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It's Valentine's weekend for many couples but the Premier League faithful are looking forward to their one true love and that's some football on the weekend. The English top-flight was on a brief break as some international and FA Cup fixtures were scheduled for play but returned in mid-week.
Now, in quick succession, there are more Premier League matches waiting for the clubs at the weekend. Chelsea did not feature in mid-week as they were away playing in the FIFA Club World Cup and have reached the finals. Due to the same, their game against Arsenal this Saturday stands postponed too. It's a shame because that is one London derby that rarely disappoints.
Worry not, though, the Premier League has lots on offer despite the absence of the reigning European champions. There are games that will be too close to call, and some, where we could even witness one-way traffic.
However, there's enough between those two extremes as well. Here are five things to watch out for in the Premier League this weekend.
#1 Manchester United brace themselves as in form Southampton visit Old Trafford
Manchester United fans are already dealing with the misery of going another season trophyless. Now their club now looks like it could well fall short of making the Premier League top-four as they currently sit in sixth position.
There are more questions at the club than answers available. Interim manager Ralf Rangnick is trying various things with his personnel but nothing seems to click.
The Red Devils dropped points again from winning position against Burnley in the Premier League in their last game. They started the game well, but lost their rhythm as the game progressed. When the chances presented themselves, they were not clinical in finishing.
Moreover, they took the foot off the gas when they were really dominant and allowed Sean Dyche's team to grind a draw, who were impressive themselves.
Southampton, on the other hand, have now entered the top-half of the points table with their win in a thrilling encounter against Tottenham Hotspur. Saints are on a roll having drawn with Manchester City and beating Spurs and that spells bad news for the Old Trafford club.
Ralf Hassenhutl's side are more hungry than Rangnick's and have shown great fighting spirit. They are playing on the front foot having found the right combination in attack. Don't expect them to set up defensively when they visit the Red Devils.
Meanwhile, Rangnick also has to figure out whether he can afford to bench Cristiano Ronaldo for a second straight game. The Portuguese may be 37 now, but he definitely did not come to Old Trafford to sit on the bench. His unsatisfied ego and hunger could have ill-effects on the team.
#2 Liverpool determined to keep pressure on Manchester City with a win against Burnley
The Africa Cup of Nations is over and that means Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are both available to Jurgen Klopp. Diogo Jota has been in inspirational form and is becoming a regular on the score sheet. Luis Diaz has played two games for Liverpool and looks like a tailor-made Reds player.
All that, alongside the fact that Manchester City are currently nine points ahead of them, who indeed have a game in hand must excite Liverpool fans. If there is remotely a title race in the Premier League right now, then it depends on Liverpool getting all three points week in and week out.
Klopp's side made light work of Leicester City in their last game winning 2-0. However, the manager has previously admitted that his side do struggle against teams who play a low block.
Sean Dyche and Burnley love a low block as we all know and their performance against Manchester United will surely uplift their morale. Wout Weghorst made his Premier League debut against United and he has fit in like a duck taking to the water. He used his 6'6 frame to his absolute advantage and kept pestering the Red Devils.
The Reds are very resolute in defense, but how they cope up with Weghorst's physicality will certainly make for an entertaining show. Burnley have played fewer games than their relegation rivals and every point they earn will help them keep themselves in the division.
Similarly, Klopp and co. are the only ones who can keep any sort of pressure on Pep Guardiola's side. Any points they drop now could virtually end the title race then and there.
#3 Newcastle prepare for Aston Villa test after finally leaving relegation zone
Newcastle United have shown an exhibition of their newfound financial powers in the January transfer window. They were the biggest spenders in Europe, spending around £90 million and however shocking that may sound, we might have to get used to it. After their shopping spree, the side looks more complete and definitely competent enough to beat the drop.
Speaking of beating the drop, the Magpies took complete advantage of a lackluster Everton in their previous game. They gained all three points with a convincing 3-1 victory. Eddie Howe's side are finally out of the relegation zone and will now look to move upwards with positive strides.
However, there is another team who had an impressive January and that is Aston Villa. Stevan Gerrard's side have added Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho to their ranks and the two have repaid the manager's faith on back-to-back occasions.
The on loan Brazilian has found his footing in the Premier League and is really having a say in games. He has already scored two goals and provided two assists. In the previous fixture, Villa played an absolute end-to-end encounter against Leeds United. The two sides could not be separated after 90 minutes and were locked at 3-3.
Although Villa have had no problems scoring goals under Gerrard, they haven't really been all that flawless in defense either. Howe's side have the momentum with two wins in two Premier League games. They could really give the visitors a run for their money at St. James' Park.
#4 An entertaining but unpredictable clash awaits as Wolves travel to Tottenham Hotspur stadium
This Premier League fixture has "too close to call" written all over it. Tottenham Hotspur are absolutely capable of leaving it too late to save a game. Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers are equally capable of not taking their chances and winning games when the chances come. Just look at their previous games and you know this is as unpredictable as it gets.
Spurs have looked a much improved side under Antonio Conte but there are defensive liabilities in their squad and you can't turn a blind eye to it. Emerson Royal, as a right wingback, has to do a lot better in the defensive part of his game. Ben Davies is mistake prone and his side have paid the cost for those mistakes.
The Italian's players found it difficult to keep up with the pace of the game that was set by Southampton in their previous fixture. Spurs had lapses in concentration and they allowed space for Saints to hurl some clever crosses as two late goals condemned Tottenham to a 3-2 defeat. Their backline looked all over the place and were rightly punished.
Meanwhile, Bruno Lage's work has somehow almost gone under the radar. They are currently eighth in the Premier League with just a six-point difference from the top-four, with two games in hand. They played Arsenal in their last game and truly tested them to their limit. But, despite playing against 10-men, they were unable to score a goal, with a wave of late pressure and consistent opportunities.
Wolves are a very well drilled team who have defended really well and have won their last three games of the four played in the Premier League. This has the promise of an entertaining affair with a great technical aspect to it and every missed chance will be rued.
#5 Frank Lampard on the lookout for his first three Premier League points as Everton manager
The possibility of Everton finding themselves in a relegation battle is very real now. They are 16th in the points table, just two points safe from the bottom three. Frank Lampard has to save his reputation after he was sacked by his dear Chelsea a year ago.
This is a high risk job, but it will definitely have its rewards should he succeed.
If the start is anything to go by, the new boss must have figured that he has to do a lot of work. On his return to management, Lampard lost his first Premier League encounter against Newcastle United, who looked far better than the Toffees. They found it difficult to break away from the opposition press and gave the ball away cheaply.
Against a team like Leeds United who run relentlessly and play man marking, slow transitions can be a big disadvantage. Marcelo Bielsa's side scored three goals against Aston Villa and the Toffees will have to be resolute defensively. Lampard signed Dele Alli and Donny van de Beek in January and they hardly made any impact on their debuts from the bench.
This is a game where many players in the Everton squad have a point to prove and they must avoid a loss at all costs.
