You’d be daft to miss out on the English Premier League this midweek, as the top flight makes its return on April Fools’ Day.
It’s been over a fortnight since the EPL last took centre stage, with the last international football break of the season and the FA Cup quarter-finals hogging the limelight instead.
But now we’re back for the run-in – and in what style.
The Merseyside derby grabs the attention on Wednesday night, as red-hot title favourites Liverpool take on Everton under the Anfield lights.
Arne Slot’s men take a whopping 12-point advantage into the final stretch of nine games, winning three on the spin before the pause in action and refreshed having not reached the last eight of the Cup.
The Toffees are nothing if not stubborn since the return of veteran boss David Moyes, though, drawing four in a row as they stay well clear of the drop zone while preparing to give their Goodison Park stadium a fond farewell come May.
A London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham, meanwhile, is the sole Premier League fixture on Thursday.
Plenty rides on the outcome of this beyond local pride for the inconsistent Blues, who come into the Stamford Bridge tussle at the head of a Uefa Champions League-chasing pack stretching all the way down to 10th place.
That still rules out Spurs by a long chalk, who went right off the boil again under boss Ange Postecoglou before the international break, collecting just one point from their last possible nine in the league.
Arsenal have home advantage in another all capital city clash on Tuesday as they bid to keep some sort of fingernail in touch with Liverpool’s coattails.
The Gunners meet Fulham at the Emirates Stadium, with the visitors gamely clinging on themselves in an unlikely push for continental qualification.
Nottingham Forest remain in pursuit of Mikel Arteta’s charges, with another magical night in prospect at the City Ground as Manchester United roll into town.
United arrive in the East Midlands in tentatively improving form, albeit with the damage long-since done to a miserable domestic campaign, while their hosts are in great shape to break into the Champions League with an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley also to look forward to.
Wolves and West Ham wrap up Tuesday’s action as they meet while occupying the two places immediately above the relegation zone.
It’s not as dangerous as that might suggest, although the home side won’t fancy the prospect of their nine-point buffer being cut as the clock ticks down.
Outgoing EPL champions Manchester City will hope the pause has helped them reset yet again, having won just once in their last four in the league.
Pep Guardiola’s men have the perfect opportunity to prove it when miserable Leicester come to the Etihad Stadium off the back of a dismal losing run under coach Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Newcastle are a point behind City in sixth place, with a game in hand to boot thanks to their electric Carabao Cup final exploits at Wembley.
They now tackle Brentford at St James’ Park, with a perfectly timed top four tilt now the clear mission for Eddie Howe and Co.
Brighton and Aston Villa collide for a fascinating match at the Amex Stadium, with both right in line behind the Toon Army for places in the final shake up.
The Seagulls have the edge on form – and by two points in the standings – but Unai Emery’s Champions League-conquering side are a dangerous prospect on the Sussex coast.
Bournemouth were right in the top four mix as well, until a four-match winless sequence bizarrely coincided with an easing of their injury woes.
They now have Ipswich in their sights at the Vitality Stadium, with the Tractor Boys having lost their last four as they slide towards an immediate return to the Championship.
The same can safely be said for Southampton, who tackle in-form Crystal Palace with just nine points to show for their efforts all season.
Palace booked their FA Cup semi-final date last weekend and have won three on the bounce in the EPL, meaning there is likely to be no let up in the misery for the Saints at St Mary’s Stadium.
Fixtures and results
Latest table
All latest EPL Predictions
AFC Bournemouth v Ipswich Town
| Result prediction | AFC Bournemouth to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | AFC Bournemouth / AFC Bournemouth to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa
| Result prediction | Brighton & Hove Albion to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brighton & Hove Albion / Brighton & Hove Albion to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | João Pedro(Brighton & Hove Albion) O. Watkins(Aston Villa) |
Manchester City v Leicester City
| Result prediction | Manchester City to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester City / Manchester City to win |
| Team to Score prediction | Manchester City |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | E. Haaland(Manchester City) Omar Marmoush(Manchester City) |
Newcastle United v Brentford
| Result prediction | Brentford to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Brentford to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Y. Wissa(Brentford) |
Southampton v Crystal Palace
| Result prediction | Crystal Palace to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Crystal Palace / Crystal Palace to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Mateta(Crystal Palace) I. Sarr(Crystal Palace) |
Liverpool v Everton
| Result prediction | Liverpool to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Liverpool / Liverpool to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Mohamed Salah(Liverpool) |
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Chelsea / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Everton v Arsenal
| Result prediction | Everton to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Everton / Everton to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brighton & Hove Albion / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Mateta(Crystal Palace) I. Sarr(Crystal Palace) João Pedro(Brighton & Hove Albion) |
Ipswich Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Wolverhampton Wanderers / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Strand Larsen(Wolverhampton Wanderers) |
West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Nottingham Forest / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | O. Watkins(Aston Villa) A. Elanga(Nottingham Forest) |
Brentford v Chelsea
| Result prediction | Brentford to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brentford / Brentford to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Y. Wissa(Brentford) |
Fulham v Liverpool
| Result prediction | Liverpool to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Liverpool / Liverpool to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Rodrigo Muniz(Fulham) Mohamed Salah(Liverpool) |
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton
| Result prediction | Tottenham Hotspur to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Tottenham Hotspur / Tottenham Hotspur to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Manchester United v Manchester City
| Result prediction | Manchester United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Manchester United to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Bruno Fernandes(Manchester United) E. Haaland(Manchester City) Omar Marmoush(Manchester City) |