The EPL will be back in full swing this weekend although some games have been postponed due to teams featuring in the FA Cup.

Bar Manchester City being labeled as champions-elect, there are serious battles for positions in both the top and bottom halves of the English domestic league. With just nine matches left to be played in the season, none of the sides involved is aiming to fluff its lines and donate points to opponents as if it were Christmas.The stakes are really high – most essentially in the relegation zone as well as the last three spots left to be won in the top-four race.

Bournemouth vs West Brom: Cherries seek safe passage at the expense of relegation-bound visitors

With just six points separating Eddie Howe’s side and the relegation zone, approaching this encounter with any notion of complacency will be more or less suicidal. The hosts of the upcoming encounter surrendered a 1-0 lead against Spurs last week and subsequently lost the game by 4-1.

This has made the upcoming clash more important than it should be as there’s the tendency of Bournemouth consolidating their spot in the English top-flight league for at least one more season should they win. West Brom, on the other hand, seems to have thrown in the towel in the fight to stay up with nine games left to be played.

The bottom-placed side has accumulated six successive losses in the league, with its last win dating as far back as January 13 in the home game versus Brighton. 


Huddersfield vs Crystal Palace: The Terriers target first-league double over Palace

Both clubs are not immune to the vicious fight currently going on at the bottom-half of the Premiership table. With 31 points after 30 games, Huddersfield currently sits 13th on the league log whereas Crystal Palace is currently languishing at 18th with the 27 points they have amassed.

After falling to a 3:0 defeat to the hosts earlier this season, Roy Hodgson’s team will aim to prevent a possible double victory for the hosts for the first time in the 20 encounters between the two clubs. A win for the former England boss could be a step in the right direction for his side who is yet to win a game in seven successive outings. 

Liverpool vs Watford: Klopp’s men out to prevent an undesirable record

Liverpool and Watford will feature in the last of the Matchday 31 games scheduled to be played on Saturday, March 16. The Reds approach the game on the back of a defeat at Old Trafford and will seek to make amends as soon as possible.

However, should the Anfield club be pinned inside their own house, it will be the first time ever that they have lost two games on the bounce since Jurgen Klopp took over the reins as manager. The last time Liverpool lost twice on consecutive occasions was under Brendan Rogers in 2015.

10th-placed Watford, on the other hand, will aim to have one of their best days as they’ve endured a topsy-turvy ride thus far. The Hornets have won on three occasions, lost twice and have drawn once in their last six games.

All in all, it will be interesting how they handle the potency of Liverpool’s attacking trio – Salah, Mane, and Firmino. The first of the aforementioned has racked up 24 goals and eight assists in the Premiership this season.

With joint-top scorer Harry Kane picking up an injury, the Mohamed Salah could easily establish a comfortable lead as he seeks to clinch the top goalscorer accolade at the end of the season. 

Here is the other active Matchday 31 games to be played:

 

Match details, result and original broadcast info

Stoke City 1 - 2 Everton

March 17, 2018 11:00amBet365 Stadium (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)

This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.

Live TV coverage and streaming in United States

Everton TV
Sport 24
NBC Sports Gold
TalkSport International

 

Match details, result and original broadcast info

Stoke City 1 - 2 Everton

March 17, 2018 11:00amBet365 Stadium (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)

This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.

Live TV coverage and streaming in United States

Everton TV
Sport 24
NBC Sports Gold
TalkSport International

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