SATURDAY

VILLA 0-4 CHELSEA 2.45pm

Diego Costa has had his ban extended to three games and will miss this tie at bottom side Aston Villa, who are managerless after sacking Remi Garde. Villa have virtually given in to their fate and must already be looking for life in the Championship next season. Champions Chelsea have had a bad season but thumping Villa should give them something to talk about for the season.

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ARSENAL 1-1 WATFORD 4pm

While other title contenders had their stars playing peripheral roles during international break, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez were involved in big games. The last time Watford played here, they extinguished Arsenal’s FA Cup hopes with dazzling display. Arsenal will now play like they should but Watford won’t be sitting back either. This should be an interesting encounter, the reason I root for a draw.

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Liverpool 1-1 Spurs 6pm

Like Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur just never get their tactic right against Liverpool. It gets worse at Anfield. When was the last time Spurs won at Anfield? Thirteen years ago. Such is their form at Anfield that season’s 3-2 loss was settled by Mario Balotelli. Granted, this is a Spurs writing history but they first have to exorcise the Anfield ghost. Home win or draw.

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SUNDAY

LEICESTER 2-0 SAINTS 2.30pm

Southampton Saints showed a rare grit to come from 2-0 down to beat Liverpool in their last game, and will fancy their form against leaders Leicester City. But the calm with with the Foxes go about their business suggest they are just not about to go down easily. Results on Saturday should actually favour Leicester if this column holds. That would mean this Sunday lunchtime game will be a meal for the Foxes to play around with.

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EL CLASICO

BARCA 3-1 REAL 9pm

Real Madrid have a new manager and ever new manager in the last five years have had a baptism of fire in their maiden El Clasico. Will Zinedine Zidane be any different from Pellegrini, Mourinho, Ancelotti and Benitez? Tonight will tell.Barca are 10 points clear and champions-in-waiting, I dare say. Madrid will be overrun again.

ENGLISH FA CUP FIXTURESWEST HAM 3-1 PALACESUNDERLAND 1-2 WEST BROMSTOKE 2-0 SWANSEANORWICH 1-3 NEWCASTLEB’mouth 0-2 MAN CITYMAN UTD 1-1 EVERTONNORWICH 1-3 NEWCASTLE