After an action-packed midweek round of games, the Premier League is back again this weekend with plenty to play for at both ends of the table.
League leaders Liverpool face a tricky trip to Brentford after drawing their last two league games, while Arsenal will be looking to keep pace with the Reds when they host Aston Villa.
This season’s surprise package Nottingham Forest take on bottom side Southampton, while Newcastle will be aiming to make it 10 straight wins in all competitions when they welcome Bournemouth to St James’ Park.
Elsewhere, Manchester United will be aiming for a second successive victory at home to Brighton, and David Moyes will be eyeing a first win of his second spell at Everton as the Toffees face underperforming Tottenham.
Throw into the mix Ipswich taking on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and it promises to be a fascinating weekend of top-flight football.
Here, we tell you everything you need to know about the weekend’s action, including the latest injury updates and team news, the players you to look out for and something all of our experts are looking forward to at the games they will be reporting from.
Mo Salah’s Liverpool will travel to Brentford as they bid to return to winning ways
Alexander Isak will be aiming to score in his ninth straight league game when Newcastle host Bournemouth
Man City face Ipswich after blowing a two-goal lead against Brentford on Tuesday
SATURDAY
12:30pm: NEWCASTLE v BOURNEMOUTH
St James’ Park. Referee: Stuart Attwell.
TV/radio: Live on TNT Sports and talkSPORT. Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: Newcastle are going for a club record 10 straight wins in all competitions and, while Eddie Howe has never beaten former club Bournemouth as a manager, they are strong favourites given recent form and Bournemouth’s injury problems in attack. Compare that to Newcastle, who have Alexander Isak, scorer of goals in his last eight Premier League games. CRAIG HOPE
Players to watch: Newcastle – Alexander Isak. He needs to score in his next three Premier League games against Bournemouth, Southampton and Fulham to equal Jamie Vardy’s record of 11 matches on the spin – and you’d fancy him to do it!
Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo. Newcastle need a right-winger this summer and Semenyo is sure to be on their list – this is a chance for him to impress.
Newcastle injury news: Fabian Schar is touch and go to return after a ‘nasty illness’ but no other reported issues for Eddie Howe’s squad.
Out: C Wilson (hamstring), N Pope (knee), J Lascelles (knee), H Barnes (thigh).
Doubt: F Schar (illness)
Bournemouth injury news: Kepa Arrizabalaga is available.
Out: J Araujo, L Sinisterra, M Tavernier (all hamstring), A Scott, E Unal (both knee), M Senesi (thigh), A Smith (muscle), Evanilson (foot), J Soler (international duty).
Doubt: J Hill (hamstring).
Mail Sport prediction: Newcastle win.
3pm: BRENTFORD v LIVERPOOL
Gtech Community Stadium. Referee: Andy Madley.
TV/radio: Live on BBC 5 Live. Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: I am looking forward to a trip to the Gtech on Saturday — one of my favourite grounds to visit in the country. And it should be a cracking game, too, with Liverpool needing to bounce back after a couple of draws in the league. Brentford are one of my favourite teams to watch and I think Thomas Frank is a first-class manager. They created chances at will against Manchester City on Tuesday but looked a bit open at the other end. A similar pattern of play should make for a thrilling encounter. LEWIS STEELE
Players to watch: Liverpool – Andy Robertson. The Scottish left back has a fight on his hands to keep his starting spot, with Kostas Tsimikas performing well off the bench against Nottingham Forest, creating the equaliser with his first touch. ‘Robbo’ must up his game if he is to nail down that spot in the long term.
Brentford – Mikkel Damsgaard. The young Dane failed to score in his debut campaign at Brentford but has netted three goals to go with seven assists this term. That’s a fine return and, playing just behind Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, he is causing many defences problems.
Brentford injury news: No changes to the Bees squad. Rico Henry may feature after playing his first minutes since September 2023 earlier this week.
Out: I Thiago, J Dasilva (both knee), A Hickey, E Pinnock (both hamstring), G Nunes (back), K Ajer (ankle), R Trevitt (achilles).
Liverpool injury news: Diogo Jota is unlikely to start. Darwin Nunez returns from suspension, while Luis Diaz should be OK after an illness.
Out: J Gomez (hamstring).
Doubt: D Jota (unknown).
Mail Sport prediction: Liverpool win.
3pm: LEICESTER v FULHAM
King Power Stadium. Referee: Michael Salisbury.
