Premier League preview: Fight for top four, City inching closer to coronation

Here's what to look forward to as the Premier League heads into its final few weeks for the season.

Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors.

Here are brief match-by-match facts and statistics ahead of the Premier League fixtures from May 7-10.

Friday, May 7

Leicester City v Newcastle United

* Leicester has won its last three Premier League meetings with Newcastle, including a 5-0 victory when the teams last played at the King Power Stadium in 2019.

* Newcastle has two wins in its last 11 games and is 17th in the table with 36 points.

* Third-placed Leicester is looking to extend its unbeaten run to four games.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Brendan Rogers, Manager of Leicester City celebrates on full time with Wesley Fofana of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace at The King Power Stadium on April 26, 2021 in Leicester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Andrew Boyers - Pool/Getty Images)

 

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Saturday, May 8

Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur

* Tottenham has beaten Leeds nine times in 25 Premier League meetings but only twice away from home.

* After three straight wins in March and April, Leeds has drawn two and lost one of its last three league matches.

* Spurs are looking to extend their winning league run to three games in interim boss Ryan Mason's fourth game in charge in all competitions.

A dull spell and an unfavourable head-to-head record will play on Leeds' mind when it takes on Spurs

 

Sheffield United v Crystal Palace

* The relegated Blades have lost six of their last seven Premier League matches and were beaten 2-0 when the two teams met in January.

* Palace, which is 13th, is winless in its last four league games, losing the last three.

* Four of the last six league meetings between the teams have finished 1-0.

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Oliver Norwood of Sheffield United is dejected after defeat confirmed their relegation from Premier League following the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United at Molineux on April 17, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Geoff Caddick - Pool/Getty Images)

 

Manchester City v Chelsea

* Chelsea has won 26 of the 47 Premier League meetings between the teams, including 14 away from home.

* Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea has kept a clean sheet in seven of its last nine league matches.

* Manchester City has won 12 of its 17 home matches (D2 L3) this season.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Kai Havertz of Chelsea celebrates with Ben Chilwell, Billy Gilmour and Timo Werner after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge on May 01, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian Walton - Pool/Getty Images)

 

Liverpool v Southampton

* Southampton stunned Liverpool 1-0 at home in their previous league meeting in January.

* Only three of Southampton's 11 wins over Liverpool have come at Anfield.

* Liverpool is seventh with 54 points from 33 games and faces a battle to secure a top-four spot that will ensure Champions League qualification.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates with team mates Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on April 24, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by David Klein - Pool/Getty Images)

 

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Sunday, May 9

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion

* The last four meetings between Wolves and Brighton have ended in draws.

* Wolves have won just two of their last seven home games.

* Brighton ended a four-game winless run with a 2-0 victory over Leeds United last time out.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Fabio Silva of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates with Owen Otasowie and Rayan Ait-Nouri after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers at The Hawthorns on May 03, 2021 in West Bromwich, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

 

Aston Villa v Manchester United

* United has won 36 of the 51 Premier League meetings between the teams, including 16 away from home.

* Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United is undefeated in its last 24 away league matches.

* After a bright start to the season, Villa has won just two of its last nine games to drop to 10th in the table.

LEEDS, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United stand over a free kick during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road on April 25, 2021 in Leeds, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

 

West Ham United v Everton

* Everton has lost just one of its last 12 away matches in the league, winning eight.

* West Ham has scored at least two goals in five of their last six league games.

* West Ham snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 win at Burnley last time out to stay in contention for a top-four spot that will secure Champions League qualification.

Champions League spot in sight

 

Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion

* Arsenal has won 17 of the 25 Premier League meetings against West Brom, including its 4-0 triumph in January.

* Arsenal is currently ninth and on course for its worst Premier League finish since 1994-95 (12th).

* West Brom is 19th with 26 points from 34 games, 10 points adrift of the safety zone, and face an uphill battle to avoid relegation.

Aubameyang was sidelined for four games after getting malaria while on international duty with Gabon and spent time in a hospital last month before returning in the team's 2-1 defeat by Villarreal in the Europa League semifinal first leg.

 

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Monday, May 10

Fulham v Burnley

* Fulham is winless in its last six league games since a 1-0 victory at Liverpool in March.

* Scott Parker's side, which is 18th, has failed to score in five of its last seven home league matches.

* Burnley is looking for back-to-back away wins for the first time since January, when it registered victories over Liverpool in the Premier League and Fulham in the FA Cup in consecutive games.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Josh Maja of Fulham warms up prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge on May 01, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian Walton - Pool/Getty Images)