Spring has sprung in the English Premier League this weekend, as the top flight returns following FA Cup Fifth Round weekend to fire the starting pistol on the run-in.
The margin for error is beginning to vanish at both ends of the EPL table, not to mention the congested battle for European qualification places come the end of a gripping campaign.
It couldn’t be more stark than at Anfield on Saturday, with top-of-the-table Liverpool hosting rock bottom Southampton.
The Saints head to Merseyside with tin hats firmly on, as they prepare to face Arne Slot’s rampant Reds, who have lost just once all season as they look to take another hefty stride towards the Premier League title.
A trio of Sunday fixtures boast plenty of intrigue, too.
Arsenal remain the only credible challengers to Liverpool despite collecting just a point from their last two outings.
The Gunners now go to angst-ridden Old Trafford to play Manchester United, who start the weekend 14th in the table, while Mikel Arteta’s side need to rediscover their shooting boots to keep up any sort of chase.
Tottenham are level on points with the Red Devils after enduring a similarly alarming season so far.
A tricky home game comes next for Ange Postecoglou and his injury-ravaged squad, as Bournemouth head to north London desperate to reignite their continental push under Andoni Iraola.
Chelsea continue their bid to end the season on a high when boss Enzo Maresca welcomes former club Leicester to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues could go as high as third with victory despite their iffy recent form, while Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Foxes are staring down the barrel of relegation thanks to yet another four consecutive defeats.
Monday night keeps the spotlight on the capital, when West Ham go up against Newcastle at the London Stadium.
The Toon Army have lost three of their last four in the league, as well as being dumped out of the FA Cup on home turf last weekend, while their hosts are looking for a third straight win.
Saturday’s Premier League action kicks off on the banks of the River Trent and the reigning champions are in town, as Nottingham Forest host Manchester City.
It’s an unlikely top four battle and it’s the home side that boast a one-point advantage in the EPL standings, as they attempt to bury a three-game winless run.
City have been infuriatingly inconsistent for coach Pep Guardiola, but did sneak a handy victory at Tottenham last time out.
The late match sees in-form Everton make the trip to the Black Country to play Wolves.
Only a place separates the pair in the standings but the Toffees have carved open a ten-point cushion above their hosts in recent weeks, with those in old gold casting a nervous eye over their shoulder towards the relegation zone.
The early evening fixture pits together a pair of clubs itching to break the midtable shackles, with Brentford hosting Aston Villa.
Unai Emery’s men have slipped right off the pace domestically, but have done brilliantly on the continent to keep their Uefa Champions League dream alive deep into the competition.
Just above the pair are another duo jostling for places in the upper reaches, as Fulham head south to play Brighton.
Both have hit form at the perfect time in the hunt for a top six finish, with the Seagulls having won their last three and the Cottagers three of their last four.
Crystal Palace are matching the record of their west London counterparts, which spells danger for Ipswich as they go to Selhurst Park.
While the Eagles are bathed in midtable sunlight, the Tractor Boys are right in the mire, five points adrift inside the Premier League relegation zone.
Fixtures and results
Latest table
All latest EPL Predictions
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City
| Result prediction | Nottingham Forest to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Nottingham Forest to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | C. Wood(Nottingham Forest) E. Haaland(Manchester City) Omar Marmoush(Manchester City) |
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 |
Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town
| Result prediction | Crystal Palace to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Crystal Palace to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Mateta(Crystal Palace) |
Liverpool v Southampton
| 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) |
Brentford v Aston Villa
| 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 | n/a |
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
| Result prediction | Everton to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Everton / Everton to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Matheus Cunha(Wolverhampton Wanderers) Beto(Everton) |
Chelsea v Leicester City
| Result prediction | Chelsea to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Chelsea / Chelsea to win |
| Team to Score prediction | Chelsea |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Tottenham Hotspur / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Kluivert(AFC Bournemouth) D. Ouattara(AFC Bournemouth) |
Manchester United v Arsenal
| Result prediction | Arsenal to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Manchester United / Arsenal to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
West Ham United v Newcastle United
| Result prediction | Newcastle United to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Newcastle United to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | J. Bowen(West Ham United) A. Isak(Newcastle United) |