The English Premier League continues this weekend with a full set of fixtures across the country between Saturday and Monday.
It’s the North London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal that takes centre stage and there will be more than the usual local tension in the air.
Mikel Arteta’s EPL leaders have slipped up in drawing their last two, as their buffer at the top of the table shrinks and the nerves build.
Spurs, meanwhile, finally put boss Thomas Frank out of his misery last week, replacing the increasingly haunted Dane with Igor Tudor, who takes charge of the relegation-threatened giants until the end of the campaign.
A far more familiar scene greets fans of Monday night football when Manchester United go to Everton.
Michael Carrick has enjoyed a stirring return to the Red Devils in interim charge, piloting them to fourth in the EPL table as they make the short trip to Merseyside to face former chief David Moyes.
The veteran Scot is loving his second spell with the Toffees, too, with a rare defeat last time out the only recent dent in their European qualification ambitions.
Familiarity can breed contempt, though, which might well be the case for Newcastle when they go to Manchester City for a Saturday night Premier League showdown.
Already knocked out of the EFL Cup semi-finals by Pep Guardiola’s title chasers and drawn to meet them in the FA Cup fifth round, it’s the last thing the Toon Army needed following their marathon trek to Azerbaijan in midweek.
Eddie Howe’s side did come home with a massive Uefa Champions League play-off win and finally snatched a top flight victory at Spurs last weekend, boosting the mood on Tyneside.
City have won three of their last four and are closing in on Arsenal at the top of the table, as the race for silverware hots up.
Chelsea have been keeping up with that searing pace in recent weeks and have a home game with Burnley as they attempt to crack the top four.
The Blues are looking strong under the charge of up-and-coming Liam Rosenior, while the Clarets head to Stamford Bridge with time running out in their battle against relegation despite collecting only their fourth win of the season last week.
Aston Villa have third place locked in as they prepare to take on Leeds.
The job for Unai Emery and his side is to keep on keeping on at the sharp end, with their visitors much improved since the turn of the year and pulling clear of the drop zone.
West Ham have also sprung into life as coach Nuno Espirito Santo tries to engineer their escape from the clutches of the Championship.
They play Bournemouth in the evening kick off at the London Stadium still three points short of safety and face a stern test against Andoni Iraola’s impressive Cherries, who could climb as high as seventh with victory.
The view on the horizon is even better for Brentford, who have defied the odds under rookie boss Keith Andrews to put themselves within striking distance of the top six.
Brighton are the visitors to west London on Saturday, with a surprise relegation battle looming for the Seagulls and their under pressure coach, Fabian Hurzeler.
Liverpool play on Sunday as they attempt to iron out their inconsistencies, with a visit to Nottingham Forest their next assignment.
Arne Slot’s men remain well placed to push for the Champions League in spite of their relative struggles and they face a Forest side under the charge of their fourth head coach of the season, with Vitor Pereira replacing Sean Dyche in the City Ground (very) hotseat.
A midtable mash up takes place at the Stadium of Light when Sunderland tackle Fulham.
The duo have lost two and three-in-a-row respectively as their hopes of a continental push recede, meaning three points for either on Wearside would prove a welcome shot in the arm.
Crystal Palace and Wolves complete the weekend’s Premier League programme when they meet at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles have steadied since their miserable start to the new year, while their visitors are drifting inevitably towards the relegation trapdoor.
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion
| Result prediction | Brentford to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Brentford / Brentford to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Aston Villa v Leeds United
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth
| Result prediction | West Ham United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | West Ham United / West Ham United to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Crysencio Summerville (West Ham United) |
Chelsea v Burnley
| 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) |
Manchester City v Newcastle United
| 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) |
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers
| Result prediction | Crystal Palace to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Crystal Palace / Crystal Palace to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
| Result prediction | Liverpool to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Liverpool to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Sunderland v Fulham
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Sunderland / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Habib Diarra (Sunderland) |
Tottenham Hotspur 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 | Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) |
Everton v Manchester United
| Result prediction | Manchester United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester United / Manchester United to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United) |