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 | 36 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 88 | 28 | +60 | 83 | WWWWL | |
| 2 | Manchester City | 35 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 87 | 33 | +54 | 82 | WWWWW | |
| 3 | Liverpool | 36 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 81 | 38 | +43 | 78 | WDLWL | |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 36 | 20 | 7 | 9 | 73 | 53 | +20 | 67 | LDWWD | |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 35 | 18 | 6 | 11 | 69 | 58 | +11 | 60 | LLLLW | |
| 6 | Newcastle United | 35 | 17 | 5 | 13 | 78 | 56 | +22 | 56 | WWLWW | |
| 7 | Chelsea | 35 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 70 | 59 | +11 | 54 | WWDLW | |
| 8 | Manchester United | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 52 | 51 | +1 | 54 | DWDDL | |
| 9 | West Ham United | 36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 56 | 70 | -14 | 49 | LDLLW | |
| 10 | AFC Bournemouth | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 52 | 63 | -11 | 48 | LWWLD | |
| 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 35 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 53 | 57 | -4 | 47 | WLLDL | |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 49 | 60 | -11 | 46 | LWLLD | |
| 13 | Fulham | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 51 | 55 | -4 | 44 | DDLWL | |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 35 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 45 | 57 | -12 | 40 | DWWWL | |
| 15 | Everton | 36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 38 | 49 | -11 | 37 | DWWWL | |
| 16 | Brentford | 36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 52 | 60 | -8 | 36 | DLWWD | |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest | 36 | 8 | 9 | 19 | 45 | 63 | -18 | 29 | WLLDL | |
| 18 | Luton Town | 36 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 49 | 78 | -29 | 26 | DLLLW | |
| 19 | Burnley | 36 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 39 | 74 | -35 | 24 | LDWDL | |
| 20 | Sheffield United | 36 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 35 | 100 | -65 | 16 | LLLLL |
