The Premier League is back – and there is a lot on the line for clubs and players.
The title race may be all but over but the small matters of Champions League qualification and relegation are still to be settled.
The three-month break due to coronavirus has given clubs and players a chance to regroup and several stars who have had difficult campaigns now have the opportunity to finish on a high.
Sportsmail takes a look at which players have the biggest points to prove in the remaining fixtures of the season.
Arsenal – Alexandre Lacazette
Striker Lacazette has struggled to replicate his impressive form of the 2018-2019 season and went three months without a goal between December and February.
The Frenchman’s form had started to pick up again just before the suspension with strikes against Olympiacos and West Hamtaking his total to nine for the season.
Alexandre Lacazette will have to compete with the returning Eddie Nketiah for a starting place
But Mikel Arteta’s decision to recall Eddie Nketiah has given Lacazette some added pressure to perform with the Gunners boss indicating the 21-year-old will have an important role to play in the remaining games.
With captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Arsenal future looking uncertain, Lacazette needs to prove he can step up and be the main man when called upon.
If the club do decide to sell their skipper in the summer, the 29-year-old Lacazette could find himself competing with a replacement signing as well as some of the promising youngsters.
Aston Villa – Mbwana Samatta
The £8.5million signing got off to a flying start with a goal on his Premier League debut – but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth at the start of February.
Villa have been reliant on Jack Grealish for goals but the captain needs his team-mates to step up to the plate as they battle for survival.
The return of John McGinn may take some of the pressure off Grealish’s shoulders but striker Wesley Moraes remains injured meaning Samatta is likely to get the nod up front.
Mbwana Samatta will lead the line as Villa need look to avoid relegation to the Championship
The 27-year-old scored 10 goals for Genk before his January move to England and he will need to rediscover that form if Villa are to avoid relegation.
He also managed to find the net against Liverpool in the Champions League group stages and he will be hoping he can unlock the Reds’ defence again when Villa travel to Anfield in July.
The club have a tricky run-in with European challengers Sheffield United, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Wolves all to play, but fixtures against Newcastle, Crystal Palace and a final-day clash with relegation rivals West Ham will be crucial.
Bournemouth – Dominic Solanke
It took the 22-year-old Solanke 12 months to score his first goal for Bournemouth since his £19million move from Liverpool with a strike in the FA Cup against Luton in January.
But he followed it up with a goal in an important 3-1 win over Brighton later that month.
It took Dominic Solanke 12 months to score his first Bournemouth goal at the start of the year
Eddie Howe has given the striker opportunities this season but he’s so far struggled to live up to the fee the Cherries shelled out in 2019.
He can still play an important part in the club’s nine remaining games though and needs to show he can eventually become a long-term replacement for Callum Wilson.
Wilson was linked with a move to Chelsea last summer and could attract more interest at the end of this season. Solanke has always been viewed as a player with great potential and there’s no better time to start realising it.
Brighton – Yves Bissouma
The £15m man was signed in 2018 and took time to adapt to the Premier League after impressing in Ligue 1 for Lille.
But the midfielder was looking bright before the disruption to the season and had earned his third consecutive appearance in the club’s last game – a 0-0 draw with Wolves.
The £15million man was signed in 2018 but it has taken him time to adapt to the English game
The 23-year-old was praised by Graham Potter following the game with the manager saying he can get better and better despite only playing 13 times this season.
But the Seagulls are still locked in the relegation battle and face a tough return with their first three fixtures coming against Arsenal, Leicester and Manchester United.
Games against Norwich, Southampton, Newcastle and Burnley will decide whether the club will play in the top flight next season and they need Bissouma to be at the top of his game and live up to the fee he was signed for.
Burnley – Matej Vydra
Vydra had scored two goals in his last four games for Sean Dyche’s side and was another player who was beginning to find form before the shutdown.
Injuries to Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes have made them doubts for the first game back against Manchester City on June 22 meaning Vydra is likely to start – but he has to show his manager that he can maintain the form he showed in February.
Matej Vydra has two goals in his last four games and will have a chance to prove himself
Burnley are not at risk of relegation so the striker does not have to play with the pressure of needing to keep his side in the division but he does have his own future to think about with his contract only running for another year.
If he wants to stay at Burnley long-term, he will have to prove he can be consistent in the Premier League and finally shirk that tag of being a prolific Championship player.
Chelsea – Kepa Arrizabalaga
It’s been another frustrating season for Chelsea’s goalkeeper.
The 25-year-old lost his starting place to Willy Caballero in February but did come back to play in a 4-0 win over Everton in the last game before the break.
The Blues appear to be in a position to spend money when the transfer window opens with Timo Werner set to arrive for £53million and Frank Lampard has been strongly linked with signing a new goalkeeper at the end of the season.
Spaniard Kepa has one of the worst records in the league this season with just six clean sheets
The Spaniard has one of the worst records in the league this season, conceding 32 goals and keeping just six clean sheets.
With Chelsea battling it out for a Champions League spot, Kepa simply has to prove he can be their No1 for the foreseeable future.
