Liverpool vs AFC Bournemouth
Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
Saturday, 07-03-2020 @3:30pm
Ref: Paul Tierney
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been ruled out because of a hip injury and will also miss the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid. Midfielder Naby Keita is back in training after a similar problem and could return after a two-match absence.
On-loan Bournemouth winger Harry Wilson is ineligible to face his parent club. Defender Lloyd Kelly might be involved for the first time in the Premier League after finally recovering from ankle and thigh injuries.
Liverpool have won five consecutive Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth, by an aggregate score of 17-0. Each of those wins was by at least three goals – the only team in top-flight history to win by such a margin in six consecutive games against an opponent is Manchester City, versus Wolves, between 1902 and 1905. Bournemouth’s solitary victory in 16 meetings in all competitions came at home in the Premier League in December 2016. Nathan Ake gave them a 4-3 win with a 93rd-minute goal after the Cherries had trailed 2-0 and 3-1.
Liverpool need four victories from their final 10 league games to guarantee a first top-flight title since 1990. The Reds can equal their longest competitive losing streak under Jurgen Klopp: three matches in January 2017. Liverpool have not lost consecutive Premier League fixtures since August to September 2015 under Brendan Rodgers. The league leaders have conceded five goals in their last two league games, as many as in their previous 14 matches. Klopp’s side are on a club Premier League record run of 54 successive home fixtures unbeaten since a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace in April 2017 (W44, D10). They haven’t dropped points at Anfield in 21 league games since a 1-1 draw versus Leicester in January 2019. A win on Saturday would give them the best record of any side after 29 fixtures of a season in Europe’s major leagues. Mo Salah is poised to make his 100th Premier League appearance for Liverpool. He has scored 69 league goals during that time, including seven in five games against Bournemouth.
Arsenal vs West Ham United
Emirates Stadium, London
Saturday, 07-03-2020 @6pm
Ref: Martin Atkinson
West Ham have won just one of the past eight Premier League meetings with Arsenal (D2, L5). Arsenal have earned four successive home victories against West Ham in all competitions, and won eight of their last nine in the Premier League. West Ham have lost 30 Premier League matches against the Gunners, more than they have against any other side.
Arsenal are enjoying the longest current unbeaten run in the top flight, with three wins and four draws in seven games. The Gunners are also looking to win three consecutive league matches in the same season for the first time since February. They have won three of their last four home league fixtures, drawing the other. Arsenal have failed to reach 40 points at this stage of a Premier League season for only the third time. They finished the other two campaigns in 10th and 12th. Mikel Arteta’s side have lost only one of their 14 Premier League fixtures this season against the teams currently in the bottom half of the table. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 49 goals in 74 Premier League games. He could become the 38th player to score 50 league goals for the Gunners, and the fastest since Joe Baker reached the milestone in 62 games in 1963. All six of Alexandre Lacazette’s Premier League goals this season have come at home.
Arsenal will be without midfielder Lucas Torreira, who fractured his ankle in Monday’s FA Cup win over Portsmouth. Cedric Soares should return to training next week after a knee injury, while Kieran Tierney is close to a comeback.
West Ham have no reported new injuries, with midfielder Tomas Soucek in contention after making a quicker than expected recovery from a hip injury. Winger Andriy Yarmolenko is close to a return after a thigh injury, although this game will come too soon for him.
Crystal Palace vs Watford
Selhurst Park, London
Saturday, 07-03-2020 @6pm
Ref: Anthony Taylor
On-loan Crystal Palace forward Cenk Tosun has returned to parent club Everton after suffering a serious knee injury in training. Defender Mamadou Sakho will be assessed after playing for the reserves in his comeback from a thigh problem.
Watford will be without winger Gerard Deulofeu, who ruptured knee ligaments in last Saturday’s win over Liverpool. Defender Daryl Janmaat, who is making good progress after knee surgery, is the Hornets’ only other absentee.
Watford are unbeaten in five matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions (W3, D2). The Hornets have won three of their past five league away fixtures versus Palace, including a 2-1 Premier League victory last season.
