A second night of top-drawer top-flight soccer features four matches and three of the current top four. We have a separate liveblog focusing entirely on Liverpool v Leicester, though that won’t stop me keeping a beady eye on it as well. So let’s see what we’ve got to look forward to, shall we?
Bournemouth v Chelsea (7.45pm)
Gonzalo Higuain is expected to make his league debut for Chelsea tonight after his recent transfer from Juventus. Callum Wilson, another striker who has been linked with Chelsea in this transfer window, is doubtful with a knee injury. “Callum’s going to be a doubt for the game,” said Eddie Howe. “It’s a knee problem, but we are going to wait and see. We are going to give him all the time he needs to try and get fit for this game.”
Liverpool v Leicester City (8pm)
Liverpool would go seven points clear at the top of the table if they win, but will beware Jamie Vardy, who has scored in his last five games against them. “Jamie is a fantastic striker. It’s quality, the speed he has, the finishing skills he has,” says Jurgen Klopp. “He’s a massive threat and he always was, but a few times we made it pretty easy for him. We expect a very dangerous opponent. They have quality, it’s a super team.” Claude Puel meanwhile has been eulogising about Virgil van Dijk. “He is now a modern defender at a very high level,” says the Frenchman. “At Liverpool, he has took another dimension. He is a fantastic player. My feeling about him doesn’t change with Liverpool. He is strong, powerful, fast, technical, he can play under pressure without a problem. It is fantastic. At Southampton he was the best defender in the world, but he confirmed it I think with Liverpool.”
Southampton v Crystal Palace (7.45pm)
Southampton and Crystal Palace are level on 22 points, with the latter ahead on goal difference and only the bottom three below them, which makes this a hugely important game for both sides. “It is too early to talk about six-pointer games,” says Roy Hodgson, whose Palace team will be out to avenge their 2-0 home defeat to the Saints in September. “There are still 15 matches left to play, and that’s an awful lot of football. There are 45 points left to play for, and normally 37 or 38 points keep you in the league.” Ralph Hasenhuttl meanwhile is a big Crystal Palace fan: “Roy Hodgson is a very good manager with a clear plan,” he said. “It’s tactically a very interesting game, against a very well-organised well-balanced team. So we need very good solutions with and without the ball, we had a lot of things to show the players. We’ve had a good mixture of physically intense work on the pitch and good mind-work. Hopefully you’ll see on Wednesday that we are prepared in the right moments.”
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford (8pm)
“It’s a good chance to show what we are able to do and try to show our improvements,” says Javi Gracia, whose Watford side beat Spurs 2-1 at home back in early September. “Always it’s difficult to play against Tottenham because they are a good team and they have good options. I know they have injured players, but after losing their chances in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, they will be very, very focused on their next game.” Spurs are without Harry Kane and Dele Alli but Son Heung-min could be back, following South Korea’s elimination from the Asian Cup. “We’re going to decide if he will play from the beginning or the bench but I am very optimistic because he showed very good energy in the training session.” says Mauricio Pochettino.