Southampton could be relegated this weekend after their defeat at Nottingham Forest on Monday, with the remaining two spots likely to be fought out between Forest, Everton, Leicester and Leeds

As the final month unfolds, Fantasy managers have some intriguing choices to make. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been playing in an inverted midfield role in the last few months, could be an important asset as Liverpool eye Champions League qualification next term.

The defender has the best form (6.2 points per game) across the last month and has been brought in by nearly 50,000 managers worldwide this round, the second-most amongst defenders.

Saturday

Leeds United v Newcastle United (8.30am)

Leeds showed defensive resilience in their away defeat to Manchester City, but the Yorkshire outfit still droped into the relegation zone. Liam Cooper, Tyler Adams, Stuart Dallas and Luis Sinisterra are out this weekend for Sam Allardyce’s first game in the dugout at Elland Road.

Newcastle suffered a setback to their Champions League hopes with a home defeat to title-chasing Arsenal. Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth are out with calf and knee injuries respectively, while Sean Longstaff is doubtful this weekend with a foot problem.

Newcastle lead the series overall with 12 wins to Leeds’s seven through 27 encounters, although Leeds edge the last five meetings, winning two to Newcastle’s one.

Prediction: 2-1

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (11am)

Aston Villa were beaten by West Midlands rivals Wolves last time out at Molineux, and drop out of the Europa League qualification spots with the loss. Matt Cash is doubtful owing to lack of fitness, the only absentee for Unai Emery’s side this week.

Tottenham forward Harry Kane became the second-top scorer in Premier League history with the lone goal in the home victory over Crystal Palace. Hugo Lloris, Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Bentancur are out this weekend, while Clement Lenglet is doubtful with a shoulder injury.

Spurs edge this rivalry with 24 wins to Villa’s 16, although Villa could complete the league double over the North London club for the first time with victory.

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest (11am)

Chelsea got their first win in seven games under Frank Lampard at Bournemouth. Reece James, Kalidou Koulibaly, Mason Mount and Armando Broja are out for this game, while Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell and Marcus Bettinelli are doubtful.

Nottingham Forest pulled out of the relegation zone with the home win over Southampton. Dean Henderson, Neco Williams, Scott McKenna, Giulian Biancone, Omar Richards and Chris Wood are out for this visit to Stamford Bridge, while Jack Colback, Gustavo Scarpa, Renan Lodi and Serge Aurier are doubtful.

This is a tight rivalry, which Chelsea edge with four wins to Forest’s three through 11 meetings.

Prediction: 2-1

Crystal Palace v Bournemouth (11am)

Crystal Palace virtually confirmed safety with victory in their last home game over West Ham, and remain ten points ahead of the bottom three. James Tomkins, Nathan Ferguson and James McArthur are out this weekend, while new recruit Naouirou Ahamada is doubtful with a knock.

Bournemouth may need one more point to absolutely confirm safety after the home defeat to Chelsea. Ryan Fredericks, Junior Stanislas, Marcus Tavernier and Hamed Traore are out, while Kiefer Moore is doubtful with a concussion.

Palace have won five of the 11 meetings, with the Cherries winning two.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (11am)

Manchester United have scored just one goal in their last three games, losing both their away fixtures 1-0 to Brighton and West Ham . Tom Heaton, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay are out this match.

Wolves hit the 40-point mark with victory over Palace last time out. Francisco Oliveira and Sasa Kalajdzic are out with knee injuries for the visit to Old Trafford.

United have won ten of the 17 meetings with Wolves.

Prediction: 2-0

Southampton v Fulham (11am)

Southampton have to win their remaining three games and hope for other results to go their way to stand any chance of staying in the Premier League.

Romain Perraud, Tino Livramento, Mohamed Salisu and Juan Larios Lopez are out with various injuries, while Armel Bella-Kotchap is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Fulham returned to winning ways at home to Leicester City, with Willian and Tom Cairney each netting a brace. Tim Ream and Andreas Pereira are out to arm and ankle injuries, while Aleksandar Mitrovic could return from suspension this weekend.

Each side has five victories from their 17 league meetings.

Prediction: 0-2

Sunday

Brentford v West Ham United (10am)

Brentford could not capitalise on a few second-half chances in the away defeat to Liverpool. Thomas Strakosha, Pontus Jansson, Christian Norgaard, and Keane Lewis-Potter are out with injuries this weekend.

West Ham defeated Manchester United to move one step closer to safety, as 37 points has been enough to survive in nine of the previous ten top-flight seasons. Vladimir Coufal and Gianluca Scamacca are out with hamstring and knee injuries, while Kurt Zouma is doubtful owing to an ankle injury.

Brentford have won all three of their top-flight meetings with the Hammers, conceding just one goal in that streak.

Prediction: 2-1

Everton v Manchester City (10am)

Everton revitalised their survival push with a five-goal away win over high-flying Brighton, the first time they had scored more than three goals all campaign. Seamus Coleman, Ben Godfrey, Ruben Vinagre and Andros Townsend are out this weekend for the Toffees.

Manchester City continue to hold the advantage in the title race after the home victory over Leeds. Nathan Ake is doubtful with a hamstring injury for City this week.

City edge this historic rivalry, winning 23 of the 51 meetings, in comparison with Everton’s 18.

Prediction: 1-2

Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion (12.30pm)

Arsenal showed they are still in with a chance of taking the league title with the impressive away win over Newcastle. Takehiro Tomiyasu, William Saliba and Mohamed Elneny remain out this weekend for the Gunners.

Brighton were comprehensively beaten at home by Everton, but hold on to the Europa Conference League qualification position. Tariq Lamptey, Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder and Jeremy Sarmiento are out to various injuries, while Joel Veltman and Solly March are doubtful with hamstring injuries for this visit to the Emirates Stadium.

This is another even rivalry, with each club winning four of their 11 meetings.

Prediction: 2-1

Monday

Leicester City v Liverpool (4pm)

Leicester continue to struggle defensively and drop back into the relegation mire after the loss at Fulham. Jannik Vestergaard, James Justin, Sammy Braybrooke, and Kelechi Iheanacho are out for the Foxes, while Ryan Bertrand is doubtful through a lack of fitness.

Liverpool have won six straight games to enhance their chances of an eighth straight Champions League campaign under current head coach Jurgen Klopp.

Calvin Ramsay, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are out this weekend, while Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino are doubtful.

Liverpool have won 18 of 33 league meetings, with Leicester winning nine.

Prediction: 1-2

Thursday, May 18

Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion (3.30pm)

Newcastle and Brighton have faced off on eleven occasions, with six draws occurring in that span.

Prediction: 2-2