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Premier League: Five talking points ahead of the weekend's action

Everton welcome Champions League hopefuls Arsenal to Goodison Park on Sunday.

With the FA Cup semi-finals taking centre stage this weekend there are only a handful of Premier League games on the fixture list for Saturday and Sunday.

The pick of them comes on Sunday when Champions League-chasing Arsenal head north to face a rejuvenated Everton, who are hoping to build on back-to-back victories over Chelsea and West Ham.

Here Press Association Sport looks at five talking points for the weekend's games.

Can Arsenal prosper on the road?

With the four-way battle for the final two Champions League berths hotting up, it is Arsenal who have moved into pole position with seven wins from their last nine. They begin the weekend in fourth place, but Sunday's match against Everton is their game in hand on third-placed Tottenham, who are only one point above. However, in order to capitalise Arsenal must show they are over their inconsistency away from the Emirates, having won just five of 14 of their matches on the road.

Can Toffees find their sweet spot?

Consistency has been Everton's Achilles heel all season. A 2-0 win at West Ham last week gave them back-to-back victories for only the second time this season in the Premier League. The last time they did it, all the way back in September, they actually won three on the bounce. Beating Arsenal to do so again might be the minimum requirement if Marco Silva's side are to continue their push to finish 'best of the rest' by snatching seventh place. Still four points adrift of Wolves, and also trailing Watford and Leicester in the congested top half of the table, anything else will surely leave them with too much to do.

England's finest?

Burnley v AFC Bournemouth – Premier League – Turf Moor
Eddie Howe (left) and Sean Dyche (right) go head to head again on Saturday (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Eddie Howe and Sean Dyche will go head to head on Saturday when Bournemouth host Burnley. Howe, of course, was Dyche's predecessor at Turf Moor and Burnley defender Ben Mee, who played for both men, believes they are the best two managers in England. A case can certainly be made, with both sides on course to avoid the drop despite their limited resources. Burnley still have some work to do, but they hold most of the cards as they sit five points clear of 18th-placed Cardiff, who must travel to Turf Moor next weekend. Any points they can pick up at the Vitality Stadium would only strengthen their position.

All eyes on Rafa

Arsenal v Newcastle United – Premier League – Emirates Stadium
Will he stay or will he go? Rafael Benitez's future is a key question for Newcastle (Adam Davy/PA)

With Newcastle's safety in the Premier League all but assured, the club is starting to look to next season with discussions expected this weekend on transfer targets for the summer. But they key question remains – who will be in charge? Rafael Benitez is still being linked with a move away from St James' Park, with Ligue 1 the latest mooted destination. Given the continuing uncertainty over whether the club will be sold, few could blame the Spaniard if he chooses to move on. The issue is sure to hang over Saturday's meeting with Crystal Palace, in which Newcastle will seek a sixth straight Premier League home win.

Huddersfield look at life beyond the Premier League

Relegation was confirmed with six games to spare, and looked inevitable for much longer, so Huddersfield at least have plenty of time to prepare for their return to the Championship. Ahead of Saturday's clash with Leicester, captain Christopher Schindler has told his colleagues they are all playing for their futures at the John Smith's Stadium, with manager Jan Siewart no doubt needing to make budget cuts once they drop down a division.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool33257175205582
2Manchester CityMan City32262483216280
3Chelsea33206757342366
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs322111060342664
5Arsenal32196765402563
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd32187761431861
7Leicester CityLeicester33145144644247
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32138114039147
9Everton33137134642446
10Watford32137124747046
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham33126154150-942
12Crystal Palace33116163943-439
13Bournemouth33115174461-1738
14Burnley33106174060-2036
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3398163143-1235
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3196163246-1433
17Southampton3289153653-1733
18Cardiff CityCardiff3284202861-3328
RFulham3345243076-4617
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3335251963-4414

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