Chelsea have won all but one game they’ve played at home to Swansea, including the 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge last season. The weekend draw at Liverpool was the first time in five league games Chelsea have dropped points. Swansea have not scored in their last three games and currently sit 19th in the table. Chelsea are 11 points from the top and need to keep winning games if they are to attempt to retain the title.
Arsenal’s last-gasp victory at the weekend was their fourth win in five, a run they will be aiming to continue against Huddersfield tomorrow. Huddersfield had a late goal go against them in their weekend game against table-topping Man City. They have only picked up one point and scored once on their travels so far this season. Arsenal, in contrast, have not dropped any points at home so should be confident of a result.
Southampton won three successive away trips to Manchester City between 2001 and 2004 but have picked up one point since. That was in last season’s 1-1 draw but it could be a difficult result to match this time around. City have dropped points just once in the league so far and, despite being run close a few times, have won their other 12. They are currently eight points clear at the top of the league and with the right results could pull further away. Southampton did, however, get their first win in four at the weekend so could have good moral heading into the game.
Last time Spurs visited Leicester they ran out 6-1 winners. Previously to that game, there hadn’t been more than a goal between the sides since 2001. Both sides have had mixed form of late with only two wins in their last five and they each endured a draw at the weekend. A win for Tottenham could take them back into the top four while Leicester are solidly in mid-table.
Only once have Watford beaten Manchester United in a Premier League game but they will have another chance this evening. Their only win came in the same fixture last season with a 3-1 result. Both sides have won their last two games after some patchy form earlier in the autumn. Watford are in 8th place at the moment and could rise as high as 6th with a win. Barring some very surprising results United will remain in second place but they will need to win to keep within sight of leaders City.
Brighton narrowly lost at the weekend to end a five-match unbeaten run. They now host a Crystal Palace team who picked up their second win of the season with an injury time goal against Stoke. Palace are still yet to pick up a point away from home this season but their trip to the south coast may prove fruitful. They will need to start picking up points soon as they remain rooted to the bottom of the league, three points, and a big goal swing, from safety.
West Brom got their first point in five games in the weekend’s trip to Tottenham but they’re still without a win in the league since August. Their opponents Newcastle have lost four games in a row and have slipped down to 14th in the table. This game may be one with few goals as both sides have failed to score in their last three and average less than a goal a game.
Both Bournemouth and Burnley failed to win at the weekend but have won three of their last five games previously. Last season in this fixture was a 2-1 win to Bournemouth but Burnley have improved away from home during this campaign. They could end the midweek round of games as high as 5th in the table with a win. If Bournemouth can secure the three points then they could climb into the top half.
Everton, still without a permanent manager welcome one of their former bosses to Goodison Park on Wednesday as David Moyes brings West Ham. The hosts have conceded 15 goals in their last five games and sit far lower in the table than their fans would like. West Ham too are on a poor run of form with just two points in the last five games and are in the relegation zone. Defeat in this game would leave the Hammers five points behind Everton.
Liverpool travel to Stoke tomorrow evening aiming to return to winning ways. Their 1-1 draw at the weekend halted a three-game winning run, leaving them two points outside the top four. Stoke are a team which have given Liverpool great joy over recent seasons as they have won seven of the last eight games, only the 6-1 defeat on the final day of the 2014/15 season breaks that run. Stoke have lost two games at home this season but were able to take points off Arsenal and Manchester United.
Three points tomorrow could put Chelsea level in the table with Manchester United with only goal difference separating the two. The title defence is made to look worse due to the excellent form of Man City but should they falter later in the season, Chelsea need to be there to pick them off. If they can keep winning and applying a little pressure to those above, they may be able to take advantage later.