The English Premier League continues to rattle along this weekend, as matchweek nine sees another full set of fixtures between Friday and Sunday.
It’s long-time bridesmaids Arsenal who top the standings coming into their tantalising London derby with Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners have won three on the spin and have conceded just three times all season as things seem to be coming together nicely for boss Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium, while Palace have gone two without victory despite a sterling start under the canny charge of Oliver Glasner.
Manchester City have taken on the mantle of nearest challengers thanks to an identical recent record to Arsenal, as Pep Guardiola attempts to hunt down his former protege Arteta.
They go to Aston Villa to take on Unai Emery’s side, who have also roared into life following a difficult start to also sit on three consecutive wins.
Saturday brings a quartet of EPL fixtures, building towards the late match that sees struggling reigning champions Liverpool go to Brentford.
Arne Slot has seen his Reds tumble from the summit after an unprecedented run of three league defeats and they go to an improving Bees side that have won two of their last three as they adapt to life under rookie coach Keith Andrews.
Manchester United stunned their north west rivals with a late Anfield winner a week ago.
It put a spring in Ruben Amorim’s step, took the Red Devils into the top half and leaves them with nine points from their last possible 12 in the Premier League.
Now they return to Old Trafford for a date with tricky Brighton, who are unbeaten in four and just a point behind their hosts in the standings.
A surprise fifth-versus-seventh clash at Stamford Bridge, meanwhile, sees Chelsea go up against promoted Sunderland.
The Black Cats have excelled on their long-awaited return to the English top flight and sit level on 14 points with their illustrious hosts, who have recovered to win back-to-back games following an early season blip.
Newcastle and Fulham complete Saturday’s action when they meet at St James’ Park.
The pair could both use a pick-me-up as they trundle along in the bottom half, although the visitors may just be relieved to have retained the services of coach Marco Silva despite overtures from Nottingham Forest during the week.
Forest are in action on Sunday and it doesn’t get any easier after the explosive sacking of hapless Ange Postecoglou a week ago, with surprise package Bournemouth their hosts on the south coast.
The Cherries start the matchweek in third and even briefly topped the EPL last weekend, leaving Dorset delirious under the stewardship of the unflappable Andoni Iraola.
Tottenham have flattered to deceive in recent weeks despite a bright start to life under Thomas Frank, winning just once in their last four attempts.
Everton will be no pushovers at their shiny new Hill Dickinson Stadium home either, where they know three points would sraw them level with Spurs.
A basement battle between Wolves and Burnley has a distinct six-pointer feel about it, too, despite the early stage of the campaign.
The Clarets collected a priceless second victory since rising back up from the Championship a week ago.
And Scott Parker’s men will fancy their chances to back that up at Molineux, as they play Vitor Pereira’s under-siege side who remain the only winless club left in the division as the pressure mounts.
The Premier League weekend kicks off with another tasty relegation tussle on Friday night, with Leeds playing West Ham.
Elland Road will be a cauldron under the lights and those of a West Yorkshire persuasion are daring to dream of three more precious points in their survival bid, with the Hammers arriving amid a rotten run of form.
Leeds United v West Ham United
Result prediction draw
Over/Under prediction under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Leeds United / draw
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction n/a
Newcastle United v Fulham
Result prediction Fulham to win
Over/Under prediction under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Fulham / Fulham to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction Rodrigo Muniz(Fulham)
Chelsea v Sunderland
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 W. Isidor(Sunderland)
Manchester United 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 n/a
Brentford 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 H. Ekitiké(Liverpool)
AFC Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest
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. Semenyo(AFC Bournemouth)
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Result prediction Manchester City to win
Over/Under prediction under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Manchester City / Manchester City to win
Team to Score prediction Manchester City
Anytime Goalscorer prediction E. Haaland(Manchester City)
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley
Result prediction Burnley to win
Over/Under prediction under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Wolverhampton Wanderers / Burnley to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction J. Anthony(Burnley)
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
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 n/a
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Result prediction Tottenham Hotspur to win
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction draw / Tottenham Hotspur to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction Richarlison(Tottenham Hotspur)