The North London Derby, Mourinho chases first Newcastle win and what to watch out for in EPL Week 27

Topics: English Premier League, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Leicester City

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City may be better off at the top of the league but the excitement is still unravelling.

Here are four talking points as we build up to Matchday 27 of the English Premier League.

The North London Derby

A real delicacy is in store for fans as Saturday’s lunchtime game will be between two London rivals. With just four points separating fifth-placed Tottenham and sixth-placed Arsenal, a real spectacle could be on the cards. Spurs striker Harry Kane has done an amazing job so far making the “One Season Wonder” label slapped on him seem like a mere fallacy.

The forward recorded his 100th Premier League goal for Tottenham after fighting tooth and nail with his side to ensure that spoils were shared with Liverpool in the previous encounter. Although Saturday’s opponents may not come off as intimidating as Jürgen Klopp’s side, the Gunners have new armor in their citadel to make life very uncomfortable for Spurs.

The arrival of Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang have given a new definition to Arsenal’s set-up as seen in their 5-1 victory over Everton last week. Despite winning just three of their 13 away matches in the Premier League, Arsene Wenger side may see their fortunes turn with the new additions coming into Saturday's fixture.

Still, it will certainly take some doing to break down Tottenham’s unyielding defence that has conceded just nine times this season - the second best for any team in the campaign so far. However, with this particular fixture producing more goals than any other in the Premier League era (34), the firewall could easily be overridden if history is to go by.

Mourinho chases first Newcastle win

Despite having three spells in England, Jose Mourinho has never tasted victory against the Magpies at the St James' Stadium. In his nine visits to Tyneside with Chelsea, the Portuguese manager won just twice: all coming in the League Cup back in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

Nevertheless, Jose Mourinho looks poised to sprinkle some sparkle on this gloomy history as he takes on an old nemesis, Rafa Benitez. Addressing the press earlier on Friday, the former Real Madrid and Chelsea manager lamented his ill-luck in the premiership against Newcastle.

"It's true. I think it's the only stadium in the Premier League [where I've not won]. Also Huddersfield but only [managed a game there] once.

"I think it's difficult, honestly, I've always felt beautiful matches but difficult. I like to go there and like the feeling of going to Mr. Robson's home.

"I like St James' Park, I think it's really nice and the atmosphere. The fans are good and enthusiastic. I like the Geordies.

"I lost and drew a few times [at Newcastle in the Premier League]. I hope the result is different but I know the characteristics of the game are not going to be different.

The arrival of Alexis Sanchez in the January transfer window has boosted the chances of Mourinho's side to try and close the gap between themselves and table-toppers Manchester City. The Chilean has already attracted two Man of the Match awards in his three games for the Red Devils and got his debut goal in the Matchday 26 fixture with Huddersfield.

Is he the final piece in the jigsaw for Jose’s first Premier League win at the St James' on Saturday?

Van Dijk returns to the St Mary's

Saturday's match-up will see Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Vigil Van Dijk all making a return to the house that defined their Premier League careers. The trip will be the latter’s first visit to the St Mary’s Stadium after he completed a world-record transfer for a defender earlier in January.

Another household name that might be having sweet dreams about the game will be the energetic Sadio Mane. The Senegalese has been a real torn in the flesh of the Saints whenever an encounter is tabled. Of his last six appearances at the St Mary’s Stadium, the forward has registered six goals.

With the Premier League’s second topscorer Mohamed Salah also in fine form, there is every cause for alarm as far as this game is concerned. Southampton is currently placed 15th on the league log and an unfavorable result could see them being demoted into the relegation zone.

The Mahrez situation

Riyad Mahrez is in contention to face Manchester City on Saturday after his purported move to join the Citizens fell through on Deadline Day in the winter’s transfer window. Following the incident, the Algerian international allegedly exempted himself from training as a means to protest against how Leicester’s hierarchy handled the failed move.

The forward, however released a statement to address the misgivings surrounding the debacle ahead of Leicester's showdown with City on Saturday.

"Over the past ten days many people claiming to be my friend have spoken about me and things they know nothing about.

"Off the back of that many people and journalists have made assumptions without properly checking the story, so I would like to clarify that all those so-called assumptions of why I was absent are completely untrue.

"Myself nor my advisors have ever made any statements about that so all presumptions made are totally without foundation. Leicester City were always aware of my whereabouts and had knowledge of my thinking either directly or via my advisors.

"I have been a part of the Leicester City team that has achieved much success including promotion to the Premier League and being champions of the League."

Leicester City manager Claude Puel has, nonetheless, ruled out the midfielder for the upcoming fixture even after he reported for duty on Friday. The Foxes manager believes his star man isn't ready yet.

"I think Riyad will be not available for the Saturday game against Manchester City," Puel told reporters at his pre-match news conference.

"I hope he can get his head right and come back with us and work hard. The best way is to come back and enjoy his football.

"Riyad is a magnificent player. He loves football, he loves his relationship with his team-mates, he enjoys his football. I think he needs to come back, to play and touch the ball.

"He loves his football; it is important he comes back."

Aside the Mahrez fiasco, there is a lot more to look forward to with Manchester City looking to make their numbers against the Foxes more appealing. The league leaders have lost 67 per cent of their matches against Leicester in the Premier League (4 out of 6), the club’s highest percentage of home defeats against any side in the Premier League. Will there be a Vardy Party or nah? It will certainly be interesting to see at the Ethihad!