The Premier League returns for the final stretch of this intriguing season, with the relegation race heating up even further after Nottingham Forest were deducted four points for breaching financial rules.

The Fantasy landscape is equally interesting after a few key players pulled out of international duty with injuries. Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is a strong option for the title run-in after being involved in eight goals (four goals, four assists) in his last six league appearances .

Saturday

Newcastle United v West Ham United (9.30am)

Newcastle will miss Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Joelinton and Callum Wilson through injury this weekend, while Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento, Lewis Miley and Harvey Barnes are doubtful.

West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez is suspended to yellow card accumulation. Maxwel Cornet is out with a hamstring injury while Mohamed Kudus is doubtful with a minor knee problem.

The Magpies lead this series with 23 wins to West Ham’s 14 through 51 league meetings.

Prediction: 2-1

Bournemouth v Everton (noon)

Bournemouth will miss Ryan Fredericks and Luis Sinisterra through calf and hamstring injuries respectively, while James Hill, Lloyd Kelly, Marcos Senesi and Max Aarons are doubtful.

Dele Alli is again out with a groin injury for Everton, while Arnaut Danjuma and Idrissa Gueye are doubtful with ankle and groin injuries respectively.

The Toffees edge this rivalry with six wins to Bournemouth’s five through 13 encounters.

Prediction: 1-2

Chelsea v Burnley (noon)

Chelsea players Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu and Romeo Lavia are out, while Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto are doubtful this weekend.

Ameen Al-Dakhil, Nathan Redmond, Luka Koleosho and Aaron Ramsey are unavailable with injuries for Burnley. David Datro Fofana is ineligible to face his parent club to league loan rules, while Jordan Beyer and Han-Noah Massengo are doubtful.

Chelsea have lost just one of 17 Premier League contests with Burnley.

Prediction: 2-0

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace (noon)

Forest slipped into the relegation zone by virtue of their four-point penalty for breaking league sustainability rules. Nuno Tavares is out with a muscle injury, while Gonzalo Montiel, Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina are doubtful.

Rob Holding, Marc Guehi, Cheick Doucoure, Michael Olise, Matheus Franca and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi are out through injury for Crystal Palace this week, while goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is doubtful.

Prediction: 1-1

Sheffield United v Fulham (noon)

Sheffield United return from the two-week break with a plethora of injuries. Chris Basham, John Egan, Max Lowe, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Rhian Brewster and Daniel Jebbison are out to injury and illness, while Anis Slimane and Cameron Archer are doubtful.

Fulham have no new injury concerns this weekend.

The West London club have won three of their previous five league meetings with the Blades.

Prediction: 0-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Luton Town (noon)

Tottenham will miss Fraser Forster, Ryan Sessegnon and Manor Solomon to injury this weekend, while Micky van de Ven is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Mads Juel Andersen, Amari Bell, Dan Potts, Tom Lockyer, Marvelous Nakamba, Elijah Adebayo and Jacob Brown are out for Luton, while Gabriel Osho, Joseph Johnson, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Alfie Doughty, Teden Mengi, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Chidozie Ogbene are doubtful.

Spurs narrowly edged the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road, the only previous top-flight encounter between these clubs.

Prediction: 2-0

Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers (2.30pm)

John McGinn serves the second of a three-game suspension after being sent off at Tottenham before the break. Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia and Boubacar Kamara are out through injury, while Jacob Ramsey and Matt Cash are doubtful with foot and hamstring problems respectively.

Hwang Hee-Chan and Pedro Neto are out with hamstring injuries for Wolves, while Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Craig Dawson and Matheus Cunha are doubtful.

Wolves edge this West Midlands derby with six wins to Villa’s five through 17 top-flight contests.

Prediction: 2-1

Brentford v Manchester United (5pm)

Sergio Reguilon is suspended for Brentford and Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Ben Mee, Josh Dasilva, Christian Norgaard and Kevin Schade are out through injury. Ethan Pinnock is doubtful with an ankle knock.

Manchester United will miss Amad Diallo after the Ivorian attacker was sent off in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool. Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial are out through injury, while Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Casemiro are doubtful.

United have won four of their five league meetings with Brentford, their lone defeat coming in this fixture last season.

Prediction: 0-2

Sunday

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion (10am)

Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara and Ben Doak are out for Liverpool, with Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones, Andy Robertson and Darwin Nunez doubtful.

Brighton will miss Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood through injury, with James Milner and Joao Pedro doubtful.

Liverpool have lost twice in 13 league meetings with Brighton, although the Seagulls are unbeaten in their last three league contests (one win and two draws).

Prediction: 2-2

Manchester City v Arsenal (12.30pm)

Manchester City regulars Ederson, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Kevin de Bruyne are all doubtful for this important title rivalry.

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber is out with a knee injury, while Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are doubtful.

Prediction: 1-1