Premier League Round 27 Full Preview - Team News, Form Guide and What’s At Stake This Week

Premier League Round 27 Full Preview - Team News, Form Guide and What’s At Stake This Week

With the run-in beginning to crystallise, the upcoming Premier League fixtures carry the potential to shape seasons, either derailing campaigns entirely or propelling sides towards defining achievements.

In the last 10 days, we have seen some damning results for the title race. Whilst Manchester City kept their foot on the gas, Arsenal have begun to lose control, dropping four points against Brentford and Wolves.

In the Champions League race, both Chelsea and Manchester United slipped up, whilst Liverpool seems to have regained their form with an impressive 1-0 win away at the Stadium of Light.

And in the fight to survive from relegation, Tottenham Hotspur edged closer to what would be one of the most seismic and unthinkable relegations in Premier League history, whilst West Ham and Nottingham Forest were kept to stalemate draws.

All of this leaves this weekend’s fixtures poised delicately on a knife-edge, where every touch, tackle, and turning point could redraw the contours of the season once more.

Aston Villa vs Leeds United

Since Unai Emery returned to the dugout of Premier League football—swapping the crimson red of Arsenal for the claret and blue of Aston Villa—he has reminded fans and pundits why he is regarded as one of the most lauded and tactically astute managers in world football.

Since taking over at the Villains in 2022, Emery has dragged them by the scruff of their neck and back into European football for the first time since the 2010/11 season.

To do one even better, when under the guise of Emery in his first full season, Aston Villa finished fourth, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since they won the competition in 1981/82.

As it stands, Villa are not just on track to requalify for Europe’s premier cup competition, but are emerging as credible outsiders in a title race gathering momentum with each passing week.

They face Leeds at home in their next match, which will be a tough test for both sides.

Whilst Leeds have improved to an extraordinary standard over the past 80 days—losing just twice and picking up 19 points—they still teeter on the edge of oblivion, sitting six points above the drop.

One of many unbelievable Emi Martínez saves ⛔️

Leeds United (H) - 13/01/2023 ⏮️ pic.twitter.com/eb3fm9Z4P8

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 19, 2026

Brentford vs Brighton

Not a rivalry of such, but both Tony Bloom—owner of Brighton—and Matthew Benham—owner of Brentford—will be gasping for three points this Saturday.

To put context into the story, Tony Bloom and Matthew Benham used to be mates of a sort. And if not mates, work colleagues.

The two men—both in their early 50s—worked for the company Premier Bet. Bloom owned the company, whilst Benham was brought on by Bloom to develop predictive gambling models using data analytics.

In 2004, Benham left Premier Bet to start his own company—Smartodds—after he was sacked from Premier Bet in January of that year.

The split was acrimonious and brought about legal proceedings by Bloom that were eventually settled out of court.

Now, when the two sides meet at the Gtech Community Stadium this Saturday, the air will be a little more pungent, each kick will mean a little more, and if either side delivers the knock-out blow, it will mean just that little bit more to the owner who broke the betting market.

Dramatic scenes at @The_AmexStadium in our last meeting against Brentford! 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/CxX0a6l7rW

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) February 20, 2026

Chelsea vs Burnley

A match that is a must-win for the team in blue.

With just 12 games left of the Premier League season, the prospect of Burnley suffering a third relegation in five years is becoming an increasingly stark and sobering reality.

After 26 matches, Burnley find themselves rooted to the relegation zone, with Wolverhampton Wanderers the only buffer from the bottom of the table.

The Clarets have conceded the most goals in the league—51—and sit on just 18 points. Until their miraculous comeback win against Crystal Palace last week, they had not won a league match since the 26th October.

With nine points separating them from safety, it is unlikely Burnley will have enough in the tank to muster a sustained resurgence to avoid the drop.

However, with a match against Chelsea coming up this Saturday, Burnley have the chance to prove the critics wrong.

A win against the London side chasing European qualification would not only show the league they are genuine contenders for survival, but it would also send a statement of intent as they dent Chelsea’s ambitions of returning to Europe’s elite competition.

Three goals! 🔥

Our 100th meeting in all competitions against Burnley back in 2020. 🟣⏮️ pic.twitter.com/XuY1O7PhXp

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 19, 2026

West Ham United vs Bournemouth

One of the reasons this Premier League season feels so poignant is that every club still has something tangible left to fight for.