TV/radio: Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: Fulham have to bounce back from a defeat for the first time since November 23 – and Marco Silva hope they do a better job of it than Leicester who have lost their last six in the league and always follow a defeat with another one. Ruud van Nistelrooy really has to win this one to stop a gap starting to develop between The Foxes and safety. That in itself should make it a cracking atmosphere at the King Power. JOE BERNSTEIN
Players to watch: Leicester – Jordan Ayew. Won’t have been happy about only being given 10 minutes off the bench against his former club Crystal Palace in midweek. Van Nistelrooy will be hoping he can take any anger out on Fulham.
Fulham – Alex Iwobi. You can’t look past the Nigerian international. Will he try the old ‘cross towards the far post area and hope it trickles in’ trick? It worked twice at West Ham in midweek so Leicester be warned.
Leicester injury news: New right back Woyo Coulibaly could feature on Saturday as Ruud van Nistelrooy looks to turn around the Foxes’ form.
Out: A Fatawu (knee), W Ndidi (hamstring), M Hermansen (groin), R Pereira (muscle).
Doubt: W Coulibaly (match fitness).
Fulham injury news: Good news for the Cottagers with Sander Berge back in contention and Reiss Nelson only a couple of weeks away from returning.
Out: K Tete (knee), R Nelson (hamstring).
Mail Sport prediction: Fulham win.
3pm: WEST HAM v CRYSTAL PALACE
London Stadium. Referee: Thomas Bramall.
TV/radio: Live on talkSPORT 2. Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: Graham Potter is short on strikers but he’s off and running as West Ham boss. A chaotic 3-2 win against Fulham proved that things never come easy at the Hammers but already you can see a group of players looking to implement a tactical plan. It’s not always been that way this season. Potter would become only the third West Ham boss to win his opening two Premier League games in charge after Trevor Brooking and Gianfranco Zola. He’ll hope so, too, against a Palace side that’s won only one of their last 22 away London derbies, though that was against the Hammers in December 2021. JAMES SHARPE
Players to watch: West Ham – Lucas Paqueta. Started up front against Fulham and impressed in an unfamiliar role and has scored in both Potter’s first two games. He last scored in three in a row in April 2023. It looks like Potter, unlike predecessor Julen Lopetegui, could get the best out of him.
Crystal Palace – Ismaila Sarr. The Palace forward is in the form of his life. Set up his side’s opener against Leicester to make it five goal involvements in his last six Premier League games – as many as in his previous 31!
West Ham injury news: A late decision will be made on the fitness of Crysencio Summerville as Graham Potter ponders his limited attacking options.
Out: M Antonio (health), JC Todibo (ankle), N Fullkrug (hamstring), J Bowen (foot).
Doubt: C Summerville (hamstring).
Crystal Palace injury news: Ismaila Sarr is suffering with tightness in his hamstring and may not be risked. Jefferson Lerma misses out due to illness.
Out: M Franca, A Wharton (both groin), R Holding (unknown), J Lerma (illness).
Doubt: I Sarr (hamstring).
Mail Sport prediction: West Ham win.
5.30pm: ARSENAL v ASTON VILLA
Emirates Stadium. Referee: Chris Kavanagh.
TV/radio: Live on BBC 5 Live. Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: Unai Emery is well-versed in how to set up against Arsenal, as seen in the clashes between these two sides in recent times. In August, Arsenal overcame Aston Villa 2-0 in a hard-fought encounter typified by a great David Raya save and the magic of Bukayo Saka. And then last season, in April, the Midlands club ended the Gunners’ title bid with a 2-0 victory. There is also the added motivation for Emery of beating a side he was sacked by in 2019. For Mikel Arteta, after overcoming Tottenham in the north London derby midweek following a torrid week, he will hope that victory can now kickstart an unbeaten run to keep his team on track in the title race. ISAAN KHAN
Players to watch: Arsenal – Myles Lewis-Skelly. In some estimations, he was man of the match in the midweek victory over Tottenham. His whipping up of the crowd after being substituted added to the excitement around a 18-year-old who has risen fast in the wake of Arsenal’s injury crisis at full back. It will be intriguing to see how much further he can excel in the coming weeks, including against Villa.
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins. The striker has previous at the Emirates. It was his sublime chipped effort in April last year that helped down the Gunners and end their title hopes. Of late, he scored Villa’s winner against Everton on Wednesday after being dropped to the bench for a number of league matches in December. Saturday is a chance for him to build further momentum this season and reopen old wounds.
Arsenal injury news: The Gunners may welcome back Riccardo Calafiori in defence.
Out: G Jesus, B White, T Tomiyasu (all knee), B Saka (hamstring), E Nwaneri (muscle).
Doubt: R Calafiori (knee).
Aston Villa injury news: New signing Donyell Malen is available. Jhon Duran has avoided a suspension but Ollie Watkins should continue to lead the line.
Out: R Barkley (calf), J McGinn (hamstring), P Torres, D Carlos (foot).
Mail Sport prediction: Arsenal win.
SUNDAY
2pm: EVERTON v TOTTENHAM
Goodison Park. Referee: Darren England.
TV/radio: Highlights on Match of the Day 2, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: From a personal point of view, I’m looking forward to one last look at Goodison Park before Everton move on. More broadly, can Moyes have an impact and get his team moving forwards. Can he change anything substantial with the same players? He must feel there is a chance to take points from Spurs, ailing with only one win (5-0 at Southampton) in the last nine Premier League games. And can Postecoglou stop the run of rotten results in the league? MATT BARLOW
Players to watch: Everton – Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Can Moyes restore his confidence and get him firing again? Everton could do with him back in the old routine, leading the line and scoring goals. At his best, he is a dangerous Premier League centre forward but it feels like a long time since he performed at his best.
Tottenham – Richarlison. Back to Everton. He scored three times against them last season but this season has been disrupted by injuries. Finally fit again, he returned in the North London derby on Wednesday and Postecoglou will be delighted to have him back. May or may not start but will certainly be fired up for this one.
Everton injury news: James Garner is back in full training and may feature. Dwight McNeil isn’t far away from a return.
Out: T Iroegbunam, A Broja (both foot), D McNeil (knee), S Coleman (calf), Y Chermiti (thigh).
Doubt: J Garner (back).
Tottenham injury news: Ben Davies is available again.
Out: G Vicario (ankle), W Odobert, M van de Ven, D Udogie, T Werner (all hamstring), C Romero (thigh), R Bentancur (concussion).
Doubt: F Forster (illness), B Johnson (calf).
Mail Sport prediction: Draw.
2pm: MAN UTD v BRIGHTON
Old Trafford. Referee: Peter Bankes.
TV/radio: Live on Sky Sports and BBC 5 Live. Highlights on Match of the Day 2, BBC One 10.20pm
Our expert’s view: Ruben Amorim challenged his players to prove that they HAD made progress against Liverpool and Arsenal and while it wasn’t pretty, being Southampton is a sign they are now tougher to beat than before. Brighton is a step up in quality but United are not a soft touch like they have been in recent times. NATHAN SALT
Players to watch: Manchester United – Amad Diallo. There’s only one applicable answer right now and it is the in-form Ivorian. Rasmus Hojlund is on an eight-game goal drought but that can be covered up when the likes of Amad deliver his first ever Premier League hat-trick. Their best player by some distance.
Brighton – Simon Adingra. While it was Kaoru Mitoma on the other wing that took the headlines last time out against Ipswich, Adingra has history of causing United plenty of problems. He ran ragged against them in this exact fixture last season and will fancy his chances again with Diogo Dalot set to come back in.
Manchester United injury news: Diogo Dalot returns from suspension and should go straight back into the starting XI.
Out: M Mount (thigh), V Lindelof, J Evans (both unknown).
Doubt: L Shaw (unknown).
Brighton injury news: Danny Welbeck could feature after returning against Ipswich.
Out: J Milner, I Julio (both hamstring), F Kadioglu (toe).
Doubt: D Gomez (match fitness), M Wieffer (thigh), J Hinshelwood (knee), B Gruda (unknown).
Mail Sport prediction: Draw.
2pm: NOTTINGHAM FOREST v SOUTHAMPTON
City Ground. Referee: Anthony Taylor.
TV/radio: Live on Sky Sports and BBC 5 Live. Highlights on Match of the Day 2, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: Easy home win, right? Wrong. This is just the sort of game that could trip Forest up because they are in an unusual position. Everyone expects them to claim three points, including the home fans, who could easily grow tense if Forest do not take control of proceedings early on. Though Southampton will almost certainly be relegated, they gave Manchester United a huge fright on Thursday, which suggests they may perform better under Ivan Juric during the second half of the season. TOM COLLOMOSSE
Players to watch: Nottingham Forest – Anthony Elanga. The former Manchester United winger is really starting to find his stride at the City Ground, particularly since he reclaimed his spot in the starting XI. He has always had the pace and directness to trouble full-backs but now Elanga has added a calmness to his game – as the assists he provided for Morgan Gibbs-White at Wolves and Chris Wood against Liverpool proved. Forest’s decision to turn down Newcastle’s £50million offer for Elanga last summer raised eyebrows but it looks a wise decision now.
