SOCCER PREMIER LEAGUE ARTICLES

Two teams that have been in the middle of the Premier League all year long will square off in NBC’s Game of the Week on Saturday. West Ham United are currently in ninth place, while Everton are in 11^th. Both teams are well clear of the relegation zone, and both are looking to finish the year in seventh place. That could give them a spot in Europa League next season, but they competition for that spot is fierce. A win for either team would go a long way toward giving them seventh place... 

The most recent international break has given us all a chance to catch our breath. The competition between Liverpool and Manchester City to see which team will win the Premier League has been fierce. Liverpool are currently two points ahead of City headed into the weekend, but they have also played one more game than the Citizens. Both teams play this weekend, and City are likely to move back ahead of Liverpool for at least a day when they face relegation bound Fulham on Saturday.... 

This is a huge match for Chelsea. The Blues did what they needed to do in the Europa League and are on to the quarterfinals of that competition, and now they are looking to move back into the top four in the Premier League. Chelsea have been battling for a spot in the top four and a return to the Champions League all year long, and a win over Everton in Goodison Park this Sunday would keep them in the hunt. A loss would leave them in sixth and might leave Maurizio Sarri on his way out at Stamfor... 

We only have a half-slate of Premier League games this week because of the FA Cup Quarterfinals, yet there is still some value on the board. With just two months left in the season, teams are out to finish strong to improve their place in the standings with some looking to qualify for the Champions League or avoid relegation. Others have looked much different since the winter transfer window, and that’s where the value lies. ... 

After falling behind Manchester City by a point in their bid to win the Premier League for the first time ever, Liverpool have a chance to move past the Citizens once more. The Reds are heavy favorites to grab all three points on the road against Fulham this Sunday. Liverpool fans are already ecstatic after the club went on the road to knock off Bayern Munich and qualify for the Champions League Quarterfinals on Wednesday, and now their euphoria can be taken to another level.... 

Only half of the Premier League’s teams are in action this week because of FA Cup ties, but there is still plenty of excitement to be had. Liverpool are looking to pass Manchester City for the time being when they head to Craven Cottage, and Chelsea are out to draw level with Arsenal in their bid to get back into the Champions League. After placing four teams in the final eight of the Champions League, there is little doubt that the Premier League is the best in the world, so now is the time to tune in. ... 

Matchday 30 is backloaded with the best matches taking place on Sunday. All three games will involve Big Six clubs, and the stakes are high. Chelsea are currently sixth in the table, but they have a game in hand and are looking to crack the top four to get to the Champions League. Arsenal and Manchester United are battling for a spot in the top four as well in the biggest game of the week, while Liverpool are out to keep pace with Manchester city at the top of the table.... 

There are a little more than two months left in the 2018-19 Premier League campaign. This is one of the final times for teams to make moves, and every team will be out to make one last push. Whether it’s a team looking for a league title, a place in Europe, a place in next year’s Premier League, or just a better finish in the standings this year, these next two months will make or break seasons.... 

Unlike last season, there is still a ton to play for with just nine games remaining in most teams’ Premier League campaigns. Manchester City and Liverpool are duking it out for the league title, and Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United are fighting for two Champions League spots. The bottom two teams seem set with Fulham and Huddersfield Town 10 points from safety, but there will be some intrigue regarding the third team to be relegated. Cardiff City are the likely candidate, but t... 

Millions of dollars are likely at stake in the second meeting between Manchester United and Arsenal this season. Currently Manchester United are in fourth place and slated to earn a spot in next year’s Champions League, but Arsenal are one point behind them and looking to grab that spot for themselves. If one of these teams can pick up a win, they will put themselves in the driver’s seat to finish fourth, while a draw would leave Arsenal ruing its missed opportunity.... 

It took almost three months, but Manchester City are back at the top of the table. After a bad December that saw the Citizens fall behind Liverpool, they are now one point ahead of the Reds following last weekend’s results. Now, City are once again favored to win the league and win their second straight title, and they will be out to just hold serve. They are massive favorites coming into this week’s Premier League Game of the Week against Watford.... 

The Merseyside Derby is one of the best rivalries in the Premier League, and this year’s edition has meant much more than usual. With Liverpool leading the league by just one point, the Reds can’t afford to drop any points in their quest to win the first Premier League title in club history. Everton nearly grabbed a result the last time these teams met, and the Toffees would love to play spoiler against their rivals here. Less than a mile separates these two stadiums, so supporters of both teams... 

Both Watford and Leicester City have been ensconced in the middle of the table all year. Neither club will be playing in Europe next season, but neither club has to worry about relegation either. That’s good news for both teams with the new Premier League television contract kicking in next year, and they are vying for a bigger piece of the pie. The EPL allocates its television money depending on where you finish in the table, so it’s important for both clubs to finish as close to the top as pos... 

