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At the start of the season, few would have expected either West Ham United or Aston Villa to be in a relegation scrap. Both teams have endured as opposed to enjoyed their seasons so far, and this game could be crucial for setting the standard for the remaining matches. The Hammers need a win to ease pressure on David Moyes; Villa need some positive momentum are slowing down from a fast start to life under Unai Emery.

West Ham United News

West Ham will come into this missing three of their most important players. Lukasz Fabianski sits out with a fractured cheekbone, and is unlikely to play anytime soon. Despite his advancing years, he has been an excellent signing for the Irons and they will miss his leadership on the pitch.

Vladimir Coufal also misses out, with the Czech full-back failing to live up to his excellent form last year. Still, he is an important player in the Moyes way of playing and it has hurt West Ham not having him in the first-team. Another big miss will be Michail Antonio, who looks set to miss out.

Despite having arguably his worst season for the Hammers, Antonio still provides something that cannot be easily replaced.

Aston Villa News

Villa are also short of a few of their most important players, with the likes of Diego Carlos out long-term. More medium-term absences include Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara, both of whom are unlikely to be back in first-team contention for a number of weeks. This could mean a spot opens up in the squad again for Leander Dendoncker.

Verdict

Both teams have not exactly set the world on fire with their recent performances, and this could be a game between two sides low in confidence. West Ham, though, have enjoyed a long unbeaten run against Villa – nine games – and will be confident of at least avoiding a defeat at home.

SCORE: 2-2

A few months ago, this might have felt like a potential title decider. Before the World Cup break, Newcastle United were a dark horse for the title, while Manchester City looked out of sorts. Now, the Citizens have the chance to keep pace with Arsenal at the top, knowing they have already gone to London and won.

If they see off a stuttering Newcastle team, the pressure is on at The Emirates.

Manchester City News

The home team will not be missing too many players, with only Aymeric Laporte and John Stones set to miss out. Laporte has missed much of the season, while Stones is also out after another injury-hit campaign. Outside of that, though, Pep Guardiola’s only concern will be picking the right team for the second leg against RB Leipzig.

Leipzig play on Friday, so expect Pep to ring the changes here ahead of a crucial week.

Newcastle United News

The Toon might not have many injuries, but they are likely to be missing a key player in Bruno Guimares. Having watched their team get beaten handily by Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Final, Newcastle need to find form again and fast.

They have been poor since the turn of the year, and have lost some pretty big matches. They arrive here with a fully fit team, but not much in the way of hope that they can pull off a meaningful upset against what looks to be the champions-elect.

Verdict

This should not be a tough game for City. Newcastle have seen the wheels fall off and, like many Eddie Howe sides in the past, appear to have run out of energy ahead of the second half of the season. It might be a tight game in terms of score, but City will have too much for a Newcastle team who look out of ideas.

SCORE: 3-1

The Premier League loves to throw up big games every weekend, and this tie between Newcastle and Brighton should fit that bill comfortably. Both teams come into this game in an odd run of form, with Newcastle only winning one of their last six. Brighton have won three, but both teams are struggling a little for form and could use the points.

Newcastle News

The Toon need the points because their top four chase is fading fast. A 2-0 reverse at home to Liverpool has left them both missing their goalkeeper Tom Pope and also missing their confidence. Earlier on in the season, the Magpies looked like one of the form teams in England with a system that worked well for them allowing for easy and effective control of the game.

However, Newcastle have lost much of their previous form and now look a shadow of their former selves. Goals are hard to come by at the moment, and they are also conceding more having had one of the best defences in the league.

Brighton News

Brighton have fared better than Newcastle, but have endured the dreaded win, draw, and loss in their last three games. Their last result, a home defeat, was a big surprise and left the Seagulls looking for answers. New coach Roberto di Zerbi has arguably improved the club over what Graham Potter was able to produce, but they do look a touch more combustible.

Already, the Italian tactician has made noises about being unhappy. Another defeat here could see Brighton lose pace with the European qualifying teams, which would likely cause the divide to open further.

Verdict

Both teams need a result, and that desperation can lead to some mistakes on the part of both sides. Newcastle need to get it together soon, but this could be a tough game for them as they face off against a tough side that know how to counter Newcastle’s style.

SCORE: 2-2

It must be hard to come through the Southampton academy, with fans desperate for the ‘next Matt le Tissier’ to shine through. James Ward-Prowse might not have the goalscoring prowess of the Saints legend, but he has established himself as an international standard midfielder.

Capable of scoring and setting teammates in live play and especially from dead balls, few players have been compared to David Beckham with such justification before. And like the former England legend, what Ward-Prowse lacks in pace and power he makes up for with incredible technical and tactical smarts.

What makes James Ward-Prowse worth watching?

For Ralph Hasenhüttl, few midfielders in England suit his system more. The Saints number eight has contributed 8 goals and 5 assists in just 29 league games, all starts. He is a more or less ever-present for Saints. Capable of playing in central midfield as well as doing a shift at full-back, Ward-Prowse is a versatile player who has the passing, technique, and positioning to play just about anywhere he could be asked.

In short, he is a burst of pace away from being a player who competes at the very highest level of football.

Things to improve for James Ward-Prowse

If you were to look at Ward-Prowse, you might wonder where he can improve. His passing is sharp yet ambitious, he is consistent, he works hard on both sides of the ball, and he retains tactical influence. He also tackles, works back, keeps the ball well, and can compete excellently in the air.

Add in incredible long distance shooting and set-piece delivery, and the main thing Ward-Prowse needs to add is a touch of physicality. With a small bit more athleticism, he could hold his own even more in midfield and burst by players with an extra yard of pace. Even if he was merely to become more consistent, though, Ward-Prowse has all the makings of a long-term fixture within the Premier League.

Seen as a flighty and lightweight winger in the past, Harvey Barnes has developed into a key player for Leicester City in the last eighteen months. At just 23 years of age, he has started in 22 league games for Leicester, and was also crucial in their European run which ended with defeat to Slavia Prague.

In the league, he has contributed a very impressive nine goals so far in the season. A talented wide player who can come inside and finish with aplomb, he uses his stocky build well to fight with full-backs.

What makes Harvey Barnes worth watching?

For one, he can play in a wide variety of roles, regularly playing on the left-hand side of attack or off the forward for the Foxes. His passing is excellent, too, and has become a regular contributor for teammates. He avoids getting involved in overplaying, too, and tends to be useful for laying off forwards like Jamie Vardy and playing in teammates with short, sharp passing.

His quality on the ball is excellent, and his contribution in goals and assists has steadily improved, ensuring he remains a key part of Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Things to improve for Harvey Barnes

For Barnes, the main limit stems from his inability to use his physicality elsewhere. Despite being energetic and willing, he often fails to track the opposition well enough and can be caught out making poor decisions. He also tends to be a poor crosser of the ball for someone with such quality, albeit he often plays with his weaker foot on the outside.

However, for Barnes, using some of that stocky strength and charisma going forward to help out going back the way would help to add another layer of quality to his game. Given his improvement in the last year-plus, though, his progression has been highly impressive.