Premier League Gameweek 26 Preview
The Premier League is back this Saturday with a full day of thrilling fixtures. We`ve picked 2 games that we`ll be keeping an eye on this Saturday.
Manchester United return to Old Trafford after 2 games on the road. The Red Devils have enjoyed a strong run of form in the Premier League, with the 2-1 victory at Kenilworth Road marking their 5th Premier League game without a defeat, with 4 consecutive victories, and they are just 3 points away from the Top 5. Although things are looking bright for United, a few things suggest they`re in for a challenging afternoon in London. The Red Devils have kept just 2 clean sheets in their last 10 Premier League games, and with injuries to Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez, they`re even more vulnerable at the back. 4 of their last 5 meetings ended with both teams finding the back of the net, so we expect Fulham to ask questions about United's backline.
Fulham go into the game sitting in 12th place on the Premier League table, 9 points clear of relegation. They`ve won just 3 of their last 10 Premier League fixtures, with the recent 2-1 defeat to a shaky Aston Villa outfit. Their away form, however, is the biggest sign that they`re unlikely to walk away from Old Trafford with 3 points – the Cottagers have won just 1 game on the road this season, which was their first one against Everton. They`re currently 12 games without a victory away from home. Manchester United has already secured a 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage and has not lost to Fulham in the Premier League since 2009. With both sides leaky at the back, we expect both teams to score on Saturday, but ultimately, with their high-scoring form, Manchester United to win.
Arsenal return to the Premier League after a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Porto in the Champions League. They have, however, enjoyed a superb run of form, having won 5 consecutive EPL games, scoring a total of 21 goals over 5 games, and conceding just 2. They`re just 5 points away from Liverpool in 1st and do enjoy an Emirates fixture as they`ve lost just 1 this season, drew 2 and won 9. Their latest home game was against Liverpool, where they won 3-1, suggesting they have more than enough in their Arsenal to go against Newcastle. The Gunners have also avoided a defeat to Newcastle at the Emirates since 2010. Winning 11 consecutive fixtures before a 0-0 draw last season.
Newcastle go into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth and are currently sitting 8th on the Premier League table. Newcastle have not been strong on the road this season, having won just 3 of their 12 away games in the Premier League this season, although leading up to their trip to Arsenal they`ve broken a 5-game winless streak on the road with 2 consecutive victories against Villa and Nottingham Forest. They are facing a big problem against a high-scoring Arsenal side, as Howe`s men have gone without a clean sheet in the last 8 games in the English top flight. Although Newcastle beat Arsenal 1-0 in the reverse fixture, both sides had a change of form and currently, considering Arsenal`s form against Newcastle at home and current forms, it is hard to look past them as the winners. We do expect a close game, with under 2.5 goals, but ultimately Arsenal to walk away with the 3 points.