The English Premier League returns this weekend in a blaze of local derbies.
A week off for FA Cup third round action came as a welcome break for some and an unwelcome disruption for others, as the EPL heads towards the halfway mark following five weeks off duty for the Fifa World Cup in Qatar.
It’s red versus blue on Saturday lunchtime, as Manchester United and Manchester City lock horns at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils have quietly become the top flight’s form team in recent weeks, winning their last four to jostle themselves into excellent shape for Uefa Champions League qualification come May.
More remarkable still is that they’re only four points behind noisy neighbours and reigning champions City.
Pep Guardiola’s side are second in the standings coming into the weekend, with star striker Erling Haaland even benefiting from a bonus rest over the Cup weekend.
Attention turns to the capital city on Sunday afternoon with the north London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal.
The Gunners make the short trip up the road having begun the round with a four-point advantage at the top of the Premier League table, having lost just once in a sparkling season so far.
Spurs have frustrated the living daylights out of combustible coach Antonio Conte in recent weeks but turned up for a 4-0 win last time out, keeping them ahead of the chasing pack in fifth place.
Chelsea are also in Sunday service and are feeling the heat having lost twice in a week to Manchester City in league and cup, while Graham Potter’s men sit a sorry tenth in the EPL standings.
The Blues have a London derby as well, with Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace the visitors to Stamford Bridge.
Impressive Fulham complete the capital city hat-trick on Sunday as they make the long trek north to Newcastle, with both protecting their unbeaten runs in the upper echelons.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Liverpool need to regroup sharpish in order to reignite their belated top four tilt.
Jurgen Klopp’s side slipped to defeat in their final outing before the FA Cup, leaving the Reds sixth in the table and seven points off the Champions League pace ahead of their devilish trip to Brighton.
Their Merseyside rivals Everton are in all sorts of strife, meanwhile, in the Premier League relegation zone.
It’s a six-pointer for Frank Lampard’s charges as they go to Southampton, who sit bottom of the EPL standings three points adrift of the Toffees.
Nottingham Forest climbed out of the mire thanks to victory at St Mary’s just over a week ago, with a Midlands derby against improving Leicester their next assignment at the City Ground.
Another pair looking anywhere other than at the table are Wolves and West Ham, who go head-to-head at Molineux with a single point separating them either side of the dreaded dotted line.
Bournemouth are only a point better off, too, ahead of their awkward away game at Brentford in the late Saturday kick off.
And it all begins on Friday night as Aston Villa and Leeds attempt to display their mid table credentials under the lights at Villa Park.
English Premier League predictions for 13 – 15 January
Aston Villa v Leeds United
Result prediction Aston Villa to win
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction draw / Aston Villa to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction D. Ings(Aston Villa)
Rodrigo(Leeds United)
Manchester United v Manchester City
Result prediction Manchester United to win
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Manchester United / Manchester United to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction M. Rashford(Manchester United)
E. Haaland(Manchester City)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool
Result prediction Brighton & Hove Albion to win
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Liverpool / Brighton & Hove Albion to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction K. Mitoma(Brighton & Hove Albion)
Mohamed Salah(Liverpool)
D. Núñez(Liverpool)
Everton v Southampton
Result prediction draw
Over/Under prediction under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction draw / draw
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction J. Ward-Prowse(Southampton)
Nottingham Forest v Leicester City
Result prediction draw
Over/Under prediction under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction draw / draw
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction M. Gibbs-White(Nottingham Forest)
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United
Result prediction Wolverhampton Wanderers to win
Over/Under prediction under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Wolverhampton Wanderers / Wolverhampton Wanderers to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction n/a
Brentford v AFC Bournemouth
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 I. Toney(Brentford)
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Result prediction Chelsea to win
Over/Under prediction under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction draw / Chelsea to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction n/a
Newcastle United v Fulham
Result prediction draw
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Newcastle United / draw
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction n/a
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Result prediction Tottenham Hotspur to win
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Arsenal / Tottenham Hotspur to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction H. Kane(Tottenham Hotspur)
M. Ødegaard(Arsenal)
B. Saka(Arsenal)