Just six Premier League matches take place over the weekend due to the winter-break – but it is still set to be an eventful few days. But what are the main talking points ahead of the next round of Premier League fixtures? Scroll down and click through the pages as we preview a key weekend of top flight action:
5. A win needed for very different reasons at Villa Park
Aston Villa need the points to boost their survival hopes while Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham want to close the gap on the top four to one point ahead of Chelsea’s Monday night clash with Manchester United. Photo: Marc Atkins
6. Could Villa’s key man be away in the summer?
Jack Grealish has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United this week and former teammate Alan Hutton believes the 24-year-old will be thinking about a move to a higher-end club. Photo: Shaun Botterill
7. Newcastle duo out. Triple Arsenal boost
Andy Carroll and Jonjo Shelvey are out of United’s trip to the Emirates while Dwight Gayle and Yoshinori Muto are touch and go. For the Gunners, it’s a triple boost as Sead Kolasinac, Reiss Nelson and Bukayo Saka declared fit. Photo: Ian MacNicol
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8. Can the Magpies earn a surprise victory?
While ex-Newcastle striker Michael Owen believes Arsenal will secure three points, the 40-year-old has hinted Allan Saint-Maximin is the key to the Magpies this season, calling him a “rare talent”. Photo: GLYN KIRK