Lampard has shown he is not afraid to throw Caballero into the ring and any mistakes from Kepa could cost him his place and future at Stamford Bridge. Time for the £72m man to prove the doubters wrong.
Crystal Palace – Christian Benteke
It’s fair to say Benteke has been overshadowed by strike partner Jordan Ayew this season.
Benteke has managed just one goal to Ayew’s eight and the Belgian has also only managed one assist.
Christian Benteke has managed just one goal in comparison to Jordan Ayew who has eight
It’s perhaps no surprise that Palace are one of the lowest scoring teams in the division – only Newcastle and Norwich have claimed fewer goals than Roy Hodgson’s side.
Wilfried Zaha’s goals and assists have carried the Eagles in recent years but the winger has had found it tougher this season.
Benteke has one more year to run on his contract at Selhurst Park and, at the age of 29, he really needs to find his scoring boots fast if he wants to stay at the club beyond next season.
Leicester – Demarai Gray
A lack of consistency has been a recurring problem for Leicester’s promising winger Gray.
The 23-year-old is capable of being a very good Premier League player but has tended to show his talent in brief flashes.
His pace and skill is undeniable but his end product has often left him down with just one goal and assist in 14 appearances.
A lack of consistency has been a recurring problem for the promising Leicester winger
Brendan Rodgers is yet to give him a proper run in the team but with the Foxes close to securing Champions League football for next season, the manager may be tempted to hand him more opportunities.
Gray’s contract runs out in 2021 and he has to show he can be a player that can perform in the Premier League and in Europe.
Everton – Moise Kean
Forward Kean was always expected to take time to adapt to the English game but the 20-year-old has struggled to get going since his arrival at Goodison Park.
The appointment of Carlo Ancelotti, a fellow Italian and an admirer of Kean, was supposed to kickstart his career in Merseyside but he’s only managed one goal and one assist (two in total) since the manager arrived.
Moise Kean has struggled to get going in England but he is highly thought of by Carlo Ancelotti
The striker caused controversy off the field as one of the Premier League stars to break lockdown rules which resulted in the club taking disciplinary action.
Kean is still young and his manager clearly sees potential in him. This is a good opportunity for the striker to put the past behind him and show fans why he was signed last summer.
Liverpool – Takumi Minamino
Forcing your way into a team 25 points clear at the top of the table was never going to be easy.
Minamino was seen as a steal when Liverpool signed him from RB Salzburg for £7m in January but the midfielder is yet to have a proper run in the side.
Minamino should have plenty of opportunities to prove himself before the end of the season
But this isn’t out of the ordinary for Jurgen Klopp signings. Andy Robertson was bedded into the first team in stages and is now one of the first names on the team sheet.
The Reds could have the title wrapped up with seven games to go, or even eight if Man City lose to Arsenal, and this will give some of the fringe players a chance.
Minamino excited the Anfield crowd in the Champions League for his old team earlier this season but they’re yet to see him produce that type of play in a Liverpool shirt. He should have plenty of opportunities to prove himself before the end of the campaign.
Manchester City – John Stones
Vincent Kompany’s departure and an injury to Aymeric Laporte in August should really have seen Stones cement a place in the centre of City’s defence.
But Nicolas Otamendi managed to work his way ahead of him in the pecking order and to make matters worse, Pep Guardiola even opted to play Fernandinho out of position on a number of occasions until Laporte regained fitness.
With just 12 league appearances this season, Stones has also lost his place in the England squad after being the first-choice centre-back at the 2018 World Cup.
John Stones has fallen down the pecking order at and has lost his England place as a result
Laporte and Otamendi are likely to continue as the first-choice pairing for the restart but with Laporte’s injury record, Guardiola is likely to prioritise the Frenchman for the Champions League.
City have all but lost their Premier League title and it would make sense for the manager to rotate his team.
Stones has to make sure he’s ready to produce perfect performances if he wants to win back his coach’s trust.
Manchester United – Paul Pogba
It’s been the transfer saga of the season – will he stay, will he go? Talk of Pogba’s future at Manchester United has refused to go away despite the midfielder spending the majority of the campaign on the sidelines.
But for all it looked like the Frenchman was destined to leave Old Trafford, the break has given Pogba the chance to return to the United team and help them secure Champions League football for next season.
Paul Pogba was expected to leave Manchester United but he could yet be an important player
There’s no guarantee he will come straight back into the team as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were in good form before the suspension.
But there’s no doubt Pogba, on his day, can be a match-winner. The midfielder has had his critics for under-performing in the past and his agent Mino Raiola’s efforts to link him with a transfer.
But a big-money move to Real Madrid or Juventus may have been made harder by the coronavirus pandemic. If Pogba wants to stay at United, he has to show it.
Newcastle – Joelinton
There’s always pressure on strikers who are signed for a big fee and it’s been no different for Joelinton.
Newcastle paid £40m for the 22-year-old last summer but he has just one Premier League goal and two in the FA Cup to show for it.
Some players need time to adapt to the English game but Joelinton has the added pressure of a potential takeover going through ahead of next season.
Newcastle paid £40million for the 22-year-old last summer but he has just one league goal
If the striker fails to hit the ground running when the league resumes, new owners could make funds available for Steve Bruce or another manager to bring in a new forward.
