It’s an intriguing gameweek for Fantasy League managers with Manchester City and Arsenal not in action on account of their Carabao Cup final meeting on Sunday.

The absence of those two teams may leave plenty of you without 11 players in your squad to field but it may be worth playing with nine or ten players this week. After all, a zero is better than minus four from a defender you drafted in without complete confidence.

City are likely to have at least one double gameweek now they have been knocked out of the Champions League.

The cup final also means there are no matches for Crystal Palace or Wolves, which results in a truncated Premier League weekend, and don’t forget to pay attention to the Friday afternoon deadline.

Friday

Bournemouth v Manchester United (5pm)

Bournemouth are unbeaten in their past 10 Premier League matches, with four wins and six draws. Defender Marco Senesi has scored 30 points in four games and is the third-best defender in the game. Midfielder Tyler Adams is doubtful with an injury.

Bruno Fernandes has claimed top spot in the race to be top midfielder with 31 points in their past three games. Forward Benjamin Sesko has four goals in his past five games. Defender Noussair Mazraoui should be available for selection after missing out with illness.

Prediction: 1-1

Saturday

Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool (9.30am)

Liverpool have been inconsistent in the Premier League but stepped up with a 4-0 win over Galatasaray to progress in the Champions League. Florian Wirtz has showed signs recently of getting to grips with the Premier League and is set for a good finish to the season. Alexander Isak is poised to return after the next international window.

Brighton beat Sunderland last week and were unlucky to not get anything from the game against Arsenal earlier. winger Kaouro Mitoma is poised to make his return to the squad.

Prediction: 1-1

Fulham v Burnley (12pm)

Perhaps the game featuring the two teams who cannot wait for the season to finish. Fulham are safe from relegation and are not close enough to really threaten the European places. But this could be the game in which midfielder Harry Wilson returns to his best form.

Burnley have won just one of their last ten matches and James Ward-Prowse has the potential to create a chance or two.

Prediction: 2-1

Everton v Chelsea

Everton have found life tough at their new ground, winning just five of 15 Premier League games at home. Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski, their first-choice centre backs should both return to the match day squad.

The wheels have started to fall off for Chelsea with two heavy defeats against PSG in the Champions League sandwiching a home loss to Newcastle. But Cole Palmer has 30 points in his last three away games and is of some interest.

Prediction: 1-2

Leeds v Brentford (5pm)

Brentford are just three points off the top six and Igor Thiago continues to hunt up the best in the top attacker standings with three goals in his past six games.

Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson is suspended but Anton Stach has 23 points in four games and could again prove influential here.

Prediction: 1-1

Sunday

Newcastle v Sunderland (9am)

The home side will be out for revenge after losing the reverse fixture earlier this season and will be seeking an improved performance after a thrashing by Barcelona in midweek in the Champions League. But they look short in midfield with Sandro Tonali joining Bruno Guimaraes on the sidelines.

Only Aston Villa, Burnley and Tottenham are below Sunderland when it comes to form in the past ten games and they have scored only eight away goals this season. Newcastle defenders could well be the play.

Prediction: 2-0

Aston Villa v West Ham (11.15am)

Villa’s poor run of form continued with defeat against a resurgent Manchester United last week and their poor league form may mean their focus turns to the Europa League, in which they progressed on Thursday. Matty Cash could well make a welcome return after injury.

West Ham are in the top seven when it comes to form in the past ten matches and appear to be putting a run together that could lead them to survival. However, winger Crysencio Summerville will be a big miss through injury. Jarrod Bowen has 26 points in his past five games.

Prediction: 1-1

Tottenham v Nottingham Forest (11.15am)

A huge game at the bottom of the table but after a point against Liverpool and an improved display against Atletico Madrid, coach Igor Tudor may finally be getting his ideas through. Joao Palinha, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero will all be available.

Forest struggle on the road and a lot will rest on the performance of Morgan Gibbs-White.

Prediction: 2-1