In seasons gone by, sides had already begun to falter and dropped away from European competitions, but had done enough to avoid a relegation scrap.

A fall into purgatory, if you will.

With England highly likely to be awarded a fifth Champions League berth, even eighth place could secure entry into Europe’s newest competition, the UEFA Conference League—provided the FA Cup is won by a side that finishes in the top seven.

With Bournemouth sitting on 37 points in 9th place—separated only by goal difference from Everton—the south coast side is right in the mix to qualify for Europe for the first time.

West Ham, on the other hand, are gasping for air in the dog-fight of the relegation battle. Since losing to Nottingham Forest on the 6th January, the London-based club has turned on the afterburners, winning three and drawing once in their past five matches.

With both clubs in good form—Bournemouth unbeaten in their past six matches—this will be a battle for the ages, with both clubs not wanting, but needing, all three points.

A goalkeeping masterclass from Alphonse Areola 🧤@WestHam pic.twitter.com/CLFuDxSU2R

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 20, 2026

Manchester City vs Newcastle United

The title-race chasers vs the European chasers.

This will be the fourth time we have seen the two Champions League sides take each other on this season, with the fifth to come next month when they take on each other in the FA Cup.

If the two sides meet later on in the Champions League—the earliest they can meet is the semi-final—they will have played each other seven times in just one season.

Whilst Newcastle have been unimpressive through the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, they have still shown flashes of brilliance at times. Earlier in the season, a brace in six minutes by Harvey Barnes cancelled out Rubian Dias’s goal to ensure all three points went to Tyneside when the two sides faced off earlier in the season.

The Toon army also ran riot in their last match, embarrassing Azerbajian side Qarabag 6-1 in the knockout phase play-offs of the Champions League.

Anthony Gordon had an especially impressive match, scoring four goals in the first half.

But despite all of this, Manchester City will be smelling blood in the water. With Arsenal dropping points in their last two games, City could move to within just two points if they defeat Newcastle at home on Saturday.

Any excuse to bring out this 5️⃣ star performance from Aguero against Newcastle ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pic.twitter.com/OhUKbIxjgp

— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 19, 2026

Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool

Since Nottingham Forest gained promotion to the Premier League in the 2021/22 season, they have been a nuisance for Liverpool and have often overpowered them in matches.

In the seven games where they have faced each other in the league, they hold an equal record of three wins apiece and a draw.

Earlier this season, Forest delivered Liverpool’s sixth loss in the Premier League, sending them tumbling down to 12th in the table.

Since sustaining their loss to Forest, the champions have been in much better form, losing just two league matches since then. Despite their form, they have been unable to mount a title challenge and are now fighting for a prized Champions League spot with Chelsea and Manchester United.

Forest has also had a much shoddier season compared to last. After finishing 7th in the league and qualifying for the Europa League—taking FA Cup winners Crystal Palace’s place after they were demoted to the Conference League due to multi-club ownership—Forest have found themselves battling relegation.

They sit 17th in the table on 27 points, three points clear of 18th places West Ham.

"They are in a real rut"

Jamie Redknapp reacts to Liverpool's 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/3YoRrkRgBy

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 22, 2025

Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

A meeting between the FA Cup holders and a side already consigned to relegation—barring a miracle of the highest order.

Crystal Palace started this campaign in fine form. After years of stagnant performance, it seemed they had finally broken the curse. After 15 games, they sat on 26 points and were firmly rooted in the Champions League spots.

But then the crumble happened.

Since 14th December, Palace have picked up just six points, and have only recorded one win—a 1-0 winaway to rivals Brighton.

To make matters worse for Palace, manager Oliver Glasner announced he was leaving at the end of the season, captain Marc Guehi departed the club to Manchester City for the low fee of just £20 million, and star striker Jean Phillipe Mateta has been unhappy for some time and tried to force a move to AC Milan over the winter window.

Not all is lost, however. With Palace in the Conference League knockout phase play-offs, England can further flex their continental muscle by potentially producing a third different English winner of the competition—meaning English clubs would account for half of all its champions.

Wolves, on the other hand, look dead and buried. Despite an impressive 2-2 draw to table toppers Arsenal, the Wanders remain rooted to the bottom of the table on just 10 points—17 adrift.

Wolves 2-2 Arsenal

Only Crystal Palace and West Ham (both 8) have dropped more points from winning positions in the Premier League in 2026 than Arsenal (7).

A damaging night for the league leaders. pic.twitter.com/3k7XxHcvYV

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 18, 2026

Sunderland vs Fulham

Just three gameweeks ago, Fulham looked positive to make an unexpected push for a European place.

Prior to facing an in-form Manchester United side, the Cottagers sat 7th in the league—primed for a European spot.

But after a last-minute winner from Benjamin Sesko to make the game 3-2 in United's favour, Fulham have fallen hard and lost their past three matches.

The London side has dropped to 12th in the league, and sits nine points off Champions League qualification.

Sunderland has also fallen off quite dramatically, but thanks to their emphatic start, it is unlikely that many of their fans will lose faith in the broader trajectory of the project.

After eight years without top-flight football—which saw the Black Cats suffer back-to-back relegations down to the third tier of English football—Sunderland started the season in fine form, recording 19 points in their first 11 games as they sat comfortably in the top half of the table.

Following on from their fine start, they have managed Regis Le Bris’s side have managed just 17 points in 15 games, but this has almost certainly ensured they will avoid the drop after being the bookmakers' clear favourites for the season.

The only thing left to tickoff for the Black Cats is to finish above rivals Newcastle United.

🚨 🇨🇭 Granit Xhaka has trained all week and is back in the Sunderland squad to face Fulham on Sunday.
❌ 🇲🇿 However, Reinildo will miss the next 4 weeks having injured his knee #SAFC pic.twitter.com/crOZa8ddMq

— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) February 20, 2026

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

By far the most poignant match of this weekend.

Top of the table vs their biggest rivals.

A team aiming for their first league title in over 20 years, vs a side that could be pulled into a surprise relegation battle.

The juxtaposition between these two sides is stark, and the weight of history will be consecrated with every touch we see on Sunday.

It is the North London Derby, of course.

With Arsenal chasing their first Premier League title in 22 years, the impact of this match will be felt much more profoundly. Until two gameweeks ago, Arsenal sat six points clear of challengers Manchester City. Plain sailing it seemed.

But after a disappointing 1-1 draw to Keith Andrews’s Brentford, and a shock horror draw to bottom place Wolves, Mikel Arteta’s side has begun to sweat, and by 4:30 pm Sunday, Arsenal could find themselves perched a mere two points clear of the relegation quagmire.

For Spurs, this could be a chance not to salvage their season, but to relish in it, slightly.

Taking points off Arsenal at home this weekend would not just rattle the foundations of the title race; it could completely derail it.

It would not mean anything truly significant, but to see their biggest rivals miss out on the league once again would bring warmth to the hallowed chambers of Spurs’ hearts.

Dele returns to N17 🤩

Dele is back at @SpursStadium on Sunday as our special guest for the North London Derby 🤍

More info 🔗 https://t.co/JvIrQldix2 pic.twitter.com/NARymOZHJC

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 20, 2026

Everton vs Manchester United

Last, and by certainly no means least, we have Everton vs Manchester United.

Earlier in the season, while the Red Devils were still under the ever-prescient Ruben Amorim, Manchester United suffered one of their most humiliating debacles of the season so far.

On a cold Manchester night, Everton came out 1-0 victorious courtesy of a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall stunner in the 29th minute.

But despite the Everton midfielder’s strike, it was an altercation between ex-Manchester United player Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye that made headlines.

With the clock going just past the 13th minute, Gueye snapped at the English defender and brought his hands against his face, leaving referee Tony Harrington with no choice but to send the Senegalese off.

Despite the in-fighting and red card, Everton looked like the stronger of the two sides, and Manchester United crumpled to their 4th defeat of the league season.

But as these two sides converge to face each other once more, the feelings could not be more divergent.

Under interim manager Michael Carrick, Manchester United have been revitalised, winning four of their last five and are firmly in position for a Champions League berth. A win away at the Hill Dickinson Stadium would solidify their revival and signal their intent to return to Europe’s elite.

If Manchester United avoid defeat against Everton next Monday, they’ll be unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League outings.

Turned a corner. 👊 pic.twitter.com/EtD3r1z9dj

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 16, 2026