The biggest Premier League game of the week will be played on Monday between Arsenal and Manchester United. Both teams are looking to break away from the pack in first place before Christmas.
A full weekend of English Premier League fixtures begins Saturday with six matches. A dismal Aston Villa take on an impressive West Brom.
Low lying Everton and Wigan meet under desperate circumstances. Fulham hope for points against top ten Sunderland side.
Mid-table Stoke and Blackpool battle for tough points. West Ham and Manchester City meet at opposite ends of the table, with the Londoners on the chopping block.
Newcastle unveil a new manager when they take on an improving Liverpool team. Bolton look to return to winning ways against an unpredictable Blackburn side.
Wolverhampton need all hands on deck against Birmingham. Tottenham look to deal a blow to Chelsea, but the reigning champions are still in sight of first place.
Manchester United cross swords with Arsenal. The game is a must win for both sides, and could mark an important turning point in the season.
Aston Villa host West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park. The visitors are in the top ten, while the home side are in the bottom half of the table.
Villa manager Gerard Houllier finally has Heskey available up front, but Agbolahor is injured. Villa cannot seem to get things going lately, and the home fans will be clamouring for nothing less than a victory.
West Brom are currently on form, and the Baggies will fancy their chances against their opponents. The visitors are still vulnerable, and will be without their leading scorer Odemwingie.
Everton host Wigan at Goodison Park. The home side are only three places ahead of Wigan who languish in the relegation zone.
Everton are missing Arteta and Saha, so manager David Moyes will be limited his attacking options. Once feared, Everton now look like a pale version of their former selves.
Wigan see a return for Rodallega up front, and this will cheer manager Roberto Martinez who is also short on healthy strikers. The two-point gap between the teams mean a win for the visitors would be the perfect solution to help their campaign.
Fulham host Sunderland at Craven Cottage. The visitors are ten places ahead of their opponents, who sit on the edge of relegation.
Fulham boss Mark Hughes will hope the worst is behind his team now that they have played the top teams in the league. A win against Sunderland would go a long way towards reassuring Fulham fans their side still have what it takes to climb higher.
Sunderland rely on their attackers to score, while Fulham on their midfielders. Home field advantage will be a factor, but a draw is likely and it would only favour the visitors.
West Ham host Manchester City at Upton Park. The Hammers are last in the league and City will expect a win to keep them in the top four.
The visitors are playing without Tevez who is suspended. Toure and Adebayor are back in the side after suffering injuries, and manager Roberto Mancini has the remaining resources needed to win.
West Ham manager Avram Grant needs his strikers to score. The team is missing several players, but the home side are already in serious trouble, and know that a win against City is a tall order for any club.
Stoke City host Blackpool at Britannia Stadium. Blackpool are rested and have a game in hand.
Manager Ian Holloway is still missing several injured players. Varney and Adam are fit to play and will drive the attack forward.
Stoke welcome back Pennant and Wilkinson from their injuries. Strikers Jones and Walters will also play for the home side and the combined force should give them the edge over their opponents.
Newcastle host Liverpool at St. James’ Park. The home team unveil their new manager Alan Pardew against a team on the rise.
Liverpool are missing Gerrard and Carragher, and the team are still extremely dangerous. The visitors will have Torres spearheading their attack, but Ngog is currently Liverpool’s top scorer.
Pardew’s appointment was extremely controversial, and his first task will be to defeat a team higher up in the standings. Nolan is expected to play after being sidelined with an injury. The captain’s effect on Carroll up front has been excellent this season, and home fans will be hoping the pair can get back on form.
Wolverhampton host Birmingham City at Molineux. The visitors are six points above Wolves, and a win for Birmingham would vault them into a comfortable mid-table position.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy knows a win for his team will still keep his side in the relegation zone. Both teams have enough fire power up front, and few injured players.
Birmingham will settle for a draw, and already have nine this season. Wolves need a win to start improving their situation. Anything less will force the organization to reassess their coaching options before Christmas.
Bolton host Blackburn at Reebok Stadium. Two points separate the two sides and Blackburn has not lost to Bolton in their last seven games.
Bolton have lost their edge recently, and look shaky in goal and attack. Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce knows the Bolton setup better than most, but his side have equally inconsistent of late.
Elmander is the home side’ss leading scorer with eight goals, while Blackburn have four with Pederson. The game will be decided in attack, but a draw is also possible because of their mutual weakness in defense.
Tottenham host Chelsea at White Hart Lane. Both sides are well equipped for the match, and have relatively few key players missing.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp and his side trail Chelsea by four points, and a win for the home side would still keep them in fourth. A win for the visitors could potentially restore them to first place.
Chelsea are still missing Lampard, and the side have been inconsistent in his absence. Anelka returns to link up with Drogba up front, and Essien is also back in midfield.
Tottenham are missing van der Vaart and Krancjar, but Modric and Bale are fit and the pair will be hard to contain. Cole and Terry are back in the Chelsea side, and the match will be a test of the entire team’s abilities.
Manchester United host Arsenal at Old Trafford. Two of the best teams in the league battle for top spot in this week’s standings.
Fabregas may be forced to miss the game due to injury, and the visitors are also missing several key players in defense. A win a away for the Gunners would put some distance between them and second place.
The same can be said for the Red Devils, who are not missing as many players as their opponents. A game in hand for Manchester United at this stage, and top spot in the table, would worry most teams in the league.
Master tacticians Wenger and Ferguson will have to rely on their best players to continue their brilliant performances. Nasri for Arsenal and Berbatov for Manchester United will be looking to score for their teams.
