Leicester City vs Stock City
King Power Stadium
Sat, 03:30pm
Referee: Micheal Oliver
Stock who poss the worst away record in the division having picked up only six points on the road travel to the king power, two points adrift of survival.
The Potters will be welcoming back defender Bruno Martins Indi after three games out with a muscular injury but they will still be without striker Peter Crouch and midfielder Stephen Ireland.
On the other side, Leicester have seen their fortunes change for the best ever since Claud Puel joined them midway the first round of the league and go into the fixture on Saturday seating comfortably in 8th position on the log despite the fact that they are only nine points away from they relegation zone.
The Foxes have Ryad Mahrez back in their ranks after the Algerian came to terms with the fact that Leicester is his team up to the end of the season at least. Puel will be backing on the 2016 African footballer of the year to make things happen for his side that have not won any of their last three games in the league including a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of leaders Manchester City in their last outing.
The Foxes how ever will still be without Shinji Okazaki who has a knee injury but will be welcoming back captain Wes Morgan who last played in the league on New year’s day as he has been struggling with a hamstring problem.
Stock know what a task awaits them on Saturday as they have won only once in their last 29 visits to the King Power and have not tested victory over Leicester in any of the two clubs’ last five meetings in the league.
Bournemouth vs Newcastle United
Vitality Stadium
Sat, 06:00pm
Referee: Roger East
Bournemouth are boosted by the return to fitness of star striker Jermain Defeo after overcoming an Ankle injury but Tyron Mings will not be available as he has failed to shake off a back problem.
Their Visitors Newcastle United have center back Cirian Clark available this weekend as he has recovered from a knee injury. January signing Islam Slimani will be subject to late fitness while Jesus Gamez remains out with an Ankle injury.
No home team has won this fixture in top flight history as the all three games have seen away victories.
Bournemouth and Newcastle are both still not safe as they are five and two points away from relegation respectively.
Rafeal Benitez’s Newcastle won their first game in six against Manchester united two weeks ago and the Magpies will hope that victory can inspire them against the Terriers.
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Swansea City
American Express Community Stadium
Sat: 06:00pm
Referee: Micheal Lesile Dean
Two of the most inform teams in the relegation battle will face of at the American Express stadium on Saturday. Both have not tested defeat in any of their last five competitive fixtures winning three and drawing the other two.
The Visitors Swansea have Portuguese manager Carlos Carvalhal to thank for their sudden resurgence as he has seen them lose only one game in the 11 he has been in charge and subsequently propelled them from the bottom of the league to 16th for now.
The Swans will have to do without the services of several first team players including Leroy Fer, Wilfred Bony, Angel Rangel, Wilfred Bony and Leon Britton who are all still out injured. The only positive news from the treatment room for them is the return of defender Alfie Mowson who has over come a knee injury and is set to feature.
Brighton on the other hand have fewer injuries to think about as only Steve Sidwell, Jiri Skalak and Isaiah Brown are still injured. Goalkeeper Tim Krul is back after a lengthy lay off with a neck injury.
Brighton have not lost a home fixture against a team in the bottom half since the start of the season and will surely fancy their chances against a Swansea team who have won only twice away from home in the current campaign.
Burnely vs Southampton
Turf Moor
Sat: 06:00pm
Referee: Robert Madley
Burnely are currently enduring their worst form in the top flight having failed to win any of their last 10 games losing five and drawing five in the process.
Sean Dych’s men who at one point looked to be aiming for a spot in Europe now look more of a relegation zone team despite seating 10 points above the drop.
Their visitors on Saturday, Southampton, progressed to the last eight in the FA Cup last weekend and have lost only one of their last four league games and now seat a point from safety.
Burnely have several absentees for this one with Tom Heaton, Rob Brady, Steven Defour and Jonathan Walters all still out. James Tarkowski, Phil Bardsley, Scot Arfield, Dean Many and Chris Wood are all back in training and it remains to be seen if they will feature.
The Saints are also still without Steven Davis, Maya Yoshida, Shane Long and Steven Davis but Sofiane Bafoul back for this one after shaking off a knock.
Burnely defeated Southampton 1-0 at the start of the season, the only away win in this fixture since April 2008 when the Clarets where again victorious at the St. Mays.
A home team has won six of the last seven games in this fixture and looking at the current form, an away victory will be the most likely despite Southampton winning only two on the road this season.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Anfield
Sat: 06:00pm
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Liverpool head into Saturday’s home game against West Ham with a chance of going into second spot, as they trail Manchester United by two points and the Red Devils don’t play until Sunday.
Liverpool who have not lost in the league at home since April 2017 will be beaming with confidence as they have all but progressed to the quarter finals of the champions league after a convincing 5-0 away to Portuguese side FC Porto last week.
The Reds have only one absentee for this one as Nathaniel Clyn remains out despite fully recovering from a back injury and starting to train. Jurgen Klopp insisted in his pre-match press conference that the right back is still miles away from match fitness.
West ham who are still without left back Arthur Maswaku as he continues his six match suspension will also not be with Pedro Obiang, Andy Carroll and Edmilson Fernandez who are all out injured. The Hammers will in turn be welcoming back Winston Reid and Manuel Lanzini after they both recovered from their respective injuries.
With Muhammad Salah in the form of his life as he has 22 goals in the league this season and West Ham winning only one game at Anfield in 55 years, Jurgen Klopp and his team will surely be fancying their chances in this one.
West Bromwich Albion vs Huddersfield Town
Hawthorns
Sat: 06:00pm
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Bottom side West Brom host a Huddersfield Town side that seats only a point above relegation.
This is a relegation three pointer in whichever aspect one would want to look at it and neither of the two sides would want to walk away with zero points come the sound of the final whistle.
West Brom have Jack Livermoore, Kierran Gibbs and Hal Robson Kanu returning for this one but Daniel Sturridge, James Morrison and Nacer Chadli are all still side lined with injuries.
Huddersfield will have Chris Lowe returning from injury, Aaron Mooy will be subject to late fitness and the trio of Elias Kacunga, Jon Stankovic and Sean Scannell are all not expected to take part.
West Brom are in some terrible form having won only one of their last 25 league fixture with the sole win coming at the start of January in a 2-0 victory over Brighton.
Relegation is staring in the eyes of Allan Perdew’s men and need to start getting results as soon as possible.
Huddersfield have won only one of their 12 away fixtures since their opening day win at Crystal Palace.
This will be the first time West Brom host Huddersfield in the top flight in 46 years.
Huddersfield won 1-0 at the start of the season and Brom will be eyeing sweet revenge which may ignite their bid for survival.
Watford vs Everton
Vicarage Road
Sat: 08:30pm
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Heurelho Gomes, Miguel Britos, Will Hughes and Kiko Femenía are back in training for Watford after injuries, while Stefano Okaka will be considered.However, Younes Kaboul, Christian Kabasele, Tom Cleverley and Nathaniel Chalobah are all still sidelined.
Everton’s Eliaquim Mangala could be out for the season with a knee injury, and Seamus Coleman will likely miss out.Leighton Baines might be involved for the first time since suffering a calf injury in November.
Everton have lost just two of their last 24 matches against Watford in all competitions (W19, D3) and Watford’s only victory in nine Premier League meetings came at Vicarage Road in December 2016.This 10th Premier League fixture between the clubs will have the 11th and 12th different managers in charge.
The Hornets have lost four matches in the Premier League from leading positions this season, more than any other side, including against Everton in the reverse fixture, when they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2.Watford are looking to win consecutive home Premier League games for the first time since April 2017.