It’s been a disastrous season for Fulham. Despite spending a lot of money in the offseason with the aim of ensuring their survival, the Cottagers are almost certainly set to drop back down to the Championship. They have just 17 points through 28 games, and they are 10 points away from safety. Even if they draw level with another team, their horrendous goal differential means they need to be a point ahead in order to survive, and that makes their situation even more difficult. Fulham are hoping a... 

Newcastle United are surging. For much of the season, the Magpies were languishing around the bottom of the table, but their fortunes have turned around in recent weeks. They are now up to 13^th in the table, and it looks like they will be here to stay. Meanwhile, West Ham United are lodged firmly in the middle of the table. The Hammers are currently in 10^th place, but they can move ahead of Everton with a win here.... 

Arsenal are feeling great after smashing Bournemouth on Wednesday. The Gunners didn’t waste any time jumping on the Cherries, and they ended up with a 5-1 win. That propelled them back into the top four, and fans are crossing their fingers that they will keep their place in order to make it back into the Champions League after a two year absence. However, they will be tested when they go on the road to take on a Tottenham Hotspur side desperate for a win.... 

No team had a worse week than Chelsea last week. The Blues were told that they would not be allowed to sign new transfers until 2020 after breaching rules regarding tampering with minor players. That will really hurt Chelsea in their bid to be competitive next season, and it could mean the departure of Eden Hazard in the offseason. On Sunday, things got even worse. Following weeks of acrimony between players and manager Maurizio Sarri, there was an explosion on the pitch. Kepa took exception to ... 

Three points would be huge for either Burnley FC or Newcastle United on Tuesday. These two clubs aren’t in the relegation zone, but they are very close. Burnley sit in 15^th place with 27 points, and the Clarets are just three points up on currently relegation bound Southampton, while Newcastle United are in 16^th place with 25 points and have just one point separating them from the Saints. A win would give one of these two teams some breathing room, but a loss will lead to s... 

Manchester United can do their city rival a huge favor this week. Liverpool and Manchester City are currently tied at the top of the Premier League with 65 points apiece, but the Reds have a game in hand on the Blues. A Liverpool loss would put them behind City due to goal differential and head-to-head record, and it would also give Manchester United a leg up on Chelsea and Arsenal in the race for England’s fourth Champions League spot. This game will have the highest stakes of the weekend.... 

Two mid-table teams will meet up when Leicester City hosts Crystal Palace on Saturday. However, not all mid-table teams are created equal. Leicester City currently sit in 12^th place with 32 points, while Crystal Palace are in 13^th, but a full five points behind the hosts. While Leicester are pretty safe, Palace are in a bit of danger as there is a cluster at the bottom and they are just three points up on the drop.... 

Tottenham Hotspur have had their most impressive season yet. Spurs are on pace to have their best Premier League showing ever, and the fact that they have done it without another major signing while dealing with numerous injuries has made Mauricio Pochettino a hot commodity. He has been linked with a move to Manchester United at the end of the season, but Spurs are desperate to keep him, especially if they beat out Liverpool or Manchester City to finish in the top two. They will look to keep it ... 

Fulham are in serious danger of being demoted to the Championship at the end of the season. The Cottagers are in second-to-last place with just 17 points through 26 matches, and they are eight points from safety with a third of the year left to play. Getting demoted right before the new television contract is set to kick in would deal the club a crushing blow, and it would probably take some time for them to make it back to the Premier League. That’s why they can no longer settle for draws and m... 

It’s been a very good year for the Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolverhampton are sitting in seventh place in the table, and they are four points ahead of eighth place Everton. They are the top non-Big Six club in England, and that’s quite the accomplishment for a team that was in Championship last season. Wolves are unlikely to break into the top six since they are nine points back of the pack, but they are looking to maintain their position in the table against Newcastle United on Monday Night Foo... 

After their win over Everton on Wednesday night, Manchester City are tied with Liverpool at the top of the table. The Reds still have a game in hand on the Citizens, but City will take it all the same after falling as far back as seven points at the end of 2018. They know they face a tough test when they host Chelsea this Sunday though. The Blues are currently fourth in the table, and they have already knocked off City once this year. The hosts can’t let that happen again if they are to repeat a... 

With all the talk of Manchester City potentially catching Liverpool at the top of the table, people seem to be slipping on the fact that Tottenham Hotspur aren’t too far behind either. Spurs are just two points behind City and five points behind Liverpool and have an outside chance at winning just their second league title ever. Despite not being able to add any players during the transfer window, they have done incredibly well, and they will look to catapult themselves even further with a win o...