The match could very well be the key moment in both their campaigns. Fans will be biting their nails, while neutrals can expect all the high drama the two clubs are famous for.
Low lying Everton and Wigan meet under desperate circumstances. Fulham hope for points against top ten Sunderland side.
Mid-table Stoke and Blackpool battle for tough points. West Ham and Manchester City meet at opposite ends of the table, with the Londoners on the chopping block.
Newcastle unveil a new manager when they take on an improving Liverpool team. Bolton look to return to winning ways against an unpredictable Blackburn side.
Wolverhampton need all hands on deck against Birmingham. Tottenham look to deal a blow to Chelsea, but the reigning champions are still in sight of first place.
Manchester United cross swords with Arsenal. The game is a must win for both sides, and could mark an important turning point in the season.
Aston Villa host West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park. The visitors are in the top ten, while the home side are in the bottom half of the table.
Villa manager Gerard Houllier finally has Heskey available up front, but Agbolahor is injured. Villa cannot seem to get things going lately, and the home fans will be clamouring for nothing less than a victory.
West Brom are currently on form, and the Baggies will fancy their chances against their opponents. The visitors are still vulnerable, and will be without their leading scorer Odemwingie.
Everton host Wigan at Goodison Park. The home side are only three places ahead of Wigan who languish in the relegation zone.
Everton are missing Arteta and Saha, so manager David Moyes will be limited his attacking options. Once feared, Everton now look like a pale version of their former selves.
Wigan see a return for Rodallega up front, and this will cheer manager Roberto Martinez who is also short on healthy strikers. The two-point gap between the teams mean a win for the visitors would be the perfect solution to help their campaign.
Fulham host Sunderland at Craven Cottage. The visitors are ten places ahead of their opponents, who sit on the edge of relegation.
Fulham boss Mark Hughes will hope the worst is behind his team now that they have played the top teams in the league. A win against Sunderland would go a long way towards reassuring Fulham fans their side still have what it takes to climb higher.
Sunderland rely on their attackers to score, while Fulham on their midfielders. Home field advantage will be a factor, but a draw is likely and it would only favour the visitors.
West Ham host Manchester City at Upton Park. The Hammers are last in the league and City will expect a win to keep them in the top four.
The visitors are playing without Tevez who is suspended. Toure and Adebayor are back in the side after suffering injuries, and manager Roberto Mancini has the remaining resources needed to win.
West Ham manager Avram Grant needs his strikers to score. The team is missing several players, but the home side are already in serious trouble, and know that a win against City is a tall order for any club.
Stoke City host Blackpool at Britannia Stadium. Blackpool are rested and have a game in hand.
Manager Ian Holloway is still missing several injured players. Varney and Adam are fit to play and will drive the attack forward.
Stoke welcome back Pennant and Wilkinson from their injuries. Strikers Jones and Walters will also play for the home side and the combined force should give them the edge over their opponents.
Newcastle host Liverpool at St. James’ Park. The home team unveil their new manager Alan Pardew against a team on the rise.
Liverpool are missing Gerrard and Carragher, and the team are still extremely dangerous. The visitors will have Torres spearheading their attack, but Ngog is currently Liverpool’s top scorer.
Pardew’s appointment was extremely controversial, and his first task will be to defeat a team higher up in the standings. Nolan is expected to play after being sidelined with an injury. The captain’s effect on Carroll up front has been excellent this season, and home fans will be hoping the pair can get back on form.
Wolverhampton host Birmingham City at Molineux. The visitors are six points above Wolves, and a win for Birmingham would vault them into a comfortable mid-table position.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy knows a win for his team will still keep his side in the relegation zone. Both teams have enough fire power up front, and few injured players.
Birmingham will settle for a draw, and already have nine this season. Wolves need a win to start improving their situation. Anything less will force the organization to reassess their coaching options before Christmas.
Bolton host Blackburn at Reebok Stadium. Two points separate the two sides and Blackburn has not lost to Bolton in their last seven games.
Bolton have lost their edge recently, and look shaky in goal and attack. Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce knows the Bolton setup better than most, but his side have equally inconsistent of late.
Elmander is the home side’ss leading scorer with eight goals, while Blackburn have four with Pederson. The game will be decided in attack, but a draw is also possible because of their mutual weakness in defense.
Tottenham host Chelsea at White Hart Lane. Both sides are well equipped for the match, and have relatively few key players missing.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp and his side trail Chelsea by four points, and a win for the home side would still keep them in fourth. A win for the visitors could potentially restore them to first place.
Chelsea are still missing Lampard, and the side have been inconsistent in his absence. Anelka returns to link up with Drogba up front, and Essien is also back in midfield.
Tottenham are missing van der Vaart and Krancjar, but Modric and Bale are fit and the pair will be hard to contain. Cole and Terry are back in the Chelsea side, and the match will be a test of the entire team’s abilities.
Manchester United host Arsenal at Old Trafford. Two of the best teams in the league battle for top spot in this week’s standings.
Fabregas may be forced to miss the game due to injury, and the visitors are also missing several key players in defense. A win a away for the Gunners would put some distance between them and second place.
The same can be said for the Red Devils, who are not missing as many players as their opponents. A game in hand for Manchester United at this stage, and top spot in the table, would worry most teams in the league.
Master tacticians Wenger and Ferguson will have to rely on their best players to continue their brilliant performances. Nasri for Arsenal and Berbatov for Manchester United will be looking to score for their teams.
The match could very well be the key moment in both their campaigns. Fans will be biting their nails, while neutrals can expect all the high drama the two clubs are famous for.
