There are six Premier League games across four different kick-off times this Saturday, and the fixtures will have an impact at both ends of the table.
It’s top versus bottom at Anfield as Liverpool play host to Southampton (3pm), while third plays fourth in the early kick-off (12:30) at the City Ground with Nottingham Forest facing Manchester City.
The 8pm match is at Molineux, as Wolves look to help their cause in the battle to avoid the drop when they face Everton.
- MANCHESTER CITY TO WIN VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST
- BRIGHTON VS FULHAM – DRAW
- CRYSTAL PALACE TO WIN AND BTTS VS IPSWICH
- LIVERPOOL TO WIN TO NIL VS SOUTHAMPTON
- BRENTFORD VS ASTON VILLA – OVER 2.5 GOALS
- EVERTON OR DRAW DOUBLE CHANCE VS WOLVES
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City (12:30)
Just one point separates Nottingham Forest and Manchester City going into Saturday’s clash, with Nuno Espirito Santo's’ men still ahead of last season’s champions.
That might not be the case come 2:30pm though, as an improving City team look to secure a league double over the Midlands outfit.
Pep Guardiola’s squad are clearly not the team of the last five or six seasons, but with just two defeats in their last 10 Premier League games, they look to be getting back on track.
With their January signings finding their feet in the hectic world of the English top flight, Guardiola can take heart as he looks to finish a disappointing season on a high.
In the midst of their poor run in December, the defending champions managed to beat Nuno’s side 3-0 at the Etihad and Forest have failed to score in their last three meetings with City.
The hosts go into this meeting with just one win in their last five league fixtures and face a City team who should be fresh after a rare midweek off.
MANCHESTER CITY TO WIN
Brighton vs Fulham (3pm)
With 11 games of the campaign remaining, both Brighton and Fulham still have chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
The pair, who both made the FA Cup quarter-finals last weekend, are three and four points outside the top five respectively.
Both could have been in an even better position but for the number of draws they have recorded – Brighton have had 10 and Fulham nine to date.
It’s clear there is very little between the two sides, with the Seagulls winning their last three league games and Fulham collecting maximum points from their last three away league matches.
This fixture ended in a 1-1 draw last season and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a similar scoreline this time around.
DRAW
Crystal Palace vs Ipswich (3pm)
After their FA Cup success last weekend, Crystal Palace will go in search of a ninth win in 11 matches in all competitions when they face Ipswich at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles have beaten Fulham and Aston Villa in their last two league games and are now showing their true potential having got key players back from injury.
Adam Wharton has been a key returnee in the last couple of weeks and despite being likely to be missing leading scorer Jean-Phillipe Mateta, Palace will expect another three points.
Ipswich haven’t won any of their last eight league games and Premier League survival is starting to look like a forlorn hope.
The only solace Kieran McKenna can take is that the Tractor Boys have scored in each of their last seven matches in all competitions.
CRYSTAL PALACE TO WIN AND BTTS
Liverpool vs Southampton (3pm)
There are no fewer than 58 points separating Liverpool and Southampton going into this clash and it’s hard to see anything other than a comfortable home win.
Despite being second-best for long periods against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, Liverpool snatched a late goal to claim a 1-0 win in the French capital.
With the second leg to come on Tuesday, Arne Slot is expected to make some changes but that might work against Saints, with players looking to stake a claim for a regular spot.
The visitors have lost 11 of their 14 away games this term and failed to score in six of those matches, including in their last league fixture on the road, a 4-0 defeat at Chelsea.
History is also against Southampton, who have not won a league game at Anfield since a 1-0 success in 2013.
LIVERPOOL TO WIN TO NIL
Brentford vs Aston Villa (5:30)
Just one place separates Brentford and Aston Villa going into this meeting, with the Bees having had more time to prepare for this clash.
Thomas Frank’s men have not played since a 1-1 draw with Everton on February 26, having already been knocked out of the FA Cup.
In contrast, Villa have played twice since then – securing an FA Cup win over Cardiff and then collecting an impressive away Champions League success over Club Brugge.
Villa’s league form though, is a concern going into this clash, with just one win in their last seven Premier League fixtures.
After recording seven wins and a draw in their first eight home league matches, Brentford have failed to win any of their last six at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Expect goals in this clash, as Brentford are without a clean sheet on home soil this season and Villa have kept just three clean sheets in 28 league games.
It’s also worth noting that the last four meetings between the sides have seen three or more goals scored.
OVER 2.5 GOALS
Wolves vs Everton (8pm)
There are now five points separating Wolves from the relegation zone, but Matheus Cunha’s suspension will make Wanderers fans slightly nervous.
The Brazilian’s red card in the FA Cup defeat at Bournemouth will see him miss at least three matches and it could be more.
Cunha’s importance is highlighted by the fact that he has scored four of his side’s last six goals and they now face an Everton team who have conceded just 34 goals in their 27 league fixtures.
The Toffees head to Molineux unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games and won the reverse fixture 4-0 in December.
EVERTON OR DRAW DOUBLE CHANCE
