Newcastle can profit from Fulham's ongoing defensive deficiencies

Give us your best bet for the weekend

Newcastle to beat Fulham. I can’t see the Cottagers getting out of the hole they’re digging for themselves. Last season’s swagger going forward has gone and they are a shambles defensively. Rafa Benitez is producing the odd win here and there to ensure relegation isn’t a concern and three points will be a massive confidence booster.

• Newcastle v Fulham verdict

Which favourites look most vulnerable?

Manchester United at Cardiff. When things have got as bad as they did under Jose Mourinho, I’m not sure it’s a quick fix to sort it out. Why, when these players were unmanageable under the former boss, are they suddenly going to be jumping to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s voice? Cardiff will love this fixture and I don’t believe United are a good thing.

• Cardiff v Manchester United preview

What does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer need to do at Manchester United?

Solskjaer is in quite a fortunate position in that it’s hard to imagine that things could have got any worse at Old Trafford than they had been under Jose Mourinho. I wouldn’t have picked him. He’s inexperienced and this is a big job. It’s not easy to get someone in for six months knowing he can’t introduce the long-term changes needed at the club.

Who should be manager at Old Trafford next season?

Mauricio Pochettino has to be the target, although he won’t come cheap. Pochettino has served his time at Tottenham and done well without a lot of money. But if he gets Champions League football guaranteed with Spurs next season and the promise of some money, would he really want to swap that for Old Trafford?

• Mark Langdon's view on who should be the permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho

How many English clubs will reach the Champions League quarter-finals?

Three. Manchester United should be the only casualties against Paris St Germain. The January window isn’t the time for big moves so United won’t have improved sufficiently to be able to give PSG a game over two legs. Spurs, however, can beat a Dortmund side who are going off the boil and Liverpool should have too much for Bayern.

Give us a bet from the Boxing Day coupon

Arsenal are far too short at Brighton and look a lay to me. The Gunners are in the middle of a hectic run of matches having had to play Tottenham in the League Cup and they are off to Liverpool on Saturday night. They concede far too many goals and they won’t find Brighton a soft touch at the Amex. Albion have got solid home form and can avoid defeat at the very least.

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