The EPL was turned on its head last week when Liverpool leapfrogged Man City to the summit of the ladder.
The Reds will be looking to stay at the top with a win over rivals Man Utd this week, a task which they haven't found easy in recent seasons.
Before that cracking fixture where the Citizens will be looking to temporarily return to the top of the table with a win over Everton.
Heading south and the Saints will play their first game at home under a new manager when the Gunners come visiting.
Manchester City v Everton
EPL Odds: Man City $1.20 / Draw $7 / Everton $12
The round begins up in Manchester, where Pep Guardiola's Citizens will be looking to bounce back in style after tasting their first EPL defeat of the season last weekend.
They welcome Everton to the Etihad Stadium, for a clash that may prove more competitive than the bookie's odds suggest.
That's because Man City's injury problems are staring to mount.
With Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy already sidelined, David Silva was recently ruled out until 2019 with a hamstring injury.
While some of their troops are expected to return in the coming weeks, Man City's busy schedule is starting to catch up with them.
We saw this last weekend, when the Citizens went down to Chelsea by two goals to nil.
After having to play Champions League midweek, there's a chance that Man City won't be at their brilliant best against Everton here.
Even if that's the case, you'd still expect them to get all three points here given the bags of quality in their squad.
However Everton aren't likely to lay down in this fixture, boasting solid form in recent matches.
In their past nine EPL games, they have only lost twice. These were both by a solitary goal, away to Manchester United and Liverpool.
This form suggests that the Toffees will be in this game for a long way.
With a good defensive base of Yerry Mina and Michael Keane at centre back, and Idrissa Gueye sitting just in front, the Evertonians will be hard to break down.
Gueye is often the overlooked member of Everton's team. He leads the league in tackles with 4.3 per game.
This stat demonstrates how central Gueye is to stopping opposition attacks. He will need to be at his best to help his side repel Man City's constant attacking threat.
Key EPL Stat
3 of the last 4 meetings between these sides at the Etihad have resulted in draws: Match to end in a draw @ $7
EPL Betting Tip: Everton with a +1.5 goal handicap @ $2.25
Reasoning: With so many key players out, even Man City will have to work hard for the win here.
Expect a draw or a narrow win from the Citizens.
Southampton v Arsenal
EPL Odds: Southampton $3.75 / Draw $3.60 / Arsenal $1.83
This interesting match-up will see the high-flying Gunners journey down to the south coast to take on the Saints.
Despite the fact that the team from London have gone 21 games unbeaten in all comps, don't discount the chances of the home team here.
It will be their first game at St. Mary's Stadium under new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who recently took the reins after the sacking of Mark Hughes.
Hasenhuttl is perhaps best known as the manager who brought Bundesliga new boys RB Leipzig within a whisker of knocking off Bayern Munich in recent seasons.
Bayern have long dominated the German league, and are almost unbackable favourites to win every year.
That makes Hasenhuttl's efforts with Leipzig all the more remarkable, in taking a newly promoted side all the way up to be title challengers.
Saints fans will be hoping for a similar miracle with their struggling side.
The good news is that Hasenhuttl has plenty of talent at his disposal, as well as a good mix of experienced EPL players who know how to grind out results.
Getting this senior group on side will be crucial for the Austrian, who will need every point he can get to avoid relegation.
Considering Southampton's previous three home games all ended in draws, there is a solid foundation for Hasenhuttl to build off at St. Mary's.
Arsenal meanwhile continue to pick up result after result.
One player who has only continued to improve after his superb display in the North London derby is Lucas Torreira.
He bossed the game from the midfield against Huddersfield last week, before scoring an incredible bicycle kick winner.
With both Aubameyang and Lacazette posing a constant danger in the final third, Southampton's defenders will need to be on their toes.
Key EPL Stat
The Saints have drawn their past 3 games at home: Match to end in a draw @ $3.60
EPL Betting Tip: Match to end in a draw @ $3.60
Reasoning: The Saints were unlucky not to come away with all three points against Man Utd in their previous home game.
A slight improvement would see them earn another point against a very good opposition.
Liverpool v Manchester United
EPL Odds: Liverpool $1.53 / Draw $3.75 / Man Utd $5
The match of the round sees two veteran heavyweights of Northern England clash.
For a long time, it has been the team from Manchester who has got the better of their Merseyside neighbours in this fixture, particularly under the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Despite their improvements under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have failed to wrestle back control of this match-up in past seasons.
This is backed up by the recent record, with the Reds having failed to defeat the Red Devils in their past five attempts.
After the highs of overtaking Man City in the title race and qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League, the Scousers will be confident of finally notching up a long-awaited victory over the Red Devils.
With the game being played at Anfield, you'd have to think that Klopp's men have a very good chance of securing all three points here.
They have won their past five games at home in all competitions - a fact that Mourinho will be acutely aware of.
His side always seem to be up for these big fixtures, so don't overlook United.
They are coming off a disappointing away loss to Valencia in the Champions League.
However, after already securing qualification, Mourinho's main focus would've been this game.
So much will come down to how he sets up his side to deal with Liverpool's attacking threat.
In recent games against Liverpool, Mourinho has unashamedly parked the bus at Anfield.
In other words, sitting deep in defence and constricting Liverpool's space, where the speed of Mane and Salah has had little effect.
But Man Utd's defence has been far from up to Mourinho's standard this season.
They have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 of their previous 12 matches.
Don't expect them to keep Liverpool scoreless here.
Key EPL Stat
4 of the previous 5 games between these sides have resulted in draws: Match to end in a draw @ $3.75
EPL Betting Tip: Liverpool to win into under 3.5 total match goals @ $2.40
Reasoning: If Mourinho parks the bus as expected, this will be a dour and low-scoring game.
But Man U's defence has been ordinary this campaign, so expect the quality of Liverpool's attacking trio to find a goal or two.
Dec 13, 2018 07:01 PM
AAP
Key EPL Stat
EPL Betting Tip: Everton with a +1.5 goal handicap @ $2.25
