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Premier League talking points: Norwich City on the brink while Liverpool chase record

Premier League talking points: Norwich on the brink while Liverpool chase record
© Reuters
The Canaries need to win against West Ham to have any chance of staying up.

The relegation battle in the Premier League takes centre stage this weekend, where the picture can become much clearer come Sunday night.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding the action scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Drop zone duels

Norwich manager Daniel Farke
Daniel Farke could see his side relegated (Andy Rain/NMC Pool/PA)

Norwich host West Ham on Saturday lunchtime where defeat will confirm relegation for Daniel Farke's side. The Canaries are 10 points adrift of safety with four games remaining. West Ham are in a stronger position but are far from safe themselves and David Moyes' outfit will be looking for three points to give their own survival battle a major boost. The Hammers currently sit just three points clear of the drop zone. Elsewhere, Aston Villa go in search of a first win in 11 against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth host Champions League-chasing Leicester and Watford meet Newcastle, fresh off their heavy defeat at Manchester City.

Record-breaking Reds?

Liverpool during their 3-1 defeat of Brighton
Liverpool still have their sights on a record points haul (Catherine Ivill/NMC Pool)

Liverpool took a step closer in their bid to break the record for most points in a Premier League season with the midweek win at Brighton, but they must keep it up to overhaul Manchester City's total of 100 in the 2017-18 season. They will be without influential captain Jordan Henderson, who was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign by a knee injury. Jurgen Klopp's side currently sit on 92 points with four games to go, including tricky clashes at Arsenal and at home to Chelsea.

The Champions League chase

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard is eyeing Champions League football (Peter Cziborra/NMC Pool)

The battle for Champions League places is very much alive with just two points separating Chelsea in third and Manchester United in fifth, with Leicester sandwiched between the pair. United have won four and drawn the other of their five games since the return and have a favourable run-in, although they do end the season with what could prove to be a pivotal clash at Leicester.  Chelsea still have to go to Liverpool but have also been in impressive form since the restart with the defeat at West Ham their only blip.

The VAR divide

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes scores a penalty against Aston Villa after a VAR check
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes scores the penalty that should not have been awarded (Oli Scarff/NMC Pool)

The Video Assistant Referee system is again likely to be subject to intense scrutiny over the weekend after a succession of contentious decisions on Thursday night. Penalties awarded to Manchester United during their 3-0 victory over Aston Villa and to Southampton as they drew 1-1 with Everton were wrongly awarded. Meanwhile, Tottenham's penalty shouts were dismissed after Harry Kane was pushed by Bournemouth's Joshua King during a 0-0 draw. The Premier League has since conceded that each of the decisions was incorrect. The use of VAR has long been a divisive topic and criticism will gather more pace if there are more issues this weekend.

North London clubs clash

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho's side have been inconsistent (Richard Heathcote/NMC Pool)

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosts this season's second north London derby of the season, with both sides chasing European football. If Jose Mourinho's side are to achieve that then victory will be crucial as their indifferent form since returning has seen them win just two of their five games, while Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side have won three of their last four, drawing the other, to sit one place above Spurs in eighth.

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Manchester United pair Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes celebrate scoring against Aston Villa on July 9, 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City97202091123
2Liverpool97111751222
3Arsenal95311710718
4Aston Villa95311611518
5Chelsea95221911817
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton94411612416
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest9441117416
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs94141810813
9Brentford94141818013
10Fulham93331212012
11Bournemouth93331111012
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle9333910-112
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham93241316-311
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd9324811-311
15Leicester CityLeicester92341317-49
16Everton92341016-69
17Crystal Palace9135611-56
18Ipswich TownIpswich9045920-114
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves90271225-132
20Southampton9018619-131


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