Southampton – Kamaldeen Sulemana. After the chasing he gave Leny Yoro in Saints’ late defeat at Manchester United on Thursday, Sulemana will be a particular focus for Forest in the build-up to this game. It won’t be easy for Sulemana against one of the best defences in the Premier League but with Forest having to make more running than usual against one of the league’s weakest teams, Sulemana may find he has plenty of space on the break.
Nottingham Forest injury news: Forest have a near clean bill of health with Danilo coming back to fitness and Ibrahim Sangare close to returning.
Out: I Sangare (hamstring).
Southampton injury news: Tyler Dibling is a doubt after limping off at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Out: R Stewart (hamstring), J Stephens (knock).
Doubt: T Dibling (ankle).
Mail Sport prediction: Forest win.
4.30pm: IPSWICH v MANCHESTER CITY
Portman Road. Referee: Sam Barrott.
TV/radio: Live on Sky Sports and BBC 5 Live. Highlights on Match of the Day 2, BBC One 10.30pm
Our expert’s view: Man City conceding two late goals against Brentford during the week seems to be the story of their season so far, and they will be desperate to see a much needed three points over the line as they fight for a Champions League spot. Whether the Tractor Boys will roll over and give it to them is highly unlikely though, given they have already taken points off Man United and Chelsea at home this season. TARA ANSON-WALSH
Players to watch: Ipswich – Liam Delap. The former City lad will be raring to show his old team what they’ve been missing and will look to cause havoc in the champions’ fragile back line.
Man City – Erling Haaland. It’s going to be a battle of the big name strikers and there’s no doubt the Norwegian goal machine will want to get on the scoresheet to celebrate his shiny new mammoth contract.
Ipswich injury news: Omari Hutchinson was back in the squad for the Brighton match and could start. Jaden Philogene is available and may feature.
Out: C Ogbene (achilles), A Tuanzebe (hamstring), S Szmodics (ankle), C Chaplin (knee), K Phillips (ineligible).
Man City injury news: Erling Haaland is a doubt.
Out: Rodri (knee), O Bobb (leg), R Dias (muscle), J Stones (ankle).
Doubt: E Haaland (unknown).
Mail Sport prediction: Man City win.
MONDAY
8pm: CHELSEA v WOLVES
Stamford Bridge. Referee: Simon Hooper.
TV/radio: Live on Sky Sports and talkSPORT.
Our expert’s view: Considering the silly number of chances they create, I cannot shake the feeling that Chelsea are on the verge of royally spanking an opponent. Whether that will be Wolves, we will need to see. Chelsea need to win this one, plain and simple. The longer they fail to do so, the more their chances of Champions League football will plummet. KIERAN GILL
Players to watch: Chelsea – Nicolas Jackson. He’s not scored amid Chelsea’s five-game run without a win, and the pressure is being piled on him because of that drought. Jackson gets himself into excellent positions, and is a relentless runner, but it just hasn’t been going in for him. If I was a betting man, though, I’d say this is a match in which he will finally get himself a goal.
Wolves – Jorgen Strand Larsen. He’s 6ft 4in and with question marks over who will start in Chelsea’ defence – whether Trevoh Chalobah or Josh Acheampong or if Levi Colwill will be fit – he can try to capitalise if crosses come into the box. Chelsea are not the most watertight side so chances will fall to him to cause carnage.
Chelsea injury news: Cole Palmer missed training on Friday after a knock.
Out: W Fofana (hamstring), B Badiashile (thigh), M Mudryk (suspended), K Dewsbury-Hall (unknown).
Doubt: C Palmer, L Colwill, E Fernandez, R Lavia (all knocks).
Wolves injury news: Mario Lemina is available again, but Matheus Cunha is ill and faces a late fitness test.
Out: Y Mosquera, S Kalajdzic, E Gonzalez, B Traore (all knee), Toti (hamstring).
Doubt: M Cunha (illness).
Mail Sport prediction: Chelsea win.
