It’s a weekend of hostility in the English Premier League, with a host of rival clashes as the season reaches the sharp end.
The contrast is starker than red and blue on Merseyside on Sunday, as Liverpool and Everton meet at Anfield with both the EPL title and relegation to the Championship on the line.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are in insatiable form as they keep the heat on at the top of the standings, not to mention remaining in the hunt for the FA Cup and Uefa Champions League to boot.
Not so for Toffees boss Frank Lampard, who come into the Premier League weekend just a point clear of the relegation zone despite a recent upturn in results.
The increasingly bizarre battle for fourth place also serves up a pair of tasty post-Easter treats.
Arsenal and Manchester United go toe-to-toe at the Emirates Stadium, kicking off the weekend in the Saturday lunchtime fixture.
Just three points separate the stuttering giants in fifth and sixth with both having won just once in their last four matches, with Mikel Arteta’s men holding the edge as well as a game in hand.
For United it’s a final push to secure Champions League football next season for incoming coach Erik ten Hag, who will replace interim boss Ralph Rangnick in the summer.
Also going at it in the capital are Chelsea and West Ham, who collide at Stamford Bridge from either end of the London Underground’s District Line.
The capital city duo have not been immune from the jitters in recent weeks either, with the Blues a little edgy in third following two defeats in three, while the Hammers have won once in four while they juggle a sparkling Europa League run with their domestic duties.
It doesn’t end there on the derby front in London either, with Brentford taking on Tottenham in the Saturday evening kick off.
Leaders Manchester City should be safe from the commotion elsewhere earlier in the day when they welcome Roy Hodgson’s doomed Watford to the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s men will stay tantalizingly out of reach of Liverpool at the summit if they do the business and claim another three points on home turf.
Time is running out at the bottom of the Premier League table for Burnley, who collected a massive three points on Thursday night and are out to repeat the trick at Turf Moor on Sunday, with Wolves the visitors.
Leeds will be bewildered that their run of 10 points from their last possible 12 still leaves them at risk of the drop.
They travel south to tackle Crystal Palace on Monday night, with Patrick Vieira’s side seeking a return to winning ways at Selhurst Park following two league defeats on the spin as well as an FA Cup semi-final exit.
Leicester continue their mission to end an awkward campaign on a high note when they host Steven Gerrard’s freefalling Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Norwich are up against it once again, meanwhile, as soaring Newcastle visit Carrow Road with all the might of Saudi Arabia behind them.
And there’s yet another derby to be had on Sunday afternoon, with Brighton and Southampton meeting for a south coast tangle at the Amex Stadium and with plenty still to be decided in a congested EPL midtable.
English Premier League predictions for 23 – 25 April
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Arsenal | 49 | 38 |
| Manchester United | 29 | 20 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Leicester | 36 | 36 |
| Aston Villa | 38 | 44 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Manchester City | 91 | 89 |
| Watford | 5 | |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Norwich | 27 | 23 |
| Newcastle | 48 | 63 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Brentford | 24 | 17 |
| Tottenham | 52 | 53 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Brighton | 45 | 29 |
| Southampton | 28 | 18 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Burnley | 36 | 33 |
| Wolves | 36 | 36 |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Chelsea | 65 | 66 |
| West Ham | 15 | |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Liverpool | 85 | 78 |
| Everton | 7 | |
| Chance of winning (%) | Usual win % with these odds | |
| Crystal Palace | 50 | 50 |
| Leeds | 27 | 23 |