18:00 Newcastle vs Aston Villa
Marking their return from the enforced break in some style and landing a thumping 3-0 win against European chasers Sheffield United, the mood in Newcastle s camp could be at a season-high. Really starting to find their feet under one-time Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, the Magpies have won their last three matchups across all competitions and also have an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on the horizon. Now suddenly looking up the Premier League table and within touching distance of breaking into the top-half, fans around the North East have seen their side land back-to-back top-flight victories for the first time since the start of December. Entering March s break with a 1-0 win at St. Mary s, there is no doubt that Bruce will be hugely excited by his side s most recent displays at the back. Along with watching attacking talisman Allan Saint-Maximin once again find the net on Sunday afternoon, Wednesday s hosts are now unbeaten in four Premier League games on home soil without conceding a goal (W2 D2). Even more impressive, the Magpies have kept four straight clean sheets in the top flight at St James Park for the first time since April 2012. Watching Villa throw away the lead in dramatic fashion against Chelsea over the weekend and eventually slumping to a 2-1 defeat in the Midlands, Dean Smith s men have failed to win any of their last seven matches across all formats, losing six of those contests. Even more worrying for the bottom-three strugglers, they have lost each of their last three contests on the road, including a 4-0 drumming against Leicester prior to the break.
Tip: Newcastle win @ 13/10
18:00 Norwich City vs Everton
Starting with Wednesday s guests, despite picking up a point off of champions-elect Liverpool in the Merseyside derby over the weekend, Everton would have been disappointed to have not come away with more. Putting in an eye-catching display at an empty Goodison, the Blues missed a string of late chances to pick up what would have been a famous victory against their bitter rivals. However, while new boss Carlo Ancelotti might find his side without a win in their last four Premier League appearances, there is no doubt that they should take plenty of solace after what was an impressive return from the enforced break. If the Toffees are to find a route back into the top-half, then the former Napoli boss will be hoping for leading marksman Dominic Calvert-Lewin to lead their charge at Carrow Road. With three top-flight goals in five outings either side of the interruption, the former Sheffield United starlet is enjoying a breakout year under Ancelotti and should be looking to guide Everton to three points in midweek. While the guests may have laid down a marker on their return to action, the same cannot be said for a Norwich side who already have one foot back in the Championship. Shipping a trio of second-half goals against Southampton in East Anglia last week, Daniel Farke s men still find themselves sat five points adrift at the foot of the table after losing four of their last five Premier League appearances. Even more worrying for the former Borussia Dortmund coach, his side have scored just a single goal in their last six contests on the bounce.
