The Premier League is back, though we didn’t miss it quite as much as usual. While the league taking a week off for the FA Cup is usually extremely unwelcome, the cup entertained enough to satisfy the masses last weekend. Usually, the cup leaves a bitter taste in our mouths and we can’t wait to get it out by watching some *real* football. This time, we hardly knew the Premier League was gone.
Premier League Week 23 schedule and scores
Oh, no big deal, just the top two teams squaring off.
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England’s top flight has returned with a vengeance, too. This week features the biggest game of the year so far, and if it goes Chelsea’s way, it’ll be the last proper big game of the season. Jose Mourinho’s side are threatening to run away with the title, and Manchester City need a result at Stamford Bridge to keep things interesting.
None of the other big sides are facing proper tests, but one of them will drop points while Southampton wins anyway, because this season is weird.
Hull City vs. Newcastle United
Saturday, 7:45 p.m. ET. TV: NBCSN (U.S.), BT Sport 1 (U.K.), TSN1 (Canada)
Steve Bruce has saved his job with a couple of wins since the holiday period, but he’s still walking on eggshells. Hull City are 18th after two straight losses, and Bruce could be back on the hot seat again with a loss. Newcastle, meanwhile, are coasting through another lost midtable season.
Manchester United vs. Leicester City
Saturday, 10 a.m. ET. TV: NBCSN (U.S. - English), Mun2 (U.S. - Spanish), TSN4 (Canada)
On the current form of both sides, this shouldn’t be much of a contest at all. Leicester have been poor lately, but the Red Devils will have their last match against the Foxes fresh in their mind. That was one of the shock results of the season -- Leciester won 5-3 after going down by two goals early.
Chelsea vs. Manchester City
Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBCSN (U.S. - English), Mun2 (U.S. - Spanish), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), Sportsnet One (Canada)
This is the big game of the weekend, and the biggest of the season so far. Neutrals will be rooting hard for Manchester City, just so there’s still a title race to be interested in. Chelsea have a five-point lead on the Citizens, and we can more or less hand them the title if they grab all three points on Sunday.
Arsenal vs. Aston Villa
Sunday, 8:30 a.m. ET. TV: NBCSN (U.S. - English), Mun2 (U.S. - Spanish), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), TSN1 (Canada)
We should never count out the possibility of a phantom awful Arsenal performance, but, uh, Aston Villa are pretty bad. It would be surprising if the Gunners didn’t win comfortably.
Southampton vs. Swansea City
Sunday, 11 a.m. ET. TV: NBCSN (U.S.), Sportsnet World (Canada), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.)
After a very strong start to the season, Swansea City have come back to earth a bit. They haven’t won in their last four matches and their goal differential is down in the negatives now, mostly thank to the savage beating they took from Chelsea. The Saints will be fairly big favorites at home, and are looking more and more like a real Champions League-caliber side as the season goes on.
Schedule (all times ET, scores updated as they come in)
Hull City 0-3 Newcastle United - Full match report here
Manchester United 3-1 Leicester City - Full match report here
Liverpool 2-0 West Ham United - Full match report here
Crystal Palace 0-1 Everton - Full match report here
Stoke City 3-1 Queens Park Rangers
Sunderland 2-0 Burnley - Full match report here
West Bromwich Albion 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur - Full match report here
Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City - Full match report here
Arsenal 5-0 Aston Villa - Full match report here
Southampton 0-1 Swansea City
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