The Premier League continues this weekend with Matchday 26, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games:
Saturday, February 3
• Manchester United vs. Huddersfield Town, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
• Leicester City vs. Swansea City, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World Plus)
• West Bromwich Albion vs. Southampton, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World Plus)
• Arsenal vs. Everton, noon ET (Sportsnet World)
Sunday, February 4
• Liverpool vs. Tottenham, 11:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World)
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend.
THE BIG GAME
Liverpool vs. Tottenham: Coming off a big, mid-week home win over Manchester United, Tottenham will be looking to close the gap on Liverpool when they pay a visit to Anfield on Sunday. The Reds currently sit third in the table, two points and two spots above Spurs.
The London club might find the going tough on Sunday, though. Liverpool has only lost one of their last 23 home Premier League matches against Tottenham (15 wins and seven draws). The Reds are also currently unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League matches at Anfield (eight wins and six draws).
Sunday’s game promises a showdown between the league’s top two scorers. Spurs’ Harry Kane tops the charts with 21 goals, and has had great success against Liverpool – four goals and two assists in his last six Premier League appearances. Mohammed Salah has 19 goals in 24 league games, and he can become the quickest Liverpool player to reach 20 goals in a season if he finds the back of the net against Tottenham.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Junior Stanislas, Bournemouth: On Matchday 24, he came on as a second-half sub and took only nine minutes to set up Ryan Fraser as the Cherries earned a draw versus West Ham United. Then on Wednesday, Stanislas scored in a 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He should feature prominently in Saturday’s contest against Stoke City, who have conceded a league-high 30 goals away from home this season.
AUBAMEYANG SET TO DEBUT FOR ARSENAL?
Arsenal paid a club-record fee of 63.75 million euros to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. The move came as the Gunners sold Olivier Giroud to Chelsea, and in the aftermath of Alexis Sanchez’s departure to Manchester United. Arsenal hosts Everton on Saturday, but Aubameyang may have to wait to make his debut for the Gunners, as manager Arsene Wenger said Friday that the Gabon international forward is questionable due to sickness.
MAHREZ OUT FOR LEICESTER CITY
Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez will miss his second straight game this weekend so that he can clear his head, according to Foxes coach Claude Puel. Mahrez was the subject of a transfer bid from Manchester City that didn’t come through before the deadline. Mahrez skipped Leicester’s last three training sessions, and also didn’t travel for the Foxes’ 2-1 loss at Everton on Wednesday. Puel said on Friday he will “assess Riyad when he clears his head.” Leicester hosts Swansea City on Saturday.
MAN CITY’S SANE OUT FOR 6-7 WEEKS
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed this week that Leroy Sane will be out for “six, seven weeks” after sustaining ankle ligament damage during an FA Cup win over Cardiff City last weekend. The German winger has 11 goals and 14 assists in all competitions this season. The loss of Sane is a bit of a blow for a City side that is already without the injured Gabriel Jesus. Manchester City visits Burnley on Saturday.
MAN UNITED NOW 15 POINTS BACK OF MAN CITY
Manchester United’s 2-0 loss away to Tottenham on Wednesday was a hammer blow to the Red Devils’ already meagre title hopes. That result, combined with Manchester City’s 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, meant Jose Mourinho’s side dropped 15 points back of their table-topping rivals. Manchester United hosts Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
PALACE’S SAKO OUT FOR REST OF SEASON
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson confirmed this week that winger Bakary Sako will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his ankle. The injury occurred during Palace’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Tuesday. Sako scored six goals in all competitions this season. Palace hosts Newcastle United on Sunday.
INTERESTING STAT
THE BIG QUESTION
Every week, Sportsnet’s soccer panel will debate The Big Question. Have your say by voting in the poll below:
HE SAID IT
“We knew the distance to the leader was already considerable, even before this match. Now we have us, Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal — we will be there fighting for three positions [behind Manchester City].” – Jose Mourinho, after Manchester United’s loss to Tottenham.
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