Premier League Matchday 25 Preview: Derby Day at Anfield, Manchester City Take on Arsenal and Much More

After a busy week of European football, Premier League action returns over the weekend. Heading into Matchday 25, Manchester City are at the top of the league table, on the back of 12 back-to-back wins in the English top-flight.

Manchester United and Leicester City are playing catchup with the Cityzens at second and third place respectively while reigning champions have fallen 16 points behind. The Merseyside derby at Anfield is the highlight of the gameweek, while West Ham United's game at Tottenham should also make for an interesting watch.

Here is our rundown of all the action that awaits us in the Premier League Matchday 25:

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Leeds United

Wolverhampton Wanderers get the proceedings of the matchweek underway at the Molineux Stadium where they host Leeds United on Friday night. The two teams are separated by just two points in the league table

Last Results:

Wolves secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Southampton in their last outing. It was the club's second win in three games.
Leeds fell 4-2 to Arsenal, thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's first hat-trick in the Premier League.

Head-to-Head:

In the 98 meetings between the two sides, Leeds have the upper hand and currently lead the head-to-head record 42-34. 22 games in this fixture have ended in a draw. Wolves are on a four-game winning streak against The Peacocks.

What This Could Mean:

Even if the hosts secure a win here, that won't be enough to bring them back in the top 10. The mid-table is getting very crowded at the moment, so the three points will come in very handy for them.
Leeds can move into the the top 10 with a win here but only if Arsenal, currently in the 10th place drop points.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Wolves: Jonny, Raul Jimenez, Wily Boly, Daniel Podence

Leeds: Adam Forshaw, Gaetano Berardi, Robin Koch, Ian Poveda-Ocampo, Mateusz Klich, Diego Llorente, Kalvin Phillips, Rodrigo Moreno

Player to Watch:

Patrick Bamford - The striker has been in fine form for Leeds this season and is their top scorer at the moment. He has 12 goals and five assists this term and after drawing a blank against Arsenal last time around, he will be looking to get back to scoring ways.

Prediction: 2-1 win for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Southampton vs Chelsea

Southampton welcome Chelsea to the St. Mary's Stadium on Saturday. The hosts desperately need a win here but face a resurgent Blues who've started playing really well under new manager Thomas Tuchel.

Last Result:

The Saints suffered their sixth defeat in a row in their last outing, as they gave away a one-goal lead against Wolves.

The Blues made it four wins on the spin under Tuchel as they went on to record a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle United last week.

Head-to-Head:

There have been 107 meetings between the two sides across all competitions so far. The hosts trail 31-46 in the head-to-head record but did not lose against the London-based outfit last season. The teams have also played 30 draws between them.

What This Could Mean:

The hosts, once at the top of the table have continued their fall in the standings and are currently in the 13th place. A win here would see them get back to winning ways but still, they'll remain in the bottom half of the table.

Chelsea are on track to record five wins in a row. They have reached fourth place in the standings and if they win here they will be able to keep the pressure on Manchester United and Leicester City above them in the league standings.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Southampton: William Smallbone, Michael Obafemi, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ibrahima Diallo, Theo Walcott, Alexandre Jankewitz

Chelsea: Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz, Tammy Abraham

Player to Watch:

Timo Werner - The German international scored his first goal in over 1000 minutes in his last outing and has found his feet under Tuchel. He has a lot of talent and under the proper guidance, he can be one of the best strikers in the Premier League.

Prediction: 0-2 win for Chelsea.

Burnley vs West Bromwich Albion

Burnley and West Bromwich Albion clash at the Turf Moor on Saturday. The two clubs from the bottom quarter of the table will be looking to get back to winning ways here.

Last Result:

The hosts were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham in their previous outing. It was their second draw in three Premier League games.

West Brom also played a 1-1 draw against Manchester United, with Bruno Fernandes cancelling out Mbaye Diagne's second-minute opener.

Head-to-Head:

The two clubs have squared off 132 time across all competitions. Currently, the visitors lead 56-46 in these meetings while 30 games have ended in a draw.

What This Could Mean:

The Clarets are safe from the drop zone with 27 points, so a win or loss does not make much of a difference for them.

The Baggies are six-points behind Fulham in the relegation zone, so a win is a must for them if they want to climb out of the drop zone soon.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Burnley: Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Matej Vydra, Robbie Brady, Dale Stephens, Erik Pieters, Chris Wood

West Brom: Grady Diangana

Player to Watch:

Ashley Barnes - The Austrian striker is currently the senior most striker in the ranks at Burnley. In absence of Chris Wood, he is expected to step up and deliver for Sean Dyche.

Prediction: 1-0 win for Burnley

Liverpool vs Everton

The biggest game of the week takes place at Anfield on Saturday night. The Merseyside derby is always a promising fixture, but The Reds have been the dominant side in it recently. A lengthy injury list and struggles with form have given Everton a chance to get the better of their rivals this time around.

Last Result:

Liverpool were thrashed 3-1 by Leicester City in their last Premier League fixture but they bounced back well in the Champions League, winning 2-0 against RB Leipzig.

The Toffees suffered a shock 2-0 home loss to Fulham, which was their second loss in a row.

Head-to-Head:

This will be the 289th edition of the Merseyside derby. In their 288 meetings so far, Liverpool have been the dominant side and lead 121-82 in wins. 85 games have ended in a draw. Everton haven't won against Liverpool since 2010.

What This Could Mean:

Liverpool are currently sixth in the standings and Everton seventh, just three points behind the reigning champions. Unless West Ham drop points, The Reds will stay in the same position even after a win.

Everton too will stay in the same position after a win, as Liverpool have an advantage in terms of goal difference over them.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Liverpool: Joe Gomez, Naby Keita, Virgil van Dijk, James Milner, Fabio Tavares, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip

Everton: Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Yerry Mina

Player to Watch:

Mo Salah - The Egyptian winger has been one of the most consistent forwards in the Premier League since joining Liverpool. His consistency has been key to Liverpool's exploits in front of the goal this season as well. He is currently the leading goalscorer in the league with 17 goals and given his form, he is expected to add a goal or two to his tally here.

Prediction: 1-1 draw

Fulham vs Sheffield United

In the bottom-of-the-table clash, Fulham host Sheffield United at the Craven Cottage.

Last Result:

Fulham avoided a defeat for the third game straight in the Premier League against Burnley last time around.

The Blades suffered their 19th defeat of the season in their previous Premier League fixture. They were defeated 3-0 by West Ham United.

Head-to-Head:

The two sides have clashed 68 times across all competitions so far. Sheffield currently lead 30-22 in these meetings while 16 games have ended in a draw.

What This Could Mean:

The clubs have 13 and 11 points after 24 games in the Premier League this season. For both clubs, a win here is not enough to take them out of the relegation zone but will go a long way in helping boost their morale.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Fulham: Tom Cairney, Aleksandar Mitrovic

Sheffield: John Fleck, Jack O'Connell, Sander Berge, John Egan, Jack Robinson

Player to Watch:

Josh Maja - The 22-year-old player single-handedly gave his side a win over Everton last week, scoring twice on his full debut for the club and has the ability to deliver match-winning performances going forward.

Prediction: 2-0 win for Fulham

West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur

In-form West Ham United take on London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in their upcoming Premier League fixture.

Last Results:

The Hammers secured a comfortable 3-0 win over bottom-placed Sheffield in their last outing, making it their three wins in last five games.

Spurs fell 3-0 to runaway leaders Manchester City and fell down to ninth place in the league standings.

Head-to-Head:

The two London based clubs have faced each other 215 times across all competitions. Spurs lead 98-64 in the head-to-head record, while 53 games have ended in a draw.

What This Could Mean:

The hosts are on level with Chelsea in the table and to keep their top-four hopes alive, they need a win here. A loss here could see them drop to sixth place.

Spurs have lost four of their last five league games, while they will remain in the top 10 should they lose here, a win could see them go as high as seventh in the standing.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Spurs: Giovani Lo Celso, Serge Aurier, Sergio Reguilon

West Ham: Arthur Masuaku, Darren Randolph, Andriy Yarmolenko, Angelo Ogbonna, Fabian Balbuena

Player to Watch:

Harry Kane - The English forward has 13 goals and 11 assists to his name so far this campaign. Though he has not been as active this year as he was in 2020, he is still the club's best attacker out there. His understanding with Son Hueng-min will be key as Jose Mourinho looks to put a poor run of form behind.

Prediction: 2-0 win for Spurs

Aston Villa vs Leicester City

Third-placed Leicester City will travel to Villa Park in this weekend's Premier League action to take on eight-placed Aston Villa. The game will take place on Sunday evening.

Last Result:

Villa played a goalless draw against Brighton in their last fixture.

The Foxes secured an emphatic 3-1 win over Liverpool in their previous outing, as they came back from behind to score three goals in the last 12 minutes of the game.

Head-to-Head:

There have been 103 meetings between the two sides across all competitions so far. Villa have 35 wins to their name while 43 games have gone Leicester's way. 25 games in this fixture have ended in a draw.

What This Could Mean:

Villa have 36 points to their name and in the best case scenario can move up to seventh place in the standings. The worst-case is that they'll drop to the 10th position.

