Liverpool’s poor form has been one of the talking points of the Premier League in recent weeks but for Fantasy managers it is the form of one of their players that is triggering sleepless nights.

Mohamed Salah still has 56 points in this competition but he is outside the top-ten midfielders at this stage of the season for the first time since 2018. The Egyptian is averaging just 4.7 points per gameweek and scored just two points in five of the last seven rounds.

Those keeping the faith will hope he can shine this weekend against West Ham, against who Salah has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 16 games.

This is probably the right time to remind managers that there are three gameweeks in the next seven days with a full round of midweek fixtures.

Saturday

Brentford v Burnley (11am)

Brentford striker Igor Thiago is the second-best attacker in Fantasy League with 64 points and has scored seven goals in his last seven games.

To illustrate Salah’s fall, he has scored just one point more than Burnley’s best player, midfielder Josh Cullen, who has racked up 55 points.

Brentford are in the top six when it comes to home form, with just one defeat while Burnley have conceded 18 away goals, the most of any team in the Premier League.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester City v Leeds United (11am)

Pep Guardiola made ten changes in midweek for the Champions League, but that means Erling Haaland and other first-choice players will be rested for this match. Outside the Norwegian, no other City players are anywhere near the top ten in any categories.

Leeds have dropped into the bottom three for the first time this season and pressure is starting to build on coach Daniel Farke. Two of their first-choice players, Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach, are out injured.

Prediction: 3-0

Sunderland v Bournemouth (11am)

Bournemouth may be eighth in the Premier League but they are in the bottom six when it comes to away form, with just one win from six matches. Their star player Antoine Semenyo is struggling with injury.

Sunderland are one of only five teams in the Premier League, alongside Arsenal, Brighton, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. Goalkeeper Robin Roefs is still leading the way in his division.

Prediction: 2-1

Everton v Newcastle United (1.30pm)

Both teams picked up surprise wins against Manchester teams in the last week with Newcastle beating City and ten-man Everton beating United.

Newcastle are one of only three teams, alongside Wolves and Fulham, without an away win.

Everton will be without Idrissa Gueye, who has been banned for three games after receiving a red card for striking team-mate Michael Keane in the face against Manchester United. Keane is actually the cheapest player in the top ten defenders at £4.5 million.

Prediction: 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham (4pm)

Something has to give here as the team with the second-worst home form in the Premier League takes on the team with the second-worst away record. Tottenham at least showed some spark in midweek against Paris Saint-Germain but they will be without central defender Cristian Romero, who is suspended.

Fulham players will not feature in too many teams and Sasa Lukic is ruled out through suspension.

Prediction: 3-0

Sunday

Crystal Palace v Manchester United (8am)

Crystal Palace are unbeaten at home but have a quick turnaround after playing away in the Conference League on Thursday evening.

Incredibly, five Crystal Palace defenders ― Dani Munoz, Marc Guehi, Maxence LaCroix, Tyrick Mitchell and Chris Richards, in the top 11 players in their category.

Manchester United could continue to struggle to find the goal in the absence of Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, who are both out with injury. Harry Maguire will also be missing at the back.

Prediction: 1-0

Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers (10.05am)

Aston Villa are one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League and have made it into the top four despite being in the bottom four after the first four weeks.

Morgan Rogers scored two goals against Leeds last week and can again take centre stage, while any of Villa’s forward thinking players are worthy of interest against the only side in the division yet to win a game.

Prediction: 2-0

Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion (10.05am)

Morgan Gibbs-White, Forest’s best player, is likely to miss this game after picking up a knock in the stunning 3-0 win against Liverpool last week. Striker Chris Wood is also out

Brighton striker Danny Welbeck has scored seven goals in seven games.

Prediction: 2-1

West Ham United v Liverpool (10.05am)

If Liverpool lose this game, the pressure on coach Arne Slot could come to a head. Virgil Van Dijk is no longer in the top 25 defenders. Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are struggling for fitness.

West Ham will welcome Lucas Paquetá back from suspension and Crysencio Summerville returns to the team after a minor injury. The East London club are unbeaten in three games.

Prediction: 2-2

Chelsea v Arsenal (12.30pm)

The Premier League saves the best for last as the top two going into the weekend battle it out.

Chelsea impressed against Barcelona in the Champions League and in Estêvão they have a teenager who can go right to the very top of the game. Cole Palmer may be fit enough to be on the bench.

Arsenal’s supremacy is not only domestic but international, with their impressive victory over Bayern Munich in midweek outlining their chances of winning the Champions League.

Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz may well be back in the squad for this game. Central defender Gabriel is still out.

Prediction: 1-2