A jam-packed weekend of top-flight fixtures sees Arsenal hoping that Fulham will not stand in the way of their table topping ambitions, Chelsea battle to regain the top spot at home to Everton and leaders Manchester United look to stop them doing just that on their visit to Blackpool.
Saturday
4th November
15:00 - Arsenal vs Fulham
Saturday's sole London derby sees Fulham make the short trip to Arsenal desperate to bounce back from a poor run of form. Seeking their first league win in five encounters, Mark Hughes' men are teetering dangerously on the brink of the drop zone in 17th.
| Up-Coming Premiership games |
|
Saturday 4th December
|
| 15.00 |
Arsenal |
v |
Fulham |
| 15.00 |
Birmingham |
v |
Tottenham |
| 15.00 |
Blackburn |
v |
Wolves |
| 15.00 |
Blackpool |
v |
Man Utd |
| 15.00 |
Chelsea |
v |
Everton |
| 15.00 |
Man City |
v |
Bolton |
| 15.00 |
Wigan |
v |
Stoke |
|
Sunday 5th December
|
| 13.30 |
West Brom |
v |
Newcastle |
| 16.00 |
Sunderland |
v |
West Ham |
|
Monday 6th December
|
| 20.00 |
Liverpool |
v |
Aston Villa |
|
Top 4 |
Top 6 |
Top 10 |
Bottom Half |
Relegation |
|
The Gunners are at the other end of the table in third but will see the Cottagers clash as an opportunity to improve their home form, having lost to both Newcastle and Tottenham at Emirates Stadium last month. Arsene Wenger's men, buoyed by their passage into the Carling Cup semi-finals in midweek, are two points adrift of leaders United and know a positive result against their capital rivals could propel them into pole position this weekend.
15.00 - Birmingham vs Tottenham
Tottenham travel to the Midlands to face a Birmingham side who will no doubt be brimming with confidence after also reaching the Carling Cup semi-finals against local rivals Aston Villa in midweek.
Spurs, however, have plenty to feel confident about themselves, having clinched a 2-1 triumph at home to Liverpool last weekend to sit a comfortable fifth in the table. Harry Redknapp's men are now giving the Premier League their undivided attention after securing their spot in the last 16 o3f the UEFA Champions League, which could prove bad news for the Blues, who were brought back to earth with a bump at Fulham last time out after upsetting reigning champions Chelsea 1-0 at St Andrews the week before.
15:00 - Blackburn vs Wolverhampton
Blackburn host Wolves still hurting from their mauling at the hands of Manchester United last weekend. Sam Allardyce's men had little reply against the Red Devils and will be hoping for better against floundering Wolves, who are second bottom of the standings.
Rovers at least have the advantage of home comforts, having claimed victory in their last two games at Ewood Park, while Mick McCarthy's side harbour a woeful away record this term. But Wolves enter the game buoyed by a narrow 3-2 triumph over Sunderland last weekend, a result which marked their first victory since the end of October.
| Premiership table |
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Man Utd |
15 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
24 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
11 |
10 |
19 |
31 |
| 2 |
Chelsea |
15 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
17 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
7 |
19 |
29 |
| 3 |
Arsenal |
15 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
17 |
9 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
15 |
8 |
15 |
29 |
| 4 |
Man City |
15 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
13 |
7 |
8 |
26 |
| 5 |
Tottenham |
15 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
13 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
12 |
3 |
25 |
| 6 |
Bolton |
15 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
17 |
11 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
11 |
11 |
6 |
23 |
| 7 |
Sunderland |
15 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
10 |
13 |
1 |
20 |
| 8 |
Stoke |
15 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
0 |
20 |
| 9 |
Newcastle |
15 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
16 |
10 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
12 |
1 |
19 |
| 10 |
Liverpool |
15 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
12 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
13 |
-2 |
19 |
| 11 |
Blackpool |
15 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
11 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
12 |
18 |
-6 |
19 |
| 12 |
West Brom |
15 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
9 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
12 |
17 |
-6 |
19 |
| 13 |
Blackburn |
15 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
10 |
19 |
-7 |
18 |
| 14 |
Birmingham |
15 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
9 |
13 |
-2 |
17 |
| 15 |
Aston Villa |
15 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
12 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
15 |
-7 |
17 |
| 16 |
Everton |
15 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
12 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
7 |
-2 |
16 |
| 17 |
Fulham |
15 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
11 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
-3 |
15 |
| 18 |
Wigan |
15 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
15 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
11 |
-15 |
14 |
| 19 |
Wolves |
15 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
13 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
14 |
-10 |
12 |
| 20 |
West Ham |
15 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
12 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
14 |
-12 |
12 |
15:00 - Chelsea vs Everton
It has not been a happy few weeks for Chelsea after failing to secure a win in three games, a statistic they will be eager to turn around when they host Everton at Stamford Bridge in one of six 3pm kick-offs on Saturday afternoon. To add insult to injury, Carlo Ancelotti's men were knocked from their perch at the top of the standings last weekend by Manchester United for the first time this season.
