FEBRUARY –  The Texans’ suffocating defence has been the key to their eight-game winning run and with the AFC looking the less competitive conference this season after the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs, they have the talent to go a long way. Quarterback CJ Stroud is fully fit again and can look for an elite wide receiver in Nico Collins while former first-round picks Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. are just two of their many defensive stars.

JULY – Elena Rybakina looks a bet in her bid to repeat her 2022 triumph at the All England Club. The Kazakhstani has had a tough couple of years, due in the main to off-court issues, but she finished last year on a high with victory at the WTA Finals. She’s a superb grass-court player who is as good as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek when she’s on her game.

JULY – Alex Noren enjoyed a resurgence in his career in 2025, winning twice on the DP World Tour, and 2026 could finally be the year he ends his long wait for a maiden Major. The Swede has an affinity for links golf, evidenced by his victory at the 2016 Scottish Open and his two top-10 Open finishes, he could go all the way and land the Claret Jug in 2026.

DECEMBER – Mercedes may have botched the ground-effect era, but the Silver Arrows have a strong record of responding well to rule changes, and the sweeping regulation shift coming in 2026 should bring the title back into play. Their power unit has already come under, and been cleared, of scrutiny, suggesting it is likely to be among the strongest engines on the grid, and they have the driver lineup to win the consistent points necessary to land the constructor crown.

Keith Andrews has done a remarkable job since taking charge of Brentford and they look overpriced to reach a first-ever major cup final. They may need some luck with the draw, but they have the squad necessary to challenge any team on their day.

Arsenal have been the standout team in the country this season and, with the worst of their injury crisis behind them, now have the necessary squad depth to deal with fixture congestion. They have won 23 of their 29 competitive games this term and are the most successful side in FA Cup history.

Liverpool look like the best value pick, with the Reds putting their struggles behind them with an eight-game unbeaten run. The Reds have the fourth-best Expected Goals record across the first six Champions League gameweeks, while they’ve recorded back-to-back 1-0 wins over Real Madrid and Inter Milan in Europe. Arne Slot’s side have a kind double-header in January, leaving them primed for a top-eight finish. With the Premier League coasting towards a fifth Champions League berth, the Reds should be in a good position to focus on European success in the spring.

Spain have some incredibly talented individuals, Lamine Yamal being the prime example, but are strong in all areas and don’t have any particular weaknesses. They won Euro 2024 with relative ease and they should be too good for their continental rivals at the World Cup. They also look a level above South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil, suggesting they will be the team to beat at the World Cup this summer.

The crisis in East London deepened at the weekend as the struggling West Ham fell to a demoralising defeat to the previously winless Wolves, with that 3-0 reverse seeing the Hammers take an unwanted position as the Premier League’s worst defensive side.They have conceded 41 goals in 20 games, shipping two or more goals in four of their last five matches. Nottingham Forest have hardly had the most successful festive period, but they have won three of their last six away games and scored twice or more in each of those victories. The Tricky Trees have notched two or more goals in four of their last five meetings with West Ham, and they can continue that run on Tuesday.

Defending champions Napoli will be hoping to return to the top of the Serie A table in their midweek meeting with Verona, and they should extend their winning streak to five games and bag a couple of goals en route.I Partenopei have won their last four games by a 2-0 scoreline and have scored at least twice in five of their last six at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, while Verona have conceded nine times across their last five away days and lost 2-0 here last January.

Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool have got their act together after a miserable autumn, but their resurgence could come to an end against an Arsenal side set to take their top-flight crown this year.The Gunners’ potentially record-breaking defence may have taken a turn for the worse, but they have made up for that with an improved attack, and they head into Thursday’s tie having scored nine goals in their last three games.Mikel Arteta’s side have scored twice or more in seven of their last eight games at the Emirates, and Liverpool, who have only kept one clean sheet in their last eight Premier League away games, have conceded five goals in their last two trips to this ground.

A 2-2 draw with Ajax leaves NEC Nijmegen an excellent fourth place in the Eredivisie, and they can keep the pressure on the teams above them by opening gameweek 18 with a victory on Friday.The hosts have the second-best attacking record in the division with an average of 2.53 goals per game, and they have scored 23 of their 43 goals at Gofferstadion.NEC have notched twice or more in all eight of their home matches this season and should continue that streak against Utrecht, who have conceded twice away to Real Betis and Go Ahead Eagles recently.

FA Cup champions Crystal Palace begin the defence of their first-ever major trophy away to one of the lowest-ranked sides remaining in the competition on Saturday, and the Eagles should get off to a flyer in Cheshire.This is the Silkmen’s first third-round appearance since their reformation, but they have conceded four goals in their last two National League North fixtures and could be out of their depth against a Palace side that will be eager to bounce back following a difficult run of form.

Bayern Munich have dropped just four points in 15 Bundesliga games so far, and their rampant attack can take a lot of the credit for their nine-point cushion at the top of the German footballing pyramid.They have scored some 55 goals in 15 matches and have netted three or more goals in five of their last six games. Die Bayern have averaged 3.88 goals per home game in the Bundesliga, while Wolfsburg are without a clean sheet in their last three away fixtures.