Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur side head across London to the London Stadium, Chelsea travel to the Etihad a point ahead of the champions and Harry Maguire returns to Bramall Lane
Some huge fixtures take place this week as Gameweek #13 is sure to be unlucky for several teams. Leicester look to continue their fantastic form on the road at Brighton, while Arsenal hope to survive a visit from The Saints. Liverpool travel to the Palace while there’s a massive clash in Manchester. Will the big hitters be the ones dropping pivotal points?
West Ham Utd vs. Spurs (Saturday 23rd November, 12:30pm GMT kick-off)
Jose Mourinho may be sitting in the stands at the London Stadium, but he has taken training for Spurs since his shock announcement as their new manager on Wednesday. With Harry Kane, Son Heung Min and Dele Alli at his disposal, will the famously pragmatic manager really be able to change his spots? Or could Spurs be in for the summer overhaul of their nightmares as they watch an exciting, high-pressing team drop further and further back towards their own goal?
At the London Stadium, we may not find that out, but in the lunchtime kick-off, there’s no room for errors, with the world watching and West Ham themselves desperate for a win after a slide down the Premier League table and Manuel Pellegrini reportedly being given just a handful of games to extricate his side from the bottom half of the table.
Expect handbags at high noon, and no little drama. A Spurs win from behind may well be a great bet to kick off your own weekend.
Man City vs. Chelsea (Saturday 23rd November, 5.30pm GMT kick-off)
Chelsea travel to The Etihad Stadium one point better off than their light-blue wearing rivals in the table and with Frank Lampard returning to the final Premier League club he played for as a new, young manager, this could be a testing game for Pep Guardiola.
The Catalan’s Citizens have looked inferior in recent weeks, and while they were unlucky not to be awarded at least one penalty at Anfield thanks to – or no thanks to – VAR, City do not look like the slick operation they were last season. Frankly, if they get to 98 points this year, we’ll be amazed.
Chelsea, by contrast, have excelled across the board this season if you don’t count their encounters with the two teams who meet on Sunday and Lampard has them playing some attractive football with a young, quick squad. It’s hard to have imagined how much less they could have missed Eden Hazard at this stage of the season, and a win in this fixture would signpost real intent for a late run at the title from the Stamford Bridge side.
Sheff Utd vs. Man Utd (Sunday 24th November, 4.30pm GMT kick-off)
Harry Maguire returns to the club he’s made more appearances for than anyone else as Manchester United travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United.
While Manchester United will already be crossing off days for their Christmas presents to come early as they host Tottenham Hotspur in a couple of weeks’ time – can you imagine how hard Paul Pogba is pushing to be fit for that game? – this is a vital fixture, with 5th against 7th if the Sheffield club’s favour at the start of the weekend.
With Rashford in amazing form for club and country and the mercurial Anthony Martial back to something like his best, United of the Manchester variety should be favourites to win, possibly in a tight 2-1 victory, especially with goalkeeper Dean Henderson unable to turn out for The Blades due to the Red Devils being his parent club.
Full Gameweek #13 Fixtures:
Saturday 23rd November
West Ham Utd vs. Spurs (12:30 pm GMT kick-off)
AFC Bournemouth vs. Wolves (3:00 pm GMT kick-off)
Arsenal vs. Southampton (3:00 pm GMT kick-off)
Brighton vs. Leicester (3:00 pm GMT kick-off)
C Palace vs. Liverpool (3:00 pm GMT kick-off)
Everton vs. Norwich (3:00 pm GMT kick-off)
Watford vs. Burnley (3:00 pm GMT kick-off)
Man City vs. Chelsea (5:30 pm GMT kick-off)
Sunday 24th November
Sheff Utd vs. Man Utd (4:30 pm GMT kick-off)
Monday 25th November
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle Utd (8:00 pm GMT kick-off)
