Manchester United vs Liverpool, Leicester vs Chelsea, West Ham vs Palace and Mesut Ozil returns for Arsenal
Nine things to look out for as the Premier League returns following the FA Cup third round break
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AFTER taking a break for the FA Cup third round, the Premier League returns with a bang this week with crucial matches at both ends of the division.
Few games are bigger grudge matches than when Manchester United take on Liverpool and Old Trafford will be rocking on Sunday ahead of this latest clash.
Chelsea need to bounce back from their first defeat in 14 games while Tottenham need to show they can build on that win over the leaders.
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And with Sam Allardyce returning to his former club West Ham there are plenty of side stories across the fixture list this weekend.
SunSport casts an eye over nine things to look out for
Liverpool's title credentials will be known this week
Liverpool have largely coped with the absence of Philippe Coutinho to maintain their challenge for the title – but the depth of their squad is about to be tested to the limit now Sadio Mane is unavailable.
Mane is away with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations and the trip to Manchester United could not have come at a worse time with Coutinho still short of fitness.
Jurgen Klopp's side have failed to score in their last two matches and the pressure is on Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge to deliver.
At least Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson are now available from injuries but it is going forward where the concerns are as Liverpool make the short trip to Manchester.
We will know a lot more about whether Klopp’s men can last the course by Sunday evening.
Are United class or flat-track bullies?
Jose Mourinho’s side have won their last six matches, but only the win against Tottenham that started the run was against genuinely top class sides.
United look to have turned the corner, they look the part and they look ominous. But only by winning matches like this one against Liverpool will we know if appearances can be deceptive or not.
The club could not go into this match in better shape with all their main men fit and on form – with Paul Pogba threatening to explode with a statement display sooner or later.
Victory and United are right back in the mix for the Premier League title, defeat and Jose may have more work to do than he thought.
Bad Luk for City
There are few centre forwards who really scare opposition defenders, but Romelu Lukaku is one of them when he is on top form.
And he is he last player Manchester City's brittle centre backs and goalkeeper will want to be facing as they desperately try to keep alive their Premier League title hopes.
Everton have been so inconsistent this season but you just know, for all Ronald Koeman's desire to play the beautiful game, they will have highlighted Claudio Bravo, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi as vulnerable.
Koeman should be winding Lukaku up to send him out intent on causing maximum destruction to the City back line and if he responds, it may not be pretty viewing for Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea need to make a statement
It's a long time since Chelsea have had to show they have the character to bounce back, but Antonio Conte's side have a statement to make at Leicester.
Tottenham out-thought and outclassed them at White Hart Lane and now Chelsea have to show their title rivals that was only a blip.
Leicester have finally started to play with the grit that took them all the way last season and will be keen to topple the league leaders at the King Power.
N'Golo Kante's presence in the Chelsea side will get the Foxes fans fired up and this is by no means a formality for Conte and his men.
Can Ozil return firing for Gunners?
Mesut Ozil is back in the Arsenal squad for their trip to Swansea - and he could do with a rocket up his backside after performances of late.
Ozil is supposed to be a genuine world class talent but he has hardly been showing it for the Gunners, leaving Alexis Sanchez and Oilvier Giroud to shoulder much of the responsibility.
On his day he is a joy to watch but the German is one of the most frustrating players in the Premier League.
Arsenal know they are still in the title race, but they would be so much stronger if Ozil came back and fired from the off.
The trouble is, Paul Clement will have his Swans fired up and fully committed - usually a recipe for disaster where Ozil and playing well is concerned.
Sam needs to Hammer old club
Make no mistake, Sam Allardyce needs a win at Crystal Palace to kickstart his team into action in their relegation fight - and where better to start than against his former club West Ham.
Allardyce has spoken of his enjoyment of his spell at the Hammers, but deep down he still struggles to understand why he was forced out by the board and fans.
Forget his calm words in the build up, this one is personal and no-one would begrudge him an extra celebration if the Eagles can take three points.
West Sham of a season
A manager who has two games to save his job, and a star player who has effectively gone on strike - there is nothing happy about the Hammers right now.
Dimitri Payet has shown he doesn't care in his performances of late, so there is an argument the team will be better off without his negative influence.
Slaven Bilic has won some breathing space with the fans for the way he has hung Payet out to dry, but that won't last long if West Ham throw in the towel again like they did against Manchester City.
With Palace right up for it, this could be an old fashioned ding dong where the result is far more important than any silky football.
Do Tottenham have it in the Bag?
The win over Chelsea in their last league match showed Mauricio Pochettino's young side do have the talent to beat anyone in the top flight and restored belief they can challenge for the title.
But that impressive display will count for nothing if they fail to back it up by beating West Brom at White Hart Lane.
Getting yourself up to perform in the big games is easy - but maintaining those levels of intensity against a less glamorous opponent is they key to any side that wants to be champions.
Spurs need to win this game, and Baggies boss Tony Pulis knows it. He will set his side up to frustrate and be organise in the same way he approached their recent game at Chelsea.
The Blues found the way to win ugly that day - Tottenham need to show they can find a way too.
Taylor made for Watford display
Bill Shankly at Liverpool, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. To Watford, Graham Taylor meant just as much as those legendary managers did.
Nowhere would the news of Taylor's passing on Thursday have been so painful than at Vicarage Road, where he was idolised by everyone for the work he did at the club.
Watford's game against Middlesbrough was already important, but now it has become an occasion for the Hornets to mark the career of their two-time manager.
The players will be left in no doubt of the importance in putting on a display to honour Taylor and emotions are sure to be running high - Boro could be on the receiving end.
