Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tastes first defeat as Manchester United manager: Premier League predictions

Son Heung-min powers Tottenham to victory over United before arriving in UAE for Asian Cup, plus other forecasts

West Ham United 1 Arsenal 2. Saturday 4.30 pm (UAE time): This really does depend on which West Ham turns up. When Manuel Pellegrini’s side are on it they can cause the top sides real trouble. But they are inconsistent and Arsenal, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang having a terrific season, should have the edge here. EPA

Brighton and Hove Albion 0 Liverpool 3. Saturday, 7 pm: Liverpool have had their first blip of the season. Losing to Manchester City to have their lead cut to four points and then being knocked out of the FA Cup by Wolverhampton Wanderers. But this is no slump for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Mohamed Salah has had a busy week picking up awards but he gets back to what he does best on Saturday by inspiring another victory for the league leaders. Reuters

Burnley 2 Fulham 0. Saturday, 7 pm: Burnley ended the festive period on a high with two wins and they can move further away from the bottom three here. Chris Wood has three goals in three games, including the winner in the FA Cup game over Barnsley, and the striker will be the key figure against struggling Fulham as well. Getty Images

Cardiff City 3 Huddersfield Town 0. Saturday, 7 pm: Crucial relegation six-pointer here. While they have been well beaten recently by the top sides, Cardiff have been great at getting the points from games against teams around them in the relegation zone and Neil Warnock will be celebrating again here to pile more misery on basement side Huddersfield. Getty Images

Crystal Palace 2 Watford 1. Saturday, 7 pm: A midfield clash between two sides who are clear of the relegation zone, but will not be troubling the top six either. Watford traditionally struggle at Selhurst Park and Wilfried Zaha can be the difference maker for the home side here. Reuters

Leicester City 2 Southampton 0. Saturday, 7 pm: Southampton have had a brief resurgence under Ralph Hasenhuttl but they are still in the bottom three. Leicester, like a lot of sides in the midfield, are inconsistent, but they win here thanks to the impressive partnership of Jamie Vardy and James Maddison. Getty Images

Chelsea 2 Newcastle United 0. Saturday, 9.30 pm: Chelsea have drawn a blank in their past two home league games at Stamford Bridge, but even if they are still heavily reliant on Eden Hazard for inspiration they should be too good for Newcastle here. Getty Images

Everton 2 Bournemouth 2. Sunday, 6.15 pm: Two sides who can defend very well but have plenty of firepower. This has the ingredients of being full of goals. Both Marco Silva and Eddie Howe need a victory for their respective sides, but a point a piece is the likely outcome here. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Manchester United 1. Sunday, 8.30 pm: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done a great job of rejuvenating United since replacing Jose Mourinho. But he has not faced someone as good as Tottenham yet. Spurs will match United in midfield and cause their defence real problems. A win for Spurs to send Son Heung-min off to the Asian Cup in the UAE to join up with South Korea on a high. Reuters

Manchester City 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2. Tuesday, 12 am: Wolves have proved a handful for the top sides already. They drew with City in August, won at Tottenham last month and knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Monday. But City are beginning to find top gear, with Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne back to full fitness, and they keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top with three points here. Reuters

As the Premier League clubs return to action this weekend, we are likely to witness some more predictable results: victories for Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.

But some might argue - especially if you are a fan of the Red Devils - that there is one result that could possibly go either way: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United. Sports editor Graham Caygill, however, predicts Spurs at home will be way more difficult for United to handle than the smaller teams Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have faced since he took over as interim manager.

Ahead of this round of fixtures, Caygill has made his predictions and explained his reasoning in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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