The English Premier League continues its charge towards Christmas this weekend, including an almighty squabble to join in on the festive fun below leaders Arsenal.
Only seven points separate the rest of the top ten, in the hunt for the end-of-season presents of qualification for continental football next season.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners kick off the weekend’s EPL programme on Saturday lunchtime with a trip to Aston Villa.
It’s one of the toughest assignments of the campaign against former boss Unai Emery.
The wily Spaniard has engineered four successive victories for his Villans, who are third in the table and six points shy of their visitors at the summit.
A couple of recent draws have kept the north London club within reach of the rest but they remain solidly out in front, having lost just once in the league all season.
Manchester City are the nearest challengers to the Gunners’ supremacy and face a surprise test of their credentials at the Etihad Stadium with the visit of Sunderland.
The promoted Wearsiders have been loving their shot back in the big time, sitting sixth in the standings under the charge of Regis Le Bris.
They face Pep Guardiola’s machine, who are five points up the road in second spot.
Chelsea have seen their own title aspirations take a recent dent after taking a single point from their last two outings.
The Blues have an opportunity to rediscover that winning feeling at Bournemouth, though, with the hosts’ sparkling early season form having tumbled off a south coast cliff to leave the Cherries 14th and sinking.
Liverpool head east for the late Saturday kick off, trekking across the Pennines to meet Leeds at Elland Road.
Arne Slot and Co will be wary, too, with the struggling West Yorkshire side easing the pressure on under fire boss Daniel Farke with a midweek win over Chelsea on home turf.
There’s room for a London derby, too, when Tottenham play Brentford.
It’s a Premier League match that doubles up as a reunion for Spurs boss Thomas Frank who, alongside several of his staff, takes on the club he left in the summer.
And the avuncular Dane might have had a few moments where he wished he hadn’t, with an expectant fanbase decidedly uncontent at sitting on the same, 19-point tally as the Bees in the bottom half.
Monday night sees Manchester United expecting to push towards the Uefa Champions League places when they go to miserable Wolves.
Rob Edwards’ return to Molineux has yet to generate a single EPL point, with the Black Country club staring down the barrel of a record low points total if they can’t turn it around sharpish.
Sunday throws up another capital city clash when Crystal Palace go to Fulham.
The Eagles start the weekend a fine fifth in the table thanks to a midweek win on the road, while the hosts’ own mini revival was snuffed out by Manchester City, despite Marco Silva’s men roaring back from a shambolic position to lose 4-5 at Craven Cottage.
West Ham have also had their survival flame dimmed by three games without success ahead of their game at Brighton.
A midweek loss to Aston Villa stung Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls but they remain firmly ensconsed in the top half mix.
Two more Saturday EPL fixtures include Newcastle tackling Burnley at St James’ Park.
Toon boss Eddie Howe will expect nothing less than three points against his former club, who are in a shocking run of form while their hosts have gone three unbeaten.
Yet another reunion sees Sean Dyche take his Nottingham Forest to Merseyside to play Everton.
The pair are in identically impressive recent form, with three wins from their last four as they both try to keep looking up rather than down.
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United
Result prediction: Manchester United to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester United / Manchester United |
| Team to Score prediction | Manchester United only |
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Result prediction: Draw
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Fulham / Draw |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |
Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham United
Result prediction: West Ham United to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | West Ham United / West Ham United |
| Team to Score prediction | West Ham United only |
Leeds United vs Liverpool
Result prediction: Liverpool to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Liverpool / Liverpool |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |
AFC Bournemouth vs Chelsea
Result prediction: Chelsea to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Chelsea / Chelsea |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |
Everton vs Nottingham Forest
Result prediction: Everton to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Everton / Everton |
| Team to Score prediction | Everton only |
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Result prediction: Manchester City to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester City / Manchester City |
| Team to Score prediction | Manchester City only |
Tottenham Hotspur vs Brentford
Result prediction: Tottenham Hotspur to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Tottenham Hotspur / Tottenham Hotspur |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |
Newcastle United vs Burnley
Result prediction: Newcastle United to win
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Newcastle United / Newcastle United |
| Team to Score prediction | Newcastle United only |
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Result prediction: Draw
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over/Under prediction | Under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Arsenal / Draw |
| Team to Score prediction | Both teams |