Manchester City’s thumping win over Liverpool a week ago opened up a crucial five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
The defending champions are now ten points adrift in fourth, with Manchester United and Leicester also in the immediate title hunt.
Another week of fixtures though brings further challenges for Liverpool and co, with Liverpool’s visit to third-placed Leicester arguably the most crucial of ties on the card.
The match up between Arsenal and Leeds, meanwhile, has the potential to offer something explosive; while at the other end of the spectrum, there stands a potentially dull affair between Crystal Palace and Burnley.
Saturday’s league action begins with Leicester v Liverpool at 12:30, but who will come out on top?
Premier League: Leicester vs Liverpool
The visitors will be hurting from their loss against Man City last week, and they have to get some kind of a result here to avoid losing further ground at the top.
Jurgen Klopp still has his ranks depleted, even more so with the absence of the versatile Fabinho. Defensively, the same problems will surface and Leicester’s front line could do damage.
However, it is about time Klopp and Liverpool stopped worrying about the back four. New signings Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak could come in here, and that should give them some much-needed steel. I mean, if they aren’t ready to plug the gap then why are they even here?
It’ll be a test mind you, going up against the likes of Vardy, James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, who have all been terrific under Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool’s league form away from home is a concern but I fancy them to at least bag a goal at the King Power Stadium. Leicester will most certainly match that and we could be looking at a stalemate.
Prediction: 1-1
Premier League: Crystal Palace vs Burnley
Burnley made a lot of changes to their side during the mid-week FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth, so the fitness of players won’t be an issue for Sean Dyche.
He’ll have his strongest side available, and that will be crucial as his side seek to consolidate their place in the division.
It’s a vital game for 17th-placed Burnley, who need to push themselves clear of the bottom three.
As for Crystal Palace, relegation is not an immediate threat – but without star man Wilfried Zaha, the 14-point cushion they have could soon whittle away.
This has a low-scoring draw written all over it, but I’d be inclined to go one further and say goalless draw.
Prediction: 0-0
Premier League: Man City vs Tottenham
I’m not sure anyone knows really what to think of Tottenham. One minute they are top of the table and look like title challengers, and the next they are on the end of three successive defeats.
Jose Mourinho’s side returned to winning ways last time out against West Brom thanks to a returning Harry Kane, though a mid-week goalfest against Everton in the FA Cup reiterated those defensive concerns.
That’s not a good look heading into a clash against high-flying Man City, and expect Mourinho’s side to ship a few goals here too.
Even without Sergio Aguero, Pep Guardiola’s side are still ticking over nicely in the final third, and while they will be wary of the threat posed to themselves by Kane and Son Heung-,min, they should add yet another win to their remarkable run.
Prediction: 3-1