Chelsea v Fulham
Today, 8pm, Sky Sports
Given their January transfer spending spree, Graham Potter has an unenviable task in selecting a Chelsea side seeking a 150th victory in a Premier League London derby. All eyes, in particular, will be on Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez after he completed a £107million move from Benfica. Marco Silva will be hoping to lead Fulham to their first league double over the Blues at the 38th attempt but they have lost both league games since their victory at Craven Cottage.
2-1 – Win for Fulham in January was their first v Chelsea since 2006
Everton v Arsenal
Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport
Sean Dyche takes charge of Everton for the first time and the task could hardly be tougher against a Gunners side who have dropped points just three times in the Premier League this season. Mikel Arteta returns to his former club having seen Arsenal go five points clear at the top of the table but the Spaniard thinks highly of Dyche, whose Burnley record he labelled ‘phenomenal’ after he was sacked last year. He will need to be after Everton failed to make a transfer-window addition.
15 – Times Dyche has faced Arsenal as a boss, winning one and losing 11
Aston Villa v Leicester
Saturday, 3pm
Boss Brendan Rodgers must be relieved there was at least some transfer activity at Leicester in this transfer window with a big onus on Harry Souttar to plug their central-defensive frailties, with on-loan Brazilian Tete offering some additional flair. Apart from recalling Bertrand Traore from a loan spell, there was not much activity at Villa Park but Unai Emery seems to have had little problem getting much more out of the struggling squad he inherited from Steven Gerrard in October.
16 – Points out of a possible 21 for Villa since Emery took charge
Brentford v Southampton
Saturday, 3pm
Boss Nathan Jones needs to lift Saints with their Carabao Cup dreams over after a semi-final defeat to Newcastle but the way they battled to the end offers hope for their survival push. The bottom side are just three points adrift of Leicester in 14th. James Ward-Prowse, whose 16 Premier League goals from free-kicks is just two short of David Beckham’s record, is key to their hopes. Brentford should go into the game refreshed having not played since a 0-0 draw at Leeds 13 days earlier.
3-0 – Victory for Brentford in Saints’ last visit back in May
Brighton v Bournemouth
Saturday, 3pm
Few clubs are likely to be more relieved to see the transfer window close but Seagulls boss Robert de Zerbi must now hope he can get Moises Caicedo to knuckle down despite the midfielder’s desire to join Arsenal. Brighton had a great January on the pitch, with four wins and a draw in all competitions. Cherries boss Gary O’Neil has been backed in his survival quest with £20million-plus deals this week for Ukraine centre-half Ilya Zabarnyi and Ivory Coast midfielder Hamed Traore.
7 – Consecutive games in which Brighton have scored two or more goals
Man United v Crystal Palace
Saturday, 3pm
This game comes a little over a fortnight since Michael Olise’s stoppage-time stunner denied United victory at Selhurst Park. That was a rare recent blip for Erik ten Hag’s side who have a Carabao Cup final to look forward to after completing a 5-0 aggregate victory over Nottingham Forest. Palace have two deadline day signings in contention to feature at Old Trafford – Naouirou Ahamada and Sambi Lokonga having taken part in training with Patrick Vieira’s side this week.
11 – Successive home wins for Man United since a 0-0 draw with Newcastle
Wolves v Liverpool
Saturday, 3pm
This weekend’s reverse fixture list was cancelled in September after the Queen’s death and has not been rescheduled – yet this is their third meeting in less than a month. Liverpool won 1-0 in an FA Cup replay at Molineux having been fortunate to escape with a 2-2 draw at Anfield. That luck ran out in the fourth round as they lost 2-1 at Brighton. Wolves had precious little fortune in January but Julen Lopetegui has had 13 days to prepare his players since the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.
6 – League and cup games for Liverpool in 2023 – the only win was at Molineux
Newcastle v West Ham
Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports
The celebratory atmosphere around St James’ Park after getting through to a first Wembley final since 1999 will continue at full throttle. But Alexander Isak will feel groggy for a different reason having been struck by a James Ward-Prowse free-kick – making him a doubt for the game. Playmaker Bruno Guimaraes is banned after his late red card. The Hammers’ inactive deadline day may add to their relegation fears but they did keep hold of Michail Antonio despite exit rumours.
3 – Goals in two games for Jarrod Bowen after not scoring in his previous 12
Nottingham Forest v Leeds
Sunday 2pm
Forest’s inability to give the best account of themselves over the two legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Manchester United was in part due to a crippling injury and illness list featuring Dean Henderson, Ryan Yates and Morgan Gibbs-White among others. For Forest to this week sign a goalkeeper – Keylor Navas – with more European Cups to his name than they have is a sign of their ambition. Leeds would go above Forest on goal difference in the table if they win at the City Ground.
6 – League games without a win for Leeds since beating Bournemouth 4-3
Tottenham v Man City
Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports
Spurs have already had one victory over City this week by beating them to the signing of 19-year-old wonderkid Jude Soonsup-Bell from Chelsea. They also have a particularly good record against Pep Guardiola’s men, having won four of the six meetings before this season, including a double last term. They looked well on their way to continuing that sequence last month when they led 2-0 at the Etihad, only for Guardiola’s half-time blast inspiring City to a 4-2 victory.
3 – Times Harry Kane has scored against City. He has collected four bookings
MORE : Graham Potter says £12m Jorginho transfer is a ‘win’ for both Arsenal and Chelsea
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