Premier League Key Battles Acca: Man Utd to enter title race

• United's counter attack to hurt City

• Goals likely when chaotic Brighton host Reds

• Palace trio licking their lips

• NLD stalemate a distinct possibility

Transitional speed to give United edge

Man Utd v Man City
Saturday, 12:30
Live on BT Sport 1

The hosts are in excellent form and the visitors have not looked themselves for quite some time, which gives Man Utd the chance for a season-defining win on Saturday that would put them within one point of their rivals - and firmly in the title race. The sheer positional discipline of Erik ten Hag's side, led by Casemiro's break-up play, gives them a defensive sturdiness that should at least grab a point.

Man City lack pace in the wide areas and lack overlapping full-backs, making them too central - and unable to break down organised or compact defences. United won't sit back, but their aggression in the middle of the park can force another stale City performance, especially with Rafael Varane tracking Erling Haaland.

At the other end, United can become just the latest team to poke holes in Pep Guardiola's back three, with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Anthony all counter-attacking at speed when the ball is turned over. In transitional moments, after Casemiro has pinched the ball, these three can run at the heart of the City defence, which can become exposed when Rodri has too much to do.

Back double chance Man Utd/draw at 10/11

Mitoma to lead frantic charge

Brighton v Liverpool
Saturday, 15:00

The most entertaining match at the weekend will almost certainly be this one. Roberto de Zerbi's high-pressing football is still wild, leading to end-to-end matches and furiously frantic Premier League encounters; there have been 17 goals in their last three games, but Brighton have already conceded three or more goals against Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool - who drew 3-3 in De Zerbi's first game in charge.

As Brighton surge forward and counter-press in huge numbers, Liverpool will finally be freed from their poor form. Jurgen Klopp's side remain lethal when given space in which to break, and Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara should be capable of evading the press to release Liverpool's forwards, with Darwin Nunez again likely to find himself sprinting into huge patches of grass. Brighton are just too mad, and Tariq Lamptey won't contain him.

Not that Brighton are certain to lose. Liverpool's midfield is hopelessly overrun at the moment and Harvey Elliot's presence has done little to improve things, so Bighton's focus on sharp one-touch football through the middle should be successful. From here, the battle between in-form left winger Kaoru Mitoma (who has a goal or assist in each of his last three) and Trent Alexander-Arnold should go in the hosts' favour.

Back over 3.5 goals at 11/8

Defensive chaos to help three-pronged attack

Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Sunday, 14:00
Live on Sky Sports Premier League

Graham Potter needs patience. It takes a long time for his complex tactical ideas to get across and he has inherited a mess of a squad, with a serious lack of quality in the final third. However, the tide is already turning against him and with confidence low it seems likely things are only going to get worse from here. Chelsea will not be looking forward to the visit of an organised counter-attacking team like Crystal Palace.

Patrick Vieira's team will sit back and absorb pressure, making Potter's passing football lose any of its rhythm or incisiveness, before snapping into challenges in the centre of the pitch and breaking. An injury to Chelsea's best player of recent games, Denis Zakaria, makes Chelsea particularly vulnerable to the strength of Palace's tackling in midfield, while another ten injuries leave Potter's side facing an extremely difficult task.

Their first-choice wing-backs are out, stifling their attack, their new striker Joao Felix is suspended, and seemingly half the squad is unavailable. To make matters worse, Chelsea's back three was all over the place against Fulham on Thursday night with Kepa Arrizabalaga back to his wobbling worst. Wilfried Zaha, Michael Olise, and Eberechi Eze will have fun.

Back double chance Palace/draw at 11/10

Saka v Perisic should prove decisive

Tottenham v Arsenal
Sunday, 16:30
Live on Sky Sports Premier League

Antonio Conte will do what he always does in games like this: put his team into a 5-3-2 shape and sit off Arsenal, inviting the league leaders to break them down in the hope that Mikel Arteta's high-pressing side are drawn too far forward, allowing Tottenham to break into the spaces behind. However, Tottenham's ability to actually capitalise on these moments is significantly weakened by injury.

Even if Spurs can counter, rather than be suffocated by the complexity of Arteta's swarming press, then without Dejan Kulusevski they will probably get stuck - again. Thomas Partey will expect to dominate the centre of the park, while Martin Odegaard should run the show up against Conte's under-performing double pivot. But without Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal should also struggle to create chances against such a deep defence.

It might not be a classic, then. The crucial battle is probably between Bukayo Saka and Ivan Perisic. Perisic is the chief crosser and creator in the team and arguably the only player in Conte's system who finds the room to consistently put the ball in the box, but if he is marked closely then Tottenham's threat diminishes. At the other end, Saka's direct dribbling, and close interactions with Odegaard on that side, may put too much pressure on the 33-year-old.

Back the draw at 13/5