The Premier League enters an intriguing period of the season with top three teams facing each other over the next couple of weeks.

Fantasy managers have an intriguing choice and must stay on their guard with a blank week coming up. Midfielder Douglas Luiz is a strong option to consider as the West Midlands club are one of only a few sides to play next weekend.

Saturday

Manchester United v Everton (8.30am)

Marcus Rashford scored his first goal in more than a month but Manchester United still suffered a derby defeat at Manchester City last Sunday.

Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mason Mount, Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund are out with injuries, while Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford are doubtful.

Everton lost to West Ham and are now five points above the relegation zone. Dele Alli and Arnaut Danjuma are out with groin and ankle injuries respectively, while Idrissa Gueye is doubtful.

Prediction: 2-0

Bournemouth v Sheffield United (11am)

Bournemouth returned to winning ways at Burnley. Ryan Fredericks, James Hill, Lloyd Kelly, Max Aarons and Tyler Adams are out to injury or lack of fitness, with Marcos Senesi doubtful to a hamstring injury this week.

Sheffield United have conceded 72 goals this season and are now 11 points from safety. Mason Holgate is suspended; Chris Basham, Max Lowe, John Egan, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Anis Ben Slimane, Cameron Archer, Rhian Brewster and Daniel Jebbison are out through various injuries this week.

Prediction: 2-0

Crystal Palace v Luton Town (11am)

Crystal Palace conceded three in the final 13 minutes to lose at Tottenham last week, with Eberechi Eze making his starting return from injury with a goal just before the hour mark.

Rob Holding, Marc Guehi, Cheick Doucoure, Michael Olise and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi are out through injury for the Eagles, while Jordan Ayew is doubtful with a hip problem.

Luton have scored the same number of goals as Manchester United this season but have lost four in a row to stay in the drop zone.

Mads Juel Andersen, Gabriel Osho, Dan Potts, Tom Lockyer, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Marvelous Nakamba, Elijah Adebayo and Jacob Brown are out with injuries, while Amari Bell and Joseph Johnson are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-1

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Fulham (11am)

Wolves were heavily beaten at Newcastle last week and Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha are out with hamstring injuries this match. Jose Sa, Joao Gomes and Pedro Neto are doubtful.

Fulham backed up the win at Manchester United with victory over Brighton. Raul Jimenez is out with a hamstring injury this week.

Prediction: 1-0

Arsenal v Brentford (1.30pm)

Arsenal thrashed Sheffield United for their seventh consecutive league win, four of those by at least three goals.

David Raya is ineligible owing to league loan rules and Jurrien Timber is out with a knee injury. Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Martinelli are doubtful.

Brentford are winless in four matches. Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Josh Dasilva, Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade are out for the Bees this week.

Prediction: 3-0

Sunday

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (10am)

Aston Villa have won four of their last five league outings . Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia and Boubacar Kamara are out through injury, while Jhon Duran and Jacob Ramsey are doubtful.

Tottenham found a way past Crystal Palace and stay just behind their hosts in the race for the final Champions League qualification spot. Fraser Forster, Ryan Sessegnon, Richarlison and Manor Solomon are out to injury, while Pedro Porro is doubtful with a muscle problem

Prediction: 1-2

Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest (11am)

Brighton will miss Billy Gilmour through suspension, while Solly March, James Milner, Kaoru Mitoma, Jack Hinshelwood and Joao Pedro are out injured.

Forest are four points above the drop zone after the stoppage-time home defeat to Liverpool. Nuno Tavares and Ola Aina are out this weekend, while Willy Boly, Chris Wood and Nicolas Dominguez are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-1

West Ham United v Burnley (11am)

West Ham have taken consecutive victories, most recently away at Everton and Maxwel Cornet is out with a hamstring injury this week.

Burnley have taken just one win from their last 13 games to slip 11 points from safety. Luca Koleosho, Aaron Ramsey, Nathan Redmond and Lyle Foster are out with various injuries, while Jordan Beyer is doubtful with a knock this match.

Prediction: 2-0

Liverpool v Manchester City (12.45pm)

Liverpool maintain their one-point lead at the top going into this huge clash.

Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcantara, Ben Doak and Ryan Gravenberch are out, but Mohamed Salah should return from injury.

Manchester City dominated neighbours United last week and Jack Grealish, who is out with a groin injury, is their only injury concern.

Liverpool have won 21 of their 53 league encounters, but this match has ended in stalemate on 20 occasions.

Prediction: 3-2

Monday

Chelsea v Newcastle United (5pm)

Chelsea picked up a point at Brentford last week thanks to an equaliser by defender Axel Disasi.

Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku are out with injury this match.

Newcastle defeated Wolves to keep a possible Europa League berth alive. Lewis Hall is ineligible due to league loan rules, while Nick Pope, Joelinton and Callum Wilson are out to injury. Matt Targett and Kieran Trippier are doubtful..

Prediction: 2-2

Wednesday

Bournemouth v Luton Town (4.30pm)

This first Premier League meeting of the two clubs is a full replay of the abandoned match from December 16 when Luton captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch in the 59th minute, having suffered a cardiac arrest.

Prediction: 1-1