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Premier League previews: Matchweek 37


Chelsea will win their fifth Premier League title on Friday if they can defeat West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Antonio Conte’s side have held on to top spot since mid-December and Monday’s win over Middlesbrough ensured they will travel to the midlands knowing victory will see them crowned champions.
Manchester City will look to all-but secure Champions League football with victory over Leicester at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday while Arsenal’s top-four prospects can receive another boost should they prevail at Stoke.
At the bottom, Swansea can take a giant stride towards survival if they were to win at relegated Sunderland. If they were to leave Wearside with all three points, defeat for Hull at Crystal Palace on Sunday will see the Tigers relegated.
Also on Sunday, Liverpool can move a step closer to a top-four finish should they see off West Ham at the London Stadium while Tottenham take on Manchester United in the late kick-off.

Friday May 12

Ross Barkley has yet to commit his future to Everton
Ross Barkley has yet to commit his future to Everton (Dave Howarth/Empics)
Everton (7) v Watford (15)
Everton boss Ronald Koeman has doubts over whether Ross Barkley will commit his future to the club. The England midfielder has just over a year left on his current deal and several months ago Koeman set a deadline of the end of the season for the 23-year-old to re-sign or be sold. Koeman said: “It is still one week. Time for him to decide. But we don’t wait till August. Next weekend we need an answer. Either he accepts the contract or we sell the player.” Everton will be without goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (groin) but Morgan Schneiderlin (thigh) is fit. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ademola Lookman are on England Under-20s duty while Muhamed Besic will be on the bench after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in pre-season. Watford manager Walter Mazzarri admits Tom Cleverley will be missed against Everton on Friday night, but is confident his squad have enough strength in depth to get the job done. The 27-year-old is not eligible to face the Toffees at Goodison Park, and Mazzarri said: ”He (Cleverley) has been a very good player and we will miss him tomorrow, but the positive is he will be fresh against Chelsea (next week).” Watford should have defender Jose Holebas available again following a foot injury. Cleverley is ineligible to face the Toffees under the terms of his loan deal, which is to become a permanent switch in the summer, but Ben Watson should travel after recovering from his groin problem.
Last season: Watford 1 Everton 1, Everton 2 Watford 2
Last five league matches: Everton W W D L L; Watford L W L L L
Top scorers: Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 25; Troy Deeney (Watford) 10
Match odds: H: 4-9 A:6-1 D: 17-5
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
West Brom (8) v Chelsea (1)
West Brom boss Tony Pulis has vowed his team will look to keep the title race alive. The Baggies are aiming to deny Chelsea the victory which would see Antonio Conte’s side win the Premier League. Pulis said: “There are three points riding on it for them and us. We’re doing our damnedest to make it a competitive game and a good game. I don’t think Antonio will expect anything different.” Matt Phillips (hamstring) will miss out while Hal Robson-Kanu will be on the bench but Jonny Evans (ankle) is fit after coming off in the 2-2 draw at Burnley. Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte is focused on clinching the Premier League title rather than persistent rumours linking him with the vacancy at Inter Milan. Rumours of a return to Italy with Inter have refused to go away in recent months and the sacking of Stefano Pioli has created an opening at the San Siro. Conte said: “I have two years (remaining under) contract with Chelsea. The most important thing is to write the history of the club. It’s important now, don’t lose the concentration, be focused. Midfielder N’Golo Kante is available again after missing the win over Middlesbrough with a thigh injury.
Last season: Chelsea 2 West Brom 2, West Brom 2 Chelsea 3
Last five league matches: West Brom L L L L D; Chelsea W L W W W
Top scorers: Jose Salomon Rondon (West Brom) 8; Diego Costa (Chelsea) 21
Match odds: H 9-1 A 1-3 D 15-4
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Saturday May 13

