Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy led Leicester City to a 3-0 victory over West Ham in the Dutchman’s first match as a permanent Premier League coach in midweek, but it will be interesting to see if that form continues given West Ham created a huge number of chances in that game.

Bournemouth attacker Justin Kluivert is a solid option for the next few weeks after recording six contributions (five goals and one assist) in his last seven games.

Congratulations to November winner Mark Godfrey, whose team Amad Mad Worldpicked up 316 points in the month. Keith Steede's team Stegunda leads the overall standings with 935 points.

Saturday

Everton v Liverpool (8.30am)

This will be the final Merseyside Derby in the league at Goodison Park and Everton will want to build on their 4-0 demolition of Wolves on Wednesday, which pushed them five points clear of the drop zone. James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam and Youssef Chermiti are out for this match, while Armando Broja is doubtful.

Liverpool dropped points at Newcastle and saw their lead narrow to seven points overs chasers Arsenal and Chelsea.

Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate are out for the league leaders, while Alisson Becker, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-1

Aston Villa v Southampton (11am)

Aston Villa got their first win in nine matches against Brentford in midweek but have Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana are with hamstring and foot injuries respectively. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is doubtful with a hand problem.

Southampton remain bottom after being thrashed 5-1 at home by Chelsea. Jack Stephens will miss three games after being been sent off in midweek for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair.

Aaron Ramsdale, Gavin Bazunu, Juan Larios Lopez, Adam Lallana, Will Smallbone and Ross Stewart are also confirmed absences, with Paul Onuachu doubtful.

Prediction: 2-1

Brentford v Newcastle United (11am)

Brentford’s poor away form continued with defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday. Kristoffer Ajer, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen and Gustavo Nunes are out this week.

Newcastle defender Fabian Schär scored a late equaliser to get the Magpies a point against league leaders Liverpool on Wednesday. Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth are out injured, while Alexander Isak is doubtful to a hip injury.

Prediction: 1-1

Crystal Palace v Manchester City (11am)

Crystal Palace have lost just one of their last six league matches, edging Ipswich on Tuesday to stay three points above the relegation zone. Chadi Riad, Matheus Franca and Adam Wharton are absent this week.

Manchester City got back to winning ways against Nottingham Forest after going winless in their previous seven games in all competitions. John Stones, Oscar Bobb, Mateo Kovacic and Rodri are all out for the champions.

Prediction: 2-2

Manchester United v Nottingham Forest (1.30pm)

Manchester United suffered their first loss under Ruben Amorim at Arsenal in midweek and have doubts surrounding Victor Lindelof and Leny Yoro.

Nottingham Forest went down to Manchester City on Wednesday in just their second away defeat of the season. Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare are out this weekend.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunday

Fulham v Arsenal (10am)

Fulham are without Joachim Andersen and Harrison Reed.

Arsenal closed the margin with Liverpool to seven points after beating Manchester United on Wednesday. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White are out to knee injuries, while Gabriel, Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Mikel Merino are doubtful.

Prediction: 0-2

Ipswich Town v Bournemouth (10am)

Ipswich have scored the second-fewest goals in the division and stayed in the bottom three after losing at home to Palace in midweek. Axel Tuanzebe, Chiedozie Ogbene and George Hirst are out injured.

Bournemouth hosted Tottenham yesterday, and could climb into the top six with two victories this week. Julian Araujo, Alex Scott and Luis Sinisterra are out to hamstring and knee injuries this match, while Lewis Cook is doubtful with a muscle injury.

Prediction: 1-0

Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion (10am)

Leicester stopped a run of three straight defeats with victory over West Ham. Jakub Stolarczyk, Ricardo Pereira and Abdul Fatawu are out, while Harry Winks is doubtful with a groin injury.

Brighton must do without James Milner, while Adam Webster, Solly March, Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood, Joel Veltman and Brajan Gruda are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (12.30pm)

For Tottenham, Rodrigo Bentancur remains suspended until Boxing Day. Guglielmo Vicario, Mikey Moore, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison are out, while Cristian Romero, Archie Gray and Dominic Solanke.

Chelsea dismantled Southampton for their third straight win and closed the gap on Liverpool to seven points. Reece James, Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman are out with hamstring injuries.

Prediction: 3-3

Monday

West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (4pm)

West Ham were punished for poor finishing in the away defeat to Leicester, heaping more pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui. Jean-Clair Todibo and Danny Ings are doubtful for the Hammers.

Wolves were easily beaten at Everton to slip back into the relegation zone. Yerson Mosquera, Boubacar Traore, Enso Gonzalez and Sasa Kalajdzic are out , while Bastien Meupiyou is doubtful.

Prediction: 1-2