OF THEIR FIVE remaining Premier League fixtures, this Sunday’s is potentially the toughest for Chelsea.
It’s a trip to Goodison Park on Sunday to face seventh-placed Toffees before meetings with Middlesbrough, West Brom, Watford and Sunderland.
With a four-point advantage over Tottenham, the Londoners can afford to lose one of those games and win the rest but that’s only if their nearest rivals manage a 100% record in their remaining matches.
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku was never given a proper chance during three years on the books at Chelsea, but the Belgian striker has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
What a story it would be if the league’s top marksman — with 24 goals — had a hand in his former club’s capitulation.
2. The tables have turned in North London derby
Directly after Chelsea take on Everton, their title rivals Tottenham are involved in a North London derby at White Hart Lane.
Arsenal fans regularly celebrate St Totteringham’s Day — a mock occasion which marks the date that Spurs can no longer possibly finish ahead of the Gunners in the table — but that tradition looks set to come to an end after a 22-year wait.
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Mauricio Pochettino’s side are 14 points ahead of their latest opponents, who have a game in-hand, and they can boost their own chances of catching the league leaders while handing Arsene Wenger another setback in his unlikely bid to clinch a Champions League place on Sunday.
Slip up, however, and they will probably have to settle for runners-up spot at best.
3. Boro’s survival hopes hanging by a thread
Middlesbrough gave their slim chances of staying up a boost in midweek by claiming a 1-0 win — their first of the calendar year — over doomed Sunderland. They’re still second from bottom and four points from safety, however, so it’s not looking good.
Boro welcome Manchester City to the Riverside on Sunday, and Pep Guardiola’s side will be overwhelming favourites to come away with three points.
Gabriel Jesus returned for Man City on Thursday. Peter Byrne
Peter Byrne
Thursday’s 0-0 draw with United was one of the dullest Manchester derbies in recent memory, but that was down to the visiting side’s negative gameplan more than anything else.
There was a positive for City as Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus made his return after a two-month lay-off through injury — coming off the bench for a 10-minute cameo.
4. Man United depleted for visit of Swans
Maruoane Fellaini has joined Man United’s lengthy list of unavailable players after his idiotic red card in Thursday’s derby.
The others currently missing include Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Tim Fosu-Mensah, leading Jose Mourinho to joke that he may have to pick himself and 19-year-old Axel Tuanzebe in defence against Swansea.
United still trail Man City by one point after the teams played out a stalemate and they are taking on a side desperately trying to pull themselves out of the bottom three.
The Welsh club had a confidence-boosting victory over Stoke last time out and three points could potentially see them leapfrog Hull into 17th.
5. Lallana could return for Reds
On Monday night, Liverpool travel to Vicarage Road where they will aim to bounce back from the 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace.
Recent history bodes well for the Reds as they claimed their biggest win of the season in the reverse fixture back in November with a 6-1 hammering of the Hornets.
That result sent the Merseysiders top of the table for the first time in the Klopp era. But they’ve fallen off the pace in the months that have followed and need three points with Man City and Man United both hot on their heels.
There’s some good news as Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge have both returned to training, meaning they could play some part.
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Lukaku and co provide Chelsea's biggest stumbling block and the Premier League talking points
1. Toffees look Chelsea’s toughest test
OF THEIR FIVE remaining Premier League fixtures, this Sunday’s is potentially the toughest for Chelsea.
It’s a trip to Goodison Park on Sunday to face seventh-placed Toffees before meetings with Middlesbrough, West Brom, Watford and Sunderland.
With a four-point advantage over Tottenham, the Londoners can afford to lose one of those games and win the rest but that’s only if their nearest rivals manage a 100% record in their remaining matches.
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku was never given a proper chance during three years on the books at Chelsea, but the Belgian striker has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
What a story it would be if the league’s top marksman — with 24 goals — had a hand in his former club’s capitulation.
2. The tables have turned in North London derby
Directly after Chelsea take on Everton, their title rivals Tottenham are involved in a North London derby at White Hart Lane.
Arsenal fans regularly celebrate St Totteringham’s Day — a mock occasion which marks the date that Spurs can no longer possibly finish ahead of the Gunners in the table — but that tradition looks set to come to an end after a 22-year wait.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are 14 points ahead of their latest opponents, who have a game in-hand, and they can boost their own chances of catching the league leaders while handing Arsene Wenger another setback in his unlikely bid to clinch a Champions League place on Sunday.
Slip up, however, and they will probably have to settle for runners-up spot at best.
3. Boro’s survival hopes hanging by a thread
Middlesbrough gave their slim chances of staying up a boost in midweek by claiming a 1-0 win — their first of the calendar year — over doomed Sunderland. They’re still second from bottom and four points from safety, however, so it’s not looking good.
Boro welcome Manchester City to the Riverside on Sunday, and Pep Guardiola’s side will be overwhelming favourites to come away with three points.
Thursday’s 0-0 draw with United was one of the dullest Manchester derbies in recent memory, but that was down to the visiting side’s negative gameplan more than anything else.
There was a positive for City as Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus made his return after a two-month lay-off through injury — coming off the bench for a 10-minute cameo.
4. Man United depleted for visit of Swans
Maruoane Fellaini has joined Man United’s lengthy list of unavailable players after his idiotic red card in Thursday’s derby.
The others currently missing include Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Tim Fosu-Mensah, leading Jose Mourinho to joke that he may have to pick himself and 19-year-old Axel Tuanzebe in defence against Swansea.
United still trail Man City by one point after the teams played out a stalemate and they are taking on a side desperately trying to pull themselves out of the bottom three.
The Welsh club had a confidence-boosting victory over Stoke last time out and three points could potentially see them leapfrog Hull into 17th.
5. Lallana could return for Reds
On Monday night, Liverpool travel to Vicarage Road where they will aim to bounce back from the 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace.
Recent history bodes well for the Reds as they claimed their biggest win of the season in the reverse fixture back in November with a 6-1 hammering of the Hornets.
That result sent the Merseysiders top of the table for the first time in the Klopp era. But they’ve fallen off the pace in the months that have followed and need three points with Man City and Man United both hot on their heels.
There’s some good news as Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge have both returned to training, meaning they could play some part.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
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Premier League Talking Points Chelsea Manchester City Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur Things to look out for