Last week marked an important landmark in the year's English football calendar -- the last weekend we're robbed of Premier League football because of the FA Cup. The Best League In The World™ is back, and it will be through the end of the season.
But this comes at the same time as the return of European football, which will be a consideration for a number of teams. Chelsea are coming off a Champions League match and don't have to play in Europe midweek, but Manchester City and Arsenal have big Champions League matches coming up. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Liverpool played on Thursday, and they'll have to do it again next Thursday.
This week's biggest game involves the reds, who are closing the gap between themselves and the top four. They can't jump up into a Champions League place this week, but they'll be close if they pull off a win against Everton. Tottenham and West Ham play the next biggest game, while the rest of Engalnd's top sides are big favorites in their matches.
Chelsea vs. Burnley
Saturday, 10 a.m. ET. TV: NBCSN (U.S. - English), Mun2 (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet regional (Canada)
Why Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are all playing at the exact same time, we'll never know. And there's no early game! For being the best league at TV in the entire world, the Premier League is kind of bad at TV. This is the one that will be shown in the U.S. during the midday timeslot.
Chelsea might be a bit tired after a big match against PSG midweek, and they'll probably see this game as an opportunity to rotate. That could backfire if Burnley are at their best, but a Chelsea B-team is more talented than the best Sean Dyche's impressive overachievers can throw at them.
Manchester City vs. Newcastle United
Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBC (U.S. - English), Mun2 (U.S. - Spanish), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), Sportsnet One (Canada)
Newcastle are a threat to beat anyone at the moment, but they're getting to the point of the season where they check out because they know that Europe and relegation are now impossible. Manchester City are a full seven points behind Chelsea and need every win they can get at this point, but a midweek game against Barcelona looms, and that could be a recipe for dropped points. Can't wait to see Chelsea lift the title in April, you guys!
Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Ham United
Sunday, 7 a.m. ET. TV: NBCSN (U.S.), BT Sport 1 (U.K.), TSN1 (Canada)
Sunday's late game is definitely the biggest of the week, but sneakily, this could be the best. Spurs took some risks in Europa League by resting starters, and while it didn't quite pay off, Harry Kane (and others) should be fit for this game. It's a pretty nasty derby, and West Ham aren't all the way out of the race for Europe just yet.
Everton vs. Leicester City
Sunday, 9 a.m. ET. TV: NBCSN (U.S.), Sportsnet World (Canada), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.)
These teams still exist, I guess. Wouldn't it be funny if Everton started tanking league games, finished comfortably in the bottom half, then won the Europa League?
Southampton vs. Liverpool
Sunday, 11 a.m. ET. TV: NBCSN (U.S. - English), Telemundo (U.S. - Spanish), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), TSN2 (Canada)
Southampton have dropped points in two of their last three games while also getting knocked out of the FA Cup. Another loss to Liverpool this week could spell the end of their top four chase, but remember the last time we thought they were dead? When they drew Aston Villa, then lost five in a row? They came back from that, so they can't be written off completely no matter what happens here.
That said, Liverpool were closer to the bottom half than the top four at that point, while Tottenham weren't playing well at all. Southampton's competition is no longer gifting them a top four spot on a silver platter. They'll have to earn it, and they'll be slight underdogs when they host Liverpool.
Schedule (all times ET)
Aston Villa 1-2 Stoke City - full match report here
Chelsea 1-1 Burnley - full match report here
Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal - full match report here
Hull City 2-1 Queens Park Rangers
Sunderland 0-0 West Bromwich Albion - full match report here
Swansea City 2-1 Manchester United - full match report here
Manchester City 5-0 Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 West Ham United - full match report here
Everton 2-2 Leicester City - full match report here
Southampton 0-2 Liverpool - full match report here