Not that Everton are in any better shape for the trip to the capital - the Toffees are on a five-match winless streak and are no doubt still hurting from their shock 4-1 defeat to promoted West Brom last weekend. Maximum points will be crucial to both sides but for very different reasons, as the Blues aim to reclaim the top spot while David Moyes' side look to pull clear of their precarious place at the edge of the relegation zone.
15:00 - Man City vs Bolton
Staying in the title race will be at the top of Manchester City's priorities when they entertain Bolton at Eastlands on Saturday. Roberto Mancini's men could only manage a 1-1 draw with Stoke in their last league encounter, a result which prevented them from ascending their current fourth spot in the table.
The Trotters also suffered a disappointing draw last time out against promoted Blackpool, but that result should not distract from their, at times, dangerous form this season which has seen them produce commanding wins, most notably against Tottenham and Newcastle.
City have not been quite so prolific in front of goal and know a maximum haul is crucial in keeping a tight grip on their title rivals.
15:00 - Wigan vs Stoke
Struggling Wigan host Stoke at the DW Stadium looking to end a three-match losing run and escape the bottom three. A 2-0 Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal in midweek followed up league setbacks against Manchester United and West Ham, results which have left Roberto Martinez's men third from bottom in the table.
In contrast, the Potters have enjoyed some encouraging form of late and enter the clash on the back of a four-match unbeaten streak they will be keen to maintain. A 1-1 draw against title bidders Manchester City last weekend marked the latest positive result for Tony Pulis' side, and the Latics could find it tough work raining on Stoke's parade on Saturday afternoon.
17:30- Blackpool vs Man Utd
Manchester United will be eager to extend their lead at the top of the standings on their trip to promoted Blackpool, but could be left frustrated on Saturday if the recent cold snap sees the late game postponed.
Lack of undersoil heating at Bloomfield Road means the clash is under threat from sub-zero temperatures, but the Seasiders are working overtime to ensure it goes ahead. The visit of Premier League giants United could seem daunting to Ian Holloway's side, particularly after the table-toppers delivered a devastating 7-1 triumph over Blackburn last weekend. But Pool have more than held their own in the top-flight so far this term to sit a respectable 11th in the standings and will be up for a scrap against the Red Devils.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men, while unbeaten and dominant in the league this campaign, will be stinging from their 4-0 Carling Cup defeat to West Ham in midweek, a result which ended an undefeated streak stretching back to April.
Sunday
5th November
13:30 - West Brom vs Newcastle
On Sunday lunchtime, West Brom welcome Newcastle to The Hawthorns. Albion suffered a midweek comedown after a resounding 4-1 league triumph over Everton last weekend, crashing out of the Carling Cup to Championship side Ipswich. Roberto Di Matteo's 12th-placed side have been struggling to reproduce their early good form in the league of late, with their triumph against the Toffees breaking a five-match winless streak.
The Toon should be feeling more confident having bounced back from a 5-1 demolition at the hands of Bolton two weeks ago to hold reigning champions Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at St James' Park last Sunday.
16:00 - Sunderland vs West Ham
Sunday's 4pm game sees Sunderland entertain West Ham, who appear to be a side on the up. Avram Grant's men are rock bottom of the table, but beat Wigan 3-1 in a 'Save Our Season' clash last weekend before knocking Manchester United out of the Carling Cup with a shock 4-0 win in midweek.
Sunderland could be in trouble if the Hammers really have hit their turning point, as Steve Bruce's side are already stinging from their 3-2 defeat to lowly Wolves last weekend. But previous good results from the Black Cats have left them a notable seventh in the table, meaning West Ham could face a challenge in extending their winning streak at the Stadium of Light.
Monday
6th November
20:00 - Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Finally, Liverpool entertain Aston Villa on Monday night, with both sides keen to recover from league defeats to Tottenham and Arsenal respectively.
More to follow ............