Preview of the Weekend: Arsenal host Liverpool; Madrid hope to end losing streak

Welcome to All Football's Preview of the Weekend. As Europe's top leagues enter their pivotal stages, you should miss not even one game! Below are the best matches the world of football would bring to you.

Arsenal vs Liverpool

Kick off: 18:30 (CET)

Date: Sat, 03-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Arsenal have an injury crisis on their hands in the full-back positions, with Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac all facing a race against time to recover for the visit of Liverpool.

Aaron Ramsey is all but certain to leave the club when his contract expires next summer but may be called upon to start as Matteo Guendouzi was sent off in the cup in midweek and is suspended.

Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson will miss the club's trip to Arsenal on Saturday.

Dejan Lovren started ahead of Joe Gomez last week but the latter's pace is surely the better option against this Arsenal attack.

The last five meetings between these sides have seen 27 goals scored and that trend doesn't look send to end this weekend.

Prediction:

Arsenal 2-3 Liverpool

PSG vs Lille

Kick off: 20:45 (CET)

Date: Fri, 02-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Both Thiago Silva and Dani Alves are back in training, although it may be too soon for either to return.

Marco Verratti could be rested here as Thomas Tuchel has one eye on a vital clash with Napoli next week. Tuchel has also confirmed Buffon will start in goal for PSG's next two matches.

Lille are surprising participants in a top-of-the-table clash, but their attack, bettered only by Marseille and their opponents here, has been the driving force behind their early-season success, failing to score in just three of their first 11 matches.

Prediction:

PSG 3-1 Lille

Bournemouth vs Manchester United

Kick off: 13:30 (CET)

Date: Sat, 03-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Jose Mourinho dropped Romelu Lukaku to the bench against former club Everton last weekend and the out-of-form striker came on and missed a sitter. Lukaku has scored seven goals in four league appearances against Bournemouth in the past, but Mourinho may hand Marcus Rashford another chance to impress on Saturday.

Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia, Scott McTominay, Phil Jones and Diogo Dalot remain injury concerns for Jose Mourinho ahead of Saturday's tricky away match against Bournemouth.

Joshua King has missed Bournemouth's last two matches through injury and will be keen to turn out against his former club on Saturday. His availability will decide what formation they play against Manchester United.

Manchester United have shown signs of life in their last few Premier League matches. Jose Mourinho's side have only lost one of their last seven in the league.

Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions (W5,D1). The Cherries are only two points off fourth and will leapfrog Tottenham and Arsenal with three points here.

Prediction:

Bournemouth 2-1 Manchester United

Bayern Munich vs Freiburg

Kick off: 15:30 (CET)

Date: Sat, 03-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Niklas Süle, Mats Hummels and Jérôme Boateng compete for two spots at centre-back.

Leon Goretzka offers a further option in central midfield, if James Rodríguez does not recover from a minor injury in time.

Bayern have shortened the gap to Dortmund to two points after back-to-back Bundesliga wins, but still failed to dominate like they used to. A narrow 2-1 DFB-Pokal win against fourth-tier side Rödinghausen in midweek was far from convincing and cost them the services of Thiago, who will be sidelined for a few weeks.

Freiburg have only lost one of their last seven Bundesliga matches, but suffered a disappointing 2-1 DFB-Pokal defeat at second-tier club Kiel on Wednesday. Injury concerns and a fewer day of rest should cost them stability here.

Prediction:

Bayern Munich 3-1 Freiburg

Real Madrid vs Real Valladolid

Kick off: 16:15 (CET)

Date: Sat, 03-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Marcelo will be out until the end of the month after picking up an injury in El Clasico.

Nacho will be asked to fill in at left-back, while Raphael Varane is also out due to injury.

Casemiro will likely need to fill in at centre-back, which will see Isco or Dani Ceballos fill the void in central midfield.

Real Madrid have lost four of their last five La Liga games, with a 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid the only remotely positive result in recent months.

