The English Premier League puts on an early festive treat for fans around the world this week, by cramming in an extra round of fixtures between Tuesday and Thursday.
Leaders Arsenal are in the thick of that schedule when they play Brentford in a London derby on Wednesday night at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have drawn two of their last three but still come into the matchweek five points clear at the top of the EPL table, while their visitors are currently a model of inconsistency in midtable.
It was fellow capital city rivals Chelsea who pegged Arsenal back at Stamford Bridge on a tetchy Sunday afternoon.
They now go to Leeds looking to solidify their own top four credentials under Enzo Maresca.
A positive result for the Blues could also spell doom for Elland Road chief Daniel Farke, whose side are in the relegation zone and have lost four in a row.
Liverpool are also in action on Wednesday, welcoming Sunderland to Anfield with the visitors a point and two places ahead of their hosts in the Premier League standings.
Both returned to winning ways last time out, too, as a crammed top half of the table continues to take shape.
Manchester United are sandwiched between the duo in seventh and also earned a first win in four attempts last weekend.
Ruben Amorim will fancy his chances of a prized Old Trafford win on Thursday as West Ham make the journey to the north west, with the Hammers’ own improving form extinguished by Arne Slot’s Reds on Sunday.
Three Tuesday matches include Manchester City making the reverse journey to the capital to tackle Fulham.
Pep Guardiola’s men can put the squeeze on Arsenal at the summit if they can make it four wins from five, while their hosts have pulled away from relegation trouble in recent weeks thanks to nine points from their last possible 12.
Newcastle and Tottenham are locked together in a bottom half on 18 points apiece, going into their crunch St James’ Park meeting.
They’ve reached that point from different angles, though, with Spurs losing their last two and the Toon Army winning their last couple to leave plenty riding on this one under the Tyneside lights.
Bournemouth and Everton are also separated by a single point ahead of their Vitality Stadium date.
The Cherries are four without victory, however, as an incredible start to the season for boss Andoni Iraola and Co fades into memory.
Another trio of fixtures on Wednesday are led by a top four tangle between Brighton and Aston Villa.
The League’s two in form clubs would swap places if the Seagulls can record a third win on the spin at the Amex Stadium, while the Villans have also won their last three on the bounce.
Burnley haven’t managed so much as a point in their last four and now face a tricky Turf Moor task against Crystal Palace.
Oliver Glasner has his Eagles flying nicely under the radar in the top half mix, despite slipping to defeat last weekend against Manchester United at Selhurst Park.
A living nightmare continues for Wolves, meanwhile, with new boss Rob Edwards yet to pick up a point since jumping ship from Championship promotion chasers Middlesbrough to return to Molineux.
Nottingham Forest head to the Black Country off the back of a first major setback since Sean Dyche took the helm, leaving them just a point above the relegation zone.
Fulham vs Manchester City
Result prediction: Manchester City to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester City / Manchester City |
| Team to Score prediction | Manchester City only |
AFC Bournemouth vs Everton
Result prediction: Everton to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Everton / Everton |
| Team to Score prediction | Everton only |
Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Result prediction: Tottenham Hotspur to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Tottenham Hotspur / Tottenham Hotspur |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |
Liverpool vs Sunderland
Result prediction: Liverpool to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Liverpool / Liverpool |
| Team to Score prediction | Liverpool only |
Leeds United vs Chelsea
Result prediction: Leeds United to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Leeds United / Leeds United |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |
Arsenal vs Brentford
Result prediction: Brentford to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brentford / Brentford |
| Team to Score prediction | Brentford only |
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
Result prediction: Draw
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brighton & Hove Albion / Draw |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Nottingham Forest
Result prediction: Nottingham Forest to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Nottingham Forest / Nottingham Forest |
| Team to Score prediction | Nottingham Forest only |
Burnley vs Crystal Palace
Result prediction: Crystal Palace to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Crystal Palace / Crystal Palace |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |
Manchester United vs West Ham United
Result prediction: Manchester United to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester United / Manchester United |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |