The English Premier League will take somewhat of a back seat over the coming weeks because of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

However, fear not RG Fantasy League players, vital points are still up for grabs this weekend with four fixtures still taking place.

The standout match pits struggling Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United against one another, with both desperate for three points to ease their relegation concerns.

Home side Brighton sit two places and three points clear of the drop zone, while Newcastle find themselves in even more immediate danger, a single place and just two points clear of Fulham in the final relegation spot.

Today

Fulham v Leeds United

5pm

The incentive for Fulham is a clear one … victory over Leeds United will be enough to lift them above Newcastle and out of the relegation zone.

Scott Parker’s side welcome Leeds to Craven Cottage aiming to get back to winning ways after suffering a 3-0 defeat by Manchester City last time out.

However, the home side can look to an encouraging recent run of form that has seen them lose only twice in their past eight outings, during which time they have beaten Liverpool and Everton.

The visiting side will also be aiming to get back on track and halt a three-match winless run, which has included back-to-back defeats by Aston Villa and West Ham before a goalless draw against Chelsea last time out.

Prediction: 1-1

Tomorrow

Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United

5pm

Brighton will be aiming to make it back-to-back victories and go some way to easing their relegation worries.

Graham Potter’s side halted a five-match winless sequence with a timely 2-1 victory away to Southampton on Sunday to lift them above tomorrow’s visitors into sixteenth.

Alarm bells continue to ring in the North East as Newcastle fans continue to look worryingly over their shoulders.

While Steve Bruce’s men remain unbeaten in three matches, none of them were victories, with a 1-1 draw at home to Villa their third successive point.

That result extended a terrible run of just two wins in the past 17 Premier League matches. Added to that the expected continued absence of Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almirón and Callum Wilson to injury, and Newcastle fans will be forgiven for fearing the worst.

Prediction: 1-0

Sunday

West Ham United v Arsenal

Noon

West Ham will be out to keep alive their chances of a surprise top-four finish in an intriguing encounter against visiting Arsenal.

The fifth-placed Hammers saw those aspirations dented last weekend in a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Manchester United; however, David Moyes’s side still remain just three points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, having played a game fewer.

The home side will also be boosted by the return of Jesse Lingard, who has scored four goals in just six games as a Hammer since arriving on loan from Manchester United in January.

They face a tough challenge against a resurgent Arsenal side who remain unbeaten in their previous three league outings, including a 2-1 derby-day victory over North London neighbours Tottenham last time out.

On-loan midfielder Martin Odegaard has been steadily growing in stature since he arrived from Real Madrid in January, with the Norway star scoring two goals in as many outings.

Prediction:2-2

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur

4.30pm

Tottenham Hotspur will be desperate to make amends after throwing away the lead to hand fierce rivals Arsenal the derby-day bragging rights.

That denied Spurs a fourth straight victory with the result leaving them eighth in the standings, six points adrift of the top four, albeit having played a game less than Chelsea.

Villa will be aiming to end a run of three games without a victory, having picked up back-to-back draws against Wolves and struggling Newcastle in recent weeks.

Heading into the match, Dean Smith’s side sit one position and four points adrift of Spurs, having played a game fewer than Sunday’s visitors.

Previous meetings greatly favour Tottenham, who are undefeated in their past nine visits to Villa Park in the league, while the home side have also failed to beat Spurs in their past four meetings.

Prediction:1-2

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