The Brazilian, who managed seven goals and seven assists for Hoffenheim last season, is still young but strikers signed for big money are sometimes not given as much time as they need to realise their potential.
With Newcastle virtually safe, this is a great opportunity for the forward to show people what he can do.
Norwich – Teemu Pukki
It may seem harsh to pick on the Canaries’ top goalscorer but it’s because of the high standards the striker set at the start of the season that makes him stand out.
The Finland international scored six goals in the first five fixtures but has just two in his last 12 games.
Norwich need their top goalscorer to rediscover his earlier form if they are to avoid relegation
The 30-year-old has also missed some great opportunities in games that could have seen Norwich pick up points.
Daniel Farke’s side are the lowest scorers in the division and it’s perhaps no surprise they also have the lowest shot conversion rate of all the teams.
With the club six points adrift at the bottom of the table their fate looks sealed but they are still in with a chance of mounting a great escape – and they’ll need their top scorer to be as clinical as he was at the start of the season if they are to achieve it.
Sheffield United – Oli McBurnie
It’s hard to pick any Sheffield United players who may have a point to prove given how well Chris Wilder’s side have performed this season.
Perhaps one criticism of the Blades is that they have not been as prolific in front of goal as the teams around them – their 30 league goals is considerably lower than totals of Tottenham below them who have 47 and Wolves and Man United who sit just above them on 41 and 44.
Oli McBurnie will hope he can add a few more goals to his tally before the end of the season
McBurnie has managed four league goals since signing for £17m from Swansea last season.
The striker can be happy with his first season back in the top flight but could perhaps benefit from notching a few more strikes before the end of the season, especially as the Blades are battling for a place in Europe.
Southampton – Che Adams
Without a goal since arriving at St Mary’s for a fee of £16m last summer, Adams has so far struggled to make the step up from the Championship.
The club rejected three bids from Leeds United for the 23-year-old in January and he is clearly still part of Ralph Hassenhuttl’s plans for the future.
But he will be hoping he can break his goal drought before the end of the season with Southampton looking fairly safe from relegation.
Che Adams is yet to find the net for Southampton since his £16million move last summer
The striker was prolific for Birmingham last season but has been living in Danny Ings’ shadow for the majority of this campaign.
The Saints have some favourable fixtures before the season is over including Norwich, Brighton, Bournemouth and Watford. Any of these fixtures could be a chance for Adams to break his duck.
Tottenham – Dele Alli
Eight goals and four assists in the league this season are not terrible stats by any means, but such are the high standards the midfielder has set for himself people are always expecting a little bit more.
It doesn’t help that Spurs have had a poor campaign with the club crashing out of the Champions League and the FA Cup – not forgetting their Carabao Cup humiliation at the hands of League Two Colchester.
Tottenham will need Dele Alli on the top form if they are to make for the Champions League
Alli admitted his side had not been good enough before the break and the England international is one of a number of players who has struggled in the absence of Harry Kane.
The 24-year-old Alli will miss Jose Mourinho’s side’s first game back after he was disciplined by the FA for a social media post which should only make him more determined to hit the ground running when he returns.
Spurs are still very much in the race for the Champions League but they’ll need Alli at the top of his game if they are to beat Chelsea and Manchester United.
Watford – Andre Gray
The striker struggled to fill the void left by Troy Deeney while the Watford captain was injured at the start of the season.
It took the skipper’s return to lift the Hornets out of the relegation zone with Gray managing just two goals in 20 appearances.
Andre Gray has just two league goals this season after managing a total of seven last year
But Nigel Pearson will need all of his forwards firing if Watford are to avoid relegation and Gray will want to prove he is worth keeping if the club maintain their Premier League status.
The striker is five goals away from equalling his tally for last season but the Hornets have to play several teams close to them in the table which may give Gray an opportunity to start firing again.
West Ham – Felipe Anderson
The Brazilian was one of West Ham’s best players last season but he has struggled to replicate that impressive form during his second season at the London stadium.
His solitary league goal is some way off his tally of nine for the 2018-19 campaign and the Hammers are staring at the prospect of relegation to the Championship.
David Moyes’ side have a tough run-in but there are five very winnable games that Anderson can make a difference in.
Felipe Anderson has struggled to replicate the form he showed in the 2018-2019 campaign
Anderson also now has to compete with Jarrod Bowen who scored on his home debut in the 3-1 win over Southampton.
If the 27-year-old isn’t firing then Moyes will have no qualms about picking the £20m Bowen ahead of him.
Wolves – Pedro Neto
The winger has been impressive in his first season in the Premier League and looks to have a bright future at Molineux.
Most of his appearances have been as a substitute but he has had to compete with Adama Traore and Diogo Jota for a starting place.
Pedro Neto could have a chance to prove he can be a long-term replacement for Adama Traore
But the 20-year-old could stake a claim in the final games of the season with Traore linked with Liverpool and Barcelona.
Neto can prove he is the man to replace winger if he does depart the club at the end of the season and he should have plenty of opportunities with Wolves still in the Europa League as well as chasing a top-four spot for next season.