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Fulham went out of both cups in the space of four days last week, despite not playing badly in either game. But their goals have dried up of late and that is what has cost them.

It was Everton who were wasteful when these sides met at Goodison Park on the opening day of the season, and Marco Silva's side nicked the points.

This time, Everton are desperate - like Forest really - and Sean Dyche really needs a result, with his side just above the relegation zone.

This is a big game for the Toffees with tough fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester City coming up, but scoring goals is a problem for them too.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin needs to start firing for Everton if they are going to start winning games, but this one smells a lot like a draw to me.

Prediction: 1-1

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Sheffield United have scored fewer (17) and conceded more (51) Premier League goals than any other side this season.

They are the only side yet to score in the opening 30 minutes of a match so far, with their earliest strike coming in the 33rd minute (Cameron Archer v Everton in September).

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Luton got a good win over Everton in the FA Cup at the weekend and, in the Premier League, they are in a position that I didn't think was possible for them at the start of the season - which is past the halfway stage with a real chance of staying up.

Even so, I am going to go with Brighton here. They did not score in either of their previous two league games but have hit nine in their past two FA Cup ties, and I don't see Luton keeping them out.

Prediction: 1-2

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Luton have lost just one of their past 14 home league games against Brighton, though it was the last time they hosted them in April 2008 - in League One.

Brighton, meanwhile, have won each of their past three league games against Luton, including a 4-1 victory on the opening weekend of this Premier League season. It is their longest winning run against the Hatters.

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This is only Arsenal's third game in January so they will be well rested, but they have not just been putting their feet up.

Mikel Arteta's side will benefit from the time they have been spending on the training ground, as well as feeling rejuvenated for the run-in.

That's one of the reasons I fancy the Gunners here, against a Nottingham Forest side who are looking anxiously over their shoulders - especially now they are facing a possible points deduction for breaking the Premier League's financial rules.

Forest are only four points above the relegation zone as things stand, so they really need something from this game - but I don't see them getting it.

Prediction: 0-2

Check out the full predictions here.

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think from the outside looking in, the players have just got to get on with it.

The players won't be worrying about it [Nottingham Forest's FFP breaches].

It won't affect the way they play.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

Big news for Crystal Palace as Michael Olise starts after recovering from a hamstring injury. The Eagles make two changes. Jordan Ayew starts after returning from Afcon.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Lerma, Eze, Olise, Ayew, Mateta

Subs: Johnstone, Tomkins, Franca, Schlupp, Clyne, Edouard, Ahamada, Riedewald, Ozoh

Sheffield United give a Premier League debut to new goalkeeper Ivo Grbic. It’s three changes for the Blades from their last Premier League game.

Sheff Utd XI: Grbic, Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson,Trusty, Hamer, Souza, McAtee, Slimane, McBurnie, Brereton Diaz

Subs: Foderingham, Archer, Norwood, Osborn, Larouci, Osula, Norrington-Davies, Brooks, Seriki

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Aston Villa could go 18 home league matches unbeaten for the first time since the 1976-77 season if they avoid defeat to Newcastle. Their most recent league defeat at Villa Park came against Arsenal last February.

Villa have the Premier League's best home record so far this season, with 28 points out of a possible 30. Equally encouraging for Unai Emery, the away team hasn't won this fixture in 16 league meetings since Newcastle's 2-1 triumph at Villa Park in September 2013.

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I remember this game well from the start of the season, when Newcastle won 5-1 at St James' Park.

Aston Villa had a horrible day in the north-east, with Tyrone Mings picking up a serious injury on top of their heavy defeat, but I am expecting them to get their revenge here.

Newcastle got a good win against Fulham in the FA Cup on Saturday but they have lost four in a row in the league and have a dreadful away record - Sheffield United are the only top-flight team to pick up fewer points on the road this season.

Villa Park is not the place you go to turn that kind of run around, and it feels like Newcastle's season is unravelling a bit because they cannot sign any more players in this window.

Instead, they just seem to be trying to hang on to a few, with lots of rumours about who could still be leaving.

Prediction: 3-1

Former Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba says the Blades "got a lesson in decision-making" in their FA Cup fourth round defeat to Brighton on Saturday.

"Brighton played really well," Asaba told BBC Radio Sheffield's Blades Heaven.

"We should've scored two goals before they scored their 35-yard wonder-goal. That's what I'm taking away from this.

"We got a lesson in decision-making by players who are really comfortable on the ball. Brighton had so many options and they were picking the right pass. When we got into the final third, invariably we were picking the wrong pass or we weren't executing it well enough.

"But we still had 13 shots on goal. What the manager is trying to get through to the players, they are taking on board and they are executing it up to a certain point really well. But, we are Premier League level now, we have to take more chances because the other teams will.

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Newcastle striker Callum Wilson spoke to the Footballer's Football podcast he co-hosts with West Ham's Michail Antonio about Roy Hodgson's position at Selhurst Park: "No disrespect to Crystal Palace, but they're more of a selling club. They've got a lot of young talent in the squad, which they'll make profit from and inherit back into the club and try to find the next superstar.

"Roy Hodgson has steadied the ship there because Patrick Vieira came in, had new ideas and tried to maybe evolve a bit too much ahead of where the club was at at the time.

"I think Roy is perfect for for them really, he's probably not asking for too much, not trying to sign superstars, he's picking up results. They are where you feel they should be with what they've got and what they've invested.

"They are a difficult side to play against to be honest. We played them at home this year and got a great result but before the game they were on an unbelievable run and we knew how difficult the match was going to be. They aren't pushovers."

Listen to the full episode - including the pair discussing VAR and upcoming games -here

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Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson would not call the Eagles' game with Sheffield United "must win", but is confident his side has what it takes to secure three crucial points.

