Injury woes could force Howe’s hand in defence
Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League and Newcastle 12th but the gap between them is only six points. It dictates that, given Eddie Howe’s ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League via the league, this is a pivotal fixture. How Newcastle’s manager must hope Enzo Maresca’s recent cryptic hints about potential discord behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge somehow help to undo the visitors on Tyneside, cutting the aforementioned gap in half. If off-pitch harmony endures at St James’ Park, Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian ownership will, nonetheless, be keen to see Howe and his players make further amends for last Sunday’s ignominious defeat at Sunderland. Falling nine points behind Chelsea may not be well received in Riyadh. Howe might have been tempted to start with a back five but with Tino Livramento the latest victim of a defensive injury crisis, he only possesses sufficient fit personnel to staff a four-man rearguard. Assuming Howe sticks with his preferred 4-3-3 it will be intriguing to see whether he drops a winger and fields Yoane Wissa to Nick Woltemade’s left in attack. Or does he opt for a potentially more fluid 4-2-3-1 with Woltemade as the No 10 and Wissa at No 9? Louise Taylor
Newcastle v Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Parker under pressure on Bournemouth return
Burnley manager Scott Parker is heading back to Bournemouth, where his Premier League journey went disastrously, ending after a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool. Parker criticised the recruitment, saying the squad was “ill-equipped” before his employment was terminated. His comments were part of his downfall and the experience was a learning curve for a young coach. Another difficult situation faces Parker on his return to the Vitality Stadium; after seven straight defeats Burnley are six points from safety and, with three games before the January transfer window, Parker is smart enough to know he needs results for his own job security and in order to make Turf Moor an attractive prospect to potential recruits. But if the gap to 17th continues to grow, many will be wary of joining a club heading in one direction. Will Unwin
Bournemouth v Burnley, Saturday 3pm
Sunderland stir fond memories for Welbeck
It may be 15 years since a fresh-faced Danny Welbeck went on loan from Manchester United to Sunderland but the veteran striker still has fond memories of his time on Wearside. Six goals in 28 appearances for Steve Bruce’s side helped convince Sir Alex Ferguson he was ready to step up to United’s first team the following season and Welbeck remembers how he grew up quickly being away from home for the first time. “I had to learn to cook and clean for myself,” the 35-year-old said this week. “Before that I was living with my mum and my family, so it was a big learning curve for me and it was a great year and a great experience.” But with Sunderland on a high after their derby win over Newcastle, Welbeck – who could be named captain in Lewis Dunk’s absence through suspension – will be looking to bring them down to earth as Brighton attempt to get back to winning ways after three games without a victory. Ed Aarons
Brighton v Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
Two hopes for West Ham?
Pep Guardiola often bewails a schedule that overloads players, so he will surely be beaming at the Christmas present of a whole week until Manchester City’s trip to Nottingham Forest, following West Ham’s visit on Saturday. Nuno Espírito Santo desperately needs a victory as his team have gone five matches and six weeks without a win, their last coming in November’s 3-2 defeat of Burnley, yet their hosts have won their past six games, including a 2-1 win at Real Madrid. Eighteen goals have been plundered in that run and, given City are second, two points behind Arsenal, and the Hammers are third-bottom, three points from safety, there is likely to be only one winner. Jamie Jackson
Manchester City v West Ham, Saturday 3pm
Doomed Wolves should give minutes to Mané
Everyone can now accept that Wolves will be relegated from the Premier League. They were bitterly disappointed to lose at Arsenal, having equalised in the last minute, only to be undone by Yerson Mosquera’s own goal. The assist for Tolu Arokodare’s goal at the Emirates Stadium came from the teenager Mateus Mané on his fifth Premier League appearance for the club. The 18-year-old is highly regarded at Molineux, having moved from Rochdale in 2024, making his debut last season against Brighton. Planning for the Championship is the sensible thing to do and giving more minutes to Mané in the coming months would be advantageous for his development. Home supporters will be more forgiving and supportive of a youngster making his way in the game, rather than those who have let Wolves down thus far. WU
Wolves v Brentford, Saturday 3pm
A chance for Ngumoha to take centre stage?
Trying to take the positives out of an injury to Dominik Szoboszlai and the departure of Mohamed Salah to the Africa Cup of Nations is tricky. For all the talk around the Egyptian in recent weeks he will be missed, especially with Cody Gakpo injured. Arne Slot’s options on the bench will be reduced when Liverpool visit Tottenham on Saturday evening. Supporters will be a little concerned but it should be a boost for Rio Ngumoha, the 17-year-old who announced himself with a 99th-minute winner at Newcastle in August. Since then he has, understandably, been reduced to cameos when Liverpool have been chasing the game but, with a need to manage minutes amid a hectic schedule, Slot may turn to the teenager more often. Ngumoha has not looked fazed since his promotion to the first team and would certainly embrace the chance to show his fearlessness. WU
Tottenham v Liverpool, Saturday 5.30pm
Everton absences boosting Gunners
There will be no excuses for another flat performance from Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta having a rare free week to address the flaws that almost cost his team two points at home to the bottom club, Wolves, last time out. Apprehension may accompany the league leaders on their visit to Everton, given recent displays and the growing threat from Manchester City, but there is also opportunity for Arteta against his former club. David Moyes has lost Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye to Afcon, while Jack Grealish is doubtful with a hamstring problem sustained at Chelsea. The likely absence of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also threatens to have a major impact. Dewsbury-Hall had been in excellent form before pulling up with a hamstring injury on his return to Stamford Bridge. The midfielder’s rapport with Grealish is vital to Everton’s creativity. Without them, and the protection offered by Gueye, Bukayo Saka should relish going up against Vitalii Mykolenko. Andy Hunter
Everton v Arsenal, Saturday 8pm
Calvert-Lewin for England?
Hats off to Daniel Farke for silencing those minded to sack him with a series of much-improved results. If that has had a lot to do with the Leeds manager’s decision to switch from a possession-based 4-3-3 to a counterattacking 3-5-2 system, pulling it off so well might not have been possible without Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The now fully fit former Everton striker has five goals in 15 appearances this season but four have arrived in his last four outings. “Dominic needed a few weeks to find belief in his body again,” said Farke ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit. “Right now you can see the rewards. Dominic’s in a period where he just has to touch the ball and it goes in.” So might the 28-year-old, who won the last of his 11 senior international caps in 2021, be a shock inclusion in England’s World Cup squad? “It’s crucial I don’t give advice to Thomas Tuchel,” said Farke. “But Dominic is definitely one of the best strikers in the English league. There’s no limit for him.” Calvert-Lewin’s potential duel with Palace’s Marc Guéhi will be compelling. LT
Leeds v Crystal Palace, Saturday 8pm
Villa will threaten United’s ragged back line
The loss of Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo to Afcon from the Manchester United side that drew with Bournemouth on Monday will provide a headache for Ruben Amorim, but his biggest problem is at the back. Noussair Mazraoui has also departed for Morocco, taking another defensive option away from a side that have missed Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt in recent weeks. The centre-back trio of Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Luke Shaw struggled against the Cherries, giving Amorim plenty to ponder. Lisandro Martínez has come off the bench in the past four United games after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury and it could be the right time to start the Argentinian for the first time since February because his experience would be advantageous to those around him when United meet the in-form Aston Villa. WU
Aston Villa v Manchester United, Sunday 4.30pm
Hudson-Odoi revival to roll on at Fulham?
Callum Hudson-Odoi got his season back on track when Nottingham Forest beat Spurs 3-0 last week. His record for the season before that win was one goal and no assists from six starts and eight substitute appearances in the league. His form had dipped after a bright couple of years at the City Ground. However the former Chelsea winger remains a vital player for Forest. Hudson-Odoi scored twice against Spurs and, although there was an element of fortune to his second goal, given that it was an overhit cross, he will be looking to push on when Sean Dyche’s side visit Fulham on Monday. Jacob Steinberg
Fulham v Nottingham Forest, Monday 8pm
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 16 | 20 | 36 |
| 2 | Man City | 16 | 22 | 34 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 16 | 8 | 33 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 16 | 12 | 28 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 16 | 5 | 26 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 16 | 4 | 26 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 16 | 2 | 26 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 16 | 2 | 26 |
| 9 | Everton | 16 | -1 | 24 |
| 10 | Brighton | 16 | 2 | 23 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 16 | 4 | 22 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 16 | 1 | 22 |
| 13 | AFC Bournemouth | 16 | -3 | 21 |
| 14 | Fulham | 16 | -3 | 20 |
| 15 | Brentford | 16 | -3 | 20 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 16 | -8 | 18 |
| 17 | Leeds | 16 | -10 | 16 |
| 18 | West Ham | 16 | -13 | 13 |
| 19 | Burnley | 16 | -15 | 10 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton | 16 | -26 | 2 |
