With the European competitions on hiatus for a short while, all 20 Premier League teams will instead attend to domestic matters in midweek, where there are a selection of intriguing battles up and down the country.
The special item on the 10-match menu is undoubtedly Arsenal's clash with Ruben Amorim's Manchester United at the Emirates, where the Gunners will look to beat the Red Devils in four straight league matches for the very first time.
Victory for Arsenal may not improve their title chances if runaway leaders Liverpool - nine points clear at the summit after conquering Manchester City on Sunday - can get the better of Newcastle United, while the champions themselves have many wrongs to right at home to Nottingham Forest.
Before all that, though, Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge of his first Leicester City match at home to fellow strugglers West Ham United, while Tottenham Hotspur's trip to Bournemouth on Thursday night concludes the gameweek.
Another round of Premier League fixtures means another Sports Mole prediction competition, and this week, our opponent is James Mellen - guitar and vocals for post-pop punks band My First Time and a lifelong Arsenal fan.
Read on to find out how James and Sports Mole anticipate this week's matches playing out, as well as discovering the result of our competition with Harry Southerton of indie rockers Feet from the weekend.
Ipswich vs. Crystal Palace
Tuesday, 7.30pmJames: Ipswich 2-2 Crystal Palace
Sports Mole: Ipswich 1-2 Crystal Palace
Ipswich have taken on the role of stalemate specialists in this Premier League campaign - especially at their Portman Road headquarters - and neither goalkeeper should add to their clean sheet totals given both defences' respective frailties.
However, as the Eagles have started to find a clinical edge on the road and also have Eze fit and firing again, we have faith in Glasner's side to edge an incredibly tight battle, boosting their survival prospects at the expense of their hosts.
Leicester vs. West Ham
Tuesday, 8.15pmJames: Leicester 0-2 West Ham
Sports Mole: Leicester 2-2 West Ham
The quintessential new manager bounce may benefit Leicester on the attacking front, but their defensive vulnerabilities will not be fixed overnight, and a Kudus-reinforced West Ham will surely strike at least twice at the King Power.
However, as Lopetegui's team are also far from watertight at the back, Van Nistelrooy's men should be good enough for a slice of the spoils in an entertaining baptism for the Dutchman.
Everton vs. Wolves
Wednesday, 7.30pmJames: Everton 0-2 Wolves
Sports Mole: TBC
Man City vs. Nott'm Forest
Wednesday, 7.30pmJames: Man City 1-1 Nott'm Forest
Sports Mole: Man City 2-1 Nott'm Forest
No team should rock up to the Etihad and resign themselves to defeat during City's unforeseen slump, and a Forest side who have excelled on the road all season long - Arsenal aside - should give Guardiola's team an excellent run for their money.
However, as the Citizens boss can introduce some tricky wingers and creative hubs into a much-changed attack, we can finally envisage the champions arresting their miserable sequence, but only by a narrow margin of victory.
Newcastle vs. Liverpool
Wednesday, 7.30pmJames: Newcastle 0-3 Liverpool
Sports Mole: Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
Whether Isak is able to shake off his concern in time to face the league leaders only time will tell, but his possible absence will rob the Magpies of their chief threat against the best defence that the Premier League has to offer.
Howe's men have been found wanting in front of goal at St James' Park even with Isak in the lineup anyway, and even with a day's less rest, the Liverpool juggernaut should make light work of their unstable opponents.
Southampton vs. Chelsea
Wednesday, 7.30pmJames: Southampton 1-2 Chelsea
Sports Mole: TBC
Arsenal vs. Man Utd
Wednesday, 8.15pmJames: Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
Sports Mole: Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd
As potent as Man United have been at their Old Trafford base under van Nistelrooy and Amorim, their powers often elude them on the road, a bad omen before a visit to Arsenal's Emirates fortress.
Having also lost the effervescent Mainoo, the defensive cornerstone Martinez and potentially the influential Fernandes, Man United should suffer their first setback of the Amorim era against an Arsenal side who have rediscovered their attacking mojo.
History will be written if our prediction comes true, as an Arsenal win would see them beat Man United in four successive league matches for the first time ever.
Aston Villa vs. Brentford
Wednesday, 8.15pmJames: Aston Villa 1-1 Brentford
Sports Mole: Aston Villa 1-1 Brentford
There has been just one clean sheet in six Premier League meetings between Aston Villa and Brentford to date, while Villa are shipping plenty of goals this season and the Bees have scored freely.
Both sides should find the net, then, but they may have to settle for a share of the spoils, which would keep the visitors above their hosts in the table.
Fulham vs. Brighton
Thursday, 7.30pmJames: Fulham 0-1 Brighton
Sports Mole: TBC
Bournemouth vs. Spurs
Thursday, 8.15pmJames: Bournemouth 1-3 Spurs
Sports Mole: TBC
James Mellen Q&A
How did you come to support Arsenal and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?
Like a lot of people, it's been passed down; my Dad's side of the family have always supported the Arsenal. One of my favourite memories was New Year's Day in 2014 – being sat in the Clock End at the Emirates and seeing two last minute goals courtesy of Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner to beat Cardiff 2-0.
Who have been your favourite five players for your club? (Historically or currently)
Plenty to choose from! Firstly, Ray Parlour, a bit before my time but someone I'd love to go for a pint with, his stories are unbelievable. Then Bukayo Saka – we're the same school year, which is mental, and like every fan he's such a special player for the club. Declan Rice: such a brilliant signing for us, an absolute rock in the midfield and seems like a wicked bloke. Ian Wright is such an Arsenal legend; an amazing player and his punditry is second to none. And finally, Mr Mikel Arteta himself; I vividly remember him as a player so to see him as our gaffer is such a full circle moment.
What's going on with the band at the moment?
We recently released a new single on Parlophone! The music video was shot at this bizarre apartment in London; never thought I'd rip a guitar solo suited-up in a hot tub but here we are. We also just rounded off our live year with a couple of shows with our good mates in Getdown Services. We'll kick off 2025 with a show at The Lower Third in London for Abbie McCarthy. Heading back into the studio soon too, and have loads of stuff we can't wait to share in 2025.
My First Time's latest track 'Man Of Ill Repute' is available to stream now.
You can follow My First Time 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)
7. Feet's Harry Southerton (7pts | Gameweek 13)
8. Kids in Glass Houses' Iain Mahanty (6pts | Gameweek 7)
= proFESSional's Rob Hennebry (6pts | Gameweek 8)
10. Maddox Jones (4pts | Gameweek 9)
11. She Drew The Gun's Louisa Roach (3pts | Gameweek 10)
= Chilli Jesson (3pts | Gameweek 11)
13. Soft Launch's Josh McClory (2pts | Gameweek 12)
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
.jpg?w=300&h=225&auto=compress,format&fit=fillmax&fill=blur "Amorim defeated as City's winless run continues? Premier League GW14 predictions")
