The agony is over for fans of the English Premier League, as the top flight returns this weekend after the final international football break of the calendar year.
From promotion and relegation drama in national team colours, it’s straight back into the EPL cut and thrust for the planet’s top stars, as the hectic festive period looms on the horizon.
Liverpool will be top of the table come what may after the latest round of fixtures.
And few would bet against them at least retaining their five-point cushion at the summit as the Reds go to Southampton on Sunday.
Coach Arne Slot has worked wonders in the Anfield dugout since taking over from Jurgen Klopp, while the Saints are rock bottom having won just once in 11 attempts since earning promotion back up from the Championship.
It’s a Manchester United debut for Ruben Amorim in the day’s other Premier League match, meanwhile, as he takes the reigns in an away encounter with Ipswich.
The weekend begins with the Red Devils 13th in the standings, with the Tractor Boys finally coming good with a first win on their EPL return just before the international break.
It was Tottenham who were stunned by the Suffolk club a fortnight ago and it doesn’t get any easier, as they go to Manchester City for the late Saturday kick off.
City have slipped to back-to-back away losses in the league either side of a hefty Uefa Champions League defeat at Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon, with their Carabao Cup exit away to Spurs starting a four-game run that is the worst of Pep Guardiola’s storied coaching career.
A new one-year contract for Pep in the week is expected to quell the angst at the Etihad Stadium, as they host Ange Postecoglou’s men that are desperate to find their consistency this term.
Earlier in the day it’s a fascinating Emirates Stadium game between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
It pits together the sides fourth and fifth in the pile and locked together on 19 points, although both are seeking a return to winning ways as the EPL resumes.
Chelsea went into the break third thanks to their improving form under coach Enzo Maresca, who returns to his former club Leicester for the Saturday lunchtime kick off.
His Blues are out to avoid making it three draws on the spin and take on a home side at the King Power Stadium who are without a win in three themselves.
The weekend extends to Monday night under the lights at St James’ Park, with a battle between Newcastle and West Ham.
Eddie Howe’s Toon Army didn’t want the international break to arrive having perked up to record back-to-back successes against high-flying Arsenal and Forest, while the Hammers must pick up the pace sharpish if they’re to trouble the top half.
Four more Saturday fixtures include an all-south coast tussle at the Vitality Stadium, as Brighton go to Bournemouth.
The Seagulls sit sixth in the clutch of teams with 19 points and the Cherries are only four points shy of that, having shown plenty of promise under Andoni Iraola this campaign.
Things have also been looking up for embattled boss Sean Dyche at Everton, albeit they’re once again on a run of three without victory.
Brentford head to Goodison Park as the model of inconsistency themselves, although they do have a platform to build a charge towards the continental qualification places in the new year.
Aston Villa were one club glad of the pause, hoping to reset following consecutive losses and a tumble out of the Champions League spots.
A home assignment against Crystal Palace is expected to prove just the tonic for Unai Emery and Co, with the Eagles flapping about inside the relegation zone.
Palace are joined on the trapdoor by Wolves, who have nevertheless collected five of their six-point total in their last three games, ahead of their trip to Fulham.
It’ll be no easy task at Craven Cottage for Gary O’Neil’s charges either, with the home side knowing they could mathematically go as high as third in the Premier League if they can record a third successive victory.
Leicester City v Chelsea
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Leicester City / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
AFC Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Evanilson(AFC Bournemouth) D. Welbeck(Brighton & Hove Albion) |
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest
| Result prediction | Nottingham Forest to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Nottingham Forest to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | C. Wood(Nottingham Forest) |
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
| Result prediction | Aston Villa to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Aston Villa / Aston Villa to win |
| 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 | Brentford / Brentford to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Y. Wissa(Brentford) B. Mbeumo(Brentford) |
Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | H. Wilson(Fulham) J. Strand Larsen(Wolverhampton Wanderers) Matheus Cunha(Wolverhampton Wanderers) |
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
| Result prediction | Tottenham Hotspur to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester City / Tottenham Hotspur to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | D. Solanke(Tottenham Hotspur) |
Southampton 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 | Mohamed Salah(Liverpool) |
Ipswich Town v Manchester United
| Result prediction | Ipswich Town to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Ipswich Town / Ipswich Town to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | L. Delap(Ipswich Town) Bruno Fernandes(Manchester United) |
Newcastle United v West Ham 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 | A. Isak(Newcastle United) |