The two big games of the weekend are Arsenal's trip to Manchester City and Liverpool at home to Blackburn with Arsenal and Liverpool needing wins to prove they have what it takes.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur face Everton off the back of their dramatic midweek European tie, pace-setters Chelsea host Wolverhampton Wanderers while Man Utd travel to Stoke hoping to refocus the press on results rfather than Wayne Rooney. Fulham will be trying to improve the worst away record in the league with a win at West Brom
Saturday
Tottenham v Everton - Sat 12.45
On Saturday lunchtime, Tottenham go head-to-head with Everton, live on Sky Sports HD2. At half-time at Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday it looked as if Spurs would head into their weekend clash low on confidence after going 4-0 down against Inter Milan. But an inspired second-half hat-trick by Gareth Bale lifted spirits amongst the camp, despite the team ultimately losing 4-3. Attention at White Hart Lane will likely be on whether Bale can again shine again. Everton have been boosted by back-to-back victories following a shambolic start to the campaign. Said results have lifted them to 11th in the standings and it is possible that another triumph on Saturday could propel David Moyes' men into the top seven, such is the congestion of the division.
Birmingham v Blackpool - Sat 15.00
Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has seen pressure mount on his shoulders of late, and this weekend his side are in action versus newly-promoted Blackpool. Indeed, this is the Blues' second worst Premier League start, with seven points garnered from eight outings. Birmingham fans voiced their displeasure as the side's excellent home record came to a halt in their previous match at St Andrews. And perhaps their frustration surrounds a lack of goals on home soil, with none scored in their previous three matches in the Midlands. For Blackpool, Ian Holloway will have taken the positives, of which there were many, from their defeat against Man City, as the club eye a fourth away win in the Premier League.
Chelsea v Wolves - Sat 15.00
League leaders Chelsea welcome Wolves to Stamford Bridge in one of five 3pm kick-offs on Saturday. The Blues were held in their previous match at Villa Park, ensuring their advantage at the summit was cut to two points. But, with City not playing until Sunday, their meeting with Wolves is an opportunity to put some daylight between them and their title rivals. Wolves head into the fierce test having not won since the opening day of the season, but they did at least halt a run of four straight losses with a draw in their last match. To make matters worse for Wolves, the Blues have not conceded a goal in the last 691 minutes of Premier League football at Stamford Bridge.
Sunderland v Aston Villa - Sat 15.00
Aston Villa head to the North East as they lock horns with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Villa were impressively dogged when they held Chelsea, demonstrating a positive response after slipping to their first loss under new boss Gerard Houllier. But a lack of firepower will arguably be of concern for the French coach, with his side mustering just nine strikes in eight clashes thus far. Sunderland are currently on a run of five straight draws, with goals of even greater concern for boss Steve Bruce. However, the Black Cats have only lost one of their last 14 top flight home games since Villa beat them on Wearside last December.
West Brom v Fulham - Sat 15.00
West Bromwich Albion will be seeking to maintain their terrific start to the season when they host Fulham at the Hawthorns. The Baggies' superb fightback at Old Trafford last weekend sees the club in the lofty position of sixth, while Roberto Di Matteo has overseen a run of five matches without loss, despite travelling to both Arsenal and United. Fulham's unbeaten start to the term came to an end last time out after they fell to a controversial defeat against Tottenham. The Cottagers, who have drawn six of their eight games, will aim to recover and put right an away record that has seen them fail to win any of their last 22 Premier League fixtures on the road.
Wigan v Bolton - Sat 15.00
The last of the 3pm kick-offs sees Wigan Athletic meet North West counterparts Bolton Wanderers at the DW Stadium. The Latics, despite throwing away a two-goal lead at Newcastle, have put together some consistency of late, with Roberto Martinez's side suffering defeat just once in their last six league games. Meanwhile, Bolton landed their second victory of the term to help the club rise to seventh in the standings. And manager Owen Coyle will look to in-form striker Johan Elmander, who has scored four goals in four Premier League away games this season.
West Ham v Newcastle - Sat 17.30
Saturday teatime sees West Ham United welcome Newcastle United to Upton Park, live on Sky Sports HD2. The Hammers currently sit bottom of the table, but only on goal difference. Indeed, Avram Grant's charges appear to have overcome their difficult begining to the season, with the club now without a defeat in four fixtures. Newcastle continue to struggle for consistency, although they will have taken heart from their late fightback against Wigan.
Sunday
Stoke v Man Utd - Sun 13.30
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted his players can forget the distracting speculation over Wayne Rooney's future when they travel to the Britannia Stadium, live on Sky Sports HD1 and also in 3D. The Red Devils announced on Friday that their talismanic striker had agreed a new five-year deal and will now turn their focus to improving on an indifferent start to the term which has seen them draw five of their first eight matches. Their opponents, Stoke City, were beaten for the first time in five outings in their last encounter, so Tony Pulis will eye a response from his charges as they look to resuscitate their improvement in form.
Liverpool v Blackburn - Sun 15.00
Liverpool are in action on the same day as they meet Blackburn Rovers at Anfield. The Reds find themselves gloomily second-from-bottom in the division following their painful defeat to Merseyside rivals Everton. Roy Hodgson's men have managed just the one league victory to date while they have the third-worst goal difference in the division. Indeed, it is conceivable that the home side, who drew at Napoli midweek, could finish the weekend bottom of the pile. Blackburn lie three points above Liverpool in 14th, with the club losing one of their previous five matches, although they have achieved just a single three-point haul in those outings.
Man City v Arsenal - Sun 16.00
Also on Sunday, second-placed Manchester City lock horns with third-placed Arsenal at Eastlands. Three points separate the pair, with the momentum in City's favour as they have won their last four league matches. The Gunners, meanwhile, bounced back from three league matches without a victory as they overcame Birmingham last weekend. And Arsene Wenger's men were in clinical mood in midweek when when they put five past Shakhtar Donetsk. In last season's corresponding fixture, City prevailed while the match was tainted by an unsavoury celebration from former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor. This time around, however, Arsenal should likely be more concerned about forward Carlos Tevez, who heads into the game in inspired form, although the Tongan did score a hat-trick on Thursday.
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Source James Dall at SkySport