Round 21 of the English Premier League commences on Saturday, but several clubs will lose key players due to the 2017 African Cup of Nations – starting this Saturday as well. Two teams badly affected by the tournament – Leicester and Liverpool – face tough ties this weekend.
The reigning Premier League champions will be visited by the favorites to win this season’s title: Chelsea. The Blues still enjoy a comfortable five-point lead over second-placed Liverpool, but Hazard and Co. will be on a mission to dissect the Foxes in order to regain confidence after their 2-0 loss to Tottenham.
Unfortunately for Claudio Ranieri, he will have to make do without two key players: Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani. The Algerian duo have reported for international duty, as well as Liverpool ace Sadio Mane.
The Senegalese attacker has been a brilliant signing. It’s unfortunate that the Reds’ first game during Mane’s absence will be a clash with bitter rivals Manchester United. The Red Devils have also lost a key player to the 2017 AFCON – Eric Bailly – but will still have Zlatan, Mata, Pogba, and the rest to bag goals.
Mancester’s other big club, Manchester City, face a tricky test away to Everton. Arsenal, in need of a win, travel to second-from-bottom Swansea.
Here are all the U.S. listings for the Matchday 21 Premier League fixtures
Saturday, Jan. 14: Tottenham vs. West Brom at 4:30am PT/7:30am ET on SiriusXM FC, NBC Sports Live, NBC UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, NBCSN, NBC UNIVERSO NOW
Saturday, Jan. 14: Burnley vs. Southampton at 7:00am PT/10:00am ET on NBC Sports Live
Saturday, Jan. 14: Hull City vs. Bournemouth at 7:00am PT/10:00am ET on NBC Sports Live
Saturday, Jan. 14: Sunderland vs. Stoke at 7:00am PT/10:00am ET on Directv, NBC Sports Live
Saturday, Jan. 14: Swansea vs. Arsenal at 7:00am PT/10:00am ET on SiriusXM FC, NBC Sports Live, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, NBC UNIVERSO NOW, NBCSN, NBC UNIVERSO
Saturday, Jan. 14: Watford vs. Middlesbrough at 7:00am PT/10:00am ET on NBC Sports Live
Saturday, Jan. 14: West Ham vs. Crystal Palace at 7:00am PT/10:00am ET on NBC Sports Live
Saturday, Jan. 14: Leicester vs. Chelsea at 9:30 PT/12:30am ET on 620 WDAE, NBC UNIVERSO NOW, SiriusXM FC, NBC UNIVERSO, NBC Sports Live, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Sunday, Jan. 15: Everton vs. Man City at 5:30am PT/8:30am ET on NBC Sports Live, NBCSN, SiriusXM FC, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Sunday, Jan. 15: Man United vs. Liverpool at 8:00am PT/11:00am ET on Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, NBCSN, NBC Sports Live
*Click each fixture for more info
Here's the Premier League table. Expect any changes after this round?
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 82 | 26 | +56 | 77 | WWLWW | |
| 2 | Liverpool | 34 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 75 | 34 | +41 | 74 | LWLDW | |
| 3 | Manchester City | 32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 76 | 32 | +44 | 73 | WWWDD | |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 71 | 50 | +21 | 66 | WWDLW | |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 65 | 49 | +16 | 60 | LWDWL | |
| 6 | Manchester United | 33 | 16 | 5 | 12 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 53 | WDDLD | |
| 7 | Newcastle United | 33 | 15 | 5 | 13 | 69 | 54 | +15 | 50 | LWWDW | |
| 8 | West Ham United | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 54 | 63 | -9 | 48 | LLWDL | |
| 9 | Chelsea | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 61 | 57 | +4 | 47 | LWDWD | |
| 10 | AFC Bournemouth | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 49 | 60 | -11 | 45 | WLDLW | |
| 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 32 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 52 | 50 | +2 | 44 | DLDLW | |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 46 | 54 | -8 | 43 | LLDLD | |
| 13 | Fulham | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 50 | 54 | -4 | 42 | LWLLD | |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 44 | 56 | -12 | 39 | WWWLL | |
| 15 | Brentford | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 52 | 59 | -7 | 35 | WWDDD | |
| 16 | Everton | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 36 | 48 | -12 | 33 | WWLWD | |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 42 | 60 | -18 | 26 | LDLWD | |
| 18 | Luton Town | 34 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 47 | 75 | -28 | 25 | LLWLL | |
| 19 | Burnley | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 37 | 69 | -32 | 23 | WDLDD | |
| 20 | Sheffield United | 34 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 33 | 92 | -59 | 16 | LLLDL |