Sheffield United vs Norwich City
Bramell Lane, Sheffield
Saturday, 07-03-2020 @6pm
Ref: Simon Hooper
Sheffield United lost both of their previous Premier League home games against Norwich in 1993. Norwich are winless in four league meetings, losing 2-1 at Carrow Road earlier this season. The Blades are looking to record their first league double over Norwich since 1939. They have failed to do so in 28 seasons since.
Sheffield United have a fully-fit squad for the visit of Norwich, with Billy Sharp in contention to start after scoring the winner in the FA Cup fifth round against Reading on Tuesday. Enda Stevens is available after a calf injury, while John Fleck could also return after being rested in midweek.
Norwich defender Christoph Zimmermann is back in training after recovering from a thigh injury. Emiliano Buendia, Teemu Pukki and Alex Tettey are all available.
Southampton vs Newcastle United
St. Mary’s Stadium, Hampshire
Saturday, 07-03-2020 @6pm
Ref: Graham Scot
Southampton’s Moussa Djenepo is set to return after missing last week’s defeat because of a family bereavement. Stuart Armstrong misses out after suffering concussion, while Will Smallbone is sidelined with illness.
Newcastle’s Javi Manquillo, who has just returned from a torn hamstring, was sore after playing 90 minutes twice this week, so he will be assessed. Winger Allan Saint-Maximin should be fit after showing no ill effects on his return from a hamstring problem.
Newcastle are unbeaten in their past five league games against Southampton (W3, D2). However, they have not won at Southampton in six visits (D2, L4). The Magpies are looking to record only their second Premier League double over Southampton, and their first since 2004-05. Southampton have won 15 Premier League matches against Newcastle, more than they have against any other club.
Wolves vs Brighton
Molinuex Stadium, West Midlands
Saturday, 07-03-2020 @6pm
Ref: Andre Mariner
Wolves have won only four of the 31 league meetings (D12, L15). All four of those victories were in the second tier. Brighton are unbeaten in all nine top-flight matches against Wolves (W7, D2).
Wolves winger Adama Traore could feature on Saturday despite sustaining a dislocated shoulder in the win at Tottenham last weekend. Injured pair Jonny Otto and Morgan Gibbs-White have both been ruled out.
Brighton & Hove Albion welcome back defender Shane Duffy, who missed the defeat against Crystal Palace for family reasons. Midfielder Dale Stephens, who has not featured since 1 February, is available after recovering from a groin injury.
Burnley vs Tottenham Hotspur
Turf Moor, Burnley
Saturday, 07-03-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Burnley manager Sean Dyche remains without Ashley Barnes, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Matt Lowton. All three players are closing in on a return, but this match comes too soon.
Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho has said he may need to rest players ahead of their Champions League match in Leipzig on Tuesday.Hugo Lloris is back in training after a groin strain, but Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min are still out.
Burnley’s 5-0 loss in the reverse fixture in December was their joint-biggest margin of defeat in the Premier League. The Clarets ended a run of nine games without a victory against Spurs in all competitions by winning 2-1 at Turf Moor last February. This is the 100th league fixture between the clubs. Spurs have 39 wins to Burnley’s 36, with 24 draws.
Spurs are looking to avoid three consecutive league defeats for the first time since November 2012 under Andre Villas-Boas. Even if they won their remaining 10 league fixtures this campaign they would finish with one point fewer than last season’s tally. Tottenham are 20 points worse off than they were after 28 games of last season, when they took only 11 points from their final 10 league matches. A 2-1 defeat at Burnley in February 2019 began an ongoing run of just three victories in 20 away matches. They have conceded 39 Premier League goals this campaign, equal to last season’s final tally. Spurs have not had a worse defensive record since 2014-15, when they let in 53 goals.
The other Premier League games this weekend.
Sunday, 08-03-2020
-Chelsea vs Everton @5pm
-Man United vs Man City @7:30pm
Monday, 09-03-2020
-Leicester City vs Aston Villa @11pm
