It’s a monumental weekend in the English Premier League, with a host of massive fixtures taking the top flight across the threshold and into the hectic festive period.
Liverpool versus Manchester City is as big as it gets in the EPL these days – and the result of their Anfield meeting on Sunday could have dramatic consequences on this season’s title race.
A stark mirror image of form has put Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions firmly on the back foot for the first time in what seems like an age, with City having lost a potentially ruinous three on the bounce while the Reds have nine points from their last nine to lead the race by eight points.
Few would have predicted Chelsea sitting above the champs after their fraught last campaign.
But that’s exactly where they’ll be in second spot should Erling Haaland and Co slip up once again, if the Blues can do the business at Stamford Bridge against Aston Villa.
Enzo Maresca’s men are unbeaten in four, which is exactly the length of time the Villans have gone without victory as their Uefa Champions League qualification ambitions for a second year running come into question.
Manchester United play for the first time in the Premier League at Old Trafford under new coach Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, when Everton make the short journey along the M62.
The up-and-coming Portuguese opened with a draw on the road to leave the Red Devils 12th in the table, with the Toffees five points adrift of their hosts and desperate to put more daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.
And the fourth of Sunday’s thrilling quartet is a London derby between Tottenham and Fulham.
Spurs thrashed Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, while Marco Silva’s side slipped up at home to see them dip below their hosts in the standings.
There’s plenty to go at among five Saturday EPL matches, too, not least in the evening kick off between West Ham and Arsenal.
It’s another all-capital city clash and it’s one that sees the Gunners needing to keep up the pace amid the cluttered echelons of the top flight, with the Hammers out to record back-to-back wins after their Monday night win.
A Friday night south coast battle actually kicks off the Premier League weekend, with high-flying Brighton taking on struggling Southampton at the Amex Stadium.
The Seagulls would even go second in the table, at least for the night, if they can seal an expected three points at the expense of the Saints, who are already adrift at the bottom of the standings and facing a desperate scramble for survival.
Elsewhere on Saturday there’s a trip down to Selhurst Park for Newcastle, as they go up against Crystal Palace.
The Eagles are also mired in drop drama with just eight points to their name but they will fancy their chances to catch the Toon Army cold, with Eddie Howe’s charges unable to piece together a consistent run of form.
Revenge is on the mind of Wolves boss Gary O’Neill, meanwhile, as he eyes the scalp of former club Bournemouth at Molineux.
O’Neill’s Black Country club have clambered out of the relegation zone thanks to back-to-back wins and they face a vulnerable opponent in the Cherries, who have lost two on the spin to slide into the bottom half.
Nottingham Forest need to arrest a mini slump to reignite their continental tilt when they welcome Ipswich to the City Ground.
The Tractor Boys held Manchester United on home turf last time out to make it three unbeaten, while Forest have lost their last two to slip out of the top six after a storming start to the season.
And there’s not yet the maiden full time outing as a Premier League coach for Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is expected to take charge of Leicester just days after his Old Trafford exit following the Foxes’ sacking of Steve Cooper.
They’re without a win in four and hovering just the right side of the dreaded dotted line, making the visit to a Brentford side who are going well having lost just once in their last four outings.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton
| 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 |
Brentford v Leicester City
| 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) J. Ayew(Leicester City) |
Crystal Palace v Newcastle 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) |
Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town
| Result prediction | Nottingham Forest to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Ipswich Town / Nottingham Forest to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | C. Wood(Nottingham Forest) |
Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth
| Result prediction | Wolverhampton Wanderers to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Wolverhampton Wanderers to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Matheus Cunha(Wolverhampton Wanderers) Evanilson(AFC Bournemouth) |
West Ham United v Arsenal
| 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 |
Chelsea v Aston Villa
| Result prediction | Chelsea to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Chelsea to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | N. Jackson(Chelsea) |
Manchester United v Everton
| Result prediction | Manchester United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Manchester United to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Bruno Fernandes(Manchester United) |
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham
| 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 | J. Maddison(Tottenham Hotspur) D. Solanke(Tottenham Hotspur) H. Wilson(Fulham) |
Liverpool v Manchester City
| 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) |
Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace
| 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 | n/a |
Leicester City v West Ham United
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | West Ham United / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Ayew(Leicester City) |