The bright lights of the Etihad Stadium shine down on Sunday's Premier League main event, as division leaders Liverpool can take a giant step towards glory by beating ailing champions Manchester City.
However, the Reds' failure to overcome Aston Villa in midweek has left the door ajar for Arsenal, who can cut the gap at the top of the rankings down to five by defeating West Ham United in Saturday's London derby.
At the same time on February 22, the Gunners' North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur bid for a third Premier League win on the spin away to Ipswich Town, before Chelsea and Aston Villa clash in a mouthwatering evening kickoff.
The intriguing ties do not stop there, as Saturday lunchtime's game sees ex-Manchester United boss and current Everton manager David Moyes welcome the Red Devils to Goodison Park, while Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United collide in another tantalising Sunday showdown.
Before all that, Leicester City host Brentford on Friday night to kick off gameweek 26, which sees Sports Mole take on Wallsend alt-rock band The Pale White - a trio of Newcastle fans - for our latest prediction competition.
Read on to find out how we and The Pale White anticipate this weekend's games playing out, as well as discovering the winner of our head-to-head with HIMALAYAS frontman Joe Williams in gameweek 25.
Leicester vs. Brentford
Friday, 8pm
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The Pale White: Leicester 1-1 Brentford
Sports Mole: Leicester 1-3 Brentford
Leicester are unbeaten in four at home to Brentford, and have scored in 17 of the last 18 head-to-heads, suggesting their long wait for a home goal could end here.
However, after losing 4-1 to the Bees in the reverse fixture, it is clear that past history is unlikely to come into the equation for this one, and it could be another tough evening for the hosts against one of the strongest away teams of late in the Premier League.
Everton vs. Man Utd
Saturday, 12.30pm
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The Pale White: Everton 2-1 Man Utd
Sports Mole: Everton 0-1 Man Utd
Everton's hoodoo against United has continued to haunt them in recent years despite the Red Devils being at their lowest point in many decades.
The 4-0 defeat in the reverse was under different management and should be taken with a pinch of salt, but the visitors should be more determined than ever to avoid yet another defeat that could move them even further down the table.
Arsenal vs. West Ham
Saturday, 3pm
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The Pale White: Arsenal 3-1 West Ham
Sports Mole: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Another glut of goals against the Hammers is surely off the table for a striker-starved Arsenal, but chance creation should not be a problem for the Gunners with the electrifying Ethan Nwaneri in his current form.
As Arteta's men are squaring up a confidence-depleted West Ham side without a single clean sheet in 2025, we have complete faith in the hosts to close the gap on Liverpool and ramp up the pressure on the Reds before Sunday's blockbuster with Man City.
Fulham vs. Crystal Palace
Saturday, 3pm
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The Pale White: Fulham 2-0 Crystal Palace
Sports Mole: Fulham 1-1 Crystal Palace
The last two meetings between these two clubs at Craven Cottage have both ended all square, and another closely-fought contest could be on the cards this weekend.
Fulham will boast the psychological edge having already beaten Crystal Palace without reply this season, but the Eagles have looked strong away from home in recent weeks and will back themselves to claim at least a point from this fixtures.
Ipswich vs. Spurs
Saturday, 3pm
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The Pale White: Ipswich 1-2 Spurs
Sports Mole: Ipswich 0-2 Spurs
As praiseworthy as Ipswich's point was at Villa Park, the Tractor Boys needed an inspired Palmer to get them out of jail time and time again, and their Premier League home woes are extremely well-documented.
McKenna's men should not be blown to smithereens by any stretch, but a Tottenham side boosted both confidence-wise and numbers-wise have our vote to complete their East Anglian revenge mission.
Southampton vs. Brighton
Saturday, 3pm
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The Pale White: Southampton 1-3 Brighton
Sports Mole: Southampton 0-3 Brighton
Brighton may be guilty of too many slip-ups against sides whom they would be expected to ease past, but the Seagulls' poor record versus bottom-10 teams should prove meaningless at St Mary's.
The visitors have never lost a Premier League game on Southampton's turf and were irresistible when Chelsea came to town, so they should run into few problems dispatching the basement boys with ease.
Bournemouth vs. Wolves
Saturday, 3pm
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The Pale White: Bournemouth 2-1 Wolves
Sports Mole: Bournemouth 3-1 Wolves
Wolves' spirited performances across their last two matches, as well as their solid Premier League away record against Bournemouth, will give them hope of claiming a positive result at the Vitality Stadium, but the Cherries will still be regarded as favourites for this one.
Indeed, Iraola's side have already hit four goals past a leaky Wolves defence this season and they should have few problems outscoring their opponents en route to collecting three valuable points to boost their top-four hopes.
Aston Villa vs. Chelsea
Saturday, 5.30pm
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The Pale White: Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea
Sports Mole: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
Chelsea comfortably swept Aston Villa aside in December, but a closer contest could be in store this time around between two top-four hopefuls who have found it difficult to grind out victories in recent weeks.
Villa have preferred playing on home soil this term and taking into account Chelsea's defensive frailties and recent struggles in the final third, we are backing Emery's side to pick up maximum points on this occasion.
Newcastle vs. Nott'm Forest
Sunday, 2pm
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The Pale White: Newcastle 2-0 Nott'm Forest
Sports Mole: Newcastle 1-1 Nott'm Forest
Confidence is not exactly sky-high in either camp right now, but with lethal marksmen at both ends of the field, neither goalkeeper should go home without having picked the ball out of the back of the net.
Forest conceding first normally spells danger - they have lost five of their six Premier League games this season where they have gone 1-0 down - but even if Newcastle can break the deadlock on Sunday, Howe's team may have to settle for a point.
