The English Premier League continues its march towards the run-in this weekend, with eight top flight fixtures across the country between Friday and Sunday.
Leaders Arsenal and nearest challengers Manchester City are busy contesting the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday evening.
That means the EPL spotlight falls elsewhere as Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola slug it out for the first domestic silverware of the season in London.
There’s no better place to start than the Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland on Sunday lunchtime.
And the Toon Army are out for revenge after losing 1-0 at a raucous Stadium of Light back in December.
Eddie Howe’s men have since edged above the Wearsiders in the Premier League table, but it’s a packed field meaning there is much more than the fuel of local pride to play for in the north east.
Speaking of there being plenty at stake, look no further than the basement battle between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest a little later in the afternoon.
Spurs finally scavanged their first point under the temporary charge of Igor Tudor a week ago, keeping them a terrifying point and a place above their visitors and the relegation zone.
Forest have drawn two in a row, including against Manchester City, as the battle for survival reaches a crunch moment.
It’s West Ham who sit immediately below the pair, level on points with Vitor Pereira’s side, with four points from their last six as they stay firmly in the fight.
Nuno Espirito Santo takes his Hammers to Aston Villa for Sunday’s third EPL fixture, with the Villans’ third successive loss last time out leaving boss Unai Emery decidedly hot under the collar.
Manchester United kick off the Premier League weekend on Friday night, when they head to the south coast to play Bournemouth under the lights at the Vitality Stadium.
The Red Devils returned to winning ways and maintained their grip on third place by picking off Aston Villa at Old Trafford last weekend, while the Cherries have seen a sequence of four successive draws hamper their own European qualification ambitions.
Also heading to the seaside are United’s north west rivals Liverpool, who contest the Saturday lunchtime kick off at the Amex Stadium with Brighton.
Arne Slot’s Reds were pegged back by Spurs at Anfield last Sunday, leaving them looking for a first win in three here, with the Seagulls suddenly soaring again thanks to three victories in their last four outings.
Chelsea are breathing down Liverpool’s necks albeit with both giants heading backwards in recent weeks.
The Blues are on Merseyside to tackle David Moyes’ canny Everton, who lie five points and just two places behind their visitors to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the EPL standings.
Between them in seventh lie Brentford, who have won just once in their last five to join Liam Rosenior’s stuttering charges in also falling off the pace at the sharp end.
They go to Leeds, whose own winning form at the turn of the year has completely deserted them, leaving boss Daniel Farke and an expectant Elland Road crowd firmly back in the relegation mix and only three points clear of danger.
Fulham and Burnley wrap up the action when they face off at Craven Cottage.
Both could really use three points towards the cause this weekend, not least the Clarets who are nine points adrift of safety and with time fast running out for boss Scott Parker on his mission to avoid another return to the Championship.
Marco Silva and his side, meanwhile, could still see their season go either way, with a charge for Europe not out of the question if they can fix their inconsistent form at this crucial late stage.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool
| Match | Result | O/U | HT/FT | Team to Score | Anytime Goalscorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool | Liverpool to win | Under 2.5 | Brighton & Hove Albion / Liverpool | Both teams | n/a |
Fulham v Burnley
| Match | Result | O/U | HT/FT | Team to Score | Anytime Goalscorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulham v Burnley | Draw | Under 2.5 | Draw / Draw | Both teams | Zian Flemming (Burnley) |
Everton v Chelsea
| Match | Result | O/U | HT/FT | Team to Score | Anytime Goalscorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everton v Chelsea | Chelsea to win | Under 2.5 | Draw / Chelsea | Both teams | Pedro Joao (Chelsea) |
Leeds United v Brentford
| Match | Result | O/U | HT/FT | Team to Score | Anytime Goalscorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds United v Brentford | Brentford to win | Under 2.5 | Brentford / Brentford | Both teams | n/a |
Newcastle United v Sunderland
| Match | Result | O/U | HT/FT | Team to Score | Anytime Goalscorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle United v Sunderland | Newcastle United to win | Under 2.5 | Newcastle United / Newcastle United | Both teams | n/a |
Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest
| Match | Result | O/U | HT/FT | Team to Score | Anytime Goalscorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest | Tottenham Hotspur to win | Under 2.5 | Tottenham Hotspur / Tottenham Hotspur | Both teams | n/a |
Aston Villa v West Ham United
| Match | Result | O/U | HT/FT | Team to Score | Anytime Goalscorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa v West Ham United | Draw | Under 2.5 | Draw / Draw | Both teams | n/a |