AFC Bournemouth (11) v Burnley (14)
Bournemouth team news to follow…
Burnley will monitor the fitness of England defender Michael Keane after he missed the 2-2 draw with West Brom with a knock while fellow centre-half Ben Mee (shin) is unlikely to be fit.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: AFC Bournemouth L L W W D; Burnley D L L W D
Top scorers: Joshua King (AFC Bournemouth) 15; Andre Gray & Sam Vokes (Burnley) 10
Match odds: H 19-20 A 11-4 D 13-5
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Man City (4) v Leicester (9)
Manchester City team news to follow…
Leicester will once again be without captain Wes Morgan with a hamstring injury while midfielder Danny Drinkwater is unlikely to play again this season after sustaining a thigh strain. Defender Robert Huth is doubtful with a foot problem.
Last season: Man City 1 Leicester 3, Leicester 0 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Man City W W D D W; Leicester L D L W W
Top scorers: Sergio Aguero (Man City) 31; Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 15
Match odds: H 1-4 A 10-1 D 5-1
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)
Middlesbrough (19) v Southampton (10)
Boss Steve Agnew is convinced Middlesbrough will be better prepared for life back in the Championship than derby rivals Sunderland. Agnew believes the knowledge and experience Boro gained from their successful promotion campaign last time around will stand them in better stead. He said: “Yes, I think it does because if you look at the accumulation of games played in the Championship for a number of players, then it has to be a head-start on players who haven’t. So yes, I’d see that as an advantage.” Goalkeeper Victor Valdes (rib), defender Daniel Ayala (ankle) and Gaston Ramirez (pelvis) are doubts for relegated Middlesbrough. Southampton manager Claude Puel, whose side have gone five games since their last win and three without scoring, has targeted a positive end to the campaign. He said: “If we get a good result at Middlesbrough it will give us the possibility to secure a good finish in our last two home games. The final three games are very important for us. It’s very important to finish well.” Striker Charlie Austin, out since December with a shoulder injury, and full-back Matt Targett (hamstring) – who last featured in October – could be in the Southampton squad.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L L W D L; Southampton L L D D L
Top scorers: Alvaro Negredo (Middlesbrough) 10; Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton) 10
Match odds: H 11-4 A 1-1 D 12-5
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Stoke (13) v Arsenal (5)
Stoke team news to follow…
Shkodran Mustafi is hopeful Arsenal have recovered from their blip in time to surge into the Champions League. The Gunners picked up a vital 2-0 win at Southampton on Wednesday night to move up to fifth in the Premier League table and three points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City. Mustafi said: “Now we have three games and we have to give everything to try and get everything out of all the games. Hopefully at the end we’ll reach our goals.” Arsenal are expected to be without wing-back Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring) and will monitor defender Laurent Koscielny (calf).
Last season: Stoke 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 2 Stoke 0
Last five league matches: Stoke L W L D D; Arsenal W W L W W
Top scorers: Peter Crouch (Stoke) 8; Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 25
Match odds: H 4-1 A 8-13 D 8-13
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Sunderland (20) v Swansea (17)
Sunderland team news to follow…
Head coach Paul Clement says Swansea have every right to celebrate if they avoid falling out of the Premier League. The Swans enter the last two games of the season one point above Hull in the final safety position of 17th. Clement said: “In the context of the situation – three managers in one year, bottom at the halfway point with only 12 points, massive goals conceded – I think, absolutely yes, we can celebrate if we stay in the league.” Winger Wayne Routledge (hernia) and defender Angel Rangel (foot) could come into contention having returned to training this week.
Last season: Swansea 2 Sunderland 4, Sunderland 1 Swansea 1
Last five league matches: Sunderland L D L L W; Swansea L L W D W
Top scorers: Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) 15; Fernando Llorente (Swansea) 13
Match odds: H 16-5 A 5-6 D 13-5
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)

Sunday May 14

Crystal Palace (16) v Hull (18)
Boss Sam Allardyce insists the “pressure lies on Hull” when they visit Crystal Palace for a fixture that could define each team’s season. Marco Silva’s side could be relegated if rivals Swansea win at Sunderland on Saturday and Palace avoid defeat to preserve their Premier League status. Allardyce said: “They have to win the game, we have to draw it. Whoever deals with the pressure better is a big factor.” Allardyce will await the results of late fitness tests given to James Tomkins, Yohan Cabaye and Scott Dann before he selects his XI. Silva has not given up on guiding the Tigers to survival. He said: “Of course, it’s possible. They’re in a better position than us but they need to do something to (make themselves) safe. We have two finals now and the first is on Sunday and we will play it like a final and will continue to believe.” Hull will be without winger Lazar Markovic for the final two games after the Liverpool loanee sustained an ankle injury in last week’s home defeat to Sunderland. Defender Omar Elabdellaoui (back) will return to contention after missing the last seven games.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Crystal Palace D W L L L; Hull L L W D L
Top scorers: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) 16; Oumar Niasse & Abel Hernandez (Hull) 5
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-4 D 12-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
Tottenham (2) v Man Utd (6)
Tottenham team news to follow…
Marouane Fellaini serves the final match of his domestic ban when Manchester United play at Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday. The Belgium midfielder remains suspended following his red card against Manchester City, but defender Eric Bailly’s sending off in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo does not affect Premier League matters. Top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains out with a long-term knee injury, while Ashley Young (hamstring), Marcos Rojo (knee), Luke Shaw (foot) and Tim Fosu-Mensah (shoulder) are also out for the rest of the season.
Last season: Tottenham Hotspur 3 Man Utd 0, Man Utd 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Last five league matches: Tottenham Hotspur W W W W L; Man Utd W W D D L
Top scorers: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) 27; Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man Utd) 28
Match odds: H 8-11 A 19-5 D 13-5
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)
West Ham (12) v Liverpool (3)
Team news to follow…
Last season: West Ham 2 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 0 West Ham 3
Last five league matches: West Ham W D D D W; Liverpool W W L W D
Top scorers: Robert Snodgrass & Michail Antonio (West Ham) 9; Sadio Mane (Liverpool) 13
Match odds: H 4-1 A 4-6 D 13-5
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

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