Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal

City Ground, Tuesday, 7:30pm Local, 2:30pm Eastern

Forest and Arsenal kick off the weekend of action, which eagle eyed viewers will realize is the reverse of the season’s opening fixtures. While both sides aren’t necessarily at the top of their respective games, this match is a tremendous opportunity to lay down a marker for the next push. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side closed out 2023 in style, but they’ve sputtered in the new year. Forest have been a bit of a bogey team for Arsenal, but it’s unclear if that will continue under new leadership. It’s a safe bet that the Midlands club will try to put up a robust defense and catch Mikel Arteta’s team on the break. It will be another key match for Anthony Elanga and the - so far struggling - Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Arsenal laid a hurting on Crystal Palace in their last league match, causing some to think their struggles are over. They’ve had plenty of off time, so the squad should be fresh, and - on paper at least - they have a far stronger lineup than Forest. Prior to their last match, scoring had been an issue for the North London side, it remains to be seen if they’ve banished that issue to last year. Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah each have a major role to play; a strong scoring run from either could reignite Arsenal’s title push.

Fulham vs. Everton

Craven Cottage, Tuesday 7:45pm Local, 2:45pm

Fulham have been bumped from both the Carabao and FA Cups in the past week, but the West London side has a chance to get back on track when Everton visits on Tuesday evening. Marco Silva’s men have settled into a comfortable 13th place and aren’t in any danger of relegation. That, however, can be a bit of a poison chalice, as this season could quickly descend into the doldrums, especially if the Cottagers fail to get all 3 points in matches like this. Their scoring core isn’t fully reliable, but Raúl Jiménez, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, and Willian are all in solid form. If they can unlock Everton’s backline early, you’d back Fulham to get a result.

Everton have had a rollercoaster of a campaign. They started slow, picked up form, were deducted 10 points, caught fire, slumped again, and now face another potential points penalty. Sean Dyche has his team in a fragile sort of order, but they need to win matches to guarantee that they stay clear of the bottom 3. The Toffees have only scored twice in their last 5 outings, and neither Dominic Calvert-Lewin nor Beto have been able to find the back of the net with nearly enough consistency. Fulham aren’t exactly a defensive juggernaut, but Everton have not shown themselves to be dangerous either.

Luton Town vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Kenilworth Road, Tuesday 7:45pm Local, 2:45pm

The Hatters host the Seagulls at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night, and Rob Edwards’ side can really ramp up the pressure on teams in the lower reaches of the table if they’re able to win. Luton’s improved form has the likes of Everton, Forest, and Brentford sweating, but Roberto De Zerbi’s side is unlikely to make it easy for them. That said, the Hatters’ form at home has been stronger of late, and they’re unlikely to open themselves up to counter attacks from the Seagulls. 

Brighton’s last 2 matches have ended 0-0, which is a drastic change from the early part of the season where they scored and conceded with abandon. Whether this has to do with a tactics shift, or just the Seagulls’ lack of their full squad is an open question, but João Pedro, Evan Ferguson, and Danny Welbeck will all pose a threat. This could very well be an opportunity for De Zerbi to inject some energy into a somewhat listless run of form.

Crystal Palace vs. Sheffield United

Selhurst Park, Tuesday, 8pm Local, 3pm Eastern

Both of these clubs could really use some good news. Roy Hodgson’s job seems to be teetering towards disaster each week, and the Eagles are coming off a true humbling at the hands of Arsenal. This could be a perfect opportunity to get the South London club back on track, as Sheffield United haven’t really been pulling up any trees. Eberechi Eze is the main man at Palace - especiallywith Michael Olise in and out with injuries. Perhaps he can stamp his authority on this match and jolt Palace’s uninspiring form.

The Blades were handed a shellacking at the hands of Brighton over the weekend, finding themselves unceremoniously bounced out of the FA Cup. Their season already seems over, though Chris Wilder can boost his case to keep the reins next season if he can get the Yorkshire side in some sort of form. New arrival Ben Brereton Díaz has shown some skill, and he could be a critical cog in the rest of Sheffield United’s season.

Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United

Villa Park, Tuesday, 8:15pm Local, 3:15pm Eastern

If you can remember all the way back to August, you may recall that Aston Villa were absolutely tonked by Newcastle in their opening match. Fast forward to now, and the fortunes of the two clubs have reversed - Villa find themselves in the top 4 and Newcastle are plodding along in midtable. The Birmingham side has shone at home, and they’ll back themselves to continue that run against Eddie Howe’s side. Ollie Watkins and John McGinn will look to heap pressure on the Magpies’ backline, and their high line will look to frustrate the likes of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

Newcastle have largely stopped their freefall, and - even though they’re not exactly on an electric run - they’ve shown improved performances in their recent run outs. That said, the Tyneside club has lost more matches than they’ve won this year, and a Villa Park away day is never an easy proposition. Isak and Gordon have been strong contributors, but their squad is still stretched. This may prove a bridge too far for the current Newcastle group, but signs are pointing to a brighter run for Howe’s men in the near future. 

Manchester City vs. Burnley

Etihad Stadium, Wednesday, 7:30pm Local, 2:30pm Eastern

Manchester City have created an aura of inevitability around themselves, and it’s being taken for granted that the Champions are about to go on a long, unbeaten run. Pep Guardiola’s side certainly has priors for just that, but it remains to be seen if this iteration can hit the same heights. Kevin De Bruyne’s return has ramped up the expectations for City, and Erling Haaland appears to be nearly back as well. Based on current form, even if this isn’t the beginning of a majestic run from Pep’s men, it’s hard to imagine Burnley troubling the Manchester side - especially at the Etihad.

Vincent Kompany has shown his willingness to compromise his famously rigid tactics in recent weeks to mixed results. Their last 4 league matches have yielded 4 points, which is an improvement for the Clarets but nowhere near good enough to reverse their league position. On paper, this match doesn’t look like much of an opportunity to change their fortunes, but - at the very least - Burnley’s task is clear, weather City’s vaunted pressure and be clinical on when opportunities to break present themselves. Sixth tier Maidstone United famously beat Ipswich Town over the weekend, so an upset of this magnitude is not impossible… it’s just not likely.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Brentford

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Wednesday, 7:30pm Local, 2:30pm Eastern

Ange Postecoglou’s side exited the cup at the hands of Manchester City, and their first chance to regroup after that loss comes on Wednesday evening when Brentford visits North London. Spurs fans will be a little disappointed that Son Heung-min’s South Korean side squeaked past Saudi Arabia in the Asian Cup, but Tottenham should have more than enough firepower to challenge the Bees. James Maddison returned in their FA Cup defeat, and he should be able to contribute from the start of this match. His facilitation from midfield has been greatly missed during his long injury absence.

Ivan Toney’s return dominated headlines in the lead up to Brentford’s last match, and the striker duly scored a (controversial) free kick. It’s possible his strong debut performance was built at least partially on adrenaline, so this is his first opportunity to showcase his consistent quality week on week. The Bees are in desperate need of some sustained good form, though this match could prove challenging. That said, Brentford held Tottenham to a draw in the first match of the season, so they can’t be taken lightly. 

Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Anfield, Wednesday, 8:15pm Local, 3:15pm Eastern

Jürgen Klopp shocked the football world late last week, announcing he’d be leaving Liverpool at the end of the current season. The German’s departure, which comes after he spearheaded the Merseyside club’s revival over 8 and a half seasons, will have far reaching consequences. For this week at least, he’s guaranteed an electric atmosphere at Anfield. His squad pumped 5 goals past Norwich City on Sunday, and you can be sure every home match until the end of the season will be loud and full of charged emotion from Liverpool supporters. While those fans will be mourning Klopp’s upcoming exodus, there are positives around the ground as well with Dominik Szoboszlai, Andy Robertson, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all available after extended absences.

Quietly, Chelsea have put together a solid run of form and find themselves knocking on the door of European qualification. That said, Mauricio Pochettino’s side haven’t been able to consistently challenge top clubs this season, and a trip to a raucous Anfield is difficult even if you’re in excellent form. Cole Palmer has shone the brightest of Chelsea’s recent additions, and he’s the most likely candidate to make an impact on the trip north. A point in the West London club’s favor: in 5 matches in 2024, they’ve only conceded twice. A strong, frustrating defensive performance could open the door for a goal on the break.

West Ham United vs. Bournemouth

London Stadium, Thursday, 7:30pm Local, 2:30pm Eastern

After a strong end to the year, the Hammers have lacked spark to start 2024. Both of their league matches ended in draws and they were dumped out of the cup by Championship opposition. Despite this, West Ham are sitting in 6th with some buffer against the chasing pack. Their opposition, Bournemouth, have looked strong, but David Moyes’ boys will have the home crowd behind them and - much more importantly - Mohammed Kudus back from Ghana’s poor showing at AFCON. It’s hard to predict which version of West Ham will show up each week, but they come into this match as at least slight favorites.

While Andoni Iraola’s side have cruised through the early rounds of the FA Cup (including topping Swansea City 5-0 before the end of the first half), their league form hit a snag and the South Coast side have lost their last two Premier League fixtures. Dominic Solanke is still the main man, and the Cherries have steadily improved their skill on the break - which could be crucial. That said, their opponents are perfectly comfortable ceding possession and forcing clubs to break them down. Bournemouth won’t have faced this proposition often, so this dynamic could force them out of their comfort zone.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Manchester United

Molineux, Thursday, 8:15pm Local, 3:15pm Eastern

Gary O’Neil has a shot at revenge at Molineux on Thursday, when his Wolves side squares off against Manchester United. The Midlands club was notably denied an obvious penalty when the teams first met, so they’ll be extra motivation for the hosts to get a result. Hwang Hee-chan is still missing, but Pedro Neto has returned and settled in. The Portuguese winger has been combining well with Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia, which will help Wolves bridge the gap until South Korea exit the Asian Cup. This match certainly has a lot riding on it, but - after the dramatic and violent scenes in their FA Cup derby contest - it’s possible O’Neil’s side may suffer a setback.

Manchester United snuck past Newport County in the Cup, but it was far from a convincing victory. The Red Devils haven’t struck fear into the league for awhile, and it’s a mark of how farl they’ve fallen in the collective estimation that it feels as though it would be surprising to see them come away with anything from this match. Antony finally scored - albeit against League 2 opposition - so one supposes there’s some hope that the Brazilian’s season is salvageable? With a new element in the ownership box and a floundering team, it seems inevitable that major changes are on the horizon for the crumbling juggernaut. The second half of the season will be crucial to see who’s still part of the club come next campaign.