It’s another English Premier League weekend packed with blockbuster derbies, with a full programme of fixtures between Friday and Sunday.
And the EPL spotlight falls squarely on the north west on Sunday afternoon, as Manchester United host Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions are second in the table and returned from the international break last weekend by putting an end two a shock run of back-to-back defeats.
The Red Devils are defying their own dodgy form to steadily climb the standings, somehow sneaking to consecutive victories despite themselves.
London is the focus as the long weekend kicks off on Friday night.
A capital city derby sees Tottenham go to Crystal Palace, looking to extend their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Australian coach Ange Postecoglou has been a revelation since his summer switch from Scottish champions Celtic, leading Spurs to an unbeaten start to the season.
Palace are pottering along in mid table, which seems perfectly appropriate for steady-away, veteran boss Roy Hodgson.
There are more local bragging rights at stake on Saturday lunchtime, when Chelsea welcome west London rivals Brentford to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are painstakingly piecing together some semblance of form following a grim start.
It’s been downright iffy for the visiting Bees as well, who at least turned around an arduous winless run last time out, just as charismatic coach Thomas Frank was beginning to feel the heat.
Arsenal remain the league’s only other unbeaten club coming into the weekend, with rock bottom Sheffield United taking a deep breath before taking the daunting trip to the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are flying high in their bid to go one better than their runners-up finish of last season under coach Mikel Arteta.
The Blades have just a point from nine EPL matches on their return from the Championship but did at least push Manchester United close last weekend.
A similarly lopsided contest on Sunday pits Liverpool against Nottingham Forest.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds sit fourth, after picking straight up from where they left off at the end of last season, which had been a long stretch for a tired side for long spells.
Forest are six points clear of the early relegation zone but could use a pick-me-up, having drawn four of their last five winless contests.
Brighton are feeling similar after losing two of their last three, going into their home game with similarly inconsistent Fulham.
The Cottagers go to the Amex Stadium fresh from the news that Portuguese coach Marco Silva has signed a new, long-term contract with the club.
Sunday’s top flight football kicks off at the London Stadium when West Ham go up against Everton.
The Toffees are the model of inconsistency at the moment, which is nevertheless a massive improvement on where they were a few weeks ago under the charge of an increasingly stressed Sean Dyche.
David Moyes’ Hammers are en route to meeting the Merseysiders halfway from the opposite end of the pile, having tailed off following a bright start.
Impressive Aston Villa battered the Hammers 4-1 a week ago and few would bet against them doing the same again.
Unai Emery’s men wrap up Sunday’s Premier League action when they host Luton at Villa Park, with the promoted Hatters defying the odds to start the weekend a point and a place above the drop zone.
Elsewhere on Saturday, the late kick off sees Newcastle head to the Black Country to tackle Wolves.
The Toon Army have clicked smartly into gear despite a rocky start to the campaign, juggling domestic and Uefa Champions League just nicely to rise firmly back into top six contention once again.
Their Molineux hosts are also unbeaten in four as they pull away from early trouble after hiring coach Gary O’Neill to replace ex-Spain chief Julen Lopetegui.
Bournemouth haven’t improved a jot since sacking O’Neill and face a crunch clash at the Vitality Stadium, as relegation rivals Burnley pay a visit.
The Cherries have collected just three points and are winless so far this campaign, while the Clarets sit just a point above them despite the best efforts of coach Vincent Kompany following promotion back from the Championship.
Fixtures and results
Latest table
English Premier League predictions for 27 – 29 October
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
Result prediction: Tottenham Hotspur to win
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Tottenham Hotspur / Tottenham Hotspur to win
Team to Score prediction: Tottenham Hotspur
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: Son Heung-Min(Tottenham Hotspur)
Chelsea v Brentford
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: n/a
AFC Bournemouth v Burnley
Result prediction: draw
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / draw
Team to Score prediction: Burnley
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: n/a
Arsenal v Sheffield 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: n/a
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle 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: Hwang Hee-Chan(Wolverhampton Wanderers)
C. Wilson(Newcastle United)
A. Isak(Newcastle United)
West Ham United v Everton
Result prediction: draw
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / draw
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: J. Bowen(West Ham United)
A. Doucouré(Everton)
Aston Villa v Luton Town
Result prediction: Aston Villa to win
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Aston Villa / Aston Villa to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: O. Watkins(Aston Villa)
Douglas Luiz(Aston Villa)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Fulham
Result prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion to win
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion / Brighton & Hove Albion to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: n/a
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Result prediction: Liverpool to win
Over/Under prediction: over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: Liverpool / Liverpool to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: Mohamed Salah(Liverpool)
Manchester United v Manchester City
Result prediction: Manchester City to win
Over/Under prediction: under 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction: draw / Manchester City to win
Team to Score prediction: both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction: S. McTominay(Manchester United)
E. Haaland(Manchester City)