Sunday 13 December 2015 19:05, UK
Will Stoke's defensive rock Ryan Shawcross concede his first goal of the season? How will Swansea cope after Garry Monk's sacking? We take a look at 10 questions that could be answered by the end of the Premier League weekend.
The action kicks off this weekend as Norwich host an Everton side who are unbeaten in their last five league games before Bournemouth look to take another big scalp on Saturday Night Football as they host an injury-hit Man United live on Sky Sports.
Super Sunday is serving up two treats as rock bottom Aston Villa host Arsenal before an unbeaten Spurs side take on Newcastle United, who will be looking for consecutive league wins for the first time this season.
The game-week concludes live on Sky Sports as top of the table Leicester host an out-of-sorts Chelsea side on Monday Night Football.
With all that and more to look forward to, here's what to keep an eye out for in the league this weekend...
Is a draw on the cards for Norwich and Everton? (Norwich v Everton, 12.45pm Saturday)
This fixture has a history of draws with five of the last seven meetings having ended on level terms, including their Capital One Cup clash at the end of October, which eventually saw Everton go through on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the end of 120 minutes of action.
This was the start of a seven game unbeaten run for the Toffees in all competitions, including five unbeaten games in the Premier League while Norwich are looking to go three games unbeaten on home turf and end their run of three top-flight matches without a win.
The others draws have come in the league since December 2011, with the other two games during this period seeing once win apiece and with Everton also drawing their last two Premier League games on the road, another sharing of the points at Carrow Road is looking increasingly likely.
How will Swansea perform after Garry Monk's sacking? (Man City v Swansea, 3pm Saturday)
While we can not 100 per cent predict how the Swans will cope with the departure of their manager, they certainly won't have time to dwell on the situation as they face a tough trip to Man City - a stadium where they've never even taken a point in their four league visits.
The Citizens are also starting to get their season back on track, reaching the Capital One Cup semi-finals and topping their Champions League group in the last few weeks, just to add more fuel to an already daunting task.
Despite a good start for the Welsh side, they've slipped to 15th in the Premier League table, losing four of their last five games and are without a win since the end of October - all culminating in the dismissal of Monk and his backroom staff this week.
David Moyes is the favourite to take the job at the Liberty Stadium with Avram Grant, Gus Poyet and Mark Warburton also thought to be in the frame, although an appointment isn't expected before their trip to the Etihad on Saturday.
Can the Saints continue their six-year streak? (Crystal Palace v Southampton, 3pm Saturday)
Southampton are looking for their first win in three games, and based on their history, their visit to Selhurst Park couldn't have come at a better time.
The Saints have won the last seven league meetings with Crystal Palace across the Championship and Premier League, with the run stretching back to April 2009. The Eagles last beat their south coast opponents in December 2008 when they met in the second-tier.
However, their cup meetings are a different story, with the south London side coming out on top in the two cup ties over the same period, including a 3-2 FA Cup win at St Mary's last season.
Are Watford proving two strikers is the way forward? (Sunderland v Watford, 3pm Saturday)
There's been no promotion hangover for Watford so far this season. They currently sit 10th in the Premier League table and have picked up back-to-back win, but there are two men who have spearheaded the Hornets attack and are proving that two strikers can be effective in the top-flight.
Troy Deeney has scored in five of his last six Premier League appearances, including the last four in a row and if he scores at the Stadium of Light this weekend, he will be the first ever player to score in five successive top-flight games for Watford.
Odion Ighalo has also been directly involved in 11 goals (nine goals, two assists) in 15 Premier League appearances - already more than any other Hornets player in the history of the competition.
Together, the strikers have scored 42 goals combined in league football in 2015 - 10 more than Sunderland have overall this year (32) - with 14 coming in the top flight since August.
Will Ryan Shawcross concede his first goal of the season? (West Ham v Stoke, 3pm Saturday)
Ryan Shawcross has become a rock in the Stoke City defence since his return from injury at the end of October, and is yet to concede a goal in the Premier League when he's been on the pitch.
This equates to 407 minutes since the defender last let a goal go past him, and aside from a 2-0 loss to Sunderland where Shawcross was sent off in the 47th minute, the Potters have kept four clean sheets in their last five top flight games.
With the Hammers suffering more injury woe this week, their attack will be looking a bit thin on the ground so another defensive lock-out for Shawcross and his side could well be on the cards.
Who will play in defence for Man United? (Bournemouth v Man United, 5.30pm Saturday)
Another game, another few names added to the Man United injury list. Their defence took another hit during Tuesday evening's loss to Wolfsburg, with Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling the latest additions to the treatment room.
Both are expected to miss the Premier League trip to Bournemouth this weekend, alongside fellow defenders Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw among others, with the Cherries on a high after their 1-0 win against Chelsea last weekend and will be wanting to test another top side live on Saturday Night Football.
Louis Van Gaal is likely to turn to his youngsters on Saturday, with Guillermo Varela debuting at right-back in midweek and teenager Cameron Borthwick-Jackson replacing Darmian just before half-time. Paddy McNair, who started against West Ham last weekend, could also be included while Daley Blind is likely to continue in the back line.
Will Remi Garde start Jack Grealish against Arsenal? (Aston Villa v Arsenal, 1.30pm Sunday)
Jack Grealish has returned from the wilderness and was back in training with the first team this week ahead of the visit of Arsenal live on Super Sunday, with the midfielder in contention to start.
"Like all other players training with the first team after the under-21 game, Jack is back and Jack is available for selection," manager Remi Garde said at his pre-match press conference. "He is in contention to start like 18 or 20 players. He is a talented young player but only Jack knows if he has learned."
The 20-year-old made 12 Premier League appearances prior to his spell with the development side, and scored once against Leicester in September.
Can Spurs extend their unbeaten Premier League run to 15 games? (Spurs v Newcastle, 4pm Sunday)
Tottenham are currently on an unbeaten run of 14 Premier League games - their best in the top-flight since March 1985 - and have not lost since the opening day of the season against Man United.
The north London side will be look to add another to their tally as they host Newcastle United on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports, and haven't gone 15 consecutive league games unbeaten since a 19-game run between December 1977 and March 1978.
However, there's every chance they could be stopped in their tracks this weekend after Steve McClaren's men picked up a confidence-boosting win against an in-form Liverpool last weekend, and have taken all three points on their last two trips to White Hart Lane.
Can West Brom stop a resurgent Liverpool? (Liverpool v West Brom, 4pm Sunday)
Liverpool suffered only their second loss under Jurgen Klopp last weekend, beaten by a much improved Newcastle side and there's no doubt they will be after retribution this weekend.
West Brom themselves are on the hunt for a fourth unbeaten Premier League game but the omens don't look good. The last time the Reds played in the top-flight following a loss the preview week, they thrashed Man City 4-1 and have won the last two of these league meetings at Anfield.
Liverpool will also be buoyed by the return of Philippe Coutinho to first team action, who hasn't played since that victory at the Etihad, although they will be without Daniel Sturridge for the next few weeks after he picked up another injury at St James' Park.
Who should be classed as the favourite? (Leicester v Chelsea, 8pm, Monday)
How the tides have turned for these two sides, with the current Premier League champions sitting in 14th while Leicester, who also finished 14th last season, currently occupying top spot in the table.
Indeed, it was at the King Power Stadium in April where Chelsea sealed their title, but it is a very different ball game on Monday Night Football, coming after last weekend's 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Leicester have only lost once this season at home to Arsenal during a 5-2 thriller in September.
