The English Premier League is hurtling towards the finish line, with another seven fixtures this weekend across the country.
Eagle-eyed fans will notice that means Manchester City, Chelsea and Leeds are otherwise engaged on FA Cup semi-final duty at Wembley Stadium.
That’s something of a relief for the Blues, who sacked hapless Liam Rosenior following a fifth straight EPL defeat in the week, while it’s a less welcome pause for Pep Guardiola and Co, who have done all the hard work to reign in Arsenal in the title race.
So it’s an opportunity for the Gunners to return to the top of the table after surrendering their supremacy thanks to back-to-back defeats, including at City last weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s side play Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium in the late Saturday kick off and the Toon Army are in the doldrums themselves, having lost three on the spin as the pressure mounts on long-serving boss Eddie Howe.
Liverpool could go as high as third in the Premier League if they can do the business against Crystal Palace earlier in the day.
The Reds are edging back into form and won the Merseyside derby last weekend, while the Eagles are bobbing around harmlessly in midtable as head coach Oliver Glasner sees out the remainder of his spell in charge.
Aston Villa will decide the level of ambition for Arne Slot’s men when they play the Saturday lunchtime match at Fulham.
The Villans come into the weekend fourth in the Premier League standings and are three unbeaten, with Fulham’s European charge having petered out in recent weeks ahead of the Craven Cottage clash.
Manchester United are in Monday night football action when they play at home to draw specialists Brentford.
The Bees head to Old Trafford already starting to wonder what might have been having not won since February, with the Red Devils handily placed to secure Uefa Champions League qualification under the temporary charge of Michael Carrick.
Elsewhere on Saturday it’s the battle at the bottom that pulls focus, as crisis club Tottenham go to relegated Wolves.
Spurs are in horrible trouble inside the drop zone and head to Molineux to face a team that no longer have anything left to lose, with two points the gap for the visitors to bridge if they are to avoid a trip to Lincoln next season.
West Ham are immediately the other side of the dotted line and in serious peril themselves, with a home game against Everton their next task.
That means a reunion with former boss David Moyes, who is sitting pretty in his second spell with the Toffees despite a dodgy recent run, while the Hammers are scrapping for their survival at the London Stadium.
Friday night kicks off the Premier League weekend as Sunderland host Nottingham Forest.
It’s a big night for the away side, who would take a huge step towards EPL safey if they can claim all three points, with the hosts at the Stadium of Light still entertaining the fanciful notion of a push towards continental football next season.
Sunderland v Nottingham Forest
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Nottingham Forest / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) |
Fulham v Aston Villa
| 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 | Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) |
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
| Result prediction | Liverpool to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Liverpool / Liverpool to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) |
West Ham United v Everton
| Result prediction | Everton to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Everton to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham United) Beto (Everton) |
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur
| Result prediction | Wolverhampton Wanderers to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Tottenham Hotspur / Wolverhampton Wanderers to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Arsenal v Newcastle United
| Result prediction | Arsenal to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Arsenal / Arsenal to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United) William Osula (Newcastle United) |
Manchester United v Brentford
| Result prediction | Manchester United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Manchester United to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Casemiro (Manchester United) Igor Thiago (Brentford) |