Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea dominates the weekend Premier League action, but there is still plenty of entertainment on show elsewhere.
The Reds face the Blues for the second time in the space of four days, having lost 2-1 at Anfield in the League Cup on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp‘s side will be looking to keep up their 100 per cent league record in 2018/19, in what is their biggest test yet.
There are nine other games over the next three days, as the table really begins to take shape.
Here’s a look at the penultimate weekend of fixtures before the final international break of the year.
West Ham vs. Man United – Saturday, 12:30pm – Sky Sports Main Event
Just when you fear Man United are getting their act together, they go and wonderfully show that all is not right under Jose Mourinho.
Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to Wolves was disappointing for them, but the League Cup exit at the hands of Derby County will have felt particularly galling.
On Saturday, they head to the London Stadium to face a West Ham side with four points in their last two matches and showing signs of a resurgence.
It is a sticky fixture for United and more dropped points would really crank up the pressure again.
Will Paul Pogba start, following his very public spat with Mourinho?
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Man United
Arsenal vs. Watford – Saturday, 3pm
Arsenal are a weird side, aren’t they?
So often they play poorly and win, and they have quietly picked up six victories in a row in all competitions, since starting the campaign with back-to-back defeats.
That is expected to become seven on the bounce on this weekend, even though Watford will cause them problems at the Emirates.
Troy Deeney will believe he can bully the Gunners’ defenders once again, but the hosts’ quality in the final third will be the difference.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Watford
Everton vs. Fulham – Saturday, 3pm
Everton‘s early-season optimism already feels a long way in the past – it really is ‘Groundhog Day’!
A loss at Arsenal in their last Premier League outing saw them dominate at times but lack a cutting edge, and there are still too many defensive errors on show.
They will expect to return to winning ways against Fulham this weekend, although it won’t take much for the famously short-tempered Goodison Park crowd to turn.
Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals will prevail this time, with the visitors managing just one win league victory to date.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Fulham
Huddersfield vs. Tottenham – Saturday, 3pm
Tottenham were in a grim run of form, both domestically and in Europe, but they steadied the ship with a 2-1 triumph at Brighton last Saturday, and got past Watford in the League Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side should make it successive league wins this weekend, as they visit a Huddersfield outfit in dire straits.
The Terriers look red-hot favourites to be relegated this season, along with Cardiff City, and they must start picking up points, with just two to their name so far.
Another defeat awaits them.
Prediction: Huddersfield 1-3 Tottenham
Man City vs. Brighton – Saturday, 3pm
Liverpool’s best team for 30 years would have to be battling for the title with one of English football’s most dominant sides in history, wouldn’t it? Typical.
There is no shame in admitting that Man City are a phenomenal team and you struggle to see them ever slipping up in matches of Saturday’s ilk – at home to Brighton.
Chris Hughton may well accept defeat and avoid damage limitation – something sides are pleasingly starting to do at Anfield – and it is bordering on impossible to see them getting a result.
City will be far too strong.
Prediction: Man City 4-0 Brighton
Newcastle vs. Leicester – Saturday, 3pm
Rafa Benitez continues to struggle at Newcastle, with off-pitch issues clearly playing a major part in the Magpies’ poor start to the season.
They are still searching for their opening victory of 2018/19 and Saturday’s visit of Leicester City offers a chance of that.
Claude Puel’s men are one of the strongest teams outside the ‘big six’, however, and they will be disappointed if they don’t leave St James’ Park with at least a point.
It is a tough one to call.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Leicester
Wolves vs. Southampton – Saturday, 3pm
Wolves‘ draw at Old Trafford further endeared them to the rest of the Premier League and they look one of the best promoted sides to have come up from the Championship.
A seventh-place finish should not be seen as remotely out of the question and their home game against Southampton is another winnable fixture.
Saints offered little at Liverpool, although the returning Danny Ings will give them the firepower they were so severely lacking.
It will be tighter than some may predict, but Wolves will have too much for their opponents.
Prediction: Wolves 2-1 Southampton
Cardiff vs. Burnley – Sunday, 4pm – Sky Sports Main Event
If you’re into the Ryder Cup, don’t worry about missing some top-quality Premier League action on the other channel!
This is a ‘Super Sunday’ you will be willing to avoid, with Cardiff vs. Burnley one of the least-appealing fixtures in the division, with all due respect.
Neither are exactly famed for their attacking style of play, with both sure to dig deep and look to grind out an ugly 1-0 win.
It will be Burnley who edge it, with the Clarets’ surprise mauling of Bournemouth suggesting they are on the up after ridding themselves of the Europa League burden.
Prediction: Cardiff 0-1 Burnley
Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace
We round things off with Bournemouth‘s clash with Crystal Palace at Dean Court, which has the potential to be more entertaining than it looks on paper.
Nobody saw the Cherries’ aforementioned 4-0 loss at Burnley coming and Eddie Howe will be hellbent on his players producing an immediate response on Monday night.
Palace, meanwhile, are an unpredictable outfit who remain heavily reliant on the brilliance of Wilfried Zaha in attacking areas.
A share of the spoils feels like the most likely outcome.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Crystal Palace
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