Premier League action hits the halfway point this weekend, with several interesting stories stemming from the Boxing Day fixtures. Manchester City are now in a rut of just one win in 13 games after the home draw with Everton, while Liverpool pulled seven points clear with their win over Leicester.

Fantasy managers have the challenge of what to do with City striker Erling Haaland, who has just two goals in his last nine games in all competitions. One big answer is Newcastle forward Alexander Isak, who is the in-form striker with ten goals in his last ten games.

Sunday

Leicester City v Manchester City(10.30am)

Leicester have slipped into the relegation zone with their third straight defeat. Jordan Ayew is suspended to yellow card accrual; Ricardo Pereira, Wilfried Ndidi and Abdul Fatawu are out to hamstring and knee injuries, while Mads Hermansen, Wout Faes and Jamie Vardy are doubtful.

Manchester City couldn’t beat Everton, with Haaland having a penalty saved. Ruben Dias, Oscar Bobb and Rodri are out this match, while Ederson, John Stones, Matheus Nunes, Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish are doubtful.

Prediction: 0-2

Crystal Palace v Southampton(11am)

Crystal Palace held Bournemouth to a goalless draw on the road. Marc Guehi is suspended to yellow cards; Matheus Franca and Adam Wharton are out to groin injuries, while Franco Umeh-Chibueze, Chadi Riad and Will Hughes are doubtful to injury and lack of fitness.

Southampton are nine points from safety after losing narrowly at home to West Ham. Gavin Bazunu, Juan Larios Lopez and Ross Stewart are out to various injuries this weekend, while Jack Stephens and Will Smallbone are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-1

Everton v Nottingham Forest (11am)

Everton have taken three straight draws, against three of the four early title contenders. James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are out to back and foot injuries, while Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye are doubtful to knee and calf injuries.

Nottingham Forest climbed into third place with the shutout home win over Tottenham, their highest position at the halfway point in the top-flight. Ryan Yates is suspended to yellow cards; Ibrahim Sangare is out to a hamstring injury, while Danilo is doubtful to lack of fitness.

Prediction: 1-2

Fulham v Bournemouth(11am)

Fulham continue to show immense character, scoring two late goals again to beat Chelsea on the road. Kenny Tete, Reiss Nelson and Harrison Reed are out to knee and hamstring injuries, while Emile Smith Rowe and Sander Berge are doubtful.

Bournemouth were held at home by Crystal Palace on Thursday. Justin Kluivert is suspended to yellow cards, while Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith, Julian Araujo, Alex Scott, Luis Sinisterra and Marcus Tavernier are out to various injuries this match.

Prediction: 2-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers(11am)

Spurs are enduring a horrible second league season under Ange Postecoglou, suffering nine losses including four in their last five games. Djed Spence is suspended after being sent off at Nottingham Forest; Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven, Mikey Moore, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison are out to injury and lack of fitness, while Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin are doubtful this weekend.

Wolves took down Manchester United to climb out of the bottom three. Yerson Mosquera, Boubacar Traore, Enso Gonzalez, Pablo Sarabia and Sasa Kalajdzic are out to knee and calf injuries, while Mario Lemina is doubtful with a knock.

Prediction: 1-2

West Ham United v Liverpool(1.15pm)

West Ham edged Southampton to extend their unbeaten run to four games. Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez are both suspended to yellow cards, Michail Antonio is out with a leg injury, while Lukasz Fabianski, Max Kilman and Carlos Soler are doubtful.

Liverpool are now top scorers in the division after scoring nine goals in consecutive league wins. Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended to yellow card accumulation, while Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate are out to hamstring and knee injuries this weekend.

Prediction: 1-2

Monday, December 30

Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion(3.45pm)

Aston Villa have taken three wins from their last ten league games, all coming in the last five. Jhon Duran is suspended for three games for a red-card challenge at Newcastle, Matt Cash suspended for yellow cards, while Jacob Ramsey is doubtful to lack of fitness.

Brighton could go above Man City with victory over Brentford. Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner, Danny Welbeck, Adam Webster, Solly March and Mats Wieffer are doubtful this weekend to injury and lack of fitness.

Prediction: 1-2

Ipswich Town v Chelsea(3.45pm)

Ipswich went to Arsenal yesterday three points from safety. Axel Tuanzebe, Chiedozie Ogbene and George Hirst are out to various injuries, while Massimo Luongo is ill.

Chelsea stumbled to a home defeat by Fulham on Thursday. Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman and Romeo Lavia are out to various injuries this match.

Prediction: 0-3

Manchester United v Newcastle United(4pm)

Manchester United have lost three straight games in all competitions since winning the derby earlier this month. Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte are suspended, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are out to muscle injuries, while Victor Lindelof is doubtful.

Newcastle have scored 11 goals in their three straight league victories. Nick Pope, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles and Callum Wilson are out to differing injuries, while Sven Botman and Tino Livramento are doubtful to injury and lack of fitness.

Prediction: 1-2

New Year’s Day

Brentford v Arsenal(1.30pm)

Brentford still have the joint-best home record with Liverpool; despite suffering their first loss to Nottingham Forest. Kristoffer Ajer, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Ethan Pinnock, Sepp Van den Berg, Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Gustavo Nunes and Igor Thiago are out to injury and lack of fitness, while Mads Roerslev is doubtful with a head injury this match.

Arsenal hosted Ipswich yesterday and could go second with victory. Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling are out to knee and hamstring injuries, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is doubtful to lack of fitness.

Prediction: 1-2