The Premier League enters the busy festive period with Fantasy managers having a few difficult choices after some key players have suffered injuries recently. Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling is a strong option to replace injured Spurs midfielder James Maddison, while Everton players are worth of consideration if they react positively to the league’s decision to dock them ten points.

Saturday

Manchester City v Liverpool (8.30am)

Manchester City have yet to hit their unstoppable best this campaign, but remain atop the league after their latest draw at Chelsea.

John Stones and Kevin de Bruyne are out with injuries, while Ederson, Sergio Gomez, Nathan Ake, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Erling Haaland are doubtful for the reigning champions this weekend .

Liverpool are surprising most by pushing into title contention and are just one point behind their hosts. Andy Robertson, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara are out with various injuries, while Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, and Ryan Gravenberch are doubtful.

Liverpool edge this rivalry with 21 wins to City’s 12, through 52, meetings, and City have not won consecutive league meetings with Liverpool since 1937.

Prediction: 3-2

Burnley v West Ham United (11am)

Burnley have lost seven of their last eight league games, and ten of their first twelve to plummet to the bottom of the table on just four points. George Benson, Lyle Foster, and Hjalmar Ekdal are doubtful for the Clarets this weekend.

West Ham have won just one of their last five games after starting with four wins from their first seven. Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen are doubtful with knee injuries picked up on international duty.

The Hammers lead this series with eight wins to Burnley’s five from 16 encounters.

Prediction: 0-2

Luton Town v Crystal Palace (11am)

Luton battled to a home draw with Liverpool in their best result of their first Premier League season and remain just one point clear of the drop zone.

Mads Juel Andersen, Reece Burke, Dan Potts, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Cauley Woodrow are out through injury this weekend, while Amari Bell, Alfie Doughty and Chidozie Ogbene are doubtful.

Crystal Palace have kept five clean sheets this campaign, the joint-most with Arsenal and Newcastle. Dean Henderson and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi are out through injury this week, while James Tomkins is doubtful with a calf injury.

These clubs have never met in the Premier League.

Prediction: 1-1

Newcastle United v Chelsea (11am)

Newcastle suffered just one defeat in their last eight games but are struggling with a host of injuries and suspensions.

Lewis Hall is not eligible this week due to league loan rules and Sandro Tonali is suspended. Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Elliott Anderson, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes are out to injury, while Javier Manquillo, Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron and Sean Longstaff are doubtful.

Chelsea have scored at least twice in four of their last five games. Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka and Romeo Lavia are out this week with various injuries, while Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku are doubtful.

The Blues dominate this rivalry, winning 29 of their 56 meetings with the Magpies.

Prediction: 2-2

Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion (11am)

Nottingham Forest have made a steady start this campaign, despite just one win in their last eight. Callum Hudson-Odoi is out with a hamstring injury, while Felipe, Anthony Elanga, Santiago Murillo and Taiwo Awoniyi are doubtful this match.

Brighton are on their longest winless run under manager Roberto de Zerbi, and midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud is suspended for his dangerous challenge on Ben Osborn against Sheffield United.

Julio Enciso, Solly March and Danny Welbeck are out through injury, while Lewis Dunk, Pervis Estupinan, James Milner, Tariq Lamptey and Kaoru Mitoma are doubtful.

Forest are unbeaten against the Seagulls from their only two Premier League meetings last season, including a 3-1 win in this corresponding fixture.

Prediction: 1-2

Sheffield United v Bournemouth (11am)

Sheffield United grabbed a draw at Brighton before the break and have taken four of their five points in their last two games.

Chris Basham, John Egan, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Tom Davies, Rhian Brewster and Daniel Jebbison are out with injury for the Blades this week, while Anel Ahmedhodzic and Oliver McBurnie are doubtful.

Bournemouth got their first two home wins under new coach Andoni Iraola to climb out of the bottom three. Ryan Fredericks, Emiliano Marcondes, Alex Scott and Tyler Adams are out through injury this match, while Darren Randolph, Max Aarons and Philip Billing are doubtful.

Sheffield are unbeaten against Bournemouth in their two previous top-flight meetings.

Prediction: 2-2

Brentford v Arsenal (1.30pm)

Brentford have had a mixed start to their season, with three consecutive wins sandwiched between defeats away to Manchester United and Liverpool.

Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Kevin Schade are out through injury, while Nathan Collins, Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter and Josh Dasilva are doubtful this weekend.

Arsenal are still among the early pace-setters, sitting just one point behind champions Manchester City.

Fabio Vieira is suspended after being sent off against Burnley and David Raya cannot face his parent club due to loan rules. Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey are out through injury, while Emile Smith-Rowe, Ben White and Martin Odegaard are doubtful this weekend.

Arsenal lead this London derby with two wins to one for Brentford through four contests.

Prediction: 1-2

Sunday

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa (10am)

Tottenham have made an impressive start to their first season under Aussie manager Ange Postecoglou despite consecutive defeats going into the international break.

Yves Bissouma and Cristian Romero are both suspended. Alfie Whiteman, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Richarlison and Manor Solomon will miss this match through injury, with Destiny Udogie doubtful.

Aston Villa continue to make solid strides under Unai Emery, marking their best start to a Premier League campaign with victory over Fulham. Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia are out with knee injuries, while Jacob Ramsey, Matty Cash, Diego Carlos and John McGinn are doubtful this week.

Spurs lead this battle with 24 wins to 17 for Villa, although Villa have won three of the last five meetings.

Prediction: 2-2

Everton v Manchester United (12.30pm)

Everton were punished for breach of financial rules last week, suffering a ten-point deduction and dropping into the relegation zone as a result. Andre Gomes and Dele Alli are out to injury this game, while Seamus Coleman and Amadou Onana are doubtful.

Manchester United have the best form in the division despite their latest four wins coming by a single goal. Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans, Amad Diallo, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are out injured this match, while Rasmus Hojlund is doubtful with a muscle injury.

The Red Devils dominate this rivalry, winning 39 of 62 PL encounters.

Prediction: 1-3

Monday

Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanders (4pm)

Fulham have made a poor start this season, with just three wins and three draws so far. Joao Palhinha is suspended, Issa Diop and Rodrigo Muniz are out to injury, while Tosin Adarabioyo and Michael Dibley-Dias are doubtful.

Wolves are three points above their opponents at this stage. Craig Dawson is suspended after he was sent off against Tottenham, Joe Hodge and Nathan Fraser are out with injury, while Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo are doubtful.

Wolves dominate this rivalry with six wins to Fulham’s two from 14 encounters.

Prediction: 2-1