EPL: Conte At Chelsea Dugout, Easiest Win For Arsenal And Player To Watch For On Matchday 23

Premier League action resumes this weekend as clubs aim to get back in their stride after a spate of recent postponements.

This is what we have to look forward to .

Game of the Weekend

Chelsea Vs Tottenham

Chelsea have had the better of these London derby showdowns of late, particularly in both legs of the EFL Cup semi-final.

But how quickly the mood can change and in the space of less than a week, momentum appears to be swinging Spurs’ way.

They pulled off the latest ever Premier League comeback from a losing position at Leicester on Wednesday night in a game that felt that the turning point for the Antonio Conteera.

Meanwhile, Chelsea were beaten at Manchester City last weekend and slipped up against Brighton again in midweek, with both games seeing senior stars sniping at each other as the pressure grows.

This may be coming at the perfect time for Tottenham but don’t rule out Chelsea returning rejuvenated after being granted some much-needed time off by Thomas Tuchel.

Fun fact: Spurs have won just once on their last 31 league trips to Stamford Bridge, a 3-1 win in April 2018 when Antonio Conte was in the opposite dugout.

Leeds Vs Newcastle

Leeds’ injury issues show no signs of slowing down.

Marcelo Bielsa confirmed that Patrick Bamford has picked up a new foot problem after recovering from his previous issue, while Junior Firpo and Adam Forshaw are out and Tyler Roberts and Joe Gelhardt are doubtful.

It has been so bad that the Argentine was forced to name 15year old Archie Gray on the bench, a decision he was not pleased about.

Newcastle won’t have many better chances to go to Elland Road and get something, which they simply must start doing now to have any hope of avoiding relegation.

But that comes with a note of caution – even with all their absentees, Leeds still went to West Ham and left with three points last Sunday.

Fun fact: The Magpies haven’t lost consecutive league games at Leeds since the early 70s, having been beaten 5-2 last season.

Arsenal Vs Burnley

Arsenal may have lost against Liverpool on Thursday night in the EFL Cup but should bounce back quickly here.

Their opponents at the Emirates on Sunday have incredibly played just two league games since December 12 due to an unprecedented spate of Covid-19 call-offs.

That rustiness is unlikely to do them any favours against a team who they have beaten just once in their last 18 meetings, although it did come in north London last season thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s own goal.

But it will almost certainly be too big a mountain to climb again given the current circumstances of both sides.

Fun fact: Arsenal have conceded the opening goal fewer times than any other Premier League team this season (four) but when the opposition score first, they are the only team to have lost every single game.

Watford Vs Norwich

A huge relegation six pointer takes place under the Friday night lights at Vicarage Road.

The Canaries occupy the final relegation spot prior to kick-off but are just a point behind their hosts, who they can leapfrog with a win.

Tim Krul’s injury, in addition to the ones suffered by Billy Gilmour, Lukas Rupp and Mathias Normann do make their task much more difficult though.

Especially in a fixture in which Norwich have won just once in from their last eight trips (last doing so in the Championship), while the Hornets have won five on the bounce.

But they will be lifted by last weekend’s win over Everton and travel south full of confidence.

Fun fact: Norwich have won just three of their 29 Friday night fixtures since 1967.

Richarlison

I’m backing the Brazilian star (who scored a sublime overhead kick last week) to play with a weight lifted off his shoulders under the new regime at Everton, who welcome Steven Gerrard to what will likely be a buoyant Goodison Park