After an exciting midweek of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League action involving English clubs, the Premier League is back once more for another weekend Matchday, Matchday 33 to you and me and it promises to be a memorable one with a pair of crucial derbies and David Moyes’ West Ham United travelling to Stamford Bridge.
In true Derby Weekend style live on Sky Sports, the Game Week will begin at Goodison Park, with one of the oldest and most recognisable in English Football, Everton vs Liverpool.
Sam Allardyce’s Toffees will be keen to improve on their recent form against their fierce city rivals in mid-table, while Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have second-place to play for and an opportunity to gain ground on Manchester United, all is set for a classic on Merseyside.
Attention will then switch to a total of six traditional afternoon kick-offs where plenty will be at stake starting at the Bet365 Stadium for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur to face Stoke City.
It’s now or never time for Paul Lambert’s Potters who are in desperate need of just about everything inside the bottom three, at the opposite end of the table, this is also a pivotal clash for Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs if they are to cling onto their spot in the top four, who wants it more?
At the same time, Sean Dyche’s Burnley will be hoping to improve their chances of Europa League football in their third consecutive away match at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.
Watford, under Javier Gracia, will be their opposition and beating them will be no mean feat despite the fact that they have very little to play for in the closing month and a half, don’t expect either team to be in the beach yet in this one.
Meanwhile, at the King Power Stadium, a side looking to catch the Clarets in seventh place will be in action, Claude Puel’s Leicester City, who play host to Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United.
Both the hosts and the visitors gave the bits between their teeth in the wake of consecutive triumphs, the Foxes moving even further towards closing down the high-flyers from Lancashire, the Magpies giving their survival hopes a major boost, neither will want to give it up.
Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace detrimentally gave up a lead at home to Liverpool last weekend as they travel to the South Coast also on Saturday afternoon to meet with AFC Bournemouth.
Eddie Howe’s Cherries have all but secured their PL status for another campaign in mid-table, just a win away from Everton in ninth position, if Roy Hodgson’s Eagles don’t start collected points soon, they could face a watery grave, handing by the skin of their teeth over the bottom three.
Two of the league’s newly-promoted teams are also at risk of falling back to where they came from last spring and they meet tomorrow afternoon too at the American Express Community Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town.
The Seagulls may just be standing on the very edge of secured safety and Chris Hughton will be hoping that his men can be inspired by their home form to get those three points, the situation is a little worse for David Wagner’s side they’re another team that could be in the drop zone by the end of Saturday.
One team firmly inside that drop zone and ten points away from getting out of it are manager-less West Bromwich Albion after Alan Pardew’s sacking in Easter Monday, they welcome fellow strugglers Swansea City.
Carlos Carvalhal’s side will surely see this as points dropped if they aren’t able to claim a victory at the Hawthorns Stadium, but nothing is certain, and the Baggies will certainly be holding on to faint hope of salvation, they will be managed by caretaker boss Darren Moore.
Last but not least on Saturday live on Sky Sports once again will be the most eagerly-anticipated fixture of the whole Top-Flight title race as the Manchester derby is renewed at the Etihad Stadium.
In front of their own supporters, Pep Guardiola’s men could make dreams a reality by defeating their arch rivals to win the Premier League in April after a scintillating season, Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils will be standing in their way, all eyes Manchester on Sunday evening.
A day later, the Match Week will conclude with two Sky Sports Super Sunday clashes, the first affecting both ends of the table as Mark Hughes’ Southampton and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium.
This match is simply a must-win for the Gunners if they are to hang on to any slim hope of forcing their way into the top-four and they will be feeling confident against a Saints side that has lost by three goals in their last two travels, defeat could well be the first nail in their relegation coffin.
Secondly, Stamford Bridge will be the venue, Chelsea and West Ham United will be the two teams for the final derby of the weekend, a London derby between teams at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Rumours of Antonio Conte’s departure were fuelled by yet another home defeat last weekend, pushing the Blues further from the top four, while many could argue they are there for the taking, the Hammers haven’t won at the Bridge in 16 years, though are coming off a first three points in nearly two months last weekend.
Everton vs Liverpool (Saturday 12:30 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 2-1.
Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur (Saturday 3 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 0-4.
Watford vs Burnley (Saturday 3 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 1-1.
Leicester City vs Newcastle United (Saturday 3 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 2-0.
AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace (Saturday 3 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 2-2.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Huddersfield Town (Saturday 3 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 3-1.
West Bromwich Albion vs Swansea City (Saturday 3 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 0-1.
Manchester City vs Manchester United (Saturday 5:30 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 4-1.
Southampton vs Arsenal (Sunday 2:15 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 1-2.
Chelsea vs West Ham United (Sunday 4:30 PM)
Glanville’s Prediction: 3-0.
So, now that all the spills and thrills from the 33rd round of fixtures of the 2017/2018 Premier League season have been well and truly previewed, who will be Game Week 33’s winners? Who will be its losers? And, who will make the headlines? Join us once again early next week to find out.