EPL: Arsenal v Luton
In a sporting metaphor where size does not matter, the Gunners, the big guns of the English Premier League, have to battle it out against Luton Town, the team struggling to maintain their place in the league, at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal will surely aim to make up for last week’s draw with Manchester City, and therefore this Thursday they must get a win.
Bukayo Saka is expected to play despite a minor injury, while defender Jurrien Timber will remain out. Unlike Luton Town, Burnley FC’s current status is less than ideal. Their most recent game, a loss to Tottenham, has brought them further closer to the relegation zone. Their games, particularly those against the best teams away from Arsenal, stand out since they show the team is likely to win. Luton’s situation worsens when many of their players are injured, making it tougher to win.
EPL: Brentford v Brighton
Brentford are trying to turn the tide after seven league games without a win, and getting the much-needed victory remains their priority. They will be hoping to finish the job by breaking the unwanted streak against Brighton on Wednesday evening. A last-minute goal from Ajer did just that a few days ago, securing a draw against Manchester United, but they now need a victory to pull away from the bottom of the table. A major concern keeps them busy; they will be playing without Reguilon, whose suspension comes on top of injuries to the likes of Norgaard and Mee.
Brighton lost to Liverpool with a breakthrough and haven’t done well on the road recently. They have lost four out of their last five games away from home, and so for Brentford, this may represent an opportunity to get all three points. But on the other hand, Brighton is going to miss some of their top players too—March and Mitoma, to be exact. So with both sides fighting one another, this will be quite a difficult and unpredictable game.
EPL: Man City v Aston Villa
This coming Wednesday, Manchester City will host Villa at the Etihad Stadium. The defending champions, City, will try to shrug off a draw against Arsenal, which was not a successful result. On the other side, Aston Villa is on the verge of success after a convincing win against Wolves and currently sits safely in fourth place.
City will take on the challenge of cashing in the fact that they have not lost on their home ground (a 13-game winning streak) to Villa during the history of their meeting. On the other hand, Villa have an excellent away record this season; their aim will be mainly to strengthen their margin in the race for fourth place. Both sides are eagerly fighting for the needed points in this match; therefore, it won’t be just another game for the Premier League fans.
EPL: Liverpool v Sheff Utd
Liverpool are in pole position currently after their victory over Brighton, capitalizing on the Gunners draw against City. As the season will soon be over and Jurgen Klopp is moving on, the Reds are just as keen to give him the winning championship trophy as a perfect farewell present.
Liverpool’s opponents this midweek are Sheffield United, who are at the bottom of the table. Unlike the Blades, whose match would be an upset, Liverpool, with the league’s second-best offense, is well favored. Together with teammates Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah is set to expose the already shaky defense of Sheffield United. The Blades have a pretty poor record against Liverpool, getting it wrong in most of their encounters.
History suggests a resounding victory for Liverpool, who are eager to maintain their current position.
EPL: Chelsea v Man Utd
The matchup between Chelsea and Manchester United will determine which team will advance closer to Champions League qualification. Chelsea, who are now in 11th place, had to win the match to stay away from the relegation zone next to the top seven. Manchester United, in the sixth position, are also facing challenges; now failure will not be an option.
Two weak defenses can become a feast for the best scorers of both teams and lead to a high-scoring game. Chelsea are expected to count on the combination of Palmer and Jackson, while United will rely on Rashford and Hojlund. Surprisingly, Chelsea has had a bad history with United in the last few years, losing the last two games and winning just one of 14 match-ups. There is a high expectation of instant success from both sides in this go-or-break match.