A poor run of form has seen Hodgson's side slip down the table and they go into tonight's game five points above the relegation zone.

"The must-win games question I have never known the answer to," Hodgson said.

"Most games you go into, you desperately want to win them. Saying it is a must-win game doesn't win it for you."

On if he thinks Palace will win tonight: "I don't have a crystal ball but I can't tell you if we're going to do it. I think we are and I certainly believe we are, but let's see what the game brings.”

Blades boss Chris Wilder said: "You can't really rate it smaller or bigger than any game, it is an opportunity to get a result.

"I feel like we are in good nick. We are playing decent football."

Marco Silva makes seven changes to the Fulham XI that started their 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle in the FA Cup.

Bernd Leno returns in goal with Timothy Castagne, Tosin Adarabioyo, Joao Palhinha, Tom Cariney, Willian and Raul Jimenez also starting.

Harry Wilson misses out entirely having sustained a shoulder injury against Newcastle.

Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Diop, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney, De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian, Jimenez

Subs: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Ream, Muniz, Lukic, Vinicius, Francois, Sekularac.

Image source, BBC/ Opta

Meanwhile, there are four alterations to the Everton line-up following their 2-1 loss to Luton on Saturday.

Ashley Young is back from injury, Jordan Pickford returns in goal, with Ben Godfrey and Arnaut Danjuma also in the XI for Sean Dyche's side.

Joao Virginia, Nathan Patterson and Beto drop to the bench. Amadou Onana got a knock in the FA Cup defeat and is not involved.

Everton XI: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Young, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Danjuma, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Virginia, Lonergan, Patterson, Keane, Beto, Chermiti, Hunt, Dobbin, Metcalfe.

Image source, BBC/ Opta

Rob Edwards makes three changes to the Luton side that beat Everton in the FA Cup at the weekend.

Jordan Clark and Gabriel Osho both return to the starting XI, as does goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.

Tim Krul and Andros Townsend drop to the bench, with Teden Mengi missing out altogether.

Luton XI: Kaminski, Burke, Osho, Bell, Ogbene, Sambi Lokonga, Barkley, Doughty, Clark, Adebayo, Morris

Subs: Krul, Potts, Berry, Woodrow, Chong, Mpanzu, Townsend, Johnson, Nelson

Image source, BBC Sport

Roberto de Zerbi makes four alterations to the Brighton team that thrashed Sheffield United on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Jason Steele, Lewis Dunk, James Milner and Danny Welbeck come in, while Bart Verbruggen, Adam Webster, Evan Ferguson and Jack Hinshelwood are among the substitutes.

Brighton XI: Steele, Dunk, Van Hecke, Julio, Milner, Gross, Gilmour, Estupinan, Buonanotte, Welbeck, Joao Pedro

Subs: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Webster, Lallana, Moder, Baleba, Ferguson, Hinshelwood, Baker-Boaitey

Image source, BBC Sport

Fulham

Fulham have beaten Everton on both occasions this season, with a 1-0 league win in August before a penalty shoot-out triumph in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in December.

Silva, who managed the Toffees between 2018 and 2019, said: It gives us the confidence we can repeat again. Everton will think the opposite way. It will be a competitive Premier League game and we are positive we can get a result again.”

Everton, who received a 10-point deduction in November for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, sit one point clear of the bottom three and seven behind 13th-placed Fulham.

Silva believes his former club will bring a physical presence to west London and that his team will need to have a “very good night”.

“We know what they're capable to do, they will demand a very good night from ourselves because we need to win the game,” Silva said. “Everton's reaction (after their points deduction) was impressive. It’s always tricky when you play a Sean Dyche team. They are a difficult team to beat and play against.

“For me it is clear that in all moments of the game it can become physical in all the challenges and the duels and they are able to build and create chances as well. They are a solid side.

“Everton away from home have been one of the stronger sides. We know they are a dangerous side, we know what they are capable to do.”

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Luton manager Rob Edwards said Tom Lockyer's return to the training ground for the first time since his cardiac arrest was a "special moment".

Lockyer, 29, visited team-mates and staff at Luton's Brache HQ on Monday.

He spent five days in hospital and had an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) device fitted following his on-pitch collapse during a game at Bournemouth on December 16.

"He's an unbelievably brave man," said Edwards.

"It was amazing to see him back. We had a really good morning seeing him around the place.

"We handed out the debut Premier League balls with [former managers] John Still and Mick Harford.

"It was a nice presentation; it was a special moment and great to see.

"I managed to hold it together but it was emotional. It's been a really difficult time for his family first and foremost, but for us it was great to see him."

Everton

Manager Sean Dyche believes he has improved Everton in the last 12 months.

Dyche will mark his first anniversary in charge of the Toffees by taking his team to Fulham looking for a first Premier League win since mid-December.

Everton sit just a point above the drop zone after their 10-point penalty, for breaching profit and sustainability rules, and without that sanction they would be 12th.

Dyche has won 13 of his 39 Premier League matches, losing 17. By comparison his predecessor Frank Lampard had nine victories and 21 defeats in the same number of games.

When asked about improvements, the Toffees boss said: “If you put the 10 points on then factually yes. And I think the feel of the team, yes. The energy and commitment, yes. Quality, generally yes. Flexibility of the side to try and find a win, yeah.

“So a lot of good markers but when the 10 points is not there, no-one tells the story – and rightly so. I don’t like harking on about it. Facts are facts. We are one point outside the relegation zone.

“Of course at the back of your mind you’ve got that nagging doubt, have we moved forward Yeah, I think we have as a club and as a team. We have in different ways but the facts remain the same and that’s where the table says we are.”