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LEEDS UNITED vs BOURNEMOUTH (1500)
A hugely unlikely win at Anfield has propelled Leeds away from the drop zone, albeit by a single point. Bournemouth will be another tough proposition, with both sides seeing this as winnable. But with confidence sky high and home advantage, you’d have to fancy the hosts. Home win.
MANCHESTER CITY vs FULHAM (1500)
Fulham still sit in the Euro places and can’t be written off automatically. Haaland will face a late fitness test, but even without him City should be way to strong for the visitors. Back to the top for the hosts. Home win.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs BRENTFORD (1500)
This is the sort of game Forest have to win if they’re to preserve their increasingly tenuous top flight status. Their form to date, though, has been far from encouraging and it’s hard to see them as favourites against any opposition. Away win.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (1500)
Well, the Seagulls didn’t half get one over their old boss last week. Can they take that form forward against a side worryingly out of form? You wouldn’t bet against it. Away win.
EVERTON vs LEICESTER CITY (1730)
Three points and six places separate these two. The Toffees are enjoying a run of form that could do much to secure their own – and their manager’s – immediate future. Leicester, despite a flicker of form, remain in the bottom three and few of their own supporters will be overflowing with confidence that they’ll get anything form Goodison this evening. Home win.
*SUNDAY*
CHELSEA vs ARSENAL (1200)
A fascinating one to get the Sunday lunchtime juices flowing. Assuming Man C won yesterday, Arsenal will need to win at the Bridge to return to the top. For their part, Chelsea will be smarting from last week’s drubbing at Brighton and Graham Potter will want to see all his players stand up and be counted. Draw.
ASTON VILLA vs MANCHESTER UNITED (1400)
More than any manager since Fergie, Erik Ten Hag shows signs of returning Man U to the heights they once called their own. Villa, under new boss Emery, face a very uphill task – not just to get anything from today but to stay in the Premier League – and it’s hard to see them ending the day with anything but the same number of points they started on. Away win.
SOUTHAMPTON vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (1400)
Newcastle have quietly edged into the top four and will see the long trip to the south coast as an opportunity to push further up. For the Saints, and for their boss, this will be another season that targets survival above all else. They’ll do well to get anything from this game, though. Away win.
WEST HAM UNITED vs CRYSTAL PALACE (1400)
There’s been cause for cheer in (very) recent times. Notably by winning in Bucharest, a narrow and arguably undeserved defeat at Old Trafford and, particularly, by the encouraging introduction/return of Aguerd to defence – not to mention an indication of the squad’s depth. Add to that the possibility that Lucas Paqueta may at least be on the bench for the visit of Palace and things start to appear as rosy as your morning cuppa. Palace sit in 10th spot, more or less their natural home for the last couple of seasons, but there’s a Jekyll and Hyde quality about them. They’re capable of both vulnerability and danger. We’ve underestimated them too often in recent seasons and that’s cost us valuable points. Home win.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs LIVERPOOL (1630)
Two sides from whom you just don’t know what you’re going to get. Both are capable of sublimity and self-ridicule and both managers are increasingly familiar with an enforced place in the stands. Should be a good game, but you’d be brave to pick a winner. The fence beckons. Draw.
*CHAMPIONSHIP*
At the top, Burnley have pulled away from the chasing pack and have a five-point gap over Blackburn. The Clarets host third-placed Sheff Utd in the day’s early game, while the 1995 Premier League champions entertain bottom of the table Huddersfield. Millwall (9th) take on Hull (21st). Coventry, recently rock bottom, now find themselves two places above the drop zone with games in hand. They host Bilic’s Watford (7th), who will fancy their chances of a return to a play-off position.
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