By PaulT Hi everyone, and welcome to the weekly look ahead to the PL fixtures. These are the last games before Christmas and the usual festive overlaod is due next week with a glut of games to look forward to. Who will be top, who will be in the bottom 3 and who will be sweating on their future after these games. Lets find out…...

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool

We have Friday night football to kick things off for the weekend, as the league leaders travel Molyneux. The Reds were impressive in beating United on Sunday and should probably have won by a higher margin. That win put them back on top and they remain the only unbeaten side in the league this season. Wolves won at home to Bournemouth last time out and are in good form after three successive wins following a six-match winless run. On home turf, they aren't to be underestimated having beaten Chelsea and held City in front of their own fans this season. The home side were glad to see Jonny return in the last game and he should start again. Jota is unavailable so Costa should deputise, with the impressive Gibbs-White set to play in the hole. Liverpool should welcome back Milner from injury and should reward Shaqiri for his matchwinning performance with a start here. Alexander-Arnold is making good progress but will most likely not feature til Boxing Day. Prediction WOL 1-3 LIV

Arsenal v Burnley

The Gunners welcome Sean Dyche and his men to the Emirates, and they will be hoping to bounce back from 2 disappointing defeats with a loss to Southampton in the league followed by League Cup defeat to their North London rivals Spurs. The defeat at St Mary's brought to an end the 22 match unbeaten run the Emery's side had been on so it was unexpected, even though they did have injury & suspension issues. Sokratis is back after his ban and Mustafi has also served his suspension, but may not feature due to a hamstring injury. Kolasinac and Bellerin missed the league cup match and this may come too soon for them. Burnley also lost to Spurs in their last game and have only won one of their last 10 Premier League matches. They start the weekend in the bottom three on goal difference and will want to arrest their slide here. Defour and Johann Gudmundsson are expected to recover in time to feature, whilst Dyche is hopeful Brady shakes off the knock suffered at Wembley. Lennon has undergone surgery and will face a period on the sidelines. Prediction ARS 2-0 BUR

AFC Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion

Onto the south coast, and the league's 2 most southerly teams meet at the Vitality Stadium. Eddie Howe's side had taken many plaudits earlier in the season but are now in danger of free-falling into trouble if they cannot halt this slide. They have lost seven of their last eight matches in all competitions after Wednesday's Carabao Cup exit to Chelsea, but will fancy their chance against a Brighton side who have also struggled of late. Brighton have now lost successive matches and have dropped into the bottom half of the table. Wilson should start after his manager issued a hands off warning to any potential suitors in the transfer window. Francis missed the midweek defeat to Chelsea and he remains a doubt here. For Brighton, Duffy serves the last of his three-game ban meaning Balogun will continue in defence. The other positions petty much pick themselves, with Hughton only having to decide between Bruno and Montoya at fullback. Prediction BOU 2-1 BHA

Chelsea v Leicester City

At Stamford Bridge, Sarri and his troops welcome Leicester to town. The Blues won through to the League Cup semi finals midweek, after winning at Brighton on Sunday. Hazard was inspirational at the weekend and his manager says there is more to come so watch this space. Chelsea are unbeaten in home league matches this season and have kept a clean sheet in their last five at Stamford Bridge. The likes of Luiz, Pedro, Alonso and Jorginho all missed the League cup tie and should return here. The visitors come into the match on a poor run, and they exited the League cup in midweek on penalties to City. They are now winless in their last four in all competitions and haven't scored more than once in an away match since September. Vardy was not risked in the League Cup and he should return in this one. They also rested the likes of Schmeichel, Maddison and Mendy in midweek and expect all to return. Prediction CHE 2-0 LEI

Huddersfield Town v Southampton

The John Smith Stadium is our next port of call, with the Terriers welcoming rejuvenated Southampton. These 2 sides have been underperforming so fa this season and this is a massive game in the relegation battle. The home side find themselves 2nd from bottom and have lost their last 4 league matches. They have also not scored in 2 of those games, and the issues for them are clear � goals or the lack of them. They at leas welcome back Mounie after suspension to bolster the frontline and he should replace Depoitre. Mooy is still out and his absence means a real lack of creativity. Southampton will be high on confidence after earning their first win under Hasenhuttl, a thrilling 3-2 victory against Arsenal. They have only picked up four points away from home this season and last won on their travels in the league in September. Don't expect to see many changes from the Saints, but given both Long and Austin's contributions last weekend they have a decent claim to start. Lemina may replace Armstrong if fit. Prediction HUD 1-1 SOU

