All three English Premier League title contenders are in action this midweek, as a set of half-a-dozen fixtures takes us yet another step closer to discovering the destination of the EPL crown in less than a month from now.
We’re set for a thrilling end to the campaign and it’s the leaders Arsenal who have the opportunity to ensure they stay top of the pile, at least until the weekend, when they play on Tuesday.
But it’s no gimme for the Gunners as they host Chelsea in a heated London derby.
The Blues head to the Emirates Stadium off the back of FA Cup semi-final agony at Wembley last Saturday, although Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in their best league form of a difficult season, nudging towards a previously unthinkable top six finish at just the right time.
Second-placed Liverpool also have a derby to deal with as they make the short stroll across Stanley Park to play neighbours Everton on Wednesday.
All eggs are in the Premier League basket now for boss Jurgen Klopp on his farewell tour, following Uefa Europa League and FA Cup exits in recent weeks.
But they go to Goodison Park to meet a Toffees side scrapping for their lives under Sean Dyche – and improving too, with back-to-back home wins to take into their rival clash against the Reds.
Manchester City lie third but with a crucial game in hand in their back pocket, meaning any gains on Liverpool and Arsenal this week could go a long way to sealing the destination of the EPL title.
There will be no consecutive treble for Pep Guardiola’s men, who were sensationally dumped out of the Uefa Champions League in a penalty shootout by Real Madrid a week ago.
City recovered to reach the FA Cup final at the expense of Chelsea on Saturday and now have a laser focus on the league, which rather puts Thursday night’s hosts Brighton in the firing line.
The Seagulls are winless in four under in-demand coach Roberto de Zerbi and could well topple out of the top half if they can’t fashion something special against the reigning champions at the Amex Stadium.
We also have three more Wednesday night fixtures to look forward too, including the contest between Manchester United and Sheffield United.
The Red Devils coughed up a 3-0 lead in their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, eventually being taken all the way to penalties by Championship side Coventry, before sneaking through to seal a final against noisy neighbours City for a second year running.
It was yet another ropey performance for under-fire boss Erik ten Hag and nothing less than a comfortable victory at Old Trafford will do here against the EPL’s bottom club, for whom relegation would be all-but sealed with defeat.
Newcastle go to Crystal Palace having improved markedly in recent weeks, reigniting their top six tilt.
Three wins in four for Eddie Howe’s charges sees them heading the pack as best-of-the-rest behind fifth-placed Tottenham, who are almost over the horizon with a ten-point cushion.
But the Eagles could give them a headache after roaring into life with back-to-back wins.
A smash-and-grab Anfield raid was one thing, before they returned to Selhurst Park at the weekend to dole out a 5-2 thrashing to London rivals West Ham.
The six-game Premier League programme is, meanwhile, rounded off by the epitome of a mid-table stroll.
Wolves and Bournemouth meet at Molineux on Wednesday with both having tailed off as the finish line approaches, although the added spice does come from home boss Gary O’Neill setting out to prove a point against his former club.
This weekend’s EPL predictions
Arsenal v Chelsea
| 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 | C. Palmer(Chelsea) |
Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | D. Solanke(AFC Bournemouth) |
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Crystal Palace / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Mateta(Crystal Palace) E. Eze(Crystal Palace) A. Isak(Newcastle United) |
Everton v Liverpool
| 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 | L. Díaz(Liverpool) |
Manchester United v Sheffield 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 | Bruno Fernandes(Manchester United) O. McBurnie(Sheffield United) |
Brighton & Hove Albion 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 | P. Foden(Manchester City) |
West Ham United v Liverpool
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | West Ham United / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Fulham v Crystal Palace
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Crystal Palace / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Mateta(Crystal Palace) E. Eze(Crystal Palace) |
Manchester United v Burnley
| 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 | Bruno Fernandes(Manchester United) |
Newcastle United v Sheffield United
| Result prediction | Newcastle United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Newcastle United / Newcastle United to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | A. Isak(Newcastle United) |
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Luton Town
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Wolverhampton Wanderers / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Everton v Brentford
| Result prediction | Brentford to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Brentford to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | D. Calvert-Lewin(Everton) Y. Wissa(Brentford) |
Aston Villa v Chelsea
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Chelsea / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | O. Watkins(Aston Villa) C. Palmer(Chelsea) |
AFC Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion
| Result prediction | AFC Bournemouth to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | AFC Bournemouth / AFC Bournemouth to win |
| Team to Score prediction | AFC Bournemouth |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
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 | L. Trossard(Arsenal) K. Havertz(Arsenal) |
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City
| Result prediction | Manchester City to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Manchester City to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | C. Wood(Nottingham Forest) K. De Bruyne(Manchester City) P. Foden(Manchester City) |