Can Man Utd resurrect the Premier League title race this Easter?

Chelsea travel to Old Trafford on Sunday, by which time Spurs should have closed the gap to four points

Harry Kane of Spurs
(Image credit: Dan Mullen/Getty)

Easter is traditionally associated with rebirth and Spurs will be hoping this weekend's games will breathe life into a title race that most people believe is done and dusted.

Chelsea are seven points clear at the top of the table and have just seven games left to play. But Tottenham get the holiday programme underway on Saturday lunchtime with a game against Bournemouth at White Hart Lane they will expect to win - and which could get the Easter bunny's ears twitching.

Harry Kane is back to fitness and should start against the Cherries after coming off the bench during the Watford match. "The forward has tormented Bournemouth in two of their three Premier League meetings, scoring five of Spurs' eight goals," says Sky Sports. His return "makes Tottenham favourites to record their 12th consecutive Premier League home win".

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If that pans out as expected, the gap to Chelsea will be down to four points and there is no guarantee it will go back up to seven as the Blues face a tough trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be determined to get one over on his old club and prove his team are capable of challenging for the title.

He will also be desperate to maintain United's 21-game unbeaten league run, which began after his chastening return to Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea won 4-0 in October.

But while Manchester are undefeated in the league, their run has not been overly impressive in terms of results as they've drawn half of the games. Indeed, United have not won at home in the league since February's victory over Watford.

Chelsea have no reason to worry, says Danny Murphy in the London Evening Standard, as the Old Trafford "fear factor" is a thing of the past. Teams "arrive at the ground and think, 'Bournemouth have got a point here this season, so have Burnley. Why can't we?'"

As for the teams fighting it out for a top four finish and a place in the Champions League, third-placed Liverpool face a tough test away to West Brom at the Hawthorns on Sunday, when their fragile defence will be put to the test at set pieces.

Manchester City also have problems at the back and manager Pep Guardiola will once again have to decide what to do about goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who made another howler against Hull last week. Ronald Koeman's Southampton will be ready to take advantage of any mistakes.

Perhaps the most intriguing game of the weekend does not take place until Monday evening, when Arsenal, who will be languishing in seventh place if Everton avoid defeat against Burnley on Saturday, face Middlesbrough.

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