Six things to look out for this Premier League weekend

Will it prove to be a pivotal moment in the title race?

Liverpool can't afford to slip up this time

Liverpool supporters won’t want reminding, but their game against Chelsea on Sunday is very reminiscent of the situation five years ago when the Reds were surging towards the title. Everyone knows what happened then; a repeat slip-up might just be the nail in the coffin once again this time round.

Although currently top by two points, Jurgen Klopp’s side have played a game more than Man City. With dropped points a rarity among the top two this season, anything but a win at Anfield will be a massive blow.

On paper, given Chelsea’s dismal away record in 2019 - Maurizio Sarri’s team have lost four out of six away clashes – and Liverpool’s imperious home record, Klopp’s team are massive favourites going into the game. But Chelsea have already won at Anfield this season, with Eden Hazard scoring a superb solo goal to give the Blues victory in September’s Carabao Cup match – can the Belgian wizard provide another sucker punch at the worst possible time for Liverpool?

Squeaky bum-time for Man City

This time last year, a Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat at Liverpool for Man City was followed by the relinquishing of a two-goal lead and the opportunity to wrap up the title against fierce rivals Manchester United. But unlike last year when City had an insurmountable lead, this year’s title race is going down to the wire.

A flat performance and result at Tottenham in midweek has cranked up the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s team this weekend. To add to it, they play a Crystal Palace side who caused the upset of the season when their bold, counter-attacking style of play stunned City at the Etihad in December. City’s 18-game winning run in the league last season also ended with a goalless draw at Selhurst Park.

All in all, a tough test for Pep Guardiola’s side, but there’s no doubt that if City play to their maximum, they will win. Anything less, and the door will creak open for Palace… and for Liverpool.

Now or never for Cardiff

You can’t help but feel for Neil Warnock and Cardiff City. Valiant performances against Man City and Chelsea (where an incorrect refereeing decision cost them dear) have resulted in no points, at a time in the season where points is all that matters. Five points from safety with six games to go, you get the sense only a win will do for the Bluebirds at Burnley on Saturday.

Sean Dyche’s side are not quite out of trouble yet – they’re eight points off Cardiff but have played a game more, and could be dragged back into the dogfight if they lose and with games against Chelsea, Man City, Everton and Arsenal concluding their campaign, would 36 points be enough for the Clarets?

Quite possibly. But this game is all about Cardiff. A win, and they could potentially leapfrog Southampton by winning their game in hand against Brighton on Tuesday. A draw, and that fixture at the Amex is definitely a must-win. But a defeat would be fatal, and might just signal the end of the road for a side who’ve fought doggedly throughout this season. What’s more, Warnock and Cardiff are due a bit of luck – will they be on the receiving end at Turf Moor?

United results must match McTominay’s performances

If he hadn’t already, Scott McTominay announced himself well and truly as a Manchester United player against Barcelona in midweek.

The 22-year-old received the public endorsement of Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves after a game in which he added serenity to the United midfield in the mother of all high-pressure games.

Having impressed against Liverpool in February, the Scotland international scored his first senior goal in the Red Devils’ last Premier League outing, which eventually ended in defeat at Wolves.

Therefore, results will need to start coming in equal measure to the Scot’s impressive displays, but the West Ham game should be a perfect stage for that to occur.

Nervous Nellies before Napoli

If Arsenal’s record of two away league wins all season is anything to go by, they could be returning from the short journey north to FA Cup finalists Watford empty handed, never mind their Europa League return leg in Italy.

Centre-back Sokratis said last weekend following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Everton that they will need another four wins to secure Champions League football next season, but their subsequent away fixtures after Monday night come at Europa League-chasing Wolves and Leicester City and relegation-threatened Burnley.

The Hornets are also in the hunt with Nuno Espirito Santo and Brendan Rodgers’ side, and they will provide a physical test, much like they did last season in their 2-1 triumph over the Gunners, to Unai Emery’s men who face a season-defining week in both domestic and European matters.

Bouncing back from heartbreak

While Watford revelled after their FA Cup semi-final last weekend, Wolves will have to pick up the pieces from their Wembley heartbreak.

The potential impact of the defeat derailing Nuno Espirito Santo’s side’s season cannot be understated, while their away form in 2019 could also add to the nervous rumblings, with draws at Chelsea and Bournemouth the only points they have picked up on the road from five games.

However, they could rid supporters of those fears with a repeat performance of their 2-0 win over Southampton at Molineux in September.

The Saints still lie just a point above the relegation zone and will therefore harbour concerns of their own, offering up a battle of nerves between the two clubs this afternoon.