There are weekends in the Premier League calendar that feel routine, and then there are weekends like this one. From the ongoing Mohamed Salah psychodrama at Anfield to the return of English football's fiercest regional rivalry, matchday sixteen offers storylines that even the most imaginative scriptwriter would struggle to conjure.
The Salah question hangs over Anfield
All eyes will be on Liverpool's teamsheet when Arne Slot names his side to face Brighton on Saturday afternoon. Will Mohamed Salah be included after his explosive interview accusing the club of throwing him "under the bus"? The Egyptian was excluded from Tuesday's Champions League victory over Inter Milan – a collective decision between manager and board – and his future remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Slot confirmed on Friday morning that a conversation with Salah would determine the next steps. "The result of that conversation will shape what happens next," the Dutch manager said, refusing to be drawn on whether his star forward would feature against the Seagulls. For Liverpool supporters making the journey to Anfield, the pre-match atmosphere will crackle with tension regardless of the outcome.
Brighton arrive on Merseyside in decent form, aware that a wounded Liverpool side missing their talisman could present an opportunity. The Reds have stumbled in recent weeks – that chaotic 3-3 draw at Leeds still fresh in the memory – and Fabian Hürzeler's side will fancy their chances of adding to the chaos.
Chelsea seek response as Moyes returns
The early kick-off at Stamford Bridge sees Chelsea host an Everton side rejuvenated under David Moyes' second spell in charge. The Blues have endured a difficult period, failing to win their last three league matches, while the Toffees have won four of their last five.
History favours the home side – Chelsea are unbeaten in their last thirty league home games against Everton, a remarkable run stretching back decades. But Enzo Maresca's men looked vulnerable in their midweek defeat to Atalanta, and Moyes has a habit of masterminding results against the big clubs. This could be closer than the bookmakers suggest.
The main event: Tyne-Wear derby returns
For pure passion, nothing this weekend can match what awaits at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon. Sunderland versus Newcastle United in the Premier League for the first time since March 2016. Nine years of absence has only intensified the anticipation.
The Black Cats have defied all expectations in their first season back in the top flight. Régis Le Bris has crafted a side that sits ninth in the table, just a point behind their bitter rivals. They arrive into this fixture unbeaten in their last nine league meetings with Newcastle – a run that includes six victories. The Magpies haven't won a league derby since April 2011.
Bruno Guimarães set the tone in his pre-match comments: "For us to be kings here, we have to beat Sunderland. It's a final." Dan Burn, the Geordie in Newcastle's ranks, has reportedly delivered a speech to teammates explaining the magnitude of the occasion. For those unfamiliar with the depth of this rivalry, the coming ninety minutes will serve as an education.
The atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light will be ferocious. Sunderland remain unbeaten at home this season, and the returning prodigal sons from St James' Park will face a wall of noise from the moment their coach arrives. This is what football is all about.
Leaders hunt down wounded prey
Saturday's late kick-off brings Arsenal to the Emirates to face a Wolverhampton Wanderers side in freefall. The Gunners, fresh from their commanding 3-0 victory at Club Bruges in midweek, sit two points clear at the summit despite last weekend's defeat at Aston Villa.
Wolves, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table without a single victory in fifteen matches. Only two points from fifteen games represents their worst start to a top-flight campaign in history. Gary O'Neil's position grows more precarious by the week, and facing a rampant Arsenal side desperate to extend their lead hardly offers respite.
The statistics are damning: Wolves' 5.2% win probability is the lowest seen in any Premier League match this season. Arsenal have won their last eight against the Midlands club. Mikel Arteta's men should have too much quality, even with Gabriel, Saliba and others nursing injuries.
City's chance to pile on pressure
Manchester City travel to Selhurst Park on Sunday knowing victory would temporarily take them top of the table, at least until Arsenal kick off later that evening. Pep Guardiola's side responded to their midweek triumph at the Bernabéu with renewed confidence, and Crystal Palace represent a side they have historically dominated.
The Eagles, however, carry the memory of their FA Cup final triumph over City last season. Oliver Glasner's side have been inconsistent this term, but their home form has been solid. With City's defence still susceptible to counter-attacks, Palace could cause problems if they find the right approach.
Relegation six-pointer at Turf Moor
Saturday's 17:30 kick-off brings a match of huge significance at the bottom of the table. Burnley host Fulham in a fixture neither side can afford to lose. The Clarets have been hit by a triple suspension blow ahead of the weekend, while the Cottagers sweat on the fitness of key players.
Both clubs currently occupy positions in the bottom half, and with the division as tight as ever – just seven points separate fourth from fourteenth – every point carries enormous weight. This has the hallmarks of a tense, cagey affair where one mistake could prove decisive.
Sunday's supporting cast
Beyond the headline attractions, Sunday offers further intrigue. Nottingham Forest, enjoying a remarkable campaign under Nuno Espírito Santo, host a Tottenham side still searching for consistency. The City Ground has become a fortress, and Spurs will need to be at their best to leave with anything.
West Ham welcome Aston Villa to the London Stadium in a match between two clubs with European ambitions. The Hammers have struggled domestically this term, while Villa's victory over Arsenal last weekend demonstrated their credentials as genuine top-four contenders.
The weekend concludes with Brentford hosting Leeds United at the Gtech Community Stadium. The newly-promoted Whites have shown admirable spirit in their return to the top flight, holding Liverpool to a draw last weekend, but their record in London remains poor. Thomas Frank's side will be eager to bounce back from consecutive defeats.
The bigger picture
This weekend could prove pivotal in shaping the narrative of the season. Arsenal's two-point cushion at the summit looks fragile with City breathing down their necks. Liverpool's Champions League qualification hopes depend on finding harmony amid the Salah storm. At the bottom, every point matters as clubs scramble to avoid the drop.
But above all else, football returns to the North East in its most visceral form. For nine years, supporters on Wearside and Tyneside have waited for this moment. On Sunday afternoon, the Tyne-Wear derby comes home. Whatever else happens this weekend, that alone makes it unmissable.
