1. Ospina in for mammoth derby
IF WEDNESDAY’S DEFEAT to Swansea wasn’t hard enough for Arsenal fans to take, their misery has been compounded by news that both Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny have been ruled out of Saturday’s North London derby.
The Gunners goalkeeper could miss a pivotal month of football with a groin injury picked up running up for a corner in the final moments of the 2-1 loss to Swans, meaning second choice stopper David Ospina will deputise.
It’s a massive game for the Colombian to come in for given the fact that just three points separates the rivals and title contenders but he has already been involved in a win over Spurs this season — in the Capital One Cup back in September.
A third straight loss would be disastrous for Arsenal, while Tottenham can’t afford to drop more points after slipping up against West Ham in midweek.
2. Foxes still leading the hunt
Two dropped points at home to West Brom offered the chasing pack a chance to close Leicester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League table but all three of the clubs directly below them were beaten and their three-point cushion remains.
Andy King was functional filling in for the injured N’Golo Kanté but he is no replacement for the tenacious French midfielder, who could be in line to return against Watford on Saturday.
The Hornets lost out to Manchester United on Wednesday but they were unlucky to come away with nothing and 15-goal Odion Ighalo will be hoping to make amends after spurning a number of chances.
In fact, the Nigerian striker hasn’t found the back of the net in over a month after his ferocious start to life in the top flight.
3. Perfect opportunity for Man City to bounce back
Manchester City may have picked up silverware in the shape of the Capital One Cup less than a week ago, but Manuel Pellegrini’s final league campaign is in grave danger of petering out if they keep up their current form.
A second meeting with Liverpool in quick succession saw the Reds claim a 3-0 win at Anfield as City fell to defeat for the third time on the bounce in the Premier League — leaving them ten points adrift of Leicester and level with city rivals Man United, albeit with a game in-hand on both.
If ever there was an opponent capable of giving them a much-needed confidence boost then it’s bottom-placed Aston Villa, however.
4. Reds look to make it three on the trot
Remarkably, Crystal Palace are the only club in all four of English football’s top divisions without a league win in 2016.
You have to go all the way back to St Stephen’s Day, to find the last time Alan Pardew’s men recorded a victory in the competition, 2-1 against Stoke, and they’ve 11 games since then.
Contrastingly, opponents Liverpool could make it three straight league wins for the first time in a year at Selhurst Park after overcoming Aston Villa and Manchester City.
5. Can Man United squeeze back into the top four?
A run of four wins in all competitions appeared to have patched up Manchester United’s underachieving campaign (temporarily, at least) to keep them firing on three fronts.
The revitalising performance in their Europa League second leg tie against FC Midtjylland earned them a meeting with Liverpool in last-16, while they face West Ham in the FA Cup sixth round and are within touching distance of the top four in the Premier League.
That said, away to Sunday’s opponents West Brom is just the type of game Louis van Gaal’s side have slipped up in already this season and you wouldn’t be hugely surprised if the Baggies got something out of it.
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