United cross town to City for a Manchester derby, while there’s a big old meeting of strugglers on Sunday lunchtime

It’s been a bad week for Steve Bruce. Saturday’s draw with Wolves means Newcastle have won just two of their last 15 league games, and are now hovering just above the drop zone. Bruce’s post-match comments – “unfortunately Matty didn’t get the directions on quick enough” – appeared to blame substitute Matt Ritchie for not passing on tactical instructions shortly before Wolves’ equaliser, which led to a training-ground argument between the pair this week. Ritchie has since apologised but morale seems to be low, particularly with mounting injuries. Callum Wilson, Miguel Almirón and Allan Saint-Maximin have scored more than half of Newcastle’s league goals this season; all three are sidelined. West Brom could hardly ask for a more favourable game, with Sam Allardyce facing another one of his former teams. The manager famously named his Costa Blanca villa ‘Casa St James’ after buying it with his £4m pay off from the Magpies. MB

Manchester City v Manchester United (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Liverpool v Fulham (Sunday 2pm)

Burnley v Arsenal (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Brighton v Leicester (Saturday, 8pm)

Aston Villa v Wolves (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Sheffield United v Southampton (Saturday, 3pm)

Chelsea v Everton (Monday 6pm)

West Ham v Leeds United (Monday, 8pm)

Continue reading...