There’s much more than pride to play for as the Manchester derby takes centre stage in the English Premier League this weekend.
Manchester City have home advantage as they go up against United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
They hold a six-point lead at the top of the EPL table, albeit having played an extra game, with Ralph Rangnick’s visitors precariously placed in the final Uefa Champions League qualification spot in fourth.
Poised to leap on any slip-ups at the Etihad are Liverpool and West Ham, who meet for a high-end encounter in the Saturday evening kick off at Anfield.
The Reds will close the gap to City at the summit to three points with victory, coming into the game off the back of their EFL Cup victory on penalties at Wembley Stadium last weekend.
If David Moyes’ Hammers were to pull off a famous away win, though, they could sneak back above the Red Devils into the top four.
Third-placed Chelsea are also in action on Saturday, with boss Thomas Tuchel and his players attempting to brush off the uncertainty caused by Russian oligarch owner Roman Abramovich putting the club up for sale this week.
The Blues attempt to shore up their own top four credentials on a trip to dogged Burnley, who remain firmly in the relegation mire.
Yet another London club pushing for a Champions League place are Arsenal, who take second on the bill on Sunday when they go to Watford.
Mikel Arteta’s men are in good shape with games in hand to boot, while the Hornets start the Premier League weekend three points from safety.
Occupying the other side of the dotted line, just, are Everton.
It doesn’t get any easier for boss Frank Lampard either, as he heads to the capital on Monday night for a tough ask against Tottenham.
Saturday lunchtime heralds a new era for Leeds, who replaced legendary Marcelo Bielsa with American coach Jesse Marsch this week following a horror run of form.
The Yorkshire club’s bid to stop the slide back towards the Championship kicks off away to Leicester, who returned to winning ways at long last a week ago under Brendan Rodgers.
Half an eye will be on matters elsewhere later in the day, too, as Norwich and Brentford contest a relegation six-pointer at Carrow Road.
Seemingly out of the quicksand are Saudi Arabian-owned Newcastle, whose January transfer window splurge is paying dividends.
They’re even eyeing the serenity of midtable at St James’ Park, with Brighton making the long trip north.
Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa lie just above the Toon Army in 13th and have a tough assignment on Saturday at Villa Park, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s red-hot Southampton the visitors.
Wolves and Crystal Palace complete the Saturday programme when they meet at Molineux, with the home side having lost their last two as their European charge threatens to stall.
English Premier League predictions for 5 – 7 March
Prediction methodology explained:?The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Leicester | 56 | 43 |
Leeds | 25 | 30 |
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Aston Villa | 44 | 45 |
Southampton | 33 | 32 |
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Burnley | 13 | |
Chelsea | 67 | 71 |
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Newcastle | 39 | 42 |
Brighton | 36 | 33 |
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Norwich | 34 | 14 |
Brentford | 40 | 75 |
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Wolves | 44 | 42 |
Crystal Palace | 30 | 30 |
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Liverpool | 75 | 68 |
West Ham | 12.5 | |
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Watford | 18 | |
Arsenal | 64 | 78 |
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Manchester City | 71 | 72 |
Manchester United | *8 | |
Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
Tottenham | 63 | |
Everton | 18 |