We look at the key quotes from the managers’ press conferences for a crucial Matchweek 27 at both ends of the table.
'Bournemouth will fight like crazy'
After their 7-0 trouncing of Manchester United last weekend, it would seem that Liverpool's trip to bottom-club AFC Bournemouth looking for a fifth win in six matches would be easy to predict.
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But Jurgen Klopp expects the Cherries, one point off 17th-place Leeds United, "to fight like crazy" for their Premier League status.
"We might fight for the Champions League spots – we will see how the results will be in the next few weeks – but the fight to stay in the league is as exciting," he said.
"Each point can make a massive difference and I am 100 per cent sure Bournemouth will fight like crazy, and that's something we have to expect."
Gary O'Neil insists there will be "no hangover" from the Cherries' dramatic 3-2 defeat at Arsenal last time out, where they let a two-goal lead slip.
"The lads are fine and we’re ready to go with another big, big side coming," the AFC Bournemouth head coach said. "There was full focus on Liverpool from Monday onwards."
O'Neil will take heart from the impact that being bottom has on teams' performances, such as Southampton, who beat Leicester City last weekend to climb above AFC Bournemouth.
Sides starting the day bottom of the table have averaged 1.4 points per match this season, better than those in sixth (1.33pts) and seventh (1.21pts).
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
38 | -9 | 44 |
| 13 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers
WOL
|
38 | -27 | 41 |
| 14 |
West Ham United
WHU
|
38 | -13 | 40 |
| 15 |
Bournemouth
BOU
|
38 | -34 | 39 |
| 16 |
Nottingham Forest
NFO
|
38 | -30 | 38 |
| 17 |
Everton
EVE
|
38 | -23 | 36 |
| 18 |
Leicester City
LEI
|
38 | -17 | 34 |
| 19 |
Leeds United
LEE
|
38 | -30 | 31 |
| 20 |
Southampton
SOU
|
38 | -37 | 25 |
Pressure points for Vieira?
Without a Premier League win in 2023 and facing a visit by the division's top goalscorers Manchester City, Crystal Palace are starting to look over their shoulder from 12th in the table at the clubs below them.
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"Pressure? I had the pressure since the first time I sat in this football club," said Palace manager Patrick Vieira, whose side have not won in nine top-flight matches and are only five points off the relegation zone.
"We have to know that we are part of those nine, 10 teams that have to fight to stay in the Premier League.
"We are in a position and in a better position than some of the teams. That will be enough? No.
"This is what the Premier League is about. I think every single manager plays to get in the European competition or stay in the Premier League."
Man City, with 66 goals scored so far in 2022/23, have been boosted by news that Phil Foden has recovered from a foot injury.
Foden has scored in successive matches against Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth and a goal against Palace would see him reach double figures in a season for the first time.
Man City's best away goals v Palace
Left 🦶, Right 🦶, Header 🤯, Penalty ⚽️, Free-kick 🎯
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 10, 2023
Our best away goals against Crystal Palace, with a twist! 👊 pic.twitter.com/v5E6UDAg8j
Wolves a striker light
While Man City have been registering goals for fun, the opposite applies to Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom no striker has scored in the Premier League since Raul Jimenez against Watford a year ago.
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Wolves head to another goal-shy team, Newcastle, on Sunday without Diego Costa, who is out for around a month with a knee injury, while fellow forward Hwang Hee-chan remains a doubt.
"It is a good thing for the forwards to score and I am sure they are going to score," said head coach Julen Lopetegui, whose options up front have been hampered also by long-term injuries to Chiquinho and Sasa Kalajdzic.
"I don't know when, as soon as possible would be good for them, and good for us."
After 17 goals in their opening nine matches, Newcastle have now blanked in five of their last eight Premier League outings.
"Through every season there are difficult moments and there are patches where you, for some reason, don't win the games maybe you should," said Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe. "That's the time you have to be really strong, mentally, and know it will change."
