It’s not even March and already, we know who’s going to win the league, who’s going to finish second, and who’s going to go down. On the face of things, this English Premeer League season is both over and a bust.

However there’s always a however so, however: the fun in “oor league” has not, this season, been at either end, but in between. So, though we might’ve sneered had someone shown us tonight’s fixtures in August, Brighton v Bournemouth has all the makings of a terrific contest, two tough, attacking teams at the cutting edge of progress with a Champions League spot well with their ambit.

Nor is that it. Aston Villa, somehow still in the hunt – and still in this year’s competition – take on Crystal Palace, while the improving Wolves and, most particularly, the wonderful Matheus Cunha, meet Fulham.

Add to that the late game, in which Chelsea attempt to halt a run of three straight defeats, with Southampton seeking the win that would lift their points tally above the 11 accumulated by Derby in 07-08 – English football’s lowest in the three-points-for-a-win era – and that’s a lovely evening we’ve got for ourselves.

Brighton v Bournemouth, Crystal Palace v Aston Villa and Wolves v Fulham: kick-off 7.30pm GMT.

Chelsea v Southampton: kick-off 8.15pm GMT.