The Premiership programme for the coming weekend includes an away trip to Blackburn for Fulham, away games for each of the promoted trio and a clash between potential top of the table sides Arsenal and Chelsea. Comments and predictions, below, for each of the games on Saturday are from David Tindall, Derek Bilton & Peter May at bettingzone.com.

Blackburn v Fulham (15:00 KO) Fulham have again been tipped for a struggle this season, but got off to a solid enough start in drawing 0-0 at home to Birmingham last week. Rovers have been touted for greater things, the popular dark horse for a tilt at the top six, but there was little to shout about in losing 3-1 at West Ham on the opening day.

The form book for this game makes interesting reading – there have been no draws in the last 10 league meetings with more away wins than home while Blackburn won only five matches at Ewood Park last term.

Welshmen Mark Hughes and Chris Coleman began the seasons with lofty reputations but may spend the next nine months sandbagging them. It is famously dangerous to put much store by results on the opening day of the season, and with so little else to go on the result of this match is difficult to predict.

Verdict: Blackburn 1 Fulham 1

Man Utd v Aston Villa (12:45 KO) The last time United lost to Villa in a Premiership match, Alan Hansen was moved to observe: “You don't win any thing with kids.” Given that the game in question was a decade ago this weekend - and at Villa Park, the Villans last won a league game at Old Trafford in 1983 – it seems safe enough to view this as a home victory.

David O'Leary wants another three or four players before the transfer deadline and will need them if he is to keep a mediocre squad in the top half of the table. Of more immediate concern is that the Irishman has lost all five games with United since becoming Villa Park boss and has never beaten Sir Alex Ferguson in 13 career attempts.

It is difficult to see that changing after these two sides' respective opening day outings, but United tended to toil at home against average opposition last season.

The first Premiership match at Old Trafford since the Glazer takeover, we fully expect them to be dancing in the streets of Tampa by mid-afternoon but the hosts will do the minimum required and as such there is little to recommend from a betting perspective.

Verdict: Man Utd 2 Aston Villa 0

Charlton v Wigan (15:00 KO) Charlton topped the Premiership after week one thanks to a 3-1 success at Sunderland but that may owe more to a very poor Black Cats team than the Addicks' famous ability to start the season well.

Alan Curbishley has made eight acquisitions over the summer with a ninth, Marcus Bent, in the pipleline at time of writing. There were times last season when the Addicks boss looked tired of life at The Valley, and we worry that his summer facelift may not have the desired effect over a season.

It would be lazy to fight a case for Wigan solely on the basis of their performance in Sunday's defeat to Chelsea, but manager Paul Jewell has done plenty more to earn respect. His teams are always well organised and highly committed, and the Latics will be easier to keep up than Bradford five years ago. Jewell's men will not blaze a trail up the league table this season but are combative, difficult to beat and can survive despite the reluctance of players to move to the JJB Stadium. Back them to open their account on Saturday.

Verdict: Charlton 0 Wigan 1

Liverpool v Sunderland (15:00 KO) Sunderland managed a woeful 19pts when getting relegated in 2003 but four of those came against Liverpool (that's 21% for percentage fans). Anyone who witnessed the 0-0 at Anfield will still be wondering how the Reds failed to score and, although the sense of injustice wasn't as acute, that inability to put the ball in the net also cost them victory at Middlesbrough last weekend.

However, Liverpool have scored freely in pre-season and will surely find a way through a Sunderland rearguard which shipped three goals at home to Charlton on opening day.

Verdict: Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0

Newcastle v West Ham (15:00 KO) It may be mid August, but if you believe some of 'Our Friends In The North', Graeme Souness is already battling to stay in a job. The feisty Scot has been left largely frustrated in the transfer market during the holiday season, and after getting rid of fan favourites such as Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert this summer, he has hardly endeared himself to the masses.

Yet while the Magpies may be desperately in need of a striker (having been linked with the likes of Michael Owen, Nicolas Anelka, Mark Viduka, Robbie Keane and Luis Boa Morte at various points this summer), we still feel they should have too much for West Ham on home turf.

The Hammers marked their return to the Premiership in style with a 3-1 victory over Blackburn at Upton Park on Saturday, but last term they were less than convincing on their travels and big name striker or not, Newcastle are always a tough nut to crack on Tyneside. The last time West Ham won at St James' Park was 1998, and Newcastle have won their last three Premiership encounters rather handily against the men from East London.

Pardew's men were impressive against Blackburn, but still don't look too clever defensively and so look to old man Shearer to fill his boots accordingly.

Verdict: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0

Tottenham v Middlesbrough (15:00 KO) Tottenham have quickly emerged as everyone's outside bet to nab a Champions League place. And there were plenty of sage nods when they appeared to justify the pre-season hype by kicking off with a 2-0 win at Fratton Park, a ground at which they'd previously struggled.

Middlesbrough were more than happy to hold out for a point against Liverpool although Steve McClaren must have been a little concerned that his team failed to create a decent chance. Of course, past Tottenham teams have had an uncanny knack of failing to deliver when everything seemed in their favour so Saturday's clash could act as an enlightening pointer.

Verdict: Tottenham 2 Middlesbrough 0

West Brom v Portsmouth (15:00 KO) An early relegation six-pointer at the Hawthorns. The Baggies stayed up thanks to a win over Pompey on the final day of last season and look capable of putting up a fight again after last week's 0-0 draw at Manchester City.

Bryan Robson has not turned many heads with his transfer activity, and the loss of Kieran Richardson will be keenly felt in midfield, but they are a solid side and will be expecting to win this one.

Portsmouth lost at home to Tottenham and that will be of great concern since their previous survivals have been built largely on Fratton Park form. Manager Alain Perrin is a difficult man to weigh up and only time will be his judge but a flurry of summer signings have not changed the impression that Pompey have one of the weakest squads in the top flight.

Laurent Robert is not our idea of the man to turn around a record of four away wins in 38 Premiership attempts, and Pompey haven't won in the Black Country since 1998.

Verdict: West Brom 2 Portsmouth 0

Birmingham v Man City (15:00 KO) Manchester City beat Steve Bruce's men handily when the teams clashed at the City of Manchester Stadium back in April, and although this match is taking place at St Andrews, we still feel Stuart Pearce's men look good.

Birmingham drew a blank in drawing 0-0 with Fulham on the opening day, while their opponents were held to a 0-0 draw by West Brom on home turf.

The Light Blues were by all accounts unlucky against the Baggies, for whom Chris Kirkland played an absolute blinder. It's clear that Pearce has moulded a well drilled unit who on their day can match anyone since taking charge from Kevin Keegan, and given that Brum were more miss than hit last season, The Citizens may be able to edge it.

In Andy Cole, Darius Vassell and the fast emerging Bradley Wright-Phillips, the men from Moss Side has a forward line arguably as quick as anything in the Premiership.

Verdict: Birmingham 1 Manchester City 2