Tuesday 29 December 2015 09:54, UK
As Leicester face their next big test and Liverpool look to mount a top-four tilt, we look at the conclusion to the 19th round of Premier League fixtures.
Will Jurgen Klopp admit top-four aspirations? (Sunderland v Liverpool, Wednesday 7.45pm)
After Liverpool inflicted just the second league defeat on leaders Leicester on Boxing Day, boss Jurgen Klopp insisted that the top four is of "no interest", but should the Reds pick up another three points at relegation threatened Sunderland on Wednesday, then the charismatic German can certainly start to aim high.
Despite some inconsistent form, Liverpool are just three points behind Tottenham in fourth, and with Sunderland languishing at the wrong end of the table, Klopp will fancy his chances of at least keeping pace with fellow Champions League qualification chasers.
Sam Allardyce admitted his side need January reinforcements after another Sunderland defeat at Manchester City on Boxing Day, and if Allardyce's men defend like they did at the Etihad, Klopp and his players will likely have another reason to salute their travelling fans at the Stadium of Light.
Has the Leicester juggernaut been derailed? (Leicester v Manchester City, Tuesday 7.45pm)
They have defied their critics all season, sitting top of the pile at Christmas after being rock bottom 12 months ago, but could defeat at Liverpool on Boxing Day start the Leicester decline?
Experts have been insisting Leicester will fall away from the top of the table ever since Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez put the wheels in motion for the Foxes sensational early season form, and those voices will rear their ugly heads once again after Claudio Ranieri's side finally tasted their second league defeat of the season at Anfield.
A positive performance against title chasing City will silence those doubters, but with Manuel Pellegrini's men finding their form against Sunderland, but they may be without captain Vincent Kompany once again after he was forced to hobble off shortly after returning to action as a substitute against the Black Cats.
A recap of the questions before Monday's games...
Van Gaal's last chance to win Manchester United fans over? (Manchester United v Chelsea, Monday 5.30pm)
After his gamble to drop captain Wayne Rooney backfired as Manchester United slipped to their fourth straight defeat at Stoke on Saturday, Louis van Gaal's future as United continues to come under scrutiny.
This is the first time United have tasted four successive defeats since 2001, and Van Gaal's deflated response to questions over his future shows just how much the Dutchman is feeling the heat.
Chelsea will be without Diego Costa for their trip north after the 27-year-old's fifth yellow card of the season in the 2-2 draw against Watford earned him a suspension, but new boss Guus Hiddink will be buoyed by an improved showing against the Hornets, even if they couldn't muster a win.
Neither side are brimming with confidence, making it hard to pick a winner from what promises to be a tightly-fought encounter at Old Trafford.
Time running out for winless Villa? (Norwich v Aston Villa, Monday 3pm)
Despite a spirited showing in a 1-1 Boxing Day draw with West Ham, Aston Villa's winless run in the Premier League has stretched to 17 games - only four teams have ever had a longer such run in the competition's history.
Villa boss Remi Garde is fully aware that eight points at this juncture of the campaign is not good enough, and points on the road are essential now, especially against other relegation candidates.
The Canaries were brought crashing down to earth with defeat at Tottenham on Boxing Day, one week after beating Manchester United, and with just one point between them and the dreaded relegation zone boss Alex Neil will be targeting three points against a beleaguered Villa, who have to start taking risks to net that illusive victory.
Can Arsenal prove to supporters they won't blow title chances once again? (Arsenal v Bournemouth, Monday 5.30pm)
The scene was set. League leaders Leicester had slipped to just their second league defeat of the season at Liverpool ahead of the Gunners' Boxing Day kick-off at Southampton - an opponent who had taken just one point from their last five league matches.
However, defensive woes of old returned to Arsenal's display on the south coast, as they slipped to a surprise 4-0 defeat, producing none of the scintillating attacking play that has seen them tipped as potential title winners for the first time since 2004.
A home clash against a Bournemouth side who had to work hard for a point against Crystal Palace represents a perfect opportunity for Arsene Wenger's men to get their title tilt back on track, but in one of the most unpredictable Premier League seasons ever, you cannot rule out a fearless Cherries side taking something from their first trip to the Emirates.
Everton to find consistency against Stoke? (Everton v Stoke, Monday 3pm)
Roberto Martinez's side have produced some superb attacking play, Romelu Lukaku has come back a different beast after a summer of hard work, Gerard Deulofeu is producing the kind of form that saw him so highly regarded at Barcelona, while Ross Barkley is finally producing an end product.
However, some lacklustre defending has seen successive league victories prove to be elusive all season, and with Stoke fresh from a convincing win over Manchester United, Martinez's men will be up against it once again.
That's now United, Manchester City and Chelsea who have all been defeated by the Potters this campaign, and after a slow start, we are finally starting to see a new-look Stoke produce the goods, and Everton will have to be at their best to build on their last-gasp success at Newcastle with another three points.
Will Watford's deadly duo put Tottenham to the sword? (Watford v Tottenham, Monday 3pm)
Wasn't 4-4-2 supposed to be a thing of the past? Well, Chelsea added to the growing list of sides given a torrid afternoon by Watford's prolific strike partnership of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney as they helped Watford to snatch a 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Boxing Day.
A goal each from Deeney and Ighalo helped the Hornets stretch their unbeaten run to five and sit level on points with Manchester United in sixth.
Tottenham's impressive showing in a convincing win over Norwich on Boxing Day helped cement their place in the top four, but in-form Watford, complete with their dynamic strike duo, represent a different kind of opposition for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
Can Palace extend their unbeaten run to six? (Crystal Palace v Swansea, Monday 3pm)
A busy festive period often separates the early pacesetters from those who can mount a serious assault on the top six and, against a determined Bournemouth, Crystal Palace stretched their unbeaten run to five league games - their best run since April 2014 - displaying battling qualities that will please boss Alan Pardew.
Swansea showed they possess plenty of spirit with a vital three points against West Brom on Boxing Day, but in front of a raucous Palace crowd, the men from South Wales will be up against it when they travel to the capital.
Can the Hammers bring the Saints back down to earth? (West Ham v Southampton, Monday 5.30pm)
Nobody saw that coming! After picking up just one point from a possible 15, Southampton fans would not have fancied any late Christmas presents from Arsenal, but they were given a performance beyond anything they could have expected as they brushed aside a hapless Gunners in a 4-0 success at St Mary's.
The Hammers' early season form has subsided, and they are without a win in eight league games. A sluggish second half showing against Aston Villa on Boxing Day will have done little to win over fans unhappy with what they are seeing from their injury-hit side, but catching a buoyant Southampton cold after putting everything into their success against Arsenal will improve the mood around Upton Park.
Newcastle to continue fine run against West Brom? (West Brom v Newcastle, Monday 3pm)
Just two wins at the Hawthorns all season means West Brom have been unable to put any significant daylight between themselves and the bottom three, and after a meek display in a 1-0 defeat at Swansea on Boxing Day, can the Baggies improve on their own patch and grab a much needed three points?
West Brom have gone five successive Premier League games without a win for the first time under Tony Pulis, and despite suffering late heartache against Everton on Boxing Day, Newcastle win fancy their chances at the Hawthorns, having lost just once in their last seven against the Baggies.
But steve McClaren's side will be hoping to return to winning ways, with victories over Tottenham and Liverpool followed by a home draw against Villa and a last-gasp defeat to Everton.
