club could be on its way back to the Championship.

Mark Hughes’ fortunes need to start changing swiftly, starting with Saturday’s visit of a Watford side with European aspirations.

It could be another grim game for the St Mary’s crowd to witness.

Prediction: Southampton 0-0 Watford

 

Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham – Saturday, 5.30pm – BT Sport

ROCHDALE, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 18, 2018: Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Moura during the FA Cup 5th Round match between Rochdale AFC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Spotland Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Another manager who finds himself under pressure is former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson, whose Crystal Palace outfit have only won twice in the league this season.

The Saturday evening entertainment sees the Eagles host an up-and-down Tottenham side in a promising-looking encounter.

Trips to Selhurst Park are never easy, especially under the lights, so this will be a test of Spurs’ resolve at a time when not everything about them is convincing.

The north Londoners will probably win, with their attacking class shining through, but dropped points would be no great shock.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Tottenham

 

Chelsea vs. Everton – Sunday, 2.15pm – Sky Sports

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 28, 2018: Everton's captain Gylfi Sigurdsson during the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Everton FC at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Right then Everton, time to prove you won’t eternally bottle it away to ‘big six’ sides!

Their insipid showing at Man United last month kept up their atrocious run in those fixtures and Chelsea will be licking their lips on Sunday.

The Blues show no sign of going away under Maurizio Sarri, with their ability to churn out wins frustratingly impressive.

For once, Liverpool fans may quietly be cheering on their Merseyside rivals, in order to put a dent in Chelsea‘s title hopes.

Never bank on them doing the Reds a favour, though.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Everton

 

Arsenal vs. Wolves – Sunday, 4.30pm

LONDON, ENGLAND - Friday, December 15, 2017: Arsenal's Hector Bellerin during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Arsenal seem to be going places under Unai Emery, with their performance against Liverpool more organised than most we saw during the end days of Arsene Wenger’s reign.

The Spaniard has built a stable unit, particularly in midfield, and the firepower the Gunners possess in the final third wins them matches.

It’s hard to see Wolves getting anything at the Emirates, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s men slowly sliding down the table.

The honeymoon period appears to be over, even though relegation is unlikely, and another pointless weekend is on the cards.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Wolves

 

Man City vs. Man United – Sunday, 4.30pm – Sky Sports

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 7, 2018: Manchester City's David Silva during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The weekend ends with a headline contest, as Man City and Man United meet at the Etihad.

During the 1990s and 2000s, the thought of ever cheering on United in the Manchester derby was unthinkable, but things have changed since then.

City look to be on another unassailable march towards the title, playing begrudgingly good football, and Liverpool desperately need points to be dropped.

United seem to have recovered under Jose Mourinho in recent weeks and they will be up for the fight at the home of their bitter rivals.

City should be too good, as they edge towards another possible 100-point tally, but United managing to get something out of the game would actually be appreciated by Reds supporters for once.

Prediction: Man City 3-1 Man United

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