Premier League action returned midweek, amid news that Manchester City star striker Erling Haaland will be on the sidelines for between five and seven weeks with an ankle injury.

Fantasy managers will be pensive with their choices to replace the stricken Norwegian. Team-mate Omar Marmoush, who scored in their latest home win over Leicester, and Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen are worthy options for that period.

Saturday

Everton v Arsenal (8.30am)

Everton were made to pay for a few missed chances in the narrow derby defeat at league leaders Liverpool. Orel Mangala and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are out to knee and hamstring injuries this weekend, while Dwight McNeil is doubtful to lack of fitness.

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka scored on his return from long-term injury in their victory over Fulham. Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes and Kai Havertz are out to various injuries this match, while Jurrien Timber and Ben White are doubts.

The Gunners dominate this rivalry with 38 wins to Everton’s 12 through 65 encounters, but this will be their last league contest at Goodison.

Prediction: 1-1

Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion (11am)

Crystal Palace young player Matheus Franca scored on his season debut to equalise at Southampton on Wednesday. Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure are out to knee injuries for the Eagles this weekend, while Chris Richards is doubtful with a calf issue.

Brighton were void of idesa in their heavy home defeat by fellow European hopefuls Aston Villa. Jason Steele, Igor Julio, Tariq Lamptey, Adam Webster, Ferdi Kadioglu, James Milner and Georginio Rutter are injured this match for the Seagulls, while Joel Veltman is doubtful with a foot injury.

Palace and Brighton have four wins each through 15 Premier League contests.

Prediction: 2-1

Ipswich Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers (11am)

Ipswich kept their slim survival hopes alive with a vital win at Bournemouth on Wednesday, stopping a run of four straight defeats. Wes Burns, Sammie Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene are out injured this match, while Leif Davis and Omari Hutchinson are doubtful.

Wolves edged West Ham to remain nine points clear of this weekend’s hosts. Matheus Cunha remains suspended, while Yerson Mosquera, Enso Gonzalez, Leon Chiwome and Sasa Kalajdzic are out with knee injuries.

The Tractor Boys won their only previous top-flight meeting in December at Molineux.

Prediction: 2-0

West Ham United v Bournemouth (11am)

West Ham went down narrowly to Wolves this week but remain 14 points clear of the bottom three. Crysencio Summerville and Michail Antonio are sidelined with hamstring and leg injuries, respectively, while Mohammed Kudus is doubtful.

Bournemouth suffered another dent to their European ambitions in the home defeat by Ipswich midweek. Luis Sinisterra, Marcus Tavernier and Enes Unal are out with differing injuries, with Justin Kluivert doubtful to a muscle injury.

The Hammers edge this rivalry with five wins to Bournemouth’s four through 16 league meetings.

Prediction: 1-2

Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest (1.30pm)

Aston Villa thrashed Brighton to move within two points of the top five. Leon Bailey and Ross Barkley are doubtful this weekend, owing to injury and a lack of fitness.

Forest forward Anthony Elanga scored the only goal in a shutout victory over his former club Manchester United, keeping the Reds in third spot. Loanee Alex Moreno cannot face his parent club to league rules, while Ola Aina and Chris Wood are doubtful to calf and hip injuries.

Each club has two wins in their last five top-flight meetings, but Villa lead overall with seven wins to Forest’s three from 15 contests.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday

Brentford v Chelsea (10am)

Brentford returned to domestic competition with a tight defeat at Newcastle. Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva, Fabio Carvalho, Gustavo Nunes and Igor Thiago are injured and unfit, while Rico Henry and Mathias Jensen are doubtful to illness and lack of fitness.

Chelsea beat Tottenham yesterday to move back into fourth. Mykhailo Mudryk is still suspended, Omari Kellyman is out with a hamstring injury, while Marc Guiu is a doubt with a minor hamstring strain this match.

The Bees edge this London rivalry with three wins to Chelsea’s two after seven top-flight contests.

Prediction: 1-2

Fulham v Liverpool (10am)

Fulham still stand a chance of qualifying for the Europa League for the third time, despite going down at Arsenal on Tuesday. Reiss Nelson and Harry Wilson will miss out through injury, while Kenny Tete is doubtful to lack of fitness.

Liverpool remain 12 points clear after edging Mersey neighbours Everton, and could still wrap up their 20th top-flight title against closest challenger Arsenal at Anfield next month. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez are out with ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley and Tyler Morton doubtful to injury and lack of fitness.

Liverpool have lost just seven of 35 league encounters with the Cottagers.

Prediction: 2-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton (10am)

Spurs were abject in defeat at Chelsea yesterday, clocking up their sixteenth league defeat of this campaign. Radu Dragusin, Kevin Danso and Dejan Kulusevski are out through injury, while Richarlison is doubtful to lack of fitness.

Defeat at Spurs could relegate Southampton, who got a point against in-form Crystal Palace in the week, if Wolves get a victory at Ipswich. Flynn Downes is suspended for two games with yellow card accrual, Will Smallbone is out with a groin injury, while Juan Larios Lopez, Ross Stewart, Ryan Manning, Lesley Ugochukwu and Albert Gronbaek are doubts to injury and lack of fitness.

Prediction: 3-0

Manchester United v Manchester City (12.30pm)

Manchester United went down at Nottingham Forest despite controlling large periods on Tuesday, and their main focus remains on the Europa League. Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Ayden Heaven are out through injury and lack of fitness.

Manchester City cruised past Leicester despite missing Haaland to an ankle injury, Jack Grealish scoring his first Premier League goal this season. Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Rodri and Erling Haaland are out through differing injuries for this derby.

United edge this once fierce rivalry, with 26 wins to City’s 20 through 55 derbies.

Prediction: 2-1

Monday

Leicester City v Newcastle United (4pm)

Leicester suffered their seventh consecutive defeat, the second such recent streak for the Foxes, who are now 12 points from safety. Abdul Fatawu remains out with a knee injury this weekend.

Newcastle beat Brentford in their first league match since their Carabao Cup triumph marked a first domestic trophy in seven decades. Sven Botman, Lewis Hall and Jamaal Lascelles are out to knee and foot injuries, while Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak are doubtful to illness and injury.

The Magpies lead this series with 15 wins to Leicester’s 12 through 33 league encounters.

Prediction: 1-3