The Premier League is approaching the festive period and the second managerial casualty has taken place this week with Leicester City parting ways with head coach Steve Cooper as the Foxes languish two points above the relegation zone.

Fantasy managers also have some difficult choices to make but Wolves’s Joao Gomes and Chelsea regular Enzo Fernandez could be solid budget midfield options given their favourable festive matches.

Friday

Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton (4pm)

Brighton have beaten Manchester City and Bournemouth to climb into fifth position but they have Carlos Baleba suspended for this game.

James Milner is out with a hamstring injury, while Ferdi Kadioglu, Adam Webster, Solly March, Lewis Dunk, Tariq Lamptey and Jack Hinshelwood are doubtful.

Southampton gave a good account of themselves but ultimately fell short in the home defeat to Liverpool last week. Aaron Ramsdale, Gavin Bazunu, Jan Bednarek, Will Smallbone and Ross Stewart are out to various injuries, while Adam Lallana and Paul Onuachu are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-0

Saturday

Brentford v Leicester City (11am)

Brentford held on for a draw at Everton last time after playing the entire second half with ten men and the Bees have won three of their last eight league matches.

Kristoffer Ajer, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Josh Dasilva are out through injury and lack of fitness, while Gustavo Nunes is doubtful with a lack of fitness.

Leicester relieved head coach Steve Cooper of his duties after the home defeat to Chelsea. Jakub Stolarczyk, Ricardo Pereira and Abdul Fatawu are out, while Harry Winks is doubtful to a groin injury.

Prediction: 2-2

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United (11am)

Crystal Palace squandered the lead twice in the draw at Aston Villa and remain in the relegation zone. Daichi Kamada remains suspended with Chadi Riad, Matheus Franca, Adam Wharton and Eddie Nketiah out injured. Franco Umeh-Chibueze and Eberechi Eze are doubtful with hamstring injuries.

Newcastle lost at home to West Ham on Monday. Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth are out with Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock doubtful.

Prediction: 0-1

Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town (11am)

Nottingham Forest have conceded a total six goals in consecutive losses either side of the international break to Newcastle and Arsenal. Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo are out for the visit of Ipswich, while Elliott Anderson, Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White are doubtful.

Ipswich earned a valuable home draw with Manchester United in Kieran McKenna’s first league game against his former employers as a manager. Chiedozie Ogbene and George Hirst are out to Achilles and knee injuries this match, while Jacob Greaves, Ben Johnson, Nathan Broadhead and Kalvin Phillips are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-0

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Bournemouth (11am)

Wolves are finding their feet this campaign after consecutive victories, scoring more than three goals for the first time in their victory at Fulham. Yerson Mosquera, Boubacar Kamara, Enso Gonzalez and Sasa Kalajdzic are out with knee injuries, while Santiago Bueno, Bastien Meupiyou and Pablo Sarabia are doubtful.

Bournemouth have suffered consecutive losses after the memorable home win over Manchester City. Antoine Semenyo is suspended, while Julian Araujo, Luis Sinisterra and Alex Scott are out to hamstring and knee injuries.

Prediction: 1-2

West Ham United v Arsenal (1.30pm)

West Ham grabbed a vital win at Newcastle to slightly ease the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui. Mohamed Kudus remains suspended and Nicklas Fullkrug is out with an Achilles injury, while Jean-Clair Todibo is doubtful after picking up a knock in the win at Newcastle.

Arsenal have scored eight goals in their past two games in all competitions. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White are out injured and Gabriel Magalhaes is doubtful.

Prediction: 0-2

Sunday

Chelsea v Aston Villa (9.30am)

Chelsea are staying in touch with the title contenders after the victory at Leicester, but have Reece James and Omari Kellyman out to hamstring injuries.

Aston Villa are on a mini-slump of one win in seven league outings after coming from behind twice to draw at home with Crystal Palace. Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana are doubtful this weekend.

Prediction: 1-1

Manchester United v Everton (9.30am)

Manchester United faltered at Ipswich in new coach Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge and the Portuguese coach faces his first home league game on Sunday. He will have to do without Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez.

Everton have lost just one of their last five league games but have drawn three of them. Seamus Coleman, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, Youssef Chermiti and Armando Broja are out for this match.

Prediction: 2-0

Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham (9.30am)

Tottenham are the highest scorers in the division and destroyed Manchester City last weekend to climb into the top six.

Rodrigo Bentancur remains suspended owing to use of abusive language during the international break. Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison are out injured, while Cristian Romero and Mikey Moore are doubtful to injury and illness.

Fulham were destroyed at home by Wolves last week and conceded more than three league goals for the third time this campaign. The Cottagers will miss Harrison Reed to a knee injury, while Joachim Andersen is doubtful to a calf injury.

Prediction: 3-2

Liverpool v Manchester City (noon)

Liverpool have passed all major tests they have faced thus far, losing just one of their first 17 games under Arne Slot.

Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa and Konstantinos Tsimikas are injured.

Manchester City are winless in six games in all competitions after giving away a three-goal lead at home to Feyenoord in Europe midweek. Ruben Dias, Oscar Bobb, Mateo Kovacic and Rodri are all out to injury this match, while Jeremy Doku is doubtful with a thigh injury.

Prediction: 3-1