• Mikel Arteta feels he has the perfect team at present despite lacking Gabriel Jesus.
• Both United and Newcastle are fighting hard for a European place next season.
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Manchester City welcome Chelsea in a huge game for both clubs on Saturday evening.
Last time the two clubs met in November, Chelsea managed to hold the champions to a 4-4 draw. Since then the fortunes of the two clubs have been different.
Pep Guardiola’s City are on a 10-match winning run. City’s Jack Grealish and Josko Gvardiol are out and Chelsea could be without Thiago Silva, who has a groin injury, and Benoit Badiashile, who is out for a month with a thigh injury. Mauricio Pochettino is hoping Silva will pass a late fitness test on Saturday morning.
City sources tell me the likely line-up will be Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Rodri, Bernando Silva, Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland.
Chelsea’s likely line-up is Dorde Petrovic, Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Silva (if fit), Ben Chilwell, Moses Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Noni Madueke, Conor Gallagher, Christopher Nkunku and Cole Palmer. Both teams might change but these are the most likely line-ups allowing for any training problems. Chelsea are facing a tough challenge to even draw with inform City.
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Tottenham V Wolves
Hosting a home game against Wolves on Saturday will likely see Tottenham captain Son Heung-Min start and slot in just behind James Maddison and Richarlison.
Timo Werner is playing better than he ever did at Chelsea. The winger is feeding a constant flow of crosses from the wing which have been worked on tirelessly in training.
Senegalese midfielder Pape Sarr impressed on return from the Cup of Nations and his six-year contract looks to be good business. He will likely line up behind Dejan Kulusevski and Maddison on the right. Ange Postecoglou is pleased with the progress of Argentine midfielder Giovani Lo Celsos, who has undergone strenuous training all week.
The coach will decide on his involvement on Saturday morning but he will, probably, be given more time to recover.
Wolves’ manager Gary O’Neill is hoping Hwang Hee-Chan will recover from a calf injury. However, the coach is not panicking after two home defeats. Matheus Cunha had a scan on his hamstring injury and my Wolves contacts tell me the damage is serious.
More medical checks are being conducted. Hwang could cover for Cunha if fit, but he prefers a No10 role cutting in from the wing but options are limited. O’Neil says Pedro Neto will embrace the pressure if Cunha is side-lined and will move from the wing to a more central position.
Burnley V Arsenal
Vincent Kompany’s Clarets and Blues take on Arsenal. The Gunners’ 6-0 demolition of West Ham had five players on the score sheet which underlines the versatility and talent of their squad.
Mikel Arteta feels he has the perfect team at present despite lacking Gabriel Jesus. But with Leandro Trossard playing as a false nine with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on either side of him, they should overrun the fragile Burnley defence.
Eddie Nketiah will again be ready to come on in the striker’s role. Kai Havertz has blended in well and is enjoying his forward midfield position alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Burnley will do well to contain the impressive Arsenal run.
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Brentford V Liverpool
With Andy Robertson, back from a shoulder injury, on one wing and Trent Alexander-Arnold operating on the other, Liverpool have two players in the top five for providing assists.
However, Trent will not play and Conor Bradley or Joe Gomez will take his place. Liverpool finished fifth last season but are rejuvenated this year and sit top of the table.
The defence is holding well with Van Dijk back to form and Diogo Jota, Luiz Diaz and Darwin Nunez are scoring in Mo Salah’s absence. Mo trained this week and could make a surprise appearance from the bench.
Brentford are a team waiting for their starman Ivan Toney to depart even as they blow hot and cold. They will struggle against Liverpool and coach Thomas Frank knows that.
They have trained all week on how to expose stand-in full-back Curtis Jones if he plays instead of Trent. Toney is fit and will play but Bryan Mbeumo and Rico Henry are still out.
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Fulham V Aston Villa
Fulham looks to continue their winning streak as they take on Aston Villa. Villa coach Unai Emery said his team is not disheartened by their loss to Manchester United last weekend and Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey will again lead the line.
However, Villa suffered a blow this week with an injury to Boubecar Kamara, which is likely to see him miss the rest of the season. Alongside Douglas Luiz, they have become the midfield heart of the team. Rodrigo Muniz is in goalscoring form after netting two as Fulham got back to winning ways with a 3-1 triumph over Bournemouth.
Luton Town V Manchester United, Newcastle V Bournemouth
Manchester United and Newcastle got back to winning ways away from home last weekend and this time around, face Luton and Bournemouth respectively. Both United and Newcastle are fighting hard for a European place next season.
United are sixth on the standings, five points behind Aston Villa at fifth. Newcastle have dropped to seventh and manager Eddie Howe is under pressure from his Saudi owners. Bournemouth are no pushovers and Newcastle cannot rely on midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and defender Fabian Schar to continue providing the goals.
Forwards Callum Wilson, Anthony Gordon and Miguel Almiron have put extra work in training with Howe aware of how important maximum points will be in their battle for European football.