The English Premier League continues apace this weekend, with another full matchweek taking us into the second half of the season off the back of the hectic festive period.
It’s been a tumultuous start to the year for Chelsea, who parted company on bad terms with coach Enzo Maresca.
And it doesn’t get any easier for the Blues, who take their three-match winless run to Manchester City on Sunday evening, with Pep Guardiola’s side second in the EPL table and mounting a genuine title charge once again.
The day begins with the cross-Pennine derby between Leeds and Manchester United at Elland Road.
There’s no love lost between the Roses rivals and it’s shaping up to be an enticing contest on the field this time, too, with both clubs beginning to piece together encouraging runs of top flight form.
Daniel Farke’s side held Liverpool to an Anfield draw just a couple of days ago and the Reds will attempt to return to winning ways when they go to Fulham.
Coach Arne Slot’s charges are fourth in the Premier League as they recover from a tormented Autumn.
But they face a challenge at Craven Cottage against the west London club, who have won three of their last unbeaten four to keep alive dreams of European qualification.
Tottenham may only be a point and a place shy of the Cottagers, but it hardly feels like it as the pressure mounts on boss Thomas Frank.
The increasingly wide-eyed Dane just can’t engineer a consistent run of form since making the switch to Spurs last summer and they now have another tense home date with surprise package Sunderland.
A trio of successive draws may have caused a touch of frustration on Wearside, but the raucous response to Thursday’s Stadium of Light stalemate with Manchester City suggests an entirely united front behind Regis Le Bris.
Four Saturday fixtures in the EPL see things build to the clash between leaders Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The Gunners’ bid to finally take the extra step and reclaim the crown they last wore in 2004 under the great Arsene Wenger is right on track, with four wins from their last four and a four-point cushion ahead of Manchester City to boot.
Their hosts can’t buy a win at the moment but remain competitive, drawing four of their last five.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest kick off Saturday’s schedule with the lunchtime game at Villa Park.
Unai Emery and Co finally had their bubble burst with a heavy loss at Arsenal last time out but they’re still excellently poised in third.
Forest head across the Midlands having lost three in a row, as Sean Dyche continues to search for the formula to pull away from the danger of the drop.
He’d be well served by not bothering to ask either Wolves or West Ham for advice, as they meet in a relegation showdown just a few miles down the road from Villa at Molineux.
Rob Edwards finally picked up his first point in charge with a draw at Manchester United but his winless side still look doomed to return to the Championship.
It’s not a much prettier picture for Nuno Espirito Santo and his unhappy Hammers, who remain mired four points inside the relegation zone.
Sandwiched between the sorry pair are Burnley, locked in their own scramble to beat the odds as well as the trapdoor.
The Clarets are at Brighton to complete Saturday’s action with the Seagulls also struggling badly for points, albeit with an excellent first quarter of the campaign to fall back on.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Newcastle continue their quest for form when they welcome Crystal Palace to St James’ Park.
A comprehensive win at old club Burnley was a timely boost for Toon Army chief Eddie Howe, while the Eagles managed to stop the rot of a three-game losing run in their London derby with Fulham.
Both Everton and Brentford, meanwhile, are hoping to be looking up rather than down as the rest of the season unfolds.
The pair start the weekend tucked just inside the top half, ahead of their meeting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on the banks of the River Mersey.
Aston Villa vs Nottm Forest
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Aston Villa |
| Over/Under Prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Aston Villa / Aston Villa |
| Team to score prediction | Both teams |
| Result prediction | Aston Villa to win |
Brighton vs Burnley
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Brighton |
| Over/Under Prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Draw / Brighton |
| Team to score prediction | Brighton only |
| Result prediction | Brighton to win |
Wolverhampton vs West Ham Utd
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | West Ham Utd |
| Over/Under Prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Draw / West Ham Utd |
| Team to score prediction | Both teams |
| Result prediction | West Ham Utd to win |
Bournemouth vs Arsenal
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| First to score | Arsenal |
| Over/Under Prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT/FT Prediction | Arsenal / Arsenal |
| Team to score prediction | Both teams |
| Result prediction | Arsenal to win |