The English Premier League continues this weekend with another bumper programme, as the fixture list builds up to a tasty cross-Pennine derby on Sunday.
Manchester United and Leeds may occupy opposing ends of the EPL table, but both are itching for an improvement in performance and points ahead of their rival clash at Elland Road.
The Red Devils did at least shake off their draw hoodoo at Old Trafford in midweek to haul themselves back into the top four, despite fans’ misgivings about interim boss Ralph Rangnick and his inherited playing squad.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have a six-point cushion above the relegation zone but aren’t sitting easy, with teams below them picking up and the Yorkshire club without a win in three league attempts.
Manchester City wrap up the Saturday action in the late kick off as they welcome Tottenham to the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions are well on their merry way to another crown, going into the weekend with a nine-point margin at the summit, while Spurs are in something of a crisis having lost three on the bounce to leave combustible coach Antonio Conte spitting feathers.
Liverpool are clinging on to the coat tails of their north west rivals and also have a game in hand to mount a late charge from second place.
The Reds tackle Norwich at Anfield on Saturday afternoon off the back of four straight victories, while Dean Smith’s Canaries are the wrong side of the dotted line at the wrong end of the standings despite a recent upturn in form.
Fifa Club World Cup champions Chelsea return from their successful trip to the United Arab Emirates and are plunged straight into a London derby at Crystal Palace.
Thomas Tuchel’s men have been left way off the title pace in their absence but will feel confident on their visit to Selhurst Park, with Patrick Vieira’s Eagles pecking around for form in recent weeks.
Another capital city clash sees Arsenal resume their top four tilt with the visit of Brentford to the Emirates Stadium.
The Blues’ absence gave the Gunners a blank weekend but they’re handily placed for a Champions League push with games in hand on all those around them.
Completing a trio of London fixtures are West Ham, who host improving Newcastle and their expensively assembled new squad in the lunchtime kick off at the former Olympic Stadium.
There’s a Midlands Derby full of intrigue on Sunday, as Wolves eye a top six return at Molineux when they host Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester, who haven’t won in four.
Elsewhere on Saturday there’s a St Mary’s Stadium battle between Southampton and Everton, who collected their first win under new boss Frank Lampard last weekend.
Brighton go into their home game against struggling Burnley safe in the knowledge they will remain a top half side no matter what the result of their Amex Stadium contest.
Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa are aiming to join them, with miserable Watford an ideal opponent at Villa Park.
English Premier League predictions for 19 – 20 February
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
