Premier League predictions: Arsenal sink Spurs, Bournemouth and Brighton battered

We take a look at the next round of English top-flight fixtures

SATURDAY: Norwich City v West Ham United (kick-off 3.30pm UAE): A case of one step forward, then two steps back for the Hammers at the moment. A fine victory over Spurs was followed by a draw at Newcastle and defeat at home to Burnley - both of which West Ham came away frustrated from, not having sealed all three points that would have just about secured their top-flight safety. As it is, they are still very much in the relegation dogfight. For Norwich, the situation is far bleaker: lose here and they are down. Prediction: Norwich 1 West Ham 2. Reuters

Watford v Newcastle United (3.30pm): Danny Welbeck showed impeccable timing scoring his first Watford goal with a spectacular overhead kick to earn his team three vital points against rock-bottom Norwich on Tuesday. The result ended a run of three consecutive defeats for Nigel Pearson's relegation-threatened side who are back at Vicarage Road to take on Newcastle. The Magpies' saw their impressive form since the restart come to a crashing halt when they were lucky to escape with only a 5-0 defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday. Allan Saint-Maximin missed the Etihad annihilation due to injury and Newcastle need him back in action as they are simply not the same team if their marauding winger is missing. Prediction: Watford 1 Newcastle 1. EPA

Liverpool v Burnley (6pm): Champions Liverpool broke the 90-point barrier with their 3-1 win at Brighton on Wednesday and are now eight shy of Manchester City's 100-point Premier League record total. Manager Jurgen Klopp insists all he is interested in is "to win football games" and it would be a major shock if Burnley stand in their way here. Sean Dyche's side are on a decent run themselves, though, taking 10 points out a possible 12 and keeping alive their hopes of a European place next season. Prediction: Liverpool 3 Burnley 0. Reuters

Sheffield United v Chelsea (8.30pm): Chelsea's spot in the top four come the end of the season now appears safe and the surprise defeat at West Ham a mere blip. Two wins in row - scoring six goals in the process, against Watford and Crystal Palace - have lifted Frank Lampard's side above Leicester and into third place in the table. They will need to improve on the sloppy defending at Palace that almost saw them throw away three points in a 3-2 victory. Sheffield United will be a tough nut to crack at Bramall Lane and the Blades have secured wins over Tottenham and Wolves in their previous two home games. Prediction: Sheffield United 1 Chelsea 2. AP

Brighton v Manchester City (11pm): City were at their ruthless attacking best when they battered Newcastle 5-0 on Wednesday, taking their aggregate score from their last five home games to 19-0. But they are fallible away from the Etihad, as shown by their 1-0 defeat to Southampton in their previous outing. Brighton, meanwhile, earned praise from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for the way they tested his team at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday, before eventually falling to a 3-1 defeat to the champions. Facing Liverpool then City in successive games is a tough old schedule for the Seagulls and it will be rough night for them here. Brighton 1 Manchester City 4. PA

SUNDAY: Wolves v Everton (3pm): Tricky times for Wolves and their key attacker Adama Traore. Two defeats on the trot has seen Nuno Espirito Santo's men lose touch with the top five - and the teams below them are closing fast. And as well as conceding a late winner against Sheffield United on Wednesday, it was also revealed after the game that Traore had dislocated his shoulder for a fourth time this season. Whether the turbo-charged Spanish winger can continue to play through the pain, remains to be seen. They take on an Everton side who have lost just once in five games since the restart. Prediction: Wolves 1 Everton 0. Getty

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace (5.15pm): While not down and out of the Premier League quite yet, Villa are perilously close to the dreaded drop. Frustration at the dodgy penalty given against them for the first goal in the defeat against Manchester United was justified, but the pitiful capitulation that followed was not. And taking two points from their past 10 games cannot be blamed on VAR. But while United are in superb form, Palace are most certainly not after suffering four defeats on the trot. The classic definition of a must-win game for Villa. Prediction: Aston Villa 2 Crystal Palace 1. Getty

Tottenham v Arsenal (7.30pm): All is not well on planet Spurs at the moment. Manager Jose Mourinho is fuming about everything and everyone - his players, VAR, the FA, social media, games consoles ... you name it, Mourinho is moaning about it. In their game, Spurs played out a turgid 0-0 draw with a Bournemouth side on a run of five consecutive defeats. Confidence is clearly low so a North London derby against Arsenal will be a test of character. And they face an in-form Gunners side that has taken 10 points out of a possible 12. Prediction: Tottenham 1 Arsenal 2. EPA

Bournemouth v Leicester City (10pm): Jamie Vardy's 22nd league goal of the season earned Leicester a much-needed point at Arsenal on Tuesday, in a week where they were pushed down to fourth place in the table as Manchester United moved to within one point in fifth. Bournemouth might have ended their miserable losing streak by drawing with Spurs on Thursday, but it doesn't disguise the fact it was their first clean sheet in 17 league games and they are struggling for goals at the other end of the pitch. Prediction: Bournemouth 1 Leicester 3. AP

MONDAY: Manchester United v Southampton (11pm): What a roll Manchester United are on right now. The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood are rightly enjoying major plaudits at the moment, but a fit and happy Paul Pogba has also made a huge difference to the team's surge towards a top four place. The French midfielder scored his first goal of the season against Villa on Thursday in a 3-0 win that meant United became the first Premier League side to win four consecutive games by three or more goals. Could be a tough night for Southampton. Prediction: Manchester United 4 Southampton 2.

Yet another Premier League football fest coming up, so see if you can get those weekend chores out of the way in the morning and clear your work schedules for later.

On Saturday and Sunday, the action starts mid-afternoon and rolls on right through the evening.

Relegation is the theme for Saturday's opening matches when the all-but doomed Norwich City face fifth bottom West Ham and 17th-placed Watford play host to Newcastle.

Focus shifts to the fight for European places for the rest of the day as Liverpool take on Burnley, Sheffield United tackle Chelsea and Brighton battle Manchester City.

Sunday's action starts with Wolves versus Everton, followed by Aston Villa against Crystal Palace, then the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, before ending on Bournemouth's clash with Leicester.

Manchester United face Southampton in the late game at Old Trafford on Monday.