It may be a limited programme of football games but that doesn’t make them any less important.
In fact, the picture at both the top and bottom end of the table could be a lot clearer in terms of trophies, European qualification and relegation – not to mention betting odds – come midweek.
WEEK 34 WEDNESDAY:
Chelsea vs Southampton
The onus on Chelsea is clear.
Defeat Southampton at home, something they failed to do last season, and the pressure will all fall back on the chasers, Spurs, 24 hours later.
Yet, a failure to see off the Saints will really throw open the race for the title.
With Southampton coming off a 10-day break and Chelsea off the back of a tireless FA Cup semi-final, this could be a leveller.
But Antonio Conte’s side were able to rest key men in their Wembley triumph while the Saints will have to improve on their last outing – a 3-0 home defeat to Man City.
WEEK 28 THURSDAY:
Arsenal vs Leicester City
The pressure on Arsenal has eased somewhat after their FA Cup success over Man City.
Their bid for a top four spot could be all but over, however, if they fail to win this one.
After their brave and exciting European adventure, Leicester return to the bread and butter of league action with a final few games before they relinquish their champions tag.
Craig Shakespeare’s fine start to his managerial career will surely see the Foxes offer him the role full-time at the end of the campaign.
If they can replicate the consistency they showed under predecessor Claudio Ranieri – and the short-term form they have produced under Shakespeare – then perhaps a return to European competition 18 months from now is not out of the question.
The Emirates would be a good venue to prove again they are more than one-season wonders.
Middlesbrough vs Sunderland
There are those who say both these clubs are doomed, regardless of this result.
Certainly, Sunderland seem all but down, while Boro retain a fighting, albeit slim, chance of survival.
Three points are essential in this one for the hosts who have failed to win a league game in 2017 and were hammered by Bournemouth on Saturday.
It may seem harsh but David Moyes has rarely seemed to be able to motivate the Wearsiders to the level required.
Aitor Karanka managed it at times before Christmas for the Teesiders, yet his dismissal and the appointment of an inexperienced interim manager in Steve Agnew have not changed anything.
In fact, they’ve largely got worse.
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur
This fixture last season provided one of the goals of the season with Dele Alli’s superb strike inspiring Spurs to a late win.
It was a tricky test then, with then boss Alan Pardew’s side on a good run, and it will be a tricky test now as Sam Allardyce has rejuvenated the Eagles over the past month, most notably with eye-catching wins at Anfield, Stamford Bridge and over Arsenal.
Mauricio Pochettino knows, however, that regardless of how Chelsea have fared the night before, his side must return home with maximum points to keep the pressure on at the top.
How they recover mentally and physically from their FA Cup semi-final defeat, in which they played well but suffered late heartache, will be key.
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