Following the weekend’s FA Cup fourth round action, the teams in England’s top-flight make a swift return to action with a full round of Premier League fixtures to enjoy on Tuesday and Wednesday as January draws to a close.
Full Premier League fixtures:
Tuesday, January 30th
Swansea vs Arsenal
West Ham vs Crystal Palace
Huddersfield vs Liverpool
Wednesday, January 31st
Southampton vs Brighton
Chelsea vs Bournemouth
Everton vs Leicester City
Newcastle vs Burnley
Man City vs West Brom
Tottenham vs Man United
Stoke vs Watford
Swansea City vs Arsenal
Arsenal have had nearly a week to recover since they triumphed over Chelsea to reach next month’s Carabao Cup final while Swansea City will need a replay against League Two side Notts County after they were held to a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup in the same week they to overturn Liverpool 1-0 in the Premier League. The Swans have won five of their 13 league meetings against the Gunners but have not beaten them at the Liberty Stadium since November 2014. Arsenal won the corresponding fixture 4-0 last season after a pair of crazy own goals by Swansea duo Jack Cork and Kyle Naughton.
West Ham United vs Crystal Palace
Two teams who have seen the tides turn in their favour under new managers, West Ham United in 11th and Crystal Palace in 13th, will go head-to-head this weekend in a hotly anticipated London derby. David Moyes’ men were dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of Wigan Athletic while Roy Hodgson’s Palace outfit will be looking to bounce back from a 4-1 demolition at Arsenal 10 days ago. The Eagles have now won just once in their last six attempts against the Hammers, losing on four occasions, after playing out to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign.
Southampton vs Brighton
Southampton’ slide down the table shows little sign of slowing. The Saints are without a win in their last eleven in England’s top flight. They will make the short journey of just 68 miles along the south coast to face Premier League new-boys Brighton & Hove Albion who are just one point and two places ahead of them after failing to win any of their last five in the division. Glenn Murray, who remains unavailable for the Seagulls, cancelled out Steven Davis’ opener when the sides met at the Amex in October.
Chelsea vs Bournemouth
Bournemouth are unbeaten in five in the league going into Wednesday’s game with Chelsea who have won just once in the same period after a run of four successive draws began to put their place in the top four in jeopardy. The Cherries won their first-ever Premier League clash against the Blues, at Stamford Bridge in December 2015, but have since lost five on the bounce including a 2-1 defeat in the fifth round of the Carabao Cup last month. Eden Hazard has scored five times in his last four league games against Eddie Howe’s men and was on the scoresheet when Chelsea beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium in October.
Everton vs Leicester City
The Toffees are without a win in their last seven games in all competitions and have scored just three goals in the process. On Wednesday they welcome a Leicester City side to Goodison Park who have conceded only once in their six matches since defeat at Anfield a month ago. Everton have only beaten Leicester twice in eight attempts since the Foxes regained promotion to the Premier League in 2014. Romelu Lukaku was twice on target for Ronald Koeman’s men in a 4-2 win in the corresponding fixture last season as the 2015/16 Champion’s title defence lay in tatters.
Manchester City vs West Bromwich Albion
Pep Guardiola’s men suffered their first domestic defeat of the campaign a fortnight ago when they were beaten by 4-3 by Liverpool. In the three games since, across a trio of competitions (Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup), City have looked back to their brilliant best with three victories silencing any doubters who felt that the league leaders were about to topple from their high perch. The Baggies have lost 15 of their last 16 matches against Manchester City, dating back to September 2010, with a 0-0 draw at the Hawthorns in December 2011 representing the only points they have taken from City in the league since 2008.