Premier League fixtures: Table, preview & schedule for Week 29

After a weekend broken up by FA Cup fixtures, the Premier League returns in earnest on Saturday with Arsenal's lunchtime trip to West Brom.

Football on TV: The full UK fixtures

It is a must-win fixture for the Gunners, who have two games in hand on Liverpool and one on the rest of the top four as a result of their progress in the cup but have fallen behind in the race for a Champions League spot as a result.

A win will see them make up ground on at least one of Liverpool or Manchester City, who face off in the biggest game of the weekend at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Here is the table as it stands and full schedule for the weekend ahead...

---

Saturday, March 18

---

Getty

West Brom vs Arsenal

The Gunners relieved some of the pressure they have come under by thrashing Lincoln City to reach the FA Cup semi-finals but now need to get back on track in the Premier League.

The good news is that if they win here and get a helping hand from Manchester City against Liverpool, they can move within two points of the Reds while having two games in hand on them.

Crystal Palace vs Watford

Crystal Palace have won two games in a row since halting their awful start to 2017 and could take advantage of tough fixtures for relegation rivals Hull City and Middlesbrough by winning here.

Their ability to do so will probably depend on what Watford side turns up at Selhurst Park. The inconsistent Hornets are without a win in a month since following up a shock win at Arsenal with a victory over Burnley.

Sunderland vs Burnley

This is nothing less than a must-win match for Sunderland against a Burnley team still without an away win this season. The Black Cats are six points adrift of safety and can probably wave goodbye to the Premier League if they fail to take three points here.

While Sean Dyche's men are much stronger at home, however, they have showed signs of improvement on the road and were unfortunate in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

Everton vs Hull City

Marco Silva has made a promising start at Hull but keeps running into tough fixtures, and this is another. Everton have lost just once in the league this season at Goodison Park and have netted 18 goals in their past five games on home turf.

The Portuguese will probably hope Crystal Palace continue to stumble at home, where they have the worst record in the league, against Watford and that his Tigers can get anything at all out of the Toffees before moving on to two winnable home games.

Stoke City vs Chelsea

The job is the same once again for Chelsea; just like at West Ham in their last Premier League game, they will go to Stoke City intending to grind out another win that takes them a step closer to the title.

Mark Hughes's side will be no pushover but they lack attacking potency and you would bet on the Blues above any other team in the country to come through in a tight game.

West Ham vs Leicester City

They have recovered enough to avoid relegation trouble but West Ham's first season at what was formerly known as the Olympic Stadium has been pretty miserable. The Hammers have been flat-track bullies at home, a far cry from the days of upsetting the big boys at Upton Park.

They have won against four of the worst five away teams in the Premier League and face the fifth in Leicester City here. After starting with back-to-back home victories, Craig Shakespeare will set about trying to correct the Foxes' winless record on the road.

Bournemouth vs Swansea City

Avoiding defeat at Hull last time out would have been a big boost to Swansea City's survival hopes but they could not manage it and face another six-pointer at Bournemouth.

Win and Paul Clement's men hit 30 points and draw level with the Cherries, nearing job done; lose and Eddie Howe's men are all but safe and another rival is out of reach.

---

Sunday, March 19

---

Middlesbrough vs Manchester United

This is a challenging game for both teams but they are also both running out of opportunities to achieve their respective ambitions and could desperately use three points here.

Manchester United's attempt to compete on multiple fronts is threatening to cost them in their bid to qualify for the Champions League, which is looking more and more of a distant prospect. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are now three points off safety with a number of their rivals finding form just as they have lost theirs.

Tottenham vs Southampton

Tottenham's fantastic home record has not really received the recognition it deserves; Spurs have won 12, drawn two and lost none of their 14 league fixtures at White Hart Lane so far this season.

That can mostly be credited to a superb defensive record of just seven goals against in those matches and with Harry Kane bang in form, this looks a tough proposition for Southampton.

Manchester City vs Liverpool

The weekend closes with the biggest fixture of the weekend at the Etihad Stadium, where both Liverpool and Manchester City will be looking to strengthen their bids for Champions League qualification.

Live & FREE football on TV this week

It is probably bigger for the visitors given their excellent record against the rest of the top six and questionable ability to put away the division's lesser lights - after this, the highest-ranked opponent they will face is Everton (seventh), which, bizarrely, may be more of a challenge for them than an advantage.