It's back to the bread and butter of club football this weekend and the resumption of the Predict360 League.
After the international break, our seven armchair experts return to battle with Manchester United fan Moe Anabtawi leading the way at the top of the table.
Moe was one of only three competitors to pick up points last time out - collecting one courtesy of United's 1-0 win over Reading - meaning he now tops the table by four points from Obaydah Al Namer (Liverpool).
Simon Thurston (Tottenham) and Darren Ball (Man City) are a further point behind on 20, while Shivam Manghnani (Chelsea) and Ted Totsidis (Arsenal) have at least closed the gap after correctly predicting their sides would beat West Ham and Swansea respectively.
Latecomer Mark Schumann remains bottom on 14 points but with nine games remaining he will be hoping to make a late charge into the top four.
A big weekend of action ahead. Good luck gents…
CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE (after 26 rounds)
Man United (Moe) – 25pts
Liverpool (Obaydah) – 21
Tottenham (Simon) – 20
Man City (Darren) – 20
Chelsea (Shivam) – 17
Arsenal (Ted) – 15
Everton (Mark) – 14
TED TOTSIDIS - @TedTots (Arsenal)
What happened last time? Well, I couldn't be happier that the international break is over and that the Premier League is back. Our last game out, which feels like an eternity ago now, was an encouraging win at Swansea and one that has put us in a solid position to make a late season charge for fourth spot. It's a sentiment that Arsene Wenger echoed this week too: "We know that if we are consistent we will make the top four."
Sitting four points off Spurs and five points off Chelsea with a game in hand, it may be ambitious to think we can pull this off, but with upcoming matches, you could say odds are still in our favour and a win today would be crucial to achieving our goal.
Prediction this week: Today we host a relegation threatened Reading who are winless in five and in desperate need of points. Their efforts may be futile though as I have a feeling Arsenal are going to pull out a top shelf performance to dominate the match and keep the pressure on the teams above them.
Olivier Giroud hasn't scored for some time and is due a couple, while Theo Walcott has been "indifferent" for lack of a better word and should get on the score sheet too. Assuming our defence holds out, I feel this should be a fairly convincing win in favour of the Gunners. Arsenal 3-1 Reading
SHIVAM MANGHNANI - @ShivamLM (Chelsea)
What happened last time? Chelsea's win over West Ham was brilliant for many reasons. The scoreline should have been a lot higher but the atmosphere around Stamford Bridge was different, it was a lot less negative and the best since Rafa Benitez took over.
I suspect this trend will carry on towards the end of the season and should see us secure third. Thankfully none of our players picked up an injury on international duty with quite a few getting rested (Juan Mata in particular) which is a relief considering before the international break we were averaging a game every three days.
Predictions this week: Southampton are ad odd proposition. They seem to do well against the bigger teams whilst capitulating against teams they should be beating which is why I am a bit unsure as to what will happen and how they will play.
However, I think with our players rested and morale higher than it has been since 'The Interim', Chelsea will win. Fernando Torres has even stopped moaning and is coming out with positive noises that he wants to make it back into the Spanish squad and I think this could lead to him having a good end of the season. For the first time in a long while I am very confident about a Chelsea away fixture. Southampton 1-3 Chelsea
MARK SCHUMANN - @MarkSchuey (Everton)
What happened last time? A fantastic win against Manchester City was everything that the previous FA Cup disaster against Wigan wasn't. Desire, passion, teamwork - just a shame I didn't back Everton to win. As a result I remain rooted to the bottom of the Predict360 League. Time to make the charge up the table...
Prediction this week: Everton welcome Stoke to Goodison. The Potters have not been great this year and with home advantage I can't see anything other than a home win. Everton still have ambitions of Europe and despite Fellaini being suspended I see a Everton 2-0 Stoke scoreline.
OBAYDAH AL-NAMER - @LFCArabia (Liverpool)
What happened last time? We were awful against Southampton. We seemed to forget the basics of football, poor passing, unable to hold onto possession in dangerous areas and Martin Skrtel's shocker. Coutinho gave us a lifeline, but we have been inconsistent this year, and we deserve what we got two weeks ago.
Prediction this week: The last time we played Villa we were aiming for second place, this time we are out of contention for the Champions League places. After the abysmal performance at Southampton I believe the Reds will bounce back at the expense of Villa.
Hopefully Suarez is firing on all cylinders after his trip to South America, because the only title we can achieve this season is the top scorer award! Sturridge will be back, so I expect an easy game for Liverpool. Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
DARREN BALL - @AbuDhabiDaz (Man City)
What happened last time? After a devastating defeat to Everton last time out and another week of boring internationals I'm trying my best to regain interest.
Prediction this week: With my interest leaning more to a trip to Wembley I will be hoping for a good showing today when City host Newcastle. There's plenty of talk circulating around the City camp with regards to the players and manager and this has obviously reflected on the performances of late.
A defeat for City today coupled with a win for Salford (Manchester United) would mean a feisty derby next week when the title could be won. With that in mind and Newcastle not showing the same direction as they did last season I am predicting a home win. Man City 2-0 Newcastle
MOHAMMED ANABTAWI - @MoeAnabtawi (Man Utd)
What happened last time? I didn’t quite get my predicted scoreline right but we did get those ever so vital three points to take us one step closer to the title. Rooney, Hernandez, Kagawa and Van Persie all scored on the international break and that is always good to know considering a striker always boosts his morale with goals.
Prediction this week: United travel to the Stadium of Light for a chance to silence the Mackems as well as open up an 18 point lead until City face off with Newcastle later this evening.
With Steven Fletcher and Lee Cattermole out of Sunderland's lineups, it will be interesting to see what kind of team Ferguson puts on the pitch bearing in mind we have Chelsea 48 hours later. Yes Chelsea fans, we hate the FA too.
If anything Chelsea have it tougher than we do, playing Southampton in the league, us in the FA Cup and then a European fixture on Thursday. However, the main focus for now is the league and three points will do today.
Us playing Chelsea on Monday might have saved the Mackems from a grand beating aiming to rest most of our top guns for the FA Cup clash. We might want to seal number 20 ASAP, but we also crave that FA Cup trophy we haven’t won since 2003. Come on United! Man Utd 2-0 Sunderland
SIMON THURSTON - @SimonPThurston (Tottenham)
What happened last time? Hmmm, Spurs' first real blip of the season and suddenly questions are being asked of the players and manager. The Fulham game was not a great performance, but two world class saves from Mark Schwarzer denied Jermain Defoe a brace which would have secured all three points.
However football is a game of inches, and now the Lilleywhites have eight 'cup finals' to play in their quest to secure Champions League football next season.
Prediction this week: The visit to Swansea is going to be a test, no question. Currently sitting ninth in the table and League Cup winners, Michael Laudrup is sure to receive the Manager of the Season award. His team play attractive football and are not intimidated by anyone, taking the spoils at The Emirates and St James' Park, while holding Chelsea and Man Utd to draws at home.
But they are on a run of two defeats on the trot. Spurs have the second best away record in the league and only Man Utd have scored more on their travels, but this week the pressure is on.
But they themselves are on a run of two defeats meaning a positive response is needed quickly, and perhaps playing away against a team who plays open football may provide it. It should be an attractive game to watch, and I can see goals at both ends. Swansea 1-2 Tottenham
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