Barclays Premier League Preview

The Premier League rarely lacks entertainment at the conclusion of a week which has not included European commitments and this Saturday and Sunday look set to be the latest engrossing instalments. Chelsea and Arsenal meet on Saturday lunchtime in a London derby at Stamford Bridge. The home side are engulfed by off-field controversy following the Football Association's charges in the wake of last Sunday's foul-tempered defeat by QPR, while captain John Terry has also been accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. Arsenal, in comparison, is in a relative state of stability after what had been a turbulent start to the season. Arsene Wenger will hope to extend a record as the most successful visiting team at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, but his team has won none of their last eight away matches in the top flight.

By the time Chelsea and Arsenal kick-off, Manchester United will be approaching half-time in their match at Everton. The reigning Premier League champions will be licking their wounds after the staggering 6-1 derby humiliation against Manchester City. But Sir Alex Ferguson's squad did salvage a molecule of pride as they matched Chelsea and Arsenal in midweek by successfully reaching the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup. Wayne Rooney's participation, or not, as the case may be, is likely to be a significant talking point at Goodison Park. The England international has in the past been taken out of the line of fire against his former club and has struggled to deal with the anticipation and hostile reception on other occasions. United will want a match-winning performance from their star man against David Moyes' Everton, who have remarkably lost on 28 occasions against United in the Premier League.

After hammering Wolves in the Carling Cup, league leaders Manchester City will be in confident mood when they welcome Mick McCarthy's struggling side to Etihad Stadium for a 3pm kick-off. Roberto Mancini's millionaires continued their blistering goalscoring form with a 5-2 win at Molineux on Wednesday and they will now aim to follow the thrashing of United with another convincing league win. If United were to lose at Everton, City could start the game against Wolves with the opportunity to open an eight-point lead over their neighbours, which would obviously underline their new-found status as title favourites. Wolves ended a run of five successive defeats by fighting back for a draw against Swansea, but McCarthy, who has been at his deadpan best during the week, remains under pressure.

Liverpool also booked a place in an unusually exciting looking last eight of the Carling Cup with a rare win at Stoke and now Kenny Dalglish will hope to carry the winning feeling into a reunion with Roy Hodgson. There was a sense of inevitability about the West Brom manager's victory over his former club at The Hawthorns in April. Hodgson had been sacked by Liverpool three months previously and he therefore earned a piece of karma against his former club. But the Reds will take on West Brom on Saturday evening having been frustrated by Norwich last weekend. As a result, winning a 10th Premier League match out of 11 against the Baggies is essential in their quest to return to the UEFA Champions League.

Paul Lambert's Norwich have been impressing pundits upon their return to the top flight and the draw at Anfield was arguably the highlight of their campaign to date. Brave yet unsuccessful performances against United and Chelsea before holding Liverpool earned praise, but Lambert will know points will be all that matter come May. The Carrow Road boss will as a consequence want to continue momentum when rock-bottom Blackburn visits on Saturday afternoon. Steve Kean's side broke Newcastle's unbeaten start to the season with a midweek victory in the Carling Cup, but the league remains a priority. The meeting with Norwich could well prove to be significant in the relegation fight come the end of the campaign.

Steve Bruce has not found himself the subject of fans' protest, as in the case of Kean, but the Sunderland boss is under pressure. A win at struggling Bolton last weekend was only a second of the season for the Black Cats in the league and there have been plenty of reports of discontent after a shabby return on a multi-million pound squad overhaul in the summer. Bruce will as a result be eager to inflict a third successive defeat on Alex McLeish's Aston Villa, who had been unbeaten before losses to Manchester City and West Brom, when they meet at the Stadium of Light.

The loss to Sunderland inflicted a seventh defeat in eight league matches on Bolton and Owen Coyle has been moaning about his side's lack of fortune. Lady Luck again deserted the Reebok Stadium outfit in their Carling Cup loss to Arsenal, according to Coyle, and it is difficult to disagree with the Bolton boss after an impressive performance at Emirates Stadium. Coyle will be desperate for a return to providence against Swansea, but Brendan Rodgers' Premier League new-boys are unbeaten in 12 successive matches at the Liberty Stadium.

Wigan's form has been even worse than that of Bolton and as a result Roberto Martinez's team sit one place below their North West rivals in the relegation zone. Critics suggested a three-match unbeaten run at the start of the season was nