Runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool have put themselves in position for a record-breaking campaign while Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United are embroiled in a dogfight for top-four places. AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of this weekend's action:
Liverpool have history in sights
With a 13-point lead at the top of the table and a game in hand to further burnish their advantage, Liverpool go to Tottenham on Saturday as odds-on favourites to win the English title for the first time since 1990. Jurgen Klopp's side have been so dominant that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has already conceded the title race is over for his team.
The Reds, who have won 19 of their 20 league games, have the potential to establish themselves as a historically great team as they chase some of English football's most sacred milestones.
Top-four battle heats up
If Liverpool, Leicester and Manchester City maintain their present pace, only one place will be left for the rest of the Champions League hopefuls to fight over.
Fourth-placed Chelsea hold the advantage at present, but their five-point lead over fifth-placed Manchester United looks far from impregnable.
Tottenham, six points behind Chelsea, are in the hunt, while Arsenal, down in 10th but revitalised by new boss Mikel Arteta, still harbour faint hopes of a surge in the second half of the season.
Watford, Southampton rekindle survival hopes
Written off as relegation certainties after a wretched start, Watford have been revitalised by three wins in five league games under new boss Nigel Pearson.
The Hornets were left for dead before the arrival of former Leicester boss Pearson but, with combative forward Troy Deeney back to his best, now they are only two points from safety, with a crunch clash at third-bottom Bournemouth looming on Saturday.
Southampton had spent time in the bottom three with Watford, with the nadir coming in their 9-0 home humiliation against Leicester.
But Ralph Hasenhuettl's side, who travel to Leicester on Saturday, have climbed five points clear of the relegation zone thanks to five wins in their past eight league games.
"What the team showed after this result (against Leicester) was absolutely outrageous from the mentality, fighting back to a successful way," Hasenhuettl said.
