Don’t be fooled by the bitesize English Premier League fixture programme this weekend.
The EPL may have halved the numbers as part of its makeshift winter break, but there’s no let up in the drama with five gripping games between Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United bring the curtain down on the truncated schedule when they host Tottenham on Sunday.
Old Trafford is the venue as the Red Devils attempt to jump-start an unlikely push towards Uefa Champions League qualification.
Erik ten Hag’s side have been limping along in recent weeks, while Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs come into the weekend fifth in the Premier League table, with four wins from their last five.
Sunday’s other EPL fixture sees second-placed Aston Villa go to Everton.
The Villans recovered from an iffy Christmas period to secure victory last time out, leaving them within striking distance of the summit.
For Sean Dyche’s Toffees, three defeats on the spin combined with their heavy-handed points deduction leaves them loitering just above the relegation zone.
It’s just as intense for Saturday’s pair of games, as reigning champions Manchester City head to the north east to take on Newcastle.
Pep Guardiola’s recently-crowned Fifa Club World Cup winners are stirring into ominous domestic form too, with three wins from their last unbeaten four matches.
The Toon Army, by contrast, are in a grim run of form and have lost their last three, sinking them to the depths of mid-table obscurity heading into the second half of the campaign.
A west London derby sets the tone, meanwhile, as Chelsea host neighbours Fulham in the Saturday lunchtime Premier League kick off.
The Blues are tenth in the table but have won three of their last four in the league, even if they did cough up a one-goal lead to Championship club Middlesbrough in the League Cup semi-final first leg in midweek.
Their visitors are a curious proposition, losing three on the spin before perking up on New Year’s Eve to beat fellow capital city side Arsenal at Craven Cottage.
And there’s a Friday night fight towards the foot of the EPL table, where Burnley welcome Luton to Turf Moor.
Both are mired in the relegation zone, with the Clarets four points worse off than the Hatters coming into what feels like a six-pointer for EPL survival.
Burnley v Luton Town
| Result prediction | Luton Town to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Luton Town to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | E. Adebayo(Luton Town) |
Chelsea v Fulham
| Result prediction | Chelsea to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Chelsea to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | C. Palmer(Chelsea) |
Newcastle United v Manchester City
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester City / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | A. Isak(Newcastle United) |
Everton v Aston Villa
| Result prediction | Aston Villa to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Aston Villa / Aston Villa to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
| Result prediction | Tottenham Hotspur to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Tottenham Hotspur / Tottenham Hotspur to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Son Heung-Min(Tottenham Hotspur) Richarlison(Tottenham Hotspur) |