The English Premier League returns this weekend and we’re headlong into the run-in as the temperatures warm and the days lengthen.
Leaders Arsenal certainly have a spring in their step, boasting a seven-point lead at the top of the EPL table and with three successive wins boosting their cause in recent weeks.
They play on Saturday evening when boss Mikel Arteta is reunited with former club Everton at the Emirates Stadium, with the Toffees in decent form themselves and pushing for a coveted top six finish.
Their tie is followed immediately by Manchester City’s visit to London, where they will go up against West Ham.
Pep Guardiola’s side have little margin for error, albeit maintaining a game in hand on the Gunners above them, while the Hammers are inching their way towards escaping the relegation zone.
It’s a packed Premier League evening in the capital as Chelsea also play at home to Newcastle.
Both were in Uefa Champions League last 16 action in midweek, facing up to Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona respectively before returning their attentions to domestic matters.
The Blues are in patchy form but within striking distance of the top three, while the Toon Army joined them in returning to winning ways last time out albeit remaining in the bottom half.
Sunday sees a fascinating top four tangle between Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Old Trafford is the venue for the pair, who are locked together on 51 EPL points and with both having tasted defeat in their last fixture.
Across the north west, Anfield is also be a source of mighty intrigue as crisis-club Tottenham limp into town to play Liverpool.
Spurs suffered abject humiliation in Europe during the week and start the weekend a single point above the drop zone, as interim boss Igor Tudor appears to be having no positive effect whatsoever.
The Reds have been off the boil themselves but know that three expected points on home turf will bolster their top six credentials.
Lurking just below Arne Slot’s side are Brentford, who tackle bottom club Wolves in the Monday night football.
The Bees head the best-of-the-rest challengers in seventh, four points outside the top six, while their surely-doomed visitors have sprung into life with back-to-back victories as they spark a late surge for salvation.
Sunday sees two other EPL matches, with Nottingham Forest playing host to Fulham.
The City Ground side remain deep in relegation danger despite the appointment of Vitor Pereira as their fourth head coach of a bewildering season, while the away side are the model of inconsistency under fellow Portuguese Marco Silva, whose own contract is running down in west London.
Crystal Palace and Leeds contest the day’s other game when they meet at Selhurst Park.
Eagles chief Oliver Glasner and his charges have ridden out the storm that engulfed them at the turn of the year to reach mid-table sanctuary.
It’s a different matter for the Yorkshire club, whose own impressive recent spell has ebbed away to leave them four without a win and just three points clear of trouble coming into the matchweek.
Brighton make the monumental trip to Sunderland for one of Saturday’s other two remaining clashes.
The Seagulls had been showing signs of improvement before defeat to leaders Arsenal last time out, with their hosts three points and three places ahead of them thanks to victory at Leeds.
Burnley have it all to do if they are to escape the clutches of the Championship next season.
Scott Parker is feeling the heat as Bournemouth arrive at Turf Moor as the league’s draw specialists, with three more than any other team.
Sunderland v Brighton & Hove Albion
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brighton & Hove Albion / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Burnley v AFC Bournemouth
| Result prediction | Burnley to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Burnley / Burnley to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Zian Flemming (Burnley) |
Chelsea v Newcastle United
| Result prediction | Chelsea to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Chelsea / Chelsea to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Cole Palmer (Chelsea) Pedro Joao (Chelsea) |
Arsenal v Everton
| 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 |
West Ham United v Manchester City
| Result prediction | Manchester City to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester City / Manchester City to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City) |
Manchester United v Aston Villa
| Result prediction | Manchester United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Manchester United to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United) |
Crystal Palace v Leeds United
| 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 | Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) Strand Larsen Jorgen (Crystal Palace) |
Nottingham Forest v Fulham
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Fulham / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Raul Jimenez (Fulham) |
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
| Result prediction | Liverpool to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Liverpool to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Brentford v Wolverhampton Wanderers
| 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 | n/a |