Manchester United turned over, and another storm hits West Ham: The Premier League predictions

A look ahead to the English top-flight action over the weekend and beyond

Wolves v Leicester, Friday, midnight: A Midlands firecracker to kick-off the Premier League weekend. Leicester can leapfrog Manchester City with a win - albeit temporarily - and it says something for their season that this comes after a 'dip' in form, collecting four points from a possible 12. After their League Cup exit to Villa, Brendan Rodgers will be very keen to get them back on track. PA PREDICTION: Wolves 2 Leicester 2

Southampton v Burnley, Saturday, 4.30pm: Two clubs locked on 31 points, tantalisingly close to safety, and still time to push on to a decent finish. The middle ground in the Premier League is very tight this season - 13 points between sixth and the bottom three - so there is still much to play for. Getty. PREDICTION: Southampton 1 Burnley 1

Norwich v Liverpool, Saturday, 9.30pm: It's reached the stage that Liverpool's biggest concern is over next season, not this one. Mo Salah has been named in Egypt's provisional squad for the Tokyo Olympics and the final is on the opening day of the 2020-21 campaign. It's far from certain whether Salah will go, but if he does, he'll be proudly displaying a Premier League winner's medal round his neck. Reuters PREDICITION: Norwich 1 Liverpool 3

Aston Villa v Tottenham, Sunday, 6.00pm: The jury was out on Jack Grealish before the start of this campaign. Now it appears Manchester United are among several big clubs wanting to sign him in the summer. Good for Grealish, he's gone from showboater to hard-working and very effective midfielder. Villa need him for now but a bigger stage will really give him a platform. Getty PREDICTION: Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 1

Arsenal v Newcastle, Sunday, 8.30pm: Midwinter break? Only one thing for it - go to Dubai and take a camel ride in the desert. That was the perfect venue after Arsenal's up and down season. Newcastle could be the perfect opponents given their track record, with the Magpies beating Arsenal just once in 14 attempts, losing the rest. PREDICTION: Arsenal 2 Newcastle 1

Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, midnight: A cracking Monday night game, though it still seems hard to believe these teams sit fourth and eighth. Chelsea are in danger of missing out on a Champions League spot; United need Bruno Fernandes to help them push on and launch their own challenge for Europe. Reuters PREDICTION: Chelsea 3 Manchester United 1

Manchester City v West Ham, Wednesday, 11.30pm: This one was rearranged after Storm Ciara caused a late postponement. City need to keep their concentration levels high for a strong finish, while West Ham need the wind behind them as they now sit in the bottom three. A big ask for the Hammers here. Getty PREDICTION: Manchester City 4 West Ham 1

The second part of the Premier League's midwinter break fixtures, and at least there are six games over the extended weekend period.

It has hardly been a total break anyway, with FA Cup replays, but at least football gets back to normal for this time of year with the Champions League on the agenda as well next week.

The top four all play, though in truth the results only matter in terms of significance for Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea. Liverpool are long gone, although the temptation of an unbeaten season must be immense.

Wolves and Leicester kick off the weekend at midnight on Friday, and that will have the Midlands rocking.

Liverpool go to Norwich for the late game on Saturday, and Arsenal host Newcastle at 8.30pm on Sunday.

Monday's midnight fixture is a belter with Chelsea hosting Manchester United, while Manchester's City's rearranged match against West Ham on Wednesday at 11.30pm rounds off the action.

Ahead of this round of fixtures, Dominic Hart attempts to predict the outcome in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next image, click on the arrows or thumbnails, or if using a mobile device simply swipe.