Manchester
\nManchester City could move 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday but erstwhile challengers Chelsea are looking nervously over their shoulders after a slump in form.
\nPep Guardiola\u2019s side travel to Southampton on Saturday looking for their 13th consecutive league win, with second-placed Liverpool not in action until the following day.
\nBut the race for the top four is hotting up, with third-placed Chelsea suddenly vulnerable after picking up just three points in their past four games.
\nAt the other end of the table, Watford host Norwich in a high-stakes relegation battle.
\nAFP Sport takes a look at some of the talking points ahead of the weekend\u2019s action.
\nTottenham are yet to suffer a league defeat under Antonio Conte after their incredible 3-2 victory against Leicester in midweek, in which Steven Bergwijn scored twice in stoppage-time.
\nSpurs are desperate to qualify for the Champions League after missing out for two years in a row and they now find themselves just one point behind fourth-placed West Ham with three games in hand before their trip to Stamford Bridge.
\nConte, who has called for reinforcements in the January transfer window, was proud of his side\u2019s attitude after the incredible turnaround at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t give up,\u201d said the Italian, who took over in early November. \u201cThis must be our philosophy — don\u2019t give up and fight until the end.\u201d
\nBut Thomas Tuchel faces a battle to rediscover Chelsea\u2019s mojo, unable to hide his frustrations over his under-performing forwards, including record signing Romelu Lukaku.
\nThe Blues topped the Premier League table early last month but a dismal run of just two wins from nine top-flight games since has left their title challenge in tatters.
\nGerman boss Tuchel, whose team are eight points ahead of Tottenham having played four more games, knows he must stop the rot or risk the season unravelling.
\nDavid Moyes takes West Ham to Manchester United on Saturday seeking a rare win at Old Trafford to boost his team\u2019s top-four chances and deal a blow to his former club.
\nWest Ham, who have punched above their weight this season, are currently fourth in the table but could slip to seventh if they lose and Tottenham and Arsenal both win this weekend.
\nOld Trafford has not been a happy hunting ground for the Hammers in recent years — they have not won there in the league since 2007.
\nBut United, who were indebted to goalkeeper David de Gea for a string of saves in their midweek 3-1 win at Brentford, have not convinced under interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
\nIn-form West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen will fancy his chances against the home side\u2019s leaky defence even though United have the firepower to hurt opponents.
\nNorwich have appeared doomed to relegation all season but on Friday they have a chance to escape the drop zone if they beat fellow strugglers Watford.
\nThe Canaries, who replaced manager Daniel Farke with Dean Smith in November after a terrible start to the campaign, are still favourites to make an immediate return to the Championship but at least have hope.
\nNorwich garnered just two points after their opening 10 games of the season, with a meagre three goals to show for their efforts.
\nBut Smith said last week\u2019s 2-1 win against Everton had given players a \u201cspring in their step\u201d as they prepare for their trip to Vicarage Road.
\n\u201cI said before the Everton game to the players that it wasn\u2019t quite the \u2018be all and end all\u2019 game, but it was getting that way,\u201d said Smith.
\nThe downside is that Norwich have played more matches than all of their relegation rivals — bottom club Burnley have four games in hand but are only two points behind.
\nClaudio Ranieri\u2019s Watford, who drew with Newcastle last week, are also desperately in need of a victory, one place above the relegation zone after failing to win since November.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Manchester Manchester City could move 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday but erstwhile challengers Chelsea are looking nervously over their shoulders after a slump in form. Pep Guardiola\u2019s side travel to Southampton on Saturday looking for their 13th consecutive league win, with second-placed Liverpool not in action until the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":240051,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[3245,2819,3246],"class_list":{"0":"post-240044","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-chelsea","9":"tag-premier-league","10":"tag-stumble"},"yoast_head":"\n