True test for Carlo Ancelotti, year-end celebrations for Liverpool - weekend Premier League predictions

A look at the matches on Saturday and Sunday as action continues in England's top flight

Newcastle v Everton, Saturday 7pm: Carlo Ancelotti enjoyed a great start to his managerial stint with a win over Burnley, but Newcastle two days later will be a proper test. Yes the Magpies lost to Manchester United but have also drawn with Manchester City and have lost just two of their last six games. Prediction: Newcastle 1 Everton 1. PA

Brighton v Bournemouth, Saturday 4.30 pm: Two evenly matched teams in every way. They have the same record, points tally and goal difference. But at least Bournemouth enter the match with a draw against Arsenal under their belt. Prediction: Brighton 1 Bournemouth 1. Getty Images

Burnley v Manchester United, Saturday 11.45 pm: A second match in three days. It’s no secret that the festive fixtures can be brutal but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be buoyed by the way his team rallied to crush Newcastle on Boxing Day. Burnley conceded nine goals in all to Tottenham and Manchester City so expect more of the same. Prediction: Burnley 0 Manchester United 3. AFP

Watford v Aston Villa, Saturday 7pm: Both teams are right in the relegation zone and Villa will be desperate to put some distance between them and Watford, who have just two wins from 19 games and have a goal difference of minus 21. Villa got the job done against bottom-placed Norwich City and should do the same on Saturday. Watford 0 Aston Villa 2. Getty

Norwich v Tottenham, Saturday 9.30 pm: This could get ugly. Norwich are at the bottom of the table and face Jose Mourinho’s Spurs who will show no mercy as they aim for the top four going into the new year. Prediction: Norwich City 0 Tottenham 2. Getty Images

Southampton v Crystal Palace, Saturday 7pm: Southampton have got some confidence back, two away wins to Aston Villa and Chelsea coming at just the right time as they look to move away from the drop zone. The injury list grows longer at Palace, so Ralph Hasenhuttl should be confident. Prediction: Southampton 1 Crystal Palace 0. Getty Images

West Ham  v Leicester, Saturday 9.30 pm: Leicester were hammered 4-0 by Liverpool, which ended any minuscule hopes of going for the title. Now they can look at securing their top four place against a West Ham team that have lost three of their last four games. Prediction : West Ham 0 Leicester 2. PA

Arsenal v Chelsea, Sunday 6pm: Frank Lampard was fuming after the defeat to Southampton undid the good work against Spurs. At least his team will have an extra day’s rest as they take on Arsenal where Mikel Arteta started his stint with a ‘pleasing draw’ against Bournemouth. This can go either way. Prediction: Arsenal 2 Chelsea 2. EPA

Liverpool v Wolves, Sunday 8.30pm: The Reds seem to have one hand on the Premier League table having opened up a 13-point lead by December. Jurgen Klopp’s team have had a particularly tough month due to their Club World Cup commitments but should have more than enough in the tank. Prediction: Liverpool 3 Wolves 0. Getty Images

Manchester City v Sheffield United, Sunday 10pm: This game could be a banana skin for City. The Blades haven’t lost in four games and are three places behind Manchester City in the table. Pep Guardiola’s team will be playing their second match in three days, so be prepared. Prediction: Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0. AP

We are in the middle of an incredibly hectic festive season in the Premier League. Teams are playing two matches in three days and some like Liverpool have had to play 10 across competitions in 30 days.

Injury management will be priority when action continues after Boxing Day.

Liverpool look in unstoppable form while Mikel Arteta and Carlo Ancelotti enjoyed confident starts to their managerial careers.

Manchester United rode on the brilliance of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood against Newcastle and will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday against Burnley.

Down at the bottom of the table, Watford and Aston Villa will be locked in a relegation battle on Saturday.

Then, Arsenal take on Chelsea in what could well be a thrilling encounter on Sunday.

Ahead of the matches, here are some predictions in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next image, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.