WITH Manchester United having formally confirmed the sale of a minority stake to Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS Group, all eyes will be on the Manchester derby. Ratcliffe has been handed the reins of football operations, and there is much speculation surrounding the future of manager Erik Ten Hag.
A heavy defeat will surely spell the end for the Dutchman who has had a stop-start season thus far, with a home loss to Fulham and progress in the FA Cup preceding this mouth-watering fixture.
Focus M takes a look at the talking points of all the weekend’s English Premier League (EPL) fixtures.
Brentford v Chelsea (Sat, 11pm)
Chelsea’s topsy-turvy season was encapsulated by the results last week – a defeat to Liverpool in the League Cup final was followed by a thrilling win against Leeds United in the other domestic cup competition. Against Liverpool, Chelsea failed to capitalise on their numerous chances, underscoring their need for a genuine striker who will consistently find the back of the net.
Is Ivan Toney the forward to solve that conundrum? He will relish the chance to showcase his abilities at Stamford Bridge as Brentford prepares for a bidding war come the summer transfer window with Arsenal and Manchester United also reportedly interested in securing his services.
Everton v West Ham United (Sat, 11pm)
The home team got a massive lift when the 10-point penalty for financial irregularities was reduced to six upon appeal, lifting Everton five points clear of the drop zone. Sean Dyche’s side desperately needs to regain some form as they are winless in eight and will need to add some points to the board to ensure they do not again get sucked into a relegation scrap.
West Ham will provide a stiff examination as David Moyes looks to pile more misery on his former employers. The Hammers are still in the hunt for a European spot and will feel they can get maximum points at Goodison Park.
Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion (Sat, 11pm)
The home side stunned Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend with a last-gasp winner. Marco Silva will be hoping that the momentum from that result will help the Cottagers climb the table. Constant speculation that manager Roberto De Zerbi is being targeted by a host of big clubs has not helped Brighton as they seek to improve on last season’s sixth-place finish.
The highly-rated Italian coach will be mindful of Brighton’s model of selling its best assets and may want to test his managerial abilities at a more ambitious club, possibly one where Champions League football is on offer.
Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Sat, 11pm)
Just a single point separates the two sides sitting in mid-table. On the home side, ninth place represents comfort and safety. For Newcastle, tenth is not where they want to be, as hopes of Champions League qualification recede by the week.
The Magpies are currently a massive 15 points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth and may miss out on European competition completely unless they start putting points on the board. Questions have again surfaced as to whether Eddie Howe can guide Newcastle to the next level and eventually turn them into title contenders. A win over the Wolves will help silence some doubters, for now.
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool (Sat, 11pm)
The Merseyside outfit is on a high after winning the League Cup and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in the same week. That they did so with a lengthy injury list and a squad filled with teenagers is a testament to Jurgen Klopp’s coaching and tactical acumen.
Whether those youngsters will be able to summon up the stamina for a third game in less than seven days remains to be seen as Klopp sweats on the fitness of key players. The visitors will still be without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and a host of others with long-term injuries, which will give Forest hope that they can snatch a vital home win to steer clear of the drop zone.
Tottenham Hotspurs v Crystal Palace (Sat, 3pm)
As fixtures pile up, Spurs will be relieved at their lack of European football this term as they seek Champions League qualification. They host a Palace side with a new head coach Oliver Glassner in place but are still missing key players due to injury. The home side should have enough firepower to blow away the Eagles especially if talisman striker and captain Son Heung-min are on fire.
Alongside Brazilian Richarlison, Spurs have a formidable strike force that could very well be the difference between Champions League or Europa League qualification next season.
Luton Town v Aston Villa (Sun, 1.30am)
Aston Villa sit in fourth and will want to cement their grip on Champions League qualification, with Spurs and Manchester United in hot pursuit. Unai Emery will believe that his team will be too good for a Luton team mired in a relegation scrap but will be wary of home advantage lifting the Hatters’ spirits.
Luton will want to make amends after shifting six against Manchester City in the FA Cup in midweek. They will need to keep Ollie Watkins quiet lest he follow Eerling Haaland’s example in bagging five goals against them. It is extremely fluid at the bottom end of the table, with point deductions possibly defining the season for those battling relegation.
Burnley v Bournemouth (Sunday, 9pm)
Bournemouth are winless in eight games and will be desperate to pick up some points to try to climb into the top half of the table. Burnley looks destined for the drop unless Vincent Kompany can engineer a miraculous turnaround. Nine points adrift of safety, Burnley need to start grinding out results from the remaining dozen matches.
It is all very well and fine to try to play attractive football and to stick to attacking principles, but it is that time of the season where every point matters. Endeavour will matter more at this stage and the home side must capitalise on the Cherries’ recent poor form.
Manchester City v Manchester United (Sun, 11.30pm)
The weekend’s plum tie is the Manchester derby, with the home side in hot pursuit of table-toppers Liverpool. Eerling Haaland who scored five goals against Luton in the midweek FA Cup tie against Luton will definitely fancy his chances against a makeshift United defence. The visitors are missing Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Aaron Wan-Bisaka and will be wary of the Norwegian goal machine replicating his hat-trick performance last season.
A heavy defeat could be the final nail in the coffin for Erik Ten Hag as Manchester United look forward to a new era under Jim Ratcliffe’s stewardship. A draw would not be a bad result for the beleaguered Dutch coach.
Sheffield United v Arsenal (Tues, 4am)
Arsenal have been in great form recently, scoring goals for fun. Mikael Arteta’s side has made light of the suggestion that the Gunners lack a genuine frontman to lead their title charge. The Londoners have plundered 15 goals in their last three games, ensuring that the title race remains a three-horse affair for the moment.
Against a Sheffield United team that is rooted at the bottom of the table and has a goal difference of -44, Arsenal are odds-on favourites to enjoy another goal fest. The Blades seem resigned to their fate, as many players seem to be just going through the motions at the moment. – March 2, 2024
All photos credited to The Guardian
