Graham Potter’s hour of reckoning arrives on Friday, February 3, when his expensively assembled Chelsea side lock horns with neighbours Fulham in a West London derby. The former Swansea and Brighton Hove Albion manager can ill afford any more slip ups as the six time English top flight champions try to ascend from mid-table obscurity to the upper echelons of the Premier League standings.
Three victories in ten EPL outings mean Potter is the subject of microscopic scrutiny from fans, social media and rivals. But the affable Englishman has so far escaped scathing criticism from owners, chairman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who have blown the water out of the transfer market by ploughing £500m into the Stamford Bridge club over two windows.
Friday night’s match up has come too early for British record £105m signing Enzo Fernandez but Ukrainian speed merchant Mykhailo Mudryk, French defender Benoit Badiashile, Portuguese half nine João Felix and Englishman Noni Madueke are all in contention to start for the 2012 and 2021 European champions. Recuperating injured stars Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Raheem Sterling are also available for selection.
EPL pacesetters Arsenal have an excellent opportunity to extend their advantage atop the standings when they travel to an Everton side reeling from the sacking of Frank Lampard in Saturday’s early kick off. Sean Dyce, the new man in the Goodison Park hot seat, has the onerous task of taking points off a Gunners side that has dropped points in only three games all season. Critically, Everton has lost £45m England youngster Anthony Gordon whereas Arsenal have signed Jorginho and Jacob Kiwior.
Reigning champions Manchester City face Tottenham Hotspur in the pick of this weekend’s fixtures on Sunday evening firmly aware that they needed a second half upsurge to overhaul the north Londoners 4-2 earlier this month. Spurs are without charismatic manager Antonio Conte as he underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder on Wednesday whereas City, titlists in four out of the last five seasons, are minus creative wingback João Cancelo who has been loaned to Bayern Munich after falling out with gaffer Pep Guardiola.
The managers of Carabao Cup finalists Manchester United and Newcastle United can land an early psychological blow ahead of the February 26 final when they face relegation threatened sides. United boss Eric Ten Haag will be chasing his 13th consecutive home victory when the Red Devils host Leeds United while Newcastle’s Eddie Howe defends third place at home to unpredictable West Ham United.
FRIDAY
Chelsea v Fulham
SATURDAY
Everton v Arsenal,
Aston Villa v Leicester City,
Brentford v Southampton,
Brighton Hove Albion v Bournemouth,
Manchester United v Crystal Palace,
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool,
Newcastle United v West Ham United
SUNDAY
Nottingham Forest v Leeds United,
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
