After the EFL Cup quarter-finals in midweek, this weekend’s Premier League games are split evenly across the Saturday and Sunday.
Four of Sunday’s five matches kick off at 2pm, with significant games at both the top and bottom ends of the table.
The standout fixture sees title-chasing Chelsea head to Merseyside to face an Everton team that will be buoyed by their completed takeover this week.
- EVERTON VS CHELSEA - DRAW
- FULHAM VS SOUTHAMPTON - FULHAM TO WIN TO NIL
- LEICESTER VS WOLVES - OVER 3.5 GOALS
- MAN UTD VS BOURNEMOUTH - LISANDRO MARTINEZ TO BE CARDED
Bet On The Premier League
Everton vs Chelsea
Five consecutive league wins have seen Chelsea move into second and just two points behind leaders Liverpool.
Not only have the Blues been racking up the points, but the goals have been flowing as well, as they have found the net 16 times during that five-game run.
A trip to Goodison Park though poses a stiff test for Enzo Maresca’s men, especially after a defensive blow in the build-up.
Marc Cucurella scored in last week’s win over Brentford before being sent off after the final whistle, meaning he misses Sunday’s clash through suspension.
Everton may be 19 points behind their opponents, but Sean Dyche’s squad have lost just twice in their last 11 matches.
That turnaround in form has a lot to do with their defensive stability, helped by the return to fitness of Jarad Branthwaite.
The Toffees have kept four clean sheets in their last five games, including a 0-0 draw at Arsenal last weekend.
Chelsea have won on just one of their last six visits to Goodison, with the Londoners beaten 2-0 in this fixture last season.
DRAW
Fulham vs Southampton
A 5-0 home defeat to Tottenham last week was the final straw for Southampton’s owners, who decided to sack manager Russell Martin.
Saints are closing in on a replacement, but caretaker Simon Rusk will be in charge for Sunday’s trip to Craven Cottage.
It’s likely that Rusk will set the team up in a more pragmatic way and will look to make things difficult for the hosts, who are currently 12 places and 19 points ahead of their opponents.
Fulham go into Sunday’s clash with just one defeat in their last eight matches and having earned a 2-2 draw at Liverpool last weekend.
Marco Silva’s men are now just four points outside of the top four and will look to add to the 14 points they have already collected at the Cottage this season.
Fulham have scored in all but one of their 16 league games - which was a 1-0 defeat at Man Utd on the opening weekend - and will feel they can take advantage of a Saints team low on confidence.
Southampton are the lowest scorers in the league, with just 11 goals and will find it tough to cause problems for Fulham, who could have Calvin Bassey back in their squad.
FULHAM TO WIN TO NIL
Leicester vs Wolves
Two of the bottom four in the Premier League meet on Sunday, as Leicester City and Wolves go head-to-head at the King Power Stadium.
A home defeat to Ipswich last weekend saw Wolves part company with Gary O’Neil and now former Porto boss Vitor Pereira takes charge of his first match.
Wanderers are currently five points from safety and, with a tough-looking fixture list ahead, Pereira will know that they need to make a quick start.
After Sunday, Wolves’ next fixtures see them play host to Man Utd, travel to Tottenham, entertain Nottingham Forest, before away games at Newcastle and Chelsea and then a home clash with Arsenal.
It’s been a short honeymoon period for Leicester’s new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who saw his Leicester team follow their win over West Ham with just one point from their next two games.
A 4-0 hammering at Newcastle last weekend left more questions to answer for the Dutchman, with the Foxes just two points above the drop zone.
Both teams have struggled defensively - Wolves have the worst goals against record in the league, conceding 40 goals in 16 games.
Leicester have leaked 34 goals to date, with just two wins in their eight home league matches.
OVER 3.5 GOALS
Man Utd vs Bournemouth
We are five league games into the Ruben Amorim era at Old Trafford and there have been just two wins so far.
Man Utd secured a dramatic derby victory at the Etihad last Sunday, but then followed that up by conceding four goals at Tottenham and crashing out of the EFL Cup.
As Amorim continues to put his plans in place, there have been a mixture of some positives and some negatives.
Amad Diallo is one of the big pluses for the new manager, with the youngster playing a key role in the win over City.
But defensively there are still major issues, with the Red Devils - who are still in the bottom half - leaking 13 goals in their last five matches.
They now face a Bournemouth team who are in the top six and who have already beaten both Man City and Arsenal this season.
Andoni Iraola has seen his team collect three wins and a draw in their last four games and they will feel they can extend that unbeaten run at Old Trafford.
The likes of Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert have caused major problems for Premier League defences and United will have their hands full.
Lisandro Martinez has already been booked five times this season and he may face a torrid afternoon against the Cherries frontline.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ TO BE CARDED
