The suspense of the Barclays Premier League is getting intense with the festive fixtures coming tick and fast.
Last weekend witnessed two shocking defeats with Chelsea and Manchester City both slipping to underdogs – while high-flying Leicester City continued their fairytale run.
Can the Foxes hold their own at the summit of the log? Or will Jose Mourinho suffer his ninth defeat of the season?
Here are four matchday 16 fixtures you can’t afford to miss this weekend.
- Manchester City vs. Swansea
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Kickoff: 4pm, Saturday
Head-to-head: Man City 6, Draw 1, Swansea 1
Match facts:
Manchester City have won 13 and lost two of their last 15 Barclays Premier League home matches.
Swansea City, who sacked manager Gary Monk during the week, have won one of their last eight away outings in the competition (W1 D2 L5).
Wilfried Bony has scored four goals in the last three BPL meetings between Man City and Swansea, three for the Welsh side and one in the most recent meeting as a Man City player.
- Bournemouth vs. Manchester United
Venue: Vitality Stadium
Kickoff: 6:30pm, Saturday
Head-to-head: Bournemouth 0, Draw 0, Man Utd 0
Match facts:
Bournemouth have played Manchester United eight times, all in cup competitions, and have won just once (W1 D2 L5). This victory was a shock FA Cup third round win under Harry Redknapp’s management in January 1984 (2-0).
Bournemouth have won one of their seven Barclays Premier League home matches (W1 D3 L3).
Man Utd have had eight goalless draws across all competitions in 2015, their highest tally in a calendar year since 2005 (10).
- Aston Villa vs. Arsenal
Venue: Villa Park
Kickoff: 2:30pm, Sunday
Head-to-head: Aston Villa 2, Draw 1, Arsenal 7
Match facts:
Villa have gone 14 matches without a win, the longest run without a victory in their league history (1888-present).
Arsenal have lost just two of their last 14 Barclays Premier League away matches (W10 D2 L2).
Arsenal have lost none of their last 16 top-flight visits to Villa Park (W9 D7).
- Leicester City vs. Chelsea
Venue: King Power Stadium
Kickoff: 9pm, Monday
Head-to-head: Leicester 2, Draw 2, Chelsea 6
Match facts:
Leicester City have won seven and lost one of their last 10 Barclays Premier League home matches.
Chelsea have won the last six BPL meetings with Leicester.
Jose Mourinho’s side have won one of their last eight league away matches (W1 D2 L5) and they go into this one in the familiar role as underdogs against a club now managed by the man Mourinho took over from for his first spell at Stamford Bridge.
