European qualification is the aim, but tanding in Villa’s way is a resilient Sunderland team sitting in 10th, who have defied expectations all year and are still mathematically within a shout of a European spot themselves.
A win would propel Everton toward their highest league finish in years. Form usually goes out the window for the Derby, and in this 245th edition, both teams are separated by just five points in the top half of the table. This is the most competitive so-called Friendly Derby we’ve seen in a decade.
Forest are just three points clear of the drop zone, and desperately need the City Ground crowd to carry them to safety. For 19th-place Burnley, time is running out. They are currently 12 points adrift of safety, making this a must-win for the Clarets. A classic relegation six-pointer.