Top Match Round-up: Crucial Clashes at Both Ends in the Premier League

With matters intensifying at both ends of the Premier League table, we look at five games to watch out for in gameweek 33.

West Ham vs Arsenal - Saturday, 12:45 KO

In what is a huge London derby, there’s plenty of pressure on both sides to pick up all three points, with West Ham still hopeful of an historic Champions League finish and Arsenal not giving up on the title just yet. Defeat to the Hammers in Saturday’s early kick-off would all but end any feint hopes of a tilt for the Gunners, with Slaven Bilic’s side now on the longest unbeaten home run of any side in the Premier League all season (13). Meanwhile, Arsenal will be out for revenge from their opening day defeat, and with a draw not really suiting either team this should be a cracker.

Crystal Palace vs Norwich - Saturday, 15:00 KO

At the opposite end of the table Norwich have a fantastic chance of moving a huge step closer to securing their survival, and a win at Palace this weekend would see them join Pardew’s struggling side on 34 points, drawing the Eagles firmly into the relegation battle in the process. The hosts’ 14 game winless streak is now joint with Serie A outfit Atalanta as the fourth worst in Europe’s top 5 leagues all season, with the Londoners falling from fifth to fifth bottom in the Premier League since the turn of the year.

Aston Villa vs Bournemouth - Saturday, 15:00 KO

If Norwich were to win at Selhurst Park on Saturday, Aston Villa would be all but doomed. Indeed, failure to at least match if not better Alex Neil’s side’s result this weekend would see the Villans relegated for the first time in the Premier League era. Times have changed a great deal since the Midlands outfit won the reverse fixture against Bournemouth in August, and while the Cherries have lost back-to-back league matches, they’ve not fallen to three consecutive defeats in the top-flight since mid-November.

Sunderland vs Leicester - Sunday, 13:30 KO

Sunday’s action kicks off with what may prove to be a massive game at either end of the table. Four consecutive draws have kept Sunderland’s survival hopes alive but a fifth may not be enough if results go against them on Saturday. Leicester, meanwhile, know that they could move 10 points clear at the top, if only for a short while, and take a leap towards a fairytale title. With four consecutive clean sheets, Ranieri’s men have switched tack and are now just two away from Southampton’s record set at the start of the year.

Tottenham vs Manchester United - Sunday, 16:00 KO

In what could be yet another decisive game for both sides on display, Tottenham will be desperate to keep their title hopes alive with what would be a first home win in the league over United since 2001. The White Hart Lane meeting pips the league’s two tightest defences against one another, with Harry Kane aiming to score in five consecutive league matches for the first time this season to strengthen his hold in the race for the Golden Boot (22 goals so far).