Premier League is back with a full schedule of games on Saturday, March 30, after a two-week break for international matches.
With the end of the season looming, there are crucial matches in the race for the title; the battle against relegation, and the fight for European spots.
Arsenal will kick off their pursuit of the Premier League title on Sunday, March 31 with a challenging match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Arteta will be looking forward to securing his first victory at Etihad since 2015.
At the bottom of the table, Nottingham Forest will host Crystal Palace in a must-win game after dropping into the relegation zone due to a four-point deduction.
Meanwhile, relegation-threatened Luton will face a tough test away at Tottenham Hotspur.
The outcomes of these matches will have a significant impact on the team’s momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Here, we have ten main points to keep an eye on in this weekend’s Premier League matches.
Arsenal v Manchester City; can the apprentice beat his master?
Last season, Arsenal suffered a heavy defeat to Manchester City which crushed their title hopes. However, they seem more competitive this season, especially in big games.
Both Arsenal and City have injury concerns following the international break but are likely to field strong lineups.
If Arsenal win at City’s Etihad Stadium, it will mark Arteta’s first victory over Guardiola at the venue since leaving his coaching role at City in 2019.
Arteta is likely to defeat his boss as he secured a win over Guardiola earlier this season, ending Pep’s previous winning streak in their Premier League encounters.
A win for Arsenal would see them extend their lead over City by four points at the top of the table.
Kick-off time is 4:30 pm.
Liverpool v Brighton; Will Klopp finally defeat De Zerbi?
Jurgen Klopp’s final season continues as Liverpool faces Brighton. The Liverpool boss will be aiming to secure his first victory over Roberto De Zerbi.
Liverpool’s last victory over Brighton occurred two years ago when Graham Potter was the head coach.
Since De Zerbi took over, Brighton had kept Klopp winless in four matches leaving Klopp with a record of two losses and two draws against the Italian manager.
Kick-off time is 2:00 pm.
Man Utd v Brentford; Ten Hag is out to prove United’s victory against Liverpool wasn’t a fluke.
In a thrilling match last time out, Manchester United secured a place in the Wembley FA Cup semi-finals with a dramatic 121st-minute winner from Amad Diallo against their rivals.
Returning to Brentford’s Gtech Stadium for the first time since a tough 4-0 defeat last season, the Dutchman knows that a win against the Bees is crucial.
He must prove that the FA Cup heroics were no fluke and relieve the growing pressure on his job, as United still lag behind Tottenham by six points in the race for the last Champions League spot.
Kick-off time is 9:00 pm.
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace; How will Forest react to points penalty?
Forest have been pushed into the relegation zone after being deducted four points for breaking Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Despite appealing the punishment, Nuno Espírito Santo is determined to lead his side to victory against Crystal Palace on Saturday to climb out of the danger zone.
The match will kick off at 4:00 pm.
Last chance for Sheffield United to avoid relegation
Sheffield United are facing their last chance to avoid relegation as they currently sit at the bottom of the table, eight points adrift from safety with just 10 games remaining.
Their recent 6-0 loss to Arsenal at Bramall Lane highlights the struggles they have faced this season.
To have any hope of staying up, Chris Wilder’s team must start by earning crucial points against Fulham at home. They will then face tough matches against Liverpool and Chelsea, making it vital for them to turn things around quickly.
Kick-off time is 4:00 pm.
Can Luton take advantage of their rivals’ uncertainty?
With Forest’s points deduction, they have moved out of the relegation zone without even playing a game.
Luton now find themselves situated between Forest and Everton, who are also facing sanctions and are ahead by just three points.
This weekend, Luton will visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they have an opportunity to make the most of the situation and earn some vital points.
Kick-off time is 4:00 pm.
Aston Villa v Wolves; Watkins has the potential to spark Aston Villa’s push for a top-four finish.
Despite a standout season with 26 goal contributions, he missed out on a spot in the England Euro 2024 squad during the international break.
However, a strong performance against Wolves in the upcoming West Midlands derby could further solidify his case for a call-up and help Villa in their quest for Champions League qualification under the guidance of Emery.
Kick-off for the match is 6:30 pm.
West Ham are aiming to re-enter the European competition
The Hammers are on the verge to re re-enter the European competition with a victory over Newcastle.
West Ham United have a solid track record in the North East, with just one loss in their last five visits.
Eddie Howe guided Newcastle to a top-four finish last season, but their current campaign may falter if they do not secure a win on Saturday.
A loss could push them as far down as 12th in the standings, while a win could propel them past Wolves and Brighton in the race for a European spot.
The match will take off at 1:30 pm.
Bournemouth v Everton; Everton out for first league win of 2024
Everton are eager to secure their first league victory of 2024 as they continue to push for points to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Despite a six-point penalty earlier in the season for their PSR breach, they are currently four points away from the danger zone as they prepare for a challenging match at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth vs Everton match is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
Burnley can put a rare unbeaten run together
Burnley are aiming to maintain their rare unbeaten run as they head to Stamford Bridge, 5 points away from safety with only 9 games remaining in the season.
Despite only having gathered 17 points so far, a recent victory over Brentford has given Vincent Kompany’s team hope of extending their unbeaten streak to three games for the first time this season.
On the other hand, Chelsea sit comfortably in 11th place with little left to play for in the league.
Mauricio Pochettino is now focusing on winning the FA Cup, as he looks to secure his first piece of silverware in England.
The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 30, with kick-off set at 4:00 pm.
