Fantasy managers have a few challenging choices to make with the Carabao Cup final and European football back in action. Crystal Palace defenders are now worthy of selection, with the Eagles keeping clean sheets in three of their last four games.

Friday

Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea (4pm)

Brighton came from behind to eliminate Chelsea from the FA Cup last week, but they have just two wins from their last 12 league matches. Jason Steele, Igor Julio, Ferdi Kadioglu, Solly March and James Milner are out to injury , while Pervis Estupinan, Mats Wieffer and Lewis Dunk are doubtful.

Chelsea are also struggling with just two victories in eight league outings. Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended with Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman and Romeo Lavia injured.e Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-1

Saturday

Leicester City v Arsenal (8.30am)

Leicester were destroyed 4-0 by Everton last week and have just one win in their last ten league games to sit two points from safety. Ricardo Pereira and Abdul Fatawu are out with hamstring and knee injuries while Victor Kristiansen, Jannik Vestergaard and Jamie Vardy are doubtful.

Arsenal are unbeaten in 14 league matches, with the gap to leaders Liverpool cut to seven points after the Merseyside derby in midweek. Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are out, while Gabriel Martinelli is doubtful.

Prediction: 1-3

Aston Villa v Ipswich Town (11am)

Aston Villa lost to West Midlands rival Wolves in their last league outing, but that was just their second defeat in nine league games. Matty Cash and Pau Torres are out injured, while Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins are doubtful .

Ipswich are still in the hunt for survival despite four straight losses, most recently a shock home defeat to bottom club Southampton. Christian Walton, Wes Burns and Chiedozie Ogbene are out, while Conor Chaplin and Sammie Szmodics are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-0

Fulham v Nottingham Forest (11am)

Fulham have lost only two of their last 12 league games, but have six draws in that span. Kenny Tete, Reiss Nelson and Harry Wilson will miss this match.

Nottingham Forest recorded their largest Premier League margin of victory in the 7-0 home win over Brighton. Callum Hudson-Odoi is out with a groin injury.

Prediction: 2-2

Manchester City v Newcastle United (11am)

Manchester City have suffered 12 losses across all competitions this campaign, their most in a single season under Pep Guardiola, after the midweek defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Rodri is out with a knee injury, while Manuel Akanji, Oscar Bobb and Jack Grealish are doubtful.

Newcastle have lost two of their last three games after winning six consecutive before that. Jamaal Lascelles, Harvey Barnes and Joelinton are out, while Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Anthony Gordon are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-3

Southampton v Bournemouth (11am)

Southampton found a glimmer of hope in their victory at Ipswich but stay ten points from safety. Juan Larios Lopez and Ross Stewart are out injured, while Jack Stephens, Ryan Fraser and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are doubtful.

Bournemouth suffered defeat for the first time in 12 games at home to Liverpool. Julio Soler is at the South American Under-20 Championships with Argentina and Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, Enes Unal and Evanilson are injured. James Hill, Adam Smith, Alex Scott and Luis Sinisterra are doubtful.

Prediction: 0-3

West Ham United v Brentford (11am)

West Ham have lost four of their last six league games but remain ten points clear of the relegation zone. Jean-Clair Todibo, Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug are out to various injuries, while Crysencio Summerville, Edson Alvarez and Lucas Paqueta are doubtful.

Brentford have won consecutive away games to Southampton and Crystal Palace, scoring seven goals in those victories. Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Gustavo Nunes and Igor Thiago are out injured, while Mark Flekken is doubtful with a muscle injury.

Prediction: 1-1

Crystal Palace v Everton (1.30pm)

Crystal Palace have won four of their last six games to pull 13 points clear of the relegation zone. Chadi Riad, Joel Ward and Cheick Doucoure are injured, while Eddie Nketiah is doubtful with an ankle injury.

Everton grabbed a draw with Liverpool in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in midweek. Abdoulaye Doucoure is suspended after being sent off in that game. Dwight McNeil, Orel Mangala, Armando Broja, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Youssef Chermiti are injured, while Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson and Iliman Ndiaye are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday

Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers (10am)

Liverpool suffered a minor setback in their title charge with the draw at Everton. Curtis Jones is suspended and Tyler Morton is out with a shoulder injury, while Joe Gomez is doubtful.

Wolves beat Aston Villa to stem a run of four straight defeats. Yerson Mosquera, Enso Gonzalez, Leon Chiwome and Sasa Kalajdzic are out with knee injuries, while Jorgen Strand Larsen, Bertrand Traore and Hwang Hee Chan are doubtful.

Prediction: 3-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (12.30pm)

Tottenham got back to winning ways at Brentford in the premier League a couple of weeks ago but have since been eliminated from the League Cup and FA Cup. Radu Dragusin, Cristian Romero and Dominic Solanke are injured and there are doubts over Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison.

Manchester United have six wins in their last eight games across all competitions. Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez and Mason Mount are out injured for the Red Devils, while Luke Shaw is doubtful.

Prediction: 1-2

Wednesday, February 19

Aston Villa v Liverpool (3.30pm)

Liverpool dominate this rivalry, winning 34 of 59 league encounters with Villa.

Prediction: 2-2