With the race for the top four and the relegation dogfight set to be among the closet in Premier League history, February is shaping up as a season defining month for many teams.
We take a look at some of the crucial fixtures set to determine who finishes where in 2017/18 and where they will be playing their football in 2018/19.
TOP FOUR
Saturday February 10 – 16:30 Wembley Stadium
Spurs v Arsenal
Tottenham are backing up after a controversial 2-2 draw with the Liverpool last Sunday, and also have the visit of Newport in the FA Cup on Wednesday before facing their bitter north London rivals.
Of course a lot is always at stake when these two meet but after Arsenal found some form with a 5-1 hammering of Everton last time out – the stakes are higher than usual.
There won’t be room for both these teams in the top four and if Spurs can win this one they will go seven-points clear of the Gunners with just 11 games to go.
If Arsenal can do the business however they will be just one-point behind Tottenham and back in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
The Gunners looked buoyant with new signings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan enjoying their new surroundings against Everton and maybe Arsene Wegner can conjure up one last great escape act.
Prediction: Spurs 2 Arsenal 1
Alexis Sanchez has had a big impact on Man Utd
Sunday February 25 – 18:05 Old Trafford
Manchester United v Chelsea
With Alexis Sanchez’ arrival seemingly giving United a new lease on life they look to have one of the three remaining top four spots locked up.
But Chelsea are in free fall – and may have a new manager by the time this match arrives.
A loss here for Chelsea could be the death-knell for their top four chances while a win for United might just keep alive their faint hopes of catching City. Or make sure of their Champions League place for next year.
Prediction: United 2 Chelsea 0
Can Aubameyang inspire Arsenal to a top four finish?
Thursday March 1 – 23:45 Emirates Stadium
Arsenal v Manchester City
The second of two huge matches for Arsenal in the month and another must win if they are to stay in the hunt for the top four.
City have begun to look human in recent weeks with a loss to Liverpool and a draw to Burnley and if they take their foot off the gas at the Emirates if might open the door for Arsenal to re-enter the top four and United to re-enter the title race.
Expect lots of free-flowing football, high levels of skill and lots of goals. Last one to score loses.
Prediction: 2-2
RELEGATION RABBLE
With just seven points separating last place and 12th, no less than nine teams currently in a relegation scrap: West Ham, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Newcastle, Swansea, Stoke, Hudddersfield and West Brom.
In February there is the opportunity for many six-pointers – with three points for the winners putting them closer to safety and the losers closer to the Championship. Here’s our picks:
Desperate times for Stoke City and Paul Lambert
Saturday February 10 – 19:00 365 Stadium
Stoke v Brighton
Stoke are currently in the bottom three while Brighton are three points ahead. A win for the visitors would take them closer to safety while a loss for the hosts would plunge them deeper into peril.
Brighton had a morale boosting 3-1 winner over West Ham last weekend while Stoke slumped to their first loss under new manager Paul Lambert – 2-1 at Bournemouth.
Lambert must lift his troops against their fellow strugglers – or Stoke will look even more like a candidate for the drop.
Prediction: 1-1
Pressure is building on David Wagner and Huddersfield Town.
Sunday February 11 – 16:00 John Smith’s Stadium
Huddersfield v Bournemouth
The Cherries are on a stunning run of form, unbeaten in their last five, including wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and Stoke. Eddie Howe’s team will be very confident of a win at the Terriers who are on a completely contrasting run on form – losing their last five.
Huddersfield were impressive early on in their first Premier League campaign since 1971/72 but David Wagner needs to stop the slide now or the Town are going straight back down. Another win for Bournemouth and they can start planning for another year in the top flight.
Prediction: Huddersfield 1 Bournemouth 2
Bournemouth are on a great run – unbeaten in five.
Saturday February 24 – 19:00 Vitality Stadium
Bournemouth v Newcastle
The first of three relegation clashes on a day that could come to define who stayed up and who went down in season 17/18.
Bournemouth at home will be heavily favoured to chalk up another win against a limited Newcastle line up. Rafa Benitez will have to dig deep into his bag of tactical tricks to get a result but the best The Magpies could do is a draw – and that may not be enough at this stage of the season.
Prediction: 1-1
New Manager Carlos Carvalhal looks like a miracle worker at Swansea.
Saturday February 24 – 19:00 Amex Stadium
Brighton v Swansea
The Swans have pulled off some super-human results since miracle worker Carlos Carvalhal took over with wins over Liverpool and Arsenal pulling them out of the bottom three.
But if Swansea are to survive then they need to keep winning games like this one.
At the worst the Swans can afford a draw but a loss to Brighton here would see the Seagulls chances of survival greatly strengthen while Swansea may slide back into the bottom three – so important is every match between the bottom nine in the run in.
Prediction: 2-2
West Bromwich Albion look more and more bound for the drop.
Saturday February 24 – 19:00 The Hawthorns
West Brom v Huddersfield
This shapes up as another life and death struggle for the two sides currently bottom and second bottom in the premier league.
West Brom had some promising glimpses with a win over Brighton and a draw with Everton before losses against Man City and fellow strugglers Southampton saw them slip back in the mire.
While Huddersfield as noted above had lost five in a row prior to the visit of Bournemouth.
At this point in time both these sides look increasingly strong prospects for the drop and to pull themselves out of the bottom three one of them must win this match – but the most likely result is a desperate scrappy draw that won’t help either team.
Prediction: 1-1
