Sunday is certain to serve up a storm! The penultimate weekend of club football before the FIFA World Cup could be hugely influential heading into the season hiatus. All clubs are braced for three domestic matches in the space of eight days before the tournament commences in Qatar.
With five fixtures in the Premier League scheduled for Sunday, the headline clashes see a battle of London between Chelsea and Arsenal followed by a crucial encounter involving Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
Chelsea vs Arsenal, 12H00 GMT
Chelsea are one of four Premier League teams yet to lose at home this season, while Arsenal are the top-performing team away from home with four wins and a draw from six on their travels; the Gunners have also conceded the fewest goals in away games (4).
Mikel Arteta’s men have taken 31 points from a possible 36 and they sit 10 points clear of their opposition ahead of this contest at Stamford Bridge. Only Newcastle Utd (10) have conceded fewer goals than Arsenal (11) this Premier League campaign.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are looking to get back to winning ways domestically after manager Graham Potter suffered his first defeat as Blues boss, last week versus his former club Brighton. Chelsea have won seven and drawn three of their 11 games under the 47-year-old.
Arteta is unbeaten in the league against Chelsea with two wins and a draw, although he has won just two of five previous meetings with his opposite number Potter.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus each have five assists in the league; only Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne has created more goals this term. Aaron Ramsdale has kept five clean sheets, one fewer than the joint-highest pair of Ederson and Nick Pope.
Beware of @Arsenal‘s fast starts! ⚠️
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 6, 2022
They’ve scored the most goals (11) and not yet conceded in the opening 30 minutes of #PL matches this season#CHEARS pic.twitter.com/gfkLggQ7Pc
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to face his old club for the first time since the ex-Gunners skipper’s eventful exit from the Emirates in January this year. After a dispute with Arteta over breach of conduct by Aubameyang, the 33-year-old was released from his Arsenal contract so he could join Barcelona on a free transfer, before switching back to London with Chelsea this past summer.
In Europe both teams advanced to the Round of 16 in their respective competitions, with Chelsea ending group winners in the UEFA Champions League and Arsenal topping their group in the Europa League.
Chelsea are without defenders Reece James, Wesley Fofana, and Ben Chilwell, with the latter ruled out of the World Cup. N’Golo Kanté is also unavailable until after the tournament in Qatar, while Spain goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is doubtful for the showpiece event after being spotted on crutches midweek.
Emile Smith Rowe is unavailable as the Arsenal man recovers from groin surgery. Japan full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu is expected to miss this London derby due to a muscular problem.
Chelsea are 2.70 to triumph over their city rivals; Arsenal are 2.55 to win; 3.40 for a draw.
(Bet365)
Tottenham vs Liverpool, 16H30 GMT
Spurs have won five of six matches at home, meanwhile Liverpool are one of five PL teams yet to claim victory on the road this season. As it stands, Spurs are 10 points above the Reds and 6 points off the top of the table.
Liverpool are desperate to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats to Nottingham Forest and Leeds Utd. Spurs won at Bournemouth last week to curb successive losses at the hands of Man United and Newcastle.
This will be a seventh rendezvous between Antonio Conte and Jürgen Klopp. The Italian and the German have beat one another just once apiece surrounded by four draws. In 2021/22, these teams couldn’t be separated on the pitch as they drew 2-2 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before a 1-1 stalemate at Anfield towards the end of last campaign.
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Both Spurs and Liverpool have progressed to the Champions League last-16, with the former ending top of Group D and the latter coming runners-up to Napoli in Group A.
Spurs striker Harry Kane has scored 10 goals this season and only Erling Haaland has more in the Premier League. Following a slow start to the season, Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah found the net in each of his team’s last three matches (all competitions).
In injury news, Heung-min Son picked up a facial injury at Bournemouth while Richarlison remains sidelined with a calf problem and centre-half Cristian Romero is out with a hamstring issue. Spurs have been boosted by the return of Dejan Kulusevski, but it remains to be seen whether the Swede will feature when Liverpool pay a visit to North London.
Klopp still has a handful of injuries to contend with. Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota are ruled out until after the World Cup while midfielders Naby Keïta and Arthur Melo also have extended injury lay-offs. James Milner is doubtful to face Spurs while Joël Matip may return before the season goes on pause.
Tottenham are 3.30 to win; Liverpool are 2.10 to win; 3.60 for a draw.
Salah is priced 5.50 to score the first goal or 2.50 to score anytime. Kane is 6.00 for first scorer or 2.75 for anytime scorer.
(Bet365)
