Liverpool will not be in action this weekend in the Premier League as they are away in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup. That means that there will be an opportunity for one of the chasing sides to take advantage and close the gap at the top of the tree before Christmas. Meanwhile, Chelsea will head to Tottenham Hotspur to come up against an old friend.
Manchester City vs Leicester City
The two leading contenders trying to track down Liverpool meet on Saturday evening at the Etihad, with the winner closing the gap. Meanwhile, the Reds will be watching and hoping for a draw as that will ensure that neither side have taken a bite out of their lead at the top.
Manchester City come into the game having beaten Arsenal in their last outing. Pep Guardiola would have considered that result as the perfect remedy from their Manchester derby defeat. Kevin De Bruyne was in inspired form in that fixture at the Emirates as he scored twice, and also set up Raheem Sterling. That was his tenth assist of the season, and on that form, he could add to that on Saturday.
Leicester City meanwhile saw their nine-match winning run ended in disappointing fashion with a draw against Norwich City at the King Power. Teemu Pukki gave the visitors a shock lead before an own goal from Tim Krul put the Foxes back on terms. Leicester couldn’t push on in the second half to take all three points, which would have been a disappointment for Brendan Rodgers.
City holds the advantage in the overall record between the sides, as they have won on 59 occasions. Meanwhile, the Foxes have won 30 times, and there have been 29 draws. The last meeting between the sides was the game that effectively secured the title for City. That 1-0 win is fondly remembered for the Vincent Kompany screamer from outside the box. It may take more magic like that to separate these two. Punters may be expecting a draw with both teams to score.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea
Jose Mourinho once said that he would never manage Tottenham Hotspur. However, he went back on that promise and will come up against his former employees on Sunday in a clash that could cut Chelsea’s lead in the fight for a place in the top four.
Spurs come into the game in solid form and will be in high confidence after their late win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out. Adama Traore cancelled out an early Lucas Moura goal in that game. Before, Jan Vertonghen popped up with a late winner to secure all three points. Mourinho has only lost once since arriving at Tottenham- with that defeat come against another one of his former employers.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s form over recent weeks has plummeted, and that has allowed the chasing pack to close the gap on the places in the top four. They have won just once in their last four; with that victory coming against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. Last time out they lost at home against Bournemouth, with Dan Gosling’s late goal the difference between the sides.
However, the Blues hold a dominant record against Spurs, as they have won 70 of the previous meetings. Tottenham have won on 40 occasions, and there have been 54 draws. Spurs have won two of the last three against Chelsea, and that will be a pattern that punters will be expecting to continue. Tottenham to win would be a good bet for punters.