Manchester City v Crystal Palace

The Champions return home after qualifying for the League cup semis, and a good win over Everton last weekend. They welcome a Palace side who finally won a game without their talisman Zaha for the 1st time in 2 years last weekend. By the time they kick off here, City could be 4 points behind Liverpool, and it will be interesting to see how Pep and his men deal with chasing rather than pace setting. De Bruyne scored on his first start since in more than six weeks in midweek and will be pushing to feature here. Like the other League Cup ties, City rested many players so look for Bernardo Silva, Sane and Fernandinho to return to the side. For the visitors, Tomkins and Zaha served one-match bans last weekend and will both start for Hodgson here. Kouyate went off with a knock last week and will be given all the time to recover for this one. Prediction MNC 3-0 CRY

Newcastle United v Fulham

Another relegation battle at St James's here, with Ranieri and his Fulham side visiting the Toon hoping to haul them selves off the bottom of the table. Newcastle are now 4 points clear of the drop zone after defeating Huddersfield last weekend. They have lost their last 2 home league games though, so will come into this one hoping to put that stat right. They won't have a much better opportunity, facing a side who have only won 1 of their last 5 league games since the Tinkerman took over. Benitez will welcome back Yedlin who is available again after serving a one-match ban last weekend which should see Manquillo moving back to left-back. Kenedy came off against Huddersfield with a knock and is a doubt. Fulham should put Anguissa back in the starting XI after he served a one-match ban. Mitrovic will be desperate to shine against his former club. Prediction NEW 1-1 FUL

West Ham United v Watford

The London Stadium sees another London Derby, as the Hornets travel to face the Hammers. West Ham have been in great recent form and come into the match in the top half of the table and above Watford on goal difference. They have taken 13 points from their last 6 matches, winning their last 4 games and will be confident of adding a further 3 to that here. Pellegrini will not want to make many changes to the winning formula, but he doesn't have many options given the injuries suffered recently. Perez is a doubt so should be replaced by either Carroll or Antonio. Watford ended a six-game winless streak by beating Cardiff 3-2 last weekend but Gracia will be concerned at the amount of goals being conceded. They have not kept a clean sheet since October and that will need to change soon if they are to revive their early season form. Capoue is available again after serving his suspension and could be restored to the starting XI right away. Quina scored the first Premier League goal of his career last weekend and will hope to keep his place in the team here. Prediction WHU 2-1 WAT

Cardiff City v Manchester United

All eyes will be on the evening kickoff as the football gods throw up a fixture that sees Solskjaer return to his former club as a manager leading his former club as a player. The baby faced assassin was deadly in front of goal n his playing days, but can he bring back the flair and cutting edge to a United side that have been underperforming under Jose all season. He faces a Cardiff side who have been fluctuating between wins and losses each week over the past few in the league, a sequence if it keeps going will see them win here this weekend. Warnock will be looking to assume the role of pantomime villain here, and he will revel in that. Decson will need to be made with Zohore returning to the bench last week and the likes of Ralls also looking to return to the starting lineup. We don't know how Solskjaer will set up, but given his limited time with the squad we might not see many changes in formation or personnel. Pogba sat out the past few games, but he may eturn here now he is free of the Jose shackles. Martial was only fit enough to start on the bench against Liverpool but should be fine to start. Prediction CAR 1-2 MNU

Everton v Tottenham Hotspur

The only Sunday game sees Everton welcome Pochettino and his men to Goodison for what should be an entertaining and technically pleasing on the eye match. Both sides like to play football and have some of the best attacking talent in the division. Everton's form has nosedived of late with just one win from their last six in the Premier League, however their only defeats in that time did come at the hands of Liverpool and Manchester City. They ill look to bring that run to an end here and Silva may change formation to try and blunt the creativity of Spurs in forward areas. Zouma may rop out, and expect them to bring in solidity in midfield if McCarthy and Gueye pass fitness tests, Spurs have won their last 5 games in all competitions and saw them selves through to the League Cu semis with a 2-0win over Arsenal in midweek. Injuries and fatigue are factors here for Spurs, as thy have Dier, Dembele and Wanyama ruled out here and the likes of Winks and Alli having played in Midweek. Lamela will be pushing for a spot in the starting XI here, but Pochettino may stick with his tried and tested system before rotating on Boxing Day. Prediction EVE1-2 TOT That's all for this week, so until next time……. LET'S GO! PaulT Follow @fplbet for weekly fantasy features, guides and tips. Follow @fplbet[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type="1_6" layout="1_6" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" mer_position="all" padding="" dimension_margin="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no" element_content=""][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]