Premier League predictions: Chelsea bounce back, Liverpool crash again, misery for Mourinho

We pick out the winners and losers as the English top-flight returns following the international break

FRIDAY: Fulham v Wolves, 11pm: Fulham are grimly hanging on to their Premier League status - largely because Newcastle have gone backwards and are within striking distance. A Friday night win would lift Fulham out of the bottom three for the first time, and this could be their time. Prediction: Fulham 1 Wolves 0. PA

SATURDAY: Manchester City v Leeds United, 3.30pm: Kevin de Bruyne has signed a deal to remain at City until 2025. Not the biggest surprise, since he earns £350,000 a week at the Etihad, but a welcome boost for City fans and manager Pep Guardiola. He will soon be celebrating his contract with another Premier League trophy. Prediction: Manchester City 4 Leeds United 1. AP

Liverpool v Aston Villa, 6pm: A distant seventh in the Premier League, and a crushing defeat in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Liverpool's season is going from bad to worse, and surely it can't just be because of a hefty injury list? Villa have the talent to do more damage. Prediction: Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 2. EPA

Crystal Palace v Chelsea, 8.30pm: No-one could have predicted Chelsea's 5-2 home drubbing by West Brom last time out, Thomas Tuchel's first defeat as manager. However, the Blues recovered with a fine 2-0 win against Porto in the Champions League, and can push on until the end of the season. Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Chelsea 2. AFP

SUNDAY: Burnley v Newcastle United, 12pm: Newcastle's last win in the Premier League was on February 6 against Southampton. And that's why they are one bad result from slipping into the relegation places. Toon fans are in despair with the owners and the manager, and don't mind who knows it. Even if they hang on, it will just mean more of the same next season. Prediction: Burnley 1 Newcastle 0. Getty

West Ham United v Leicester City, 5.05pm: West Ham in the Champions League? It really could happen, and their 3-2 win at Wolves shows they mean business. After this fixture, next up are Newcastle and Chelsea, so they can do damage at both ends of the table. Prediction: West Ham 2 Leicester City 1. PA

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United, 7.30pm: Jose Mourinho's Tottenham are 11 points behind Mourinho's former club Manchester United, and in danger of missing out on the Champions League places. That would hurt big time, and with the lack of commitment coming from Harry Kane's camp, might see the departure of their best player. A very big few weeks. Prediction: Tottenham 1 Manchester United 3. Getty

Sheffield United v Arsenal, 10pm: Sheffield United are playing for pride as they head back to the Championship. Which is more than can be said of Arsenal most weeks as they languish in 10th place, and were thrashed 3-0 at home to Liverpool last time out. All is not looking good for manager Mikel Arteta at the moment. Prediction: Sheffield United 1 Arsenal 1. AP

MONDAY: West Bromwich Albion v Southampton, 9pm: West Brom's stunning 5-2 win at Chelsea was almost certainly too late to make a difference to their relegation prospects, but it will give them a lift for the remainder of the campaign. A Saints side with little to play for might suffer. Prediction: West Brom 2 Southampton 0. AFP

Brighton v Everton, 11.15pm: Everton have not won in four games in all competitions, and their season is in danger of becoming a big anti-climax having promised so much. Brighton, on the other hand, have fought tooth and nail to get themselves out of trouble and will not want to get dragged back in. Prediction: Brighton 1 Everton 1. AP

Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup final, Champions League and Europa League - it's all happening in April as the season finale draws closer.

While Manchester City are already buffering up the Premier League trophy, there are plenty of other issues to resolve in the coming weeks.

Fulham's battle for survival is one of them, and they get this round of fixtures underway when they host Wolves on Friday night.

City attempt to take another giant step towards regaining their crown against Leeds United on Saturday, while Aston Villa go to Liverpool hoping to inflict more pain, and Crystal Palace host Chelsea.

Sunday sees troubled Newcastle United go to Burnley, high-flying West Ham host Leicester City, a cracker in Tottenham v Manchester United, and Sheffield United welcome Arsenal.

The round concludes on Monday with West Brom against Southampton and Everton's trip to Brighton.

Predictions for the games are in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device simply