In football the best-laid plans can often go awry as the advice to make hay by packing as many Arsenal players into the team as possible for their home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers was sorely misplaced.

But on to this week and the impact of the African Nations Cup will start to take effect with some of the Premier League’s big names missing the next few matches as a result of the competition.

League leaders Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds United are the only two teams with no players departing to Africa but Manchester United are weakened by the loss of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, while Carlos Baleba, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush are among the big names taking part in the competition.

Saturday

Newcastle v Chelsea (8.30am)

Newcastle are in twelfth position in the Premier League but are in the top six when it comes to home form. Defender Dan Burn will be out for a few weeks with a punctured lung but they have been boosted by the news that forward Yoane Wissa will not be leaving the squad to take part in the African Nations Cup.

Exciting youngster Estevao will miss the game with a muscle problem and their top players may be more rested than Newcastle, with Chelsea resting a number of them for their League Cup tie at Cardiff, which was played a day earlier than the home side’s game against Fulham.

Prediction: 1-1

Bournemouth v Burnley (11am)

Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams suffered a season-ending injury against Manchester United on Monday. Midfielder Antoine Semenyo bounced back to form and looks to be on the verge of bringing in some huge points again.

Burnley have lost seven of their eight away league games and have Lyle Foster, Hannibal Mejbri and Axel Tuanzebe away on international duty.

Prediction: 2-0

Brighton & Hove Albion v Sunderland (11am)

Both these sides will be without a number of key players this weekend, with Brighton needing to replace Lewis Dunk and Diego Gomez, who are both suspended, and their best player Baleba away with Cameroon.

Sunderland are the team losing most players to African competition, with Reinildo, Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi, Habib Diarra and Bertrand Traore unavailable for selection.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester City v West Ham United (11am)

For Arsenal last week, read Manchester City with many anticapting a thrashing for the London club at the Etihad. Erling Haaland has nine goals, including a hat-trick, in six appearances against West Ham in the Premier League in his career. Defender Nico O’Reilly is turning into a must-have in the defence but midfielder Jeremy Doku is injured

West Ham’s first choice full backs Aaron Wan Bissaka and Malick Diouf are both on international duty, which suggests City players Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki and Bernardo Silva should find plenty of space.

Prediction: 3-0

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford (11am)

If Wolves are to pick up a win before the new year it will be here given Brentford are in the bottom three when it comes to away form, with seven losses in their eight league games on the road. Defender Yerson Mosquera misses this game through suspension.

Brentford are without their best midfieder, Dango Outtara, who is playing in the Africa Nations Cup.

Prediction: 2-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool (1.30pm)

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is already under pressure with just one win in their last six league games and their home form is also worrying with only Burnley, West Ham and Wolves having a worse record. Midfielder Pape Sarr is another of the players off to the African Nations Cup.

Liverpool are obviously without Mohamed Salah, while Joe Gomez suffered a long-term injury last week. Cody Gakpo is also out with a leg problem, while their best player this season, Dominik Szoboszlai picked up a knock against Brighton and is a doubt for this game.

Prediction: 2-2

Everton v Arsenal (4pm)

Arsenal could be visiting Everton at the right time given the home side will be without Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye, who are away on international duty, while Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were both substituted against Chelsea last week with injuries.

Arsenal have had a blip away from home in the last few weeks, picking up just one point in their last three games on the road against Sunderland, Chelsea and Aston Villa. Defender Ben White was substituted against Wolves last week and is a doubt for this match.

Prediction: 0-2

Leeds United v Crystal Palace (4pm)

Forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one of the game’s in-form players with 31 points in the past four gameweeks. Along with midfielder Anton Stach, he could be a key player if Leeds are to extend their unbeaten home run to three games after a win against Chelsea and a draw with Liverpool.

Every team have now played eight away games and Crystal Palace top the away league table with 16 points, two points clear of Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham. Dani Munoz and Daichi Kamada are out injured for the Eagles, who are also without Ismaila Sarr for a few weeks.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday

Aston Villa v Manchester United (12.30pm)

The league’s in-form team Aston Villa have won their last 11 games in all competitions and are being talked about as title contenders as they close in on Arsenal and Manchester CIty at the top of the table. They will hope Emiliano Martinez recovers from a back injury as he is a huge improvement on back-up Marco Bizot. Morgan Rogers is a top midfielder and has scored 41 points in the past five matchweeks.

Only five teams have conceded more goals than United and four of those occupy the bottom four positions in the league. Mathijs de Ligt will be a big boost if he returns but Harry MAguire is out and Noussair Mazraoui joins Mbeumo and Diallo on international duty. Casemiro is suspended.

Prediction: 2-1

Monday

Fulham v Nottingham Forest (4pm)

Fulham will be hit hard by the African Nations Cup with three of their best players, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze, all selected by their respective countries.

Nottingham Forest have won four of their past six league games and have climbed clear of the relegation zone. Defender Neco Williams has been influential in their revival and has picked up 30 points in the past five gameweeks

Prediction: 1-2