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 | GW | W | G | V | DV | DT | DG | P | Vorm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 35 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 85 | 28 | +57 | 80 | WWWVW | |
| 2 | Manchester City | 34 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 82 | 32 | +50 | 79 | WWWWW | |
| 3 | Liverpool | 35 | 22 | 9 | 4 | 77 | 36 | +41 | 75 | GVWVG | |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 35 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 73 | 52 | +21 | 67 | GWWGV | |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 67 | 54 | +13 | 60 | VVVWG | |
| 6 | Manchester United | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 52 | 51 | +1 | 54 | GWGGV | |
| 7 | Newcastle United | 34 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 74 | 55 | +19 | 53 | WVWWG | |
| 8 | Chelsea | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 65 | 59 | +6 | 51 | WGVWG | |
| 9 | West Ham United | 35 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 56 | 65 | -9 | 49 | GVVWG | |
| 10 | AFC Bournemouth | 35 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 52 | 60 | -8 | 48 | WWVGV | |
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 35 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 48 | 55 | -7 | 46 | WVVGV | |
| 12 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 52 | 57 | -5 | 44 | VVGVG | |
| 13 | Fulham | 35 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 51 | 55 | -4 | 43 | GVWVV | |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 35 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 45 | 57 | -12 | 40 | GWWWV | |
| 15 | Everton | 36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 38 | 49 | -11 | 37 | GWWWV | |
| 16 | Brentford | 35 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 52 | 60 | -8 | 35 | VWWGG | |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest | 35 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 42 | 62 | -20 | 26 | VVGVW | |
| 18 | Luton Town | 36 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 49 | 78 | -29 | 26 | GVVVW | |
| 19 | Burnley | 35 | 5 | 9 | 21 | 38 | 70 | -32 | 24 | GWGVG | |
| 20 | Sheffield United | 35 | 3 | 7 | 25 | 34 | 97 | -63 | 16 | VVVVG |