Leicester are third in the league only behind Manchester United on goal difference, they can go to the second place if they win and United drop points.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Villa: Wesley, Kortney Hause, Matty Cash

Leicester: Dennis Praet, Wesley Fofana, Ayoze Perez, Timothy Castagne, James Justin, Wes Morgan

Player to Watch:

James Maddison - The English midfielder has hit form at the right moment for The Foxes. He has seven goals and five assists to his name for the campaign and has build a good partnership with Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes in the final third.

Prediction: 1-2 win for Leicester

Arsenal vs Manchester City

Just a few seasons ago, this match would've been a must watch for all the Premier League fans, but given the contrasting form of the two sides, it seems there's only one possible outcome from this Sunday night fixture.

Last Result:

The Gunners recorded a comprehensive 4-2 win over Leeds United thanks to Aubameyang's individual brilliance, as the striker scored the first hat-trick of his Premier League career last week.

City continued their red-hot streak across all competitions and made it 12 wins on the spin in the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Everton.

Head-to-Head:

The two clubs have squared off 122 times across all competitions. Despite City's recent dominance, Arsenal lead 98-59 in the head-to-head record. 45 games have ended in a draw. Arsenal only have one win to their name in the last 10 meetings with City came in the FA Cup semi-final in July.

What This Could Mean:

With their win Arsenal moved into the top 10. They need at least a draw here to retain their place in the upper half of the table.

City have opened up a 10-point gap at the top of the table and can tighten their grip on the top spot with another win here.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Arsenal: Thomas Partey
City: Nathan Ake, Ilkay Gundogan

Player to Watch:

Raheem Sterling - Though Sterling has not hit the heights of his last three season for the club yet, he still is one of their key players on the pitch and has been involved in 13 goals so far. His pace and eye for the goal make him a menace for the Arsenal defenders, who've conceded six goals in their last six games.

Prediction: 1-3 win for City.

Manchester United vs Newcastle United

In Sunday's last game in the Premier League Manchester United play hosts to 17th-placed Newcastle United.

Last Result:

Manchester United were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw in their previous outing by West Brom. The Baggies got their goal just two minutes after the kick-off but Bruno Fernandes pulled one back for them just before half-time.

Newcastle suffered a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, which was their third defeat in their last five league games.

Head-to-Head:

The two clubs have faced each other 170 times across all competitions. As one would expect the Red Devils have the upper hand in this fixture and lead 88-43 in wins. 39 games between the two sides have ended in a draw.

What This Could Mean:

The hosts are second in the standings behind city rivals Manchester City. They are on level with Leicester with respect to points, hence need a win to keep themselves in the second position.

The Magpies are in the 17th-place but six points clear of 18th-placed Fulham, so even after a defeat they'll remain in the safe zone.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Manchester United: Phil Jones, Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Donny van de Beek

Newcastle: Callum Wilson, Fabian Schar, Javi Manquillo, Federico Fernandez, Jeff Hendrick

Player to Watch:

Bruno Fernandes- The Portuguese midfielder is expected to create or score goals in United's every outing nowadays and he rarely lets his team-mates down. He has played all 24 games for the club in the Premier League. He has scored 14 goals so far and also has nine assists to his name.

Prediction: 3-1 win for Manchester United.

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace

The weekend's final Premier League fixture will be played on Monday night at The Amex, where Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Crystal Palace.

Last Results:

The Seagulls were held to a goalless draw by Aston Villa, which was their second consecutive draw in the league. They are unbeaten in their last six games.

Palace lost 3-0 at home to Burnley and have four losses in their last six outings.

Head-to-Head:

There have been 104 meetings across all competitions between the two sides. The two sides have been evenly matched in this fixture, as Brighton have a slight 40-37 lead in the head-to-head record. 27 games between the two sides have ended in a draw.

What This Could Mean:

The hosts can reach on level with Palace if they win here, a loss could see them drop to the 17th-place.

The Eagles can go up to the 13th place in the best case scenario but a loss here could see them drop to the 16th place.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Brighton: Florin Andone, Jose Izquierdo, Tariq Lamptey, Solomon March, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Adam Webster

Palace: Nathan Ferguson, Wayne Hennessey, Connor Wickham, Martin Kelly, James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho, Jeffrey Schlupp, Wilfried Zaha, James McArthur, James McCarthy

Player to Watch:

Neal Maupay - The top scorer for the hosts, Maupay has found the back of the net seven times this term. In this fixture, the hosts take on Palace, who've conceded 13 goals in their last six outings. He should be able to provide some spark in the final third n this fixture.

Prediction: 2-1 win for Brighton

Stats courtesy int.soccerway.com, transfermarkt.com and whoscored.com