Premier Picks: The lowdown on this weekend in the English Premier League

Match to catch

Manchester City play their final match before their warm weather training camp in Abu Dhabi when they host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The Citizens will head straight for the UAE after the match for a few days of sunshine and a friendly against Hamburg in Al Ain on Wednesday — and it would be a boost for all concerned if they could sign off with a victory. A repeat of last season’s 6-3 drubbing of the Gunners may be a little too much to expect, but with Sergio Aguero likely to be involved after recovering from injury and Arsenal still vulnerable on their travels, City can be confident of racking up another three points. Prediction: Man City 3 Arsenal 1.

Keep an eye on

Chelsea may be two points clear at the top, but Jose Mourinho must surely be a little concerned by his team’s form away from Stamford Bridge. The Blues have just one win in their last five league games on the road and have lost at both Newcastle and Tottenham. They shouldn’t have too much to fear at Swansea on Saturday, although striker Bafetimbi Gomis will be keen to prove that he’s a more than capable replacement for the Manchester City-bound Wilfried Bony. Prediction: Swansea 1 Chelsea 3.

For the purists

It’s a not-so-super start to ‘Super Sunday’ this weekend as out-of-form West Ham host struggling Hull City in the early match. At least for the Hammers it represents a perfect chance to return to winning ways after collecting just two points from their last four games. Prediction: West Ham 1 Hull 0.

Showing form

After last week’s surprising but fully deserved victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, Southampton head to Newcastle on Saturday evening third in the table with four wins and a draw from their last five games and with their prospects rather rosy for the second half of the season. If Ronald Koeman can bring in a couple more shrewd signings this month, the Saints will be strong candidates to secure a European place for the first time in more than a decade. Newcastle are in limbo following Alan Pardew’s departure and could be there for the taking. Prediction: Newcastle 1 Southampton 2.

Need a win

It seems a long time ago now, but Aston Villa started this EPL season with an excellent run of results that boosted the expectations of the long-suffering Villa Park faithful. After an impressive win at Stoke on the opening day was followed by four points from home games against Newcastle and Hull, Paul Lambert’s side went to Anfield and beat Liverpool 1-0. It was a fine result based on defensive solidity and dangerous counter-attacks — but since then little has gone right. Villa lost their next six in a row and enter Saturday’s return fixture bottom of the form table, in danger of being sucked into a relegation battle and with Lambert’s position under some scrutiny. They have only scored 11 goals from 21 league matches — by far the lowest in the division — and Liverpool should be confident of gaining revenge. Prediction: Villa 0 Liverpool 2.

Get involved

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