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Monday, December 9
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The key talking points ahead of this week's Premier League fixtures

:Headline: The key talking points ahead of this week's Premier League fixtures: ID:381939: from db_amp
Premier League action continues apace.
PA | 3d

Another Premier League weekend is upon us as clubs struggle to catch their breath following some frantic midweek action.

Here, the PA news agency picks out five of the main talking points heading into the 16th round of fixtures

CAN LIVERPOOL KEEP THEIR FOOT ON THE GAS?

Jurgen Klopp's side are eight points clear at top of the Premier League on the back of Wednesday's 5-2 derby triumph against lacklustre Everton, extending their club record top-flight unbeaten run to 32 matches. Few expect that to come to an end on the south coast against out-of-sorts Bournemouth, who are in the midst of a four-match losing streak. Defeated by 10-man Crystal Palace in midweek, few expect the Cherries to prove much of a problem for the rampant Reds on Saturday afternoon.

CITY TO GIVE UNITED THE BLUES?

Manchester City were back in the winning groove in midweek (Martin Rickett/PA)

Following a frustrating late draw at Newcastle, Manchester City roared back to form with a thumping 4-1 win against Burnley on Tuesday. It was a welcome return to winning ways – just as Manchester United enjoyed the following night as under-fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw a deserved 2-1 win against Jose Mourinho's Tottenham. Following that up with a derby win looks a tough ask for the red half of the city on Saturday evening, but former striker Solskjaer is sure to have them up for the fight.

TOFFEES TO EMERGE FROM STICKY PATCH?

Can Duncan Ferguson galvanise Everton? (Peter Byrne/PA)

Marco Silva became the fourth Premier League manager to lose their job in a matter of weeks following Wednesday's Merseyside derby humiliation. Everton slipped into the relegation zone after conceding five goals against Liverpool for the first time since November 1982. Fan favourite Duncan Ferguson steps into the hotseat on a temporary basis and faces the unenviable task of halting Frank Lampard's talented Chelsea side at Goodison Park. The Blues have already won five on the road this season.

MORE WATFORD WOE?

Hayden Mullins is manning the fort at Watford (Mike Egerton/PA)

Just like Everton, relegation-threatened Watford head into their weekend fixture with a caretaker manager in charge. Under-23 coach Hayden Mullins will again be in the hotseat when Crystal Palace visit on Saturday, just as he was as when the Hornets slumped to a 2-0 defeat at high-flying Leicester. Watford have mustered just eight points from 15 matches this season and desperately need to pick up a win on Saturday with the gap to safety already standing at an eye-watering seven points.

CAN LJUNGBERG STOP THE ROT?

It has been a testing start for Freddie Ljungberg (Adam Davy/PA)

"This is not Arsenal, we have to give it a crack" – that was the message former Arsenal midfielder turned caretaker boss Freddie Ljungberg gave to his players at half-time on Thursday, with the side trailing by a goal at home to Brighton. It seemed to work as Alexandre Lacazette levelled five minutes into the second half, only for Neal Maupay to secure a 2-1 win for the visitors. Unai Emery's exit has yet to bring about a change in fortunes in north London and winning at West Ham feels crucial heading into the festive period.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16151040142646
2Leicester CityLeicester16122239102938
3Manchester CityMan City16102444192532
4Chelsea169253124729
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd166642519624
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves165922319424
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs166553023723
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd165741916322
9Crystal Palace166461418-422
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166461723-622
11Arsenal164752124-319
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton165472024-419
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham165471825-719
14Burnley165382129-818
15Everton165291928-917
16Bournemouth164481824-616
17Aston Villa164392328-515
18Southampton164391835-1715
19Norwich CityNorwich1632111734-1711
20Watford16169930-219
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Jong AjaxJong Ajax18113450262436
3De GraafschapDe Graafschap1898136142235
4FC VolendamVolendam1810353026433
5NAC BredaNAC Breda189452819931
6SBV Excelsior189453833531
7Go Ahead Eagles1861023023728
8NEC187652823527
9Jong FC UtrechtJong Utrecht187652825327
10TelstarTelstar187472727025
11Almere CityAlmere City187472728-125
12Den BoschDen Bosch1841043130122
13FC EindhovenFC Eindhoven186392940-1121
14Jong AZJong AZ185492832-419
15Roda JC184772228-619
16Jong PSVJong PSV1844102235-1316
17MVV MaastrichtMVV1844101832-1416
18OssOss1843111735-1815
19Helmond SportHelmond1835102041-2114
20Dordrecht1815122448-248
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