Liverpool have been sensational under the guidance of Arne Slot, setting a pace at the top of the log which has established them as firm favourites to win the championship for just the second time since 1990.
This weekend they will face a tricky away test against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in London late on Saturday afternoon – with the Bees renowned for enjoying a strong home record.
“We’re playing at home, the Gtech, our fortress, and we need to build on that. It’s [beating Liverpool] a big goal but I believe we can do it. We know it will be difficult, we’re facing an incredibly good team, and they’ve been unbelievable this season so far,” said Brentford boss Thomas Frank.
The round gets going earlier on Saturday at St James Park, as Newcastle United host Bournemouth, while the day also features a London derby between West Ham United and Crystal Palace, as well as Arsenal hosting their former manager Unai Emery, and his Aston Villa side.
“We have to be positive, and we have to understand our way. The table is very tight, we have a lot of teams within a few points [of each other],” said Emery, with the Lions having struggled to replicate the outstanding form they enjoyed last season.
A busy Sunday is headlined by the Manchester clubs, with United hosting Brighton & Hove Albion in the afternoon, while City will be away to relegation scrappers Ipswich Town at the Portman Road Stadium in the early evening.
“We need to show the right mentality, first of all. It is a chance to show our togetherness, our spirit and resilience. Our organisation is going to have to be really good and we are going to have to show bravery in moments of the game as well to take them on in the way we want to,” said Tractor Boys manager Kieran McKenna.
The round closes out on Monday evening at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers for a rematch of one of the best games the Premier League has produced this season: the teams played out an eight-goal thriller back in August, with the Blues winning 6-2 at Molineux Stadium.
Watch the matches on DStv or DStv Stream.
Broadcast details
Saturday 18 January
- 14:30: Newcastle United v AFC Bournemouth – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 17:00: Brentford v Liverpool – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 17:00: Leicester City v Fulham – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 3 and SuperSport Maximo 1
- 17:00: West Ham United v Crystal Palace – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1 and SuperSport OTT2
- 19:30: Arsenal v Aston Villa – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
Sunday 19 January
- 16:00: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 3 and SuperSport Maximo 1
- 16:00: Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 16:00: Nottingham Forest v Southampton – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1
- 18:30: Ipswich Town v Manchester City – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
Monday 20 January
- 22:00: Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers – LIVE on SuperSport Grandstand, SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2