Game on! Excitement builds as Premier League big guns gear up for crucial matches

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will ask his charges to step up to the plate once more to help the Blues maintain their position at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost last time out when they missed out on a record 14 wins in the top flight following a 2-0 reverse at top four hopefuls Tottenham.

Chelsea travel to last season’s champions Leicester City for a 17.30 showdown at the King Power Stadium.

Before then third-placed Spurs have the early kick-off (12.30) when they host West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane, with Mauricio Pochettino eager to keep his side in the top four.

Arsenal have slipped out of the Champions League placings and currently reside in fifth spot.

Some good news for the Gunners is that French trio Francis Coquelin,Olivier Gir oud and Laurent Koscielny have all put pen to paper to extend their contracts providing the north London club with a major boost.

Arsene Wenger’s men go to Swansea, who sit second from bottom of the table but have the impetus provided by new manager Paul Clement, formerly the No.2 at Bayern Munich.

Without doubt the Premier League encounter of the weekend comes on Sunday when Manchester United take on bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Jurgen Klopp’s outfit, sitting in second position, will hope to improve on their insipid display in the 1-0 midweek defeat at Southampton in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final clash.

The Merseyside-Manchester fixtures are reversed on Sunday and at the other end of the East Lancs Road Everton host Manchester City at Goodison Park. Pep Guardiola’s side are in fourth position in the top flight, while Ronald Koeman. Toffees are in seventh, looking to push for a European qualification place.