The Premier League title race has heated up with leaders Arsenal dropping points in a draw against Liverpool last Sunday.

Leicester have appointed former Aston Villa and Norwich coach Dean Smith to replace former manager Brendan Rodgers in their attempt to stay in the Premier League

Fantasy managers have some intriguing selection choices for the run-in after Manchester United player Marcus Rashford was ruled out for a few weeks with a groin injury. Two options to replace him are Crystal Palace midfield duo Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, who are solid choices at £5.4 million. Olise has five goals and four assists this term, while Eze has two goals and eight assists.

Saturday

Aston Villa v Newcastle United (8.30am)

Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest last week to edge within six points of the top four. Matty Cash, Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara are out with various injuries, while Leon Bailey is doubtful with a hamstring injury this weekend.

Newcastle came from behind last week to edge Brentford and maintain third place. Emil Krafth and Miguel Almiron are out with knee and thigh injuries, while Allan Saint-Maximin is doubtful.

The Magpies have won 24 of their 51 league meetings with the West Midlands club.

Prediction: 2-2

Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion (11am)

Chelsea lost to Wolves in Frank Lampard’s first game in caretaker charge of the Blues. Armando Broja is out with a knee injury with Cesar Azpilicueta and Mason Mount doubtful.

Brighton hold on to a slim hope of Champions League qualification despite losing in controversial fashion at Tottenham Hotspur last week.

Levi Colwill is ineligible to face his parent club, while Tariq Lamptey, Jakub Moder, Adam Lallana and Jeremy Sarmiento are out with injury for the visit to West London.

Chelsea hold the upper hand in this series, winning six of their 11 meetings with the Seagulls, whose only victory came in the reverse fixture last October.

Prediction: 1-2

Everton v Fulham (11am)

Everton remain just outside the drop zone on goal difference after their away defeat to Manchester United.

Abdoulaye Doucoure serves the second of his three-game suspension after being sent off in the home draw with Tottenham. Andros Townsend is out owing to lack of fitness, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Seamus Coleman and Ruben Vinagre doubtful.

Fulham continued to struggle with home defeat to West Ham last week. Aleksandar Mitrovic serves the third of his eight-match ban for pushing the referee in their cup defeat at Manchester United before the international break, while Layvin Kurzawa and Neeskens Kebano are out to injury and lack of fitness.

Everton have taken 18 wins from their 31 meetings with the Cottagers, with Fulham winning ten.

Prediction: 2-1

Southampton v Crystal Palace (11am)

Southampton are now four points from safety after being dominated at home by Manchester City. Tino Livramento, Mohamed Salisu, Juan Larios Lopez and Che Adams are out with differing injuries, while Romeo Lavia is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Crystal Palace midfielder Michael Olise recorded three assists in their away victory over Leeds. Vicente Guaita, Nathan Ferguson, Chris Richards, and Wilfried Zaha are out with various injuries, while Odsonne Edouard is doubtful with a minor knock.

Saints lead this rivalry, winning 14 of their 27 league meetings.

Prediction: 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth (11am)

Tottenham edged Brighton to keep their hopes alive of Champions League football next season.

Lucas Moura is serving the second of a three-match suspension following his red card at Everton, while Ben Davies, Ryan Sessegnon, Emerson Royal, Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are out.

Bournemouth kept their survival hopes alive with victory at Leicester City. Ryan Fredericks and Junior Stanislas are out, while Marcos Senesi and Hamed Traore are doubtful.

Spurs have won eight of the 11 league meetings between these clubs.

Prediction: 2-0

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford (11am)

Wolves edged Chelsea thanks to a wonder strike by recent signing Matheus Nunes last week.

Jonny Otto and Ruben Neves serve the final game of their three-game suspensions for red cards against Leeds a few weeks ago. Francisco Oliveira and Sasa Kalajdzic are out through injury, while Nunes is doubtful.

Brentford suffered a setback to their European hopes with the home defeat to Newcastle. Kristoffer Ajer, Frank Onyeka and Keane Lewis-Potter are out with a variety of injuries, while Pontus Jansson is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Each side have one win in their three league meetings.

Prediction: 1-2

Manchester City v Leicester City (1.30pm)

Manchester City kept themselves in contention for their third straight league title with a dominant win over Southampton, coupled with rivals Arsenal dropping points at Anfield. Phil Foden is out with an abdominal injury, the only missing piece to Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Dean Smith must do without James Justin, Youri Tielemans and Sammy Braybrooke for his first match in charge of Leicester, while Ryan Bertrand and Harvey Barnes are doubtful.

City have won 14 of their 23 league encounters with the Foxes.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunday

West Ham United v Arsenal (10am)

West Ham re-ignited their survival bid with an important victory at Fulham. Gianluca Scamacca is out with a knee injury for the Hammers this weekend.

Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead in the draw with Liverpool and their lead at the top has been cut to six points. Takehiro Tomiyasu, William Saliba and Mohamed Elneny are out with knee and muscle injuries, while Eddie Nketiah is doubtful with an ankle injury.

The Gunners have won 35 of their 53 league meetings with the Hammers.

Prediction: 0-2

Nottingham Forest v Manchester United (12.30pm)

Nottingham Forest were comfortably beaten at Aston Villa and dropped into the bottom three on goal difference as a result of four defeats in five league matches.

Dean Henderson, Giulian Biancone, Willy Boly, Omar Richards, and Chris Wood are out with various injuries, while Serge Aurier, Ryan Yates, Moussa Niakhate, Renan Lodi, Cheikhou Kouyate and Gustavo Scarpa are doubtful.

Manchester United solidified their top-four position with home victories over Brentford and Everton in the last round of matches. Tom Heaton, Marcus Rashford, Donny van de Beek and Alejandro Garnacho are out for the Red Devils this weekend, while Luke Shaw is doubtful.

United have lost just one of 11 league meetings with Forest, winning eight.

Prediction: 1-2

Monday

Leeds United v Liverpool (4pm)

Leeds were smashed at home by Crystal Palace, and remain just two points above the bottom three. Stuart Dallas (leg) and Tyler Adams (hamstring) are out for the Yorkshire side, while Max Wober is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Calvin Ramsay, Naby Keita and Stefan Bajcetic are out for Liverpool with various injuries, while Luis Diaz is doubtful .

The Reds have the historic edge in this rivalry, winning 17 of 27 league meetings, although Leeds could win both league meetings for the first time with victory here.

Prediction: 1-1