After a busy festive period, the Premier League hits the final weekend before the FA Cup break with Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim struggling to make an impact as good results continue to elude him.

Fantasy managers should start preparing for the new “Mystery Chip”, which unlocks on Matchweek 24. This innovation allows managers to select someone to control their team, with each new coach lasting three weeks.

In lieu of this, Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic is worthy of selection after registering three goal contributions — two goals and one assist — with the East Midlands club keeping eight clean sheets.

Congratulations to December winner Alessio Dane-Pinardi, whose team “Alessio’s 11” amassed 471 points last month. Jay Webster’s “Nil Desperandum XI” leads the overall standings with 1,291 points.

Saturday

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United (8.30am)

Spurs surrendered a lead in the final few minutes to draw at home with Wolves last week. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended and Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Mikey Moore, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison are out injured. Destiny Udogie is doubtful.

Newcastle beat Manchester United on Monday to pick their fourth straight win. Fabian Schar is suspended and Nick Pope, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles and Callum Wilson are injured. Sven Botman is doubtful.

Prediction: 2-2

Aston Villa v Leicester City (11am)

Aston Villa have endured a mixed festive period with just one win from their four league contests. Morgan Rogers and Jhon Duran are both suspended, while Pau Torres is doubtful with a foot injury.

Leicester have lost four straight games under head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy. Mads Hermansen, Ricardo Pereira, Kasey McAteer, Wilfried Ndidi and Abdul Fatawu are injured, while Wout Faes is doubtful.

Prediction: 1-1

Bournemouth v Everton (11am)

Bournemouth salvaged a late draw at Fulham to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games. Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith, Julian Araujo, Alex Scott, Luis Sinisterra and Marcus Tavernier are missing, while Tyler Adams is doubtful.

Everton suffered just their second defeat in eight games against Brentford. James Garner (back) and Tim Iroegbunam (foot) are injured, while Dwight McNeil and Seamus Coleman are doubtful.

Prediction: 3-1

Crystal Palace v Chelsea (11am)

Crystal Palace edged Southampton to take their record to one defeat in their last eight league matches. Trevoh Chalobah cannot face his parent club to league loan rules, while Matheus Franca and Adam Wharton are injured. Franco Umeh-Chibueze is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Chelsea have slipped to fourth after going winless in their last three games. Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended and Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman are out injured. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Romeo Lavia are doubtful.

Prediction: 0-2

Manchester City v West Ham United (11am)

Manchester City now have two wins in 14 games after their win at Leicester. Ruben Dias, Rodri and Oscar Bobb are injured, while Ederson, John Stones and Matheus Nunes are doubtful.

West Ham were beaten 5-0 at home by leaders Liverpool, their seventh time conceding at least three goals this season. Forwards Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio are injured, while goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is doubtful.

Prediction: 2-1

Southampton v Brentford (11am)

Southampton have the third-worst record in Premier League history at the halfway stage. Mateus Fernandes is suspended with Gavin Bazunu, Juan Larios Lopez, Jack Stephens and Ross Stewart injured. Will Smallbone and Flynn Downes are doubtful.

Brentford have lost consecutive home games to Forest and Arsenal after starting the season unbeaten at the Gtech Community Stadium. They must do without Kristoffer Ajer, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Ethan Pinnock, Joshua Dasilva, Gustavo Nunes and Igor Thiago for this match, while Ben Mee and Fabio Carvalho are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-3

Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal (1.30pm)

Brighton have slipped into mid-table after a winless run of seven games, including five draws. Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner, Danny Welbeck, Pervis Estupinan, Adam Webster, Mats Wieffer, and Evan Ferguson are doubtful for this game.

Arsenal closed to within six points of leaders Liverpool with a win at Brentford. Jurrien Timber is suspended and Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White and Bukayo Saka are out injured. Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-2

Sunday

Fulham v Ipswich Town (10am)

Fulham have lost just one of their last eleven league games. Kenny Tete, Harrison Reed and Reiss Nelson are out injured, while Sander Berge is doubtful with an ankle injury.

Ipswich recorded their first home win of the campaign against Chelsea. Axel Tuanzebe, Chiedozie Ogbene and George Hirst are out , while Massimo Luongo is doubtful

Prediction: 2-1

Liverpool v Manchester United (12.30pm)

Liverpool have conquered most of their tough challenges this season, suffering just one loss in 27 games in all competitions. Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate are out injured for this match.

Manchester United have lost six of their 11 league games under Ruben Amorim and four straight in all competitions since the Manchester derby win. Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are out, while Victor Lindelof is doubtful.

Prediction: 4-2

Monday

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Nottingham Forest (4pm)

Wolves are unbeaten in three games since appointing new Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira from Saudi side Al Shabab. Matheus Cunha is suspended and Yerson Mosquera, Toti Gomes, Boubacar Traore, Enso Gonzalez, Pablo Sarabia, Sasa Kalajdzic and Fabio Silva are out injured. Mario Lemina and Benjamin Andre are doubtful.

Forest got their fifth straight league win at Everton to climb to third. Ibrahim Sangare is out with a hamstring injury, while Danilo, Murillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-3