The Dugout Discussion – Saturday

With six teams (Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, QPR, Sunderland, Hull) sitting out Gameweek 33, the Premier League beckons in a quartet of three o’clock kick offs this Saturday. This reduced offering is followed by the day’s headline act, as Chelsea strive to maintain their dominant standing at the summit of the table as they welcome Mancheseter United to Stamford Bridge.

Crystal Palace entertain West Bromwich Albion at Selhurst Park in search of their fifth victory on the bounce. Relinquished of his wing duties and fielded in the “number ten” role, Yannick Bolasie netted a hat-trick against Sunderland last time out, with lone striker Glenn Murray scoring for the third consecutive match. Compounding the fact that no side has conceded more goals (ten) than the Baggies in the last three Gameweeks, Tony Pulis’ men have laboured in the final third, with strike duo Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye tallying just one strike between them since Gameweek 29. Ideye makes way today as Victor Anichebe is handed a start.

Everton look to extend their four-match unbeaten streak as they play host to a Burnley side that’s scored just once in six fixtures. The Toffees have secured a clean sheet in four of their last five at Goodison, while further up the field, Aaron Lennon looks to notch his third in four starts. The Clarets need out-of-form Danny Ings to register his first goal in eight appearances and spearhead a late scurry away from the relegation trapdoor. Kevin Mirallas returns to the starting XI for Everton today as Leon Osman misses out through injury – Romelu Lukaku is only fit enough for the bench.

Leicester City hope to further their chances of a miraculous recovery when they invite Swansea City to the King Power Stadium. The Foxes have netted eight goals in the last three Gameweeks, with David Nugent and Jamie Vardy both producing two strikes in the last three fixtures. The Swans are undefeated in three but are without main striker Bafetimbi Gomis for this encounter after the Frenchman sustained a hamstring injury, whilst Gylfi Sigurdsson has just one goal and an assist to his name over the second half of the season.

The teamsheet did originally see Nigel Pearson make three tweaks to his winning side, opting to change shape to three at the back with Marcin Wasilewski recalled and Ritchie de Laet dropping to the bench. Andy King and Andrej Kramarić also earned recalls as Matt James and Leonardo Ulloa dropped out. However, Ulloa has earned a last minute recall with David Nugent suffering an injury in the warm-up that has ruled him out.

Stoke City will be winless in five matches if they fail to overhaul Southampton at the Britannia Stadium this weekend. The Potters lost Victor Moses to a hamstring knock and will be looking for Mame Biram Diouf (three goals in seven) to breach the Saints’ backline. Graziano Pelle banished a 14-match goal drought against Hull City and seeks his tenth goal of the campaign as Saints tussle for a European spot. Ronald Koeman recalls Nathaniel Clyne to his defence today, with Toby Alderweireld potentially shifting to a holding midfield role to replace the suspended Victor Wanyama.

Chelsea attempt to quash an unlikely title challenge from Arsenal and Manchester United when the Red Devils roll up to the capital in the later kick off. Eden Hazard has been a model of consistency in recent weeks, delivering attacking returns in all but one of his previous five starts. Back on the scoresheet and getting back to his best, Cesc Fabregas’ two assists in three underlines his role as Chelsea’s chief orchestrator. With seven goals and four assists between them in the last three matches, United’s midfielders Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini, Ashley Young and Ander Herrera pose a real threat to the Blues’ backline.