The Premier League continues to thrill fans around the world and week 29 is unlikely to be any different, writes DEAN WORKMAN. Here are five things to expect from this weekend’s Premier League action.
1. City to add to Conte’s misery
In what is undoubtedly the pick of week 29’s action, high-flyers Manchester City take on Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in what promises to be an action-packed encounter. Antonio Conte’s men are in the middle of a tough run of fixtures which includes a two-legged Champions League encounter with Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola’s men, on the other hand, head into the clash following their Carabao Cup success (a 3-0 win against Arsenal), which they repeated in the Premier League five days later. Although Conte is expected to set his team up to be difficult to beat, a speciality of any Italian manager, expect City’s attacking threat to be too much for the Blues to handle over the 90 minutes. Another victory for Guardiola and his team is expected, which will pile more pressure on an already under-fire Conte and Chelsea.
2. Liverpool to put Newcastle to the sword
Free-scoring Liverpool will face Newcastle United this weekend at Anfield in what has historically been a high scoring and entertaining fixture. The Reds go into this game as the league’s second-highest goal scorers, with only Man City having scored more.
Jurgen Klopp’s side head into the clash having scored four goals last time out against West Ham United. Rafael Benitez’s men, however, go into the game sitting just two points above the dreaded drop zone, having thrown away a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 against Bournemouth last week.
Although Benitez is a tactically astute manager, expect Jurgen Klopp’s men to have too much quality for a toothless Newcastle team, and walk away as comfortable winners.
3. Swansea and West Ham to fire blanks
Having dropped back into the bottom three after last week’s loss to Brighton, Swansea City host West Ham United at the Liberty Stadium. The Swans looked certain to go down this season, but Carlos Carvalhal’s arrival has breathed new life into their battle against relegation.
The new manager has already masterminded victories over both Liverpool and Arsenal in recent weeks; however, his team still face a tough battle for survival.
West Ham looked to have overcome their early season woes, but one win in their last five matches has seen them drop to 13th position, three points adrift of the relegation zone. With so much on the line, expect both teams to be content to settle for a point apiece.
4. Kane to continue scoring streak
Tottenham Hotspurs take on Huddersfield this weekend at Wembley Stadium and the league’s top scorer, Harry Kane, will be looking to continue his goalscoring form.
Kane has scored twenty-four goals so far this term and is on a run of six goals in six games. Huddersfield have been on the receiving end of some high scores this season including a 4-0 loss to Mauricio Pochettino’s men earlier on in the campaign, where Kane grabbed himself a brace. Expect the Englishman to continue his fine form and get himself a goal at the very least.
5. Draw on the cards for Southampton and Stoke
Southampton host Stoke City this week at the St Mary’s Stadium with both sides firmly placed in the heart of the relegation scrap.
Paul Lambert’s side come into the fixture in the bottom three, while the Saints sit just one point above their opponents in sixteenth place.
Both teams are in this position because of an inability to win games, walking away with only one point on too many occasions throughout the season. Expect another draw to be on the cards for these teams which will keep things extremely tight at the basement end of the Premier League.
-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za
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