Man City vs. Liverpool
Sunday, 4.30pm
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The Pale White: Man City 2-2 Liverpool
Sports Mole: Man City 1-1 Liverpool
Whether fatigue, pressure or a combination of both is getting to Liverpool, Slot's men have lost their way ever so slightly in recent weeks, and a City side now scoring for fun at home again are primed to take advantage, to a degree.
Haaland's availability may very well determine whether the champions can indeed get something out of Sunday's blockbuster battle, where we can envisage Man City coming away with a creditable point, one that may leave Liverpool nervously looking over their shoulder.
The Pale White Q&A
How did you come to support Newcastle and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?
The Pale White: We've been surrounded by hardcore Toon fans our whole life, our friends would die for their club! Favourite memory has to be seeing Shearer score his record-breaking goal against Portsmouth in 2006.
Who have been your favourite five players for Newcastle?
The Pale White: Shearer - PL top goal scorer, true Geordie legend... No explanation needed here.
David Ginola - Scored some amazing goals! He had that flamboyant style that was essential to the 'entertainers' era. Sexy Frenchman.
Papiss Cisse - One of the players who were a joy to watch under Pardew. That outstanding goal against Chelsea remains one of the greatest I've ever witnessed.
Alexander Isak - A monumental signing and an absolute natural goal machine.
Bruno [Guimaraes] - He's already written himself into Geordie folklore. Another amazing player who's flourished under Howe. He dominates and controls the midfield.
What's going on with the band at the moment?
The Pale White: A very exciting time for The Pale White, as we gear up to release our second album 'The Big Sad' which drops on April 18th. Between an intense release schedule, and intensive touring with our own shows and supporting the legendary alt-rock band Pixies... 2025 is looking to be our best yet! But amongst all of the shows, we really can't wait to play our long awaited hometown show at Northumbria Uni on March 15th.
'Lost In The Moment' by The Pale White is available to stream now.
You can follow The Pale White on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).
2024-25 SEASON LEADERBOARD (ARTISTS)
Scores are calculated as one point for a correct result and five points for a correct scoreline.
1. Kyle Starkey (16pts | Gameweek 3)
2. Make Friends' Max Lewin (15pts | Gameweek 2)
3. Everyone Says Hi's Nick Hodgson (13pts | Gameweek 1)
4. Blitz Vega's Kav Sandhu (10pts | Gameweek 5)
5. Trampolene's Jack Jones (9pts | Gameweek 4)
= Kneecap's Mo Chara (9pts | Gameweek 6)
= The Slow Readers Club's James Ryan (9pts | Gameweek 20)
= Alex Spencer (9pts | Gameweek 21)
= Better Joy's Bria Keely (9pts | Gameweek 22)
10. Feet's Harry Southerton (7pts | Gameweek 13)
= IN PARALLEL's Harrison Baker (7pts | Gameweek 15)
= HIMALAYAS' Joe Williams (7pts | Gameweek 25)
13. Kids in Glass Houses' Iain Mahanty (6pts | Gameweek 7)
= proFESSional's Rob Hennebry (6pts | Gameweek 8)
= Solar Eyes' Glenn Smyth (6pts | Gameweek 24)
16. Maddox Jones (4pts | Gameweek 9)
= The Farm's Peter Hooton (4pts | Gameweek 18)
= Danko's Lewis White (4pts | Gameweek 23)
19. She Drew The Gun's Louisa Roach (3pts | Gameweek 10)
= The Now's Shane Callaghan (3pts | Gameweek 17)
= Chilli Jesson (3pts | Gameweek 11)
22. Soft Launch's Josh McClory (2pts | Gameweek 12)
= My First Time's James Mellen (2pts | Gameweek 14)
= Apollo Junction's Ben Hope (2pts | Gameweek 16)
2024-25 COMPETITION HISTORY
Gameweek 1: Everyone Says Hi's Nick Hodgson 13-14 Sports Mole
Gameweek 2: Make Friends' Max Lewin 15-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 3: Kyle Starkey 16-13 Sports Mole
Gameweek 4: Trampolene's Jack Jones 9-9 Sports Mole
Gameweek 5: Blitz Vega's Kav Sandhu 10-11 Sports Mole
Gameweek 6: Kneecap's Mo Chara 9-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 7: Kids in Glass Houses' Iain Mahanty 6-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 8: proFESSional's Rob Hennebry 6-7 Sports Mole
Gameweek 9: Maddox Jones 4-10 Sports Mole
Gameweek 10: She Drew The Gun's Louisa Roach 3-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 11: Chilli Jesson 3-8 Sports Mole
Gameweek 12: Soft Launch's Josh McClorey 2-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 13: Feet's Harry Southerton 7-10 Sports Mole
Gameweek 14: My First Time's James Mellen 2-8 Sports Mole
Gameweek 15: IN PARALLEL's Harrison Baker 7-2 Sports Mole
Gameweek 16: Apollo Junction's Ben Hope 2-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 17: The Now's Shane Callaghan 3-6 Sports Mole
Gameweek 18: The Farm's Peter Hooton 4-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 19: N/A
Gameweek 20: The Slow Readers Club's James Ryan 9-14 Sports Mole
Gameweek 21: Alex Spencer 9-7 Sports Mole
Gameweek 22: Better Joy's Bria Keely 9-6 Sports Mole
Gameweek 23: Danko's Lewis White 4-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 24: Solar Eyes' Glenn Smyth 6-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 25: HIMALAYAS' Joe Williams 7-8 Sports Mole
Ben Knapton
