The English Premier League makes its comeback this weekend, with combat resuming at both ends of the EPL table as the climax of the season begins to think about coming around the corner.
That means points are at a premium in both the continental qualification shake up and the relegation battle.
It won’t be any more dramatic than in north London on Sunday afternoon, as fallen giants Tottenham and Manchester United face off.
The pair are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, albeit with Spurs at least having stopped their losing stretch a fortnight ago to lift the gloom around boss Ange Postecoglou.
No such problems on Merseyside, where leaders Liverpool have won their last three to start the weekend with a six-point cushion at the top of the standings and a game in hand to add to the advantage.
Arne Slot’s Reds welcome Wolves to Anfield in Sunday’s other EPL fixture, with the visitors perilously close to the drop zone.
The action kicks off on Friday night when Chelsea make the trip to the south coast to play Brighton.
A reset is on the minds of the hosts after damaging back-to-back losses that have knocked their European aspirations, while the Blues are firmly in top four contention under the charge of Enzo Maresca.
Saturday’s seven fixtures begin with a lopsided clash between Leicester and Arsenal.
It’s a lunchtime Premier League kick off for the pair, with the Gunners the nearest challengers to Liverpool at the top and the Foxes the wrong side of the dotted line and with only four wins to their name all campaign.
There’s also plenty to play for between Manchester City and Newcastle when they collide at the Etihad Stadium.
The pair sit fifth and sixth in the EPL table, separated only by virtue of City having scored more, although both were losers last time out two weeks ago.
Nottingham Forest returned to winning ways in style after a minor blip, destroying Brighton 7-0, with a visit to steady-away Fulham next on the agenda.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men come into the weekend an eye-catching third in the standings and just three points shy of Arsenal in second, with their hosts at Craven Cottage just a bit of consistency short of a genuine European tilt.
A London derby at the former Olympic Stadium could prove a marathon task for the home side, meanwhile, when West Ham go up against Brentford.
The capital city pair have been models of inconsistency in recent months, paving the way for a battle that could go the distance.
Aston Villa are a club in need of a domestic pick-me-up, despite their sparkling progress to the Uefa Champions League knockout phase.
Unai Emery’s side welcome struggling Ipswich to Villa Park, with the Tractor Boys smarting from yet another four consecutive defeats to leave themselves deep in relegation trouble.
Rising out of the swamp in recent weeks have been Everton, who have hauled themselves away from immediate trouble with a hat-trick of victories.
They play in the late game when they go to Crystal Palace, who have themselves risen to 12th thanks to three wins in their last four ahead of the Selhurst Park contest.
Southampton remain cut adrift as they prepare to face south coast rivals Bournemouth at St Mary’s Stadium.
The Saints did collect a second win of the season last time out at drop rivals Ipswich but remain deep in the mire, while the Cherries remain right in the hunt for continental football next season thanks to an incredible season so far under coach Andoni Iraola.
Fixtures and results
Latest table
All latest EPL Predictions
All latest EPL Predictions
Leicester City v Arsenal
| Result prediction | Arsenal to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Arsenal / Arsenal to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Aston Villa v Ipswich Town
| Result prediction | Aston Villa to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Ipswich Town / Aston Villa to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Fulham v Nottingham Forest
| Result prediction | Nottingham Forest to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Nottingham Forest / Nottingham Forest to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | R. Jiménez(Fulham) C. Wood(Nottingham Forest) |
Manchester City v Newcastle United
| Result prediction | Manchester City to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Manchester City to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | E. Haaland(Manchester City) P. Foden(Manchester City) A. Isak(Newcastle United) |
Southampton v AFC Bournemouth
| Result prediction | AFC Bournemouth to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / AFC Bournemouth to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Kluivert(AFC Bournemouth) D. Ouattara(AFC Bournemouth) |
West Ham United v Brentford
| Result prediction | Brentford to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | West Ham United / Brentford to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | B. Mbeumo(Brentford) |
Crystal Palace v Everton
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Everton / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Mateta(Crystal Palace) Beto(Everton) I. Ndiaye(Everton) |
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
| Result prediction | Liverpool to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Liverpool / Liverpool to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Mohamed Salah(Liverpool) |
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
| 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 | A. Diallo(Manchester United) |
Aston Villa 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 | Mohamed Salah(Liverpool) |