It is tight at the top of both the overall tables in the RG Fantasy League and in the monthly rankings for December as we head into the traditionally dizzying holiday programme.

Zak Leamey’s Redmen FC produced a monster 95-point performance in gameweek 17 to sweep to the top of the monthly tables by one point from Liam Nash’s Natus Deficere.

A mere 14 points separates the top 16, with Matt Wedlich (Mo’Salad, 91), Mark Dunny (Gooooooleander, 90), Kayuri Tucker (11 stars FC, 94) among the chasing pack who threatened the magical three-figure mark for the week.

But spare a thought for Dennis Musson, the leader after gameweek 16 who went in free fall to joint 20th after an abject 39-point display.

In the overall list, it is shaping up to be far more of a contest than can be seen at the top of the English Premier League, where there is only one seat at the head table — and that is occupied by Liverpool.

But for our fantasy punters, there is only one point in it — Denzel Simons (1,074) and Jeffrey Abbott (1,073) exchanging places after the former’s Somerset Breams FC scored 78 to Zwzard_XI’s 68. In third place on 1,060 points is Bermuda captain Danté Leverock and his Dewars&Water, followed by Jordan Commissiong (1,043) and Owen Darrell (1,039), who is proving a dab hand at this game when not focusing on his day job as the Premier’s chief of staff.

Even though the Premier League has finally, finally made provisions to save its players’ legs for the business end of the season by addressing the only absence of a winter break in the major European leagues, that will not take place until February, so the holiday season gets to retain its penchant for madness. It is no surprise that each of the Spanish, German, Italian and French leagues has returned world and/or continental champions multiple times at national level since England won its only title in 1966.

With three gameweeks in seven days, it will be just a bit too much for RG Fantasy League, so this feature will not return until January 10 after the Premier League teams make their initial forays into the FA Cup third round the week before.

Tomorrow

Everton v Arsenal

8.30am

Remember the days when Everton were Arsenal’s bunnies? Well, to be fair, they still are now. It’s just that Arsenal have been so poor and Everton so revitalised after the caretaker appointment of Big Dunc that it is hard to see past a home win despite swaths of statistical evidence suggesting otherwise.

Prediction: 2-1

Aston Villa v Southampton

11am

It is never too soon to say “relegation six-pointer” in a league where survival is the catchword for at least ten teams once August becomes September. Southampton are a different team from that which shipped nine at home to Leicester in October. And Villa have something in common in that their worst defeat this season was also inflicted by Brendan Rodgers’s side, in the middle of an existing three-match losing run. Southampton have lost two on the bounce after three matches unbeaten.

Prediction: 2-2

Bournemouth v Burnley

11am

Both these sides ended poor runs last time, but Bournemouth’s 1-0 win away to Chelsea was the more eye-catching. With Burnley still struggling to get their optimal XI back to full fitness, Eddie Howe’s men should have just enough at the Vitality Stadium.

Prediction: 2-1

Brighton & Hove Albion v Sheffield United

11am

This could be one of the more entertaining games of the weekend — Brighton pleasing on the eye and Sheffield United never knowing when they are beaten away from Bramall Lane. Brighton were exceptional away to Arsenal and deserved better in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday. If they find their shooting boots, they could be too sharp for the Blades at the Amex.

Prediction: 2-0

Newcastle United v Crystal Palace

11am

This fixture has produced only five goals in the past five meetings, and there is little reason to suspect St James’s Park will be treated to anything but a single-goal affair. That went to Palace last year, and they can do so again.

Prediction: 0-1

Norwich City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

11am

Wolves are unbeaten away from home in their past six. Norwich excelled at home to one of the league’s form teams in Leicester last time out, but can they back that up?

Prediction: 1-3

Manchester City v Leicester City

1.30pm

With champions-elect Liverpool off in Doha trying to conquer the world, the two brightest pretenders to their “crown” lock horns in a tasty match-up. Anything but three points may mean that one or both could forget about reeling in the runaway leaders. Take Pep’s City over Brendan’s City.

Prediction: 3-1

Sunday

Watford v Manchester United

10am

Calls are going out for Mason Greenwood to be given a start for resurgent United — and, if not at home, what better place than at the bottom club, albeit that Watford have shown glimmers of life. United have won the past six in this series and 14 of the past 15.

Prediction: 1-4

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea

12.30pm

Another match-up against a former employer for José Mourinho — and so soon! There is reason for the Portuguese to feel this one will go better than the 2-1 reversal at Old Trafford. Cracks are beginning to show with Frank Lampard’s Chelsea, with four defeats in their past five. This will be a stern test for them against a revived Spurs, who conversely have four wins in their past five.

Prediction: 3-1