Fantasy managers have some challenging choices to make with fixtures coming thick and fast and European football quickly in sight for the bigger clubs.

Everton forward Beto, who has scored four goals in their last three games, is a strong budget pick for the coming period, while Manchester City’s new recruit Omar Marmoush, who scored his first three Premier League goals against Newcastle, could be a good mid-priced option.

Friday

Leicester City v Brentford (4pm)

Leicester stayed in the bottom three after their ninth league defeat under Ruud van Nistelrooy against Arsenal last weekend. Ricardo Pereira and Abdul Fatawu remain out with hamstring and knee injuries, while James Justin is doubtful.

Brentford forward Kevin Schade scored the lone goal in their deserved victory at West Ham last week. Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Gustavo Nunes and Igor Thiago are out this week, while Sepp van den Berg is doubtful with a minor knee injury.

Prediction: 0-2

Saturday

Everton v Manchester United (8.30am)

Loanee Carlos Alcaraz scored Everton’s winner at Crystal Palace last time out as the Toffees remain unbeaten in the league since the return of David Moyes. Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson, Dwight McNeil, Orel Mangala, Armando Broja, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye and Youssef Chermiti are out for this match.

Manchester United have lost eight of their last 12 league games, falling narrowly at Tottenham on Sunday. Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount are out injured, while Altay Bayindir, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-2

Arsenal v West Ham United (11am)

Arsenal summer signing Mikel Merino came up clutch with two goals to clinch victory at Leicester last week. Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz will miss this fixture.

West Ham are winless in four games after the defeat to Brentford. Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio are absent.

Prediction: 3-1

Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers (11am)

Bournemouth continued their fine form with an eighth win in 13 league games at Southampton last week. Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith, Julian Araujo, Enes Unal and Evanilson are out injured, while James Hill and Julio Soler are doubtful.

Wolves remain two points clear of the bottom three but showed positive signs despite defeat at Liverpool last time. Yerson Mosquera, Enso Gonzalez, Hwang Hee Chan, Leon Chiwome and Sasa Kalajdzic will miss this match, while Jorgen Strand Larsen, Sam Johnstone, Emmanuel Agbadou and Rodrigo Gomes are doubtful.

Prediction: 2-0

Fulham v Crystal Palace (11am)

Fulham kept their hopes of European football next season alive with a battling win over Nottingham Forest. Kenny Tete, Reiss Nelson and Harry Wilson are out injured, while Sasa Lukic is doubtful.

Crystal Palace suffered consecutive home defeats to Brentford and Everton either side of the win at Manchester United. Chadi Riad, Joel Ward and Cheick Doucoure are out injured for the Eagles.

Prediction: 2-1

Ipswich Town v Tottenham Hotspur (11am)

Ipswich grabbed a good point at Aston Villa after playing most of the match with ten men to stem a run of four straight league defeats. Axel Tuanzebe is suspended after receiving a second yellow card at Villa Park, whil Christian Walton, Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin and Chiedozie Ogbene are out injured. Leif Davis, Julio Enciso, Sam Morsy and Sammie Szmodics are doubtful.

Spurs rode their luck to beat Manchester United last week, the first time since 1989-90 that they have won both league games over the Red Devils. Radu Dragusin, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison are out, while Timo Werner, Kevin Danso, Rodrigo Bentancur and Son Heung Min are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-1

Southampton v Brighton & Hove Albion (11am)

Southampton may have beaten Ipswich to keep their hopes of avoiding the worst top-flight single-season points record alive, but they lost to Bournemouth to remain ten points off safety. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Juan Larios Lopez and Ross Stewart are out injured this week, while Jack Stephens, Ryan Fraser and Adam Lallana are doubtful.

Brighton defeated Chelsea for the second time in a week last Friday after knocking them out of the FA Cup the previous Saturday. Jason Steele, Pervis Estupinan, Igor Julio, Ferdi Kadioglu and James Milner will miss this match, with Solly March and Lewis Dunk doubtfu.

Prediction: 1-2

Aston Villa v Chelsea (1.30pm)

Aston Villa have drawn with Liverpool and Arsenal recently. Loanee Axel Disasi cannot face his parent club to league rules and Pau Torres is out with a foot injury. Ross Barkley, Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Ezri Konsa are doubtful.

Chelsea have won just twice in their last nine league games. Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended and Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman, Romeo Lavia, Noni Madueke, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson are out injured.

Prediction: 2-1

Sunday

Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest (10am)

Newcastle have lost consecutive league games for just the second time this campaign. Jamaal Lascelles and Joelinton are out with knee injuries this match, while Sven Botman is doubtful.

Nottingham Forest still have a chance to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1981. Carlos Miguel and Taiwo Awoniyi are doubtful this week with hamstring and facial injuries.

Prediction: 1-2

Manchester City v Liverpool (12.30pm)

Manchester City were eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid in midweek, but a strong run of five wins in eight league games keeps them in the hunt for European qualification. Manuel Akanji and Rodri are out, with Oscar Bobb doubtful.

Liverpool have dropped points in their last two road matches against Everton and Aston Villa. Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton are out with hamstring and shoulder injuries, while Cody Gakpo is doubtful with a knock.

Prediction: 2-2