One battling for top spot, although that seems increasingly remote, and the other is battling to stay in the Premier League. Only one possible outcome, right? Right. Home win.
LIVERPOOL vs FULHAM (1500)
After a spectacular opening few weeks of the season, the river has risen to claim Fulham’s chances of achieving much – or indeed anything – of note this year. Now they have the league leaders to contend with. Life’s not fair. Home win.
NEWCASTLE UNITED vs LEICESTER CITY (1500)
The outlook for the Foxes under Ruud van Nistelrooy is looking slightly more rosy. Newcastle meanwhile are struggling, with both now in the bottom half of the table. Although the hosts must go in as favourites, it will be interesting to see how this tricky encounter pans out. Home win.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs IPSWICH TOWN (1500)
A huge six-pointer. Gary O’Neil has received the public support of the club’s hierarchy. You have to feel sorry for him after his relative success last season and before that at Bournemouth. It’s hard to think that he will end this season as the Molineux boss. Draw.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs ASTON VILLA (1730)
This could be a right old corker. Both sides are on 25 points and sit in fifth and sixth places respectively. There’s the sense that Villa are the stronger, but Forest have home advantage, which has often come to their aid in recent seasons. Will it do so again today? Draw.
SUNDAY
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs CRYSTAL PALACE (1400)
The A23 derby sees Palace languishing too close for comfort near the foot of the table while Brighton could end the day in the top four if things go their way. A good fight beckons. Home win.
MANCHESTER CITY vs MANCHESTER UNITED (1630)
How things change. The day’s second derby sees the hosts in fourth but also in trouble, while their not-so-quiet neighbours are mounting a comeback of sorts. This intriguing encounter is not as straightforward as it might have been some weeks ago. Draw.
CHELSEA vs BRENTFORD (1900)
A hattrick of local derbies sees second-placed Chelsea looking to cement their exceptional recent progress and put the heat up Liverpool’s backsides. Brentford won’t offer much opposition. Home win.
SOUTHAMPTON vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (1900)
Poor old Southampton are really deep in the brown stuff. Mind you, Spurs aren’t far from there either. Still, the visitors are likely to offer way stronger opposition than the Saints can cope with. Time for the hosts to start planning for life back in the Championship? Away win.
MONDAY
BOURNEMOUTH vs WEST HAM UNITED (2000)
Few people of the claret and blue persuasion will anticipate this with undiluted optimism. We’re stuck uncomfortably close to the danger end of the table and with a manager at risk of spending new year at home. The Cherries are within a win of the top four and have a strong home record. A point will be an achievement. Draw.
ARS vs EVE
LIV vs FUL
NEW vs LEI
WOL vs IPS
NFO vs AST
BHA vs CRY
MCY vs MNU
CHE vs BRE
SOU vs TOT
BOU vs WHU
CHAMPIONSHIP
Struggling Pompey were given a good hiding last night at Derby, leaving a mere two points all that separate the bottom five. Yorkshire dominates the top, with Sheffield Utd and Leeds in first and second places. In the play-off places, Blackburn go into today’s game with Luton on the back of five consecutive wins. Two draws, meanwhile, have seen Burnley slip from top to third as they take on Norwich on Sunday. Middlesboro, just outside the top six, host Millwall in lucky 13th today while Sunderland (4th) make the long trek to Swansea.
