Thanks to Burnley and their annoying habit of winning, the “top six” have once again become the “big six”. Much as we would love to include Sean Dyche’s team in this category we hope that Burnley fans will understand why this is currently an impossibility.
So to the matches this weekend and in the early game, Antonio Conte welcomes Rafa Benitez to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 
v Newcastle United 
Having scraped a 1-0 victory over Swansea midweek Antonio Conte will be looking for an improved performance from his team against Rafa Benitez’s side. He is more likely to get one if his players can see him on the touchline ranting and raving, than if he is sat in the stands ranting and raving!
Newcastle managed to come from behind in their midweek game at West Bromwich Albion and this result halted a mini-slump during which the Magpies lost their previous four games.
Joselu may find himself benched with Aleksandar Mitović given a starting berth but this could well be little comfort for Benitez as Mitrović hasn’t managed a goal all season. (Joselu has two in the eleven games he has started).
Watford 
v Tottenham Hotspur 
Back in 1994, Watford beat Spurs at White Hart Lane. It was the second leg of a League Cup Tie and, as they had already lost the first leg 3-6, it was irrelevant. Other than that game, The Hornets have failed to beat Spurs in thirty years!
This time they will feel that they have a decent chance. Tottenham have collected one point from the nine possible in their last three games which have included losses to Arsenal and Leicester and a draw with West Brom.
Despite losing to Manchester United in their last home game, Watford showed enough in their second half performance to suggest that this may be another bad day for Spurs.
Brighton & Hove Albion 
v Liverpool 
Brighton appear to have settled into a relatively comfortable transition from Championship to Premier League. They are reasonably placed in tenth position and have lost two games less and won two games more than both Newcastle and Huddersfield who accompanied them on their journey from rags to riches.
In Chris Hughton they also seem to have a more level-headed manager than the other two. Not prone to outbursts of emotion or tantrums, he can be relied upon to steer the ship sensibly at all times.
Jürgen Klopp, on the other hand, is everything that previous Liverpool managers haven’t been. But, however infectious his personality may be, it won’t matter a jot if he doesn’t start to deliver some silverware soon.
In his favour, he can currently pick the Premier League’s top goalscorer in Mohamed Salah and he may prove to be the signing which does eventually put a trophy in the cabinet.
Arsenal 
v Manchester United 
In the late game Stubborn Old Man welcomes José “Mister Personality” Mourinho to The Emirates in a game which both teams really need to win.
Arséne Wenger may choose to start with Olivier Giroud upfront for the first time this season, thanks to the injury suffered by Alexandre Lacazette. He always feels, however, that this makes his team less mobile and their high pressing game suffers as a result.
With Danny Welbeck unlikely to start it could be Alex Iwobi who is picked with Alexis Sánchez moving into the centre in place of Lacazette.
United have a doubt over Nemanja Matić so we could see Ander Herrera returning to the midfield alongside Paul Pogba and Juan Mata.
These two managed five and four goals respectively in midweek so expect a 0-0 or a 1-0 either way.
SUNDAY
Manchester City 
v West Ham United 
After a midweek battle against Southampton during which Pep Guardiola gave his now-famous pep talk to Nathan Redmond, he will be quite happy to welcome Moyes’ boys so he can pick up an easy three points and the team can return to their flamboyant goal-scoring ways.
West Ham United, on the other hand, still need to convince their fans that appointing the man who failed in Manchester, Sociedad and Sunderland was the right decision.
It wasn’t and this is just another game in the series of losses which will, inevitably, result in Moyes departing London in his usual fashion.
In fact, if his previous two clubs are any yardstick, West Ham will be relegated shortly after he leaves, having put them in an impossible position.
We hope that is not the case but, if it is, you were warned!
WHY SAY ANYTHING? 