EPL: City aims to return to submit, Arsenal eye top four and Everton battle relegation

Coming off the back of a recent FA Cup exit as Liverpool emerged 3-2 victors in the semi-final, Manchester City will aim to right their wrongs against Graham Potter's impressive Brighton on Wednesday night.

After Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Jurgen Klopp’s side meant that their one-point lead above their Premier League title rivals remained intact, the Sky Blues’ upcoming fixture gives them the chance to maintain their reign at the top of the league table.

While Graham Potter’s men had failed to win a fixture since December 12 before their contest against Arsenal, a shock 2-1 victory against Mikel Arteta’s men was followed by a 1-0 triumph against Tottenham to return back to the swing of things in style.

However, their resurgence may take a backseat once again, as they prepare to face arguably the most feared side in Europe currently.

With Kyle Walker excluded from the bench for the FA Cup tie at Wembley due to injury, the Englishman looks likely to be out of contention once again, as Joao Cancelo will be called upon to occupy the right-back spot.

Ruben Dias could be set for a return from injury, after being included in the matchday squad for Manchester City’s previous two games against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.

As Aymeric Laporte was rested in City's latest outing, the Spaniard is a safe bet to start on Wednesday night.

Nathan Ake has deputised expertly at left-back this season and it would not come as a surprise to see the defensively adept Dutchman be drafted in to halt the threat posed by Tariq Lamptey on the right flank.

After Fernandinho’s services were called upon against Liverpool, Rodri is expected to slot straight back into the starting XI once again.

Despite Kevin De Bruyne’s injury not being as severe as initially feared as he looked like he was ready to come off the bench against Jurgen Klopp’s side, it is likely that Pep Guardiola will play it safe by picking Bernardo Silva instead.

Chelsea will look to strengthen their grip on the third spot, while Arsenal will want to revive their top-four hopes when they clash on Wednesday.

Chelsea come into the game on the back of three consecutive victories in all competitions. Even though they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League via aggregate score, the Blues bounced back from the disappointment with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday to book a place in the FA Cup final.

Arsenal have lost four of their last five league matches, including each of the last three to Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion, and most recently, Southampton this past weekend.

Mikel Arteta’s side have dropped down to sixth in the table, three points shy of fourth-placed Tottenham, albeit with a game in hand.

Arsenal will be hoping to spark a turnaround of fortunes with a statement victory against Chelsea. However, their current form means it will be a difficult challenge for the Gunners. Furthermore, the Blues have already beaten their local rivals once this term, securing a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture at the Emirates.

They will be hoping for a repeat of that outcome on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Frank Lampard has warned Everton's squad about the dangers of complacency and insisted Sean Dyche's sacking by Burnley will not influence his team's destiny.

Much has happened since Everton were last in action, when beating Manchester United 1-0 at Goodison on April 9; Burnley, their nearest rivals in the relegation battle, have played twice, taken only one point and, most significantly, parted company with their influential manager.

The odds are firmly on Burnley falling into the Championship but Lampard has rallied against suggestions that the decision to remove Dyche last Friday was, in some ways, the Turf Moor club waving the white flag.

Lampard, whose side face Leicester at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, has spent the last few days spelling out to his players the trouble they could be in if they assume the hard part has been done and has demanded they retain their focus to keep control of their own destiny.

'I think, or I just assume because I don't know, that the change was made (by Burnley) for an uplift,' said Lampard, who hopes to be able to recall fit again Yerry Mina to his team on Wednesday evening. 

'This is the Premier League and it is business. It's too big an idea for a club to be relegated.”