Real Valladolid are unbeaten in their last seven games, drawing twice and winning the other five. They are one of the early-season success stories and will be out to shock Madrid this weekend.

Prediction:

Real Madrid 1-1 Real Valladolid

Juventus vs Cagliari

Kick off: 20:30 (CET)

Date: Sat, 03-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Mario Mandzukic is available again and Massimiliano Allegri might start him straight away in order to test him ahead of their clash with Manchester United next week.

Some changes are expected from the home side, with Paulo Dybala and Federico Bernardeschi posed to start Saturday's match on the bench.

Juventus have not looked invincible in their last two league outings, coming from behind to beat Empoli 2-1 last time out after drawing 1-1 with Genoa the game before.

Cagliari are unbeaten in three matches (W2,D1). They will be aiming for a point against Juventus but that is a big ask, even if the Old Lady will have one eye on their match with Manchester United.

Prediction:

Juventus 2-1 Cagliari

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham

Kick off: 20:45 (CET)

Date: Sat, 03-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Eric Dier missed the 3-1 win over West Ham on Wednesday night with a thigh injury and could miss out here, while Danny Rose is still struggling with a groin issue.

Son Heung-Min netted twice at West Ham, but could drop to the bench, with Mauricio Pochettino expected to rotate his side heavily as the games come thick and fast.

Indeed, Harry Winks and Davinson Sanchez may be the only two players to retain their starting spot from the midweek cup triumph.

Back-to-back defeats has sucked Wolves down into 10th and Nuno Espirito Santo will be keen to overseen a return to winning ways here. Prior to the defeat to Watford, Wolves were unbeaten in four at home, winning two, which includes a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Prediction:

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Tottenham

Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona

Kick off: 20:45 (CET)

Date: Sat, 03-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Barcelona are expected to go with the same side that started El Clasico, given that Ernesto Valverde rotated so heavily midweek.

Lionel Messi is back in full training after a recent arm injury but it remains to be seen whether he will be risked this weekend.

Rayo Vallecano are winless in their last eight games. They have at least scored in eight of their last nine games, suggesting their problems are in defence and not in attack.

Barcelona have won their last four games in all competitions and will be looking to maintain their momentum heading into next week's Champions League action.

Prediction:

Rayo Vallecano 1-4 Barcelona

Manchester City vs Southampton

Kick off: 16:00 (CET)

Date: Sun, 04-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Danilo made his first Manchester City appearance since September in Thursday's 2-0 win over Fulham in the EFL Cup, while Fabian Delph also returned from injury in the EFL Cup triumph.

Kevin De Bruyne to miss a month for Man City with new knee injury late on against Fulham.

Manchester City have kept six clean sheets in a row in the Premier League, last conceding in the competition at the start of September. Pep Guardiola's side haven't lost to English opposition in a competitive match since April.

Southampton have also shown some defensive solidity of late, keeping clean sheets in their last two. However, they are yet to get going at the other end of the pitch, failing to score in their last five in the league.

Southampton have scored in five of their last six matches at the Etihad, which should give them some confidence heading into Sunday's fixture.

Prediction:

Manchester City 3-0 Southampton

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace

Kick off: 17:00 (CET)

Date: Sun, 04-Nov-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Eden Hazard has missed the last three matches for Chelsea with a back problem but looks set to return to contention for the visit of Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Olivier Giroud is a doubt for the game this weekend too, but Alvaro Morata should keep his place regardless of having played the full ninety minutes against Derby in midweek.

Christian Benteke, Joel Ward and Scott Dann are long-term absentees, though the latter will hope to make his return by the end of the month.

Max Meyer is still being used sparingly but will hope to come into contention and could be the most likely change, in place of James McArthur.

The Eagles are well equipped to play on the counter against a possession dominant side and have won three of the last six meetings between these sides but the Blues should brush them aside this time around.

Prediction:

Chelsea 3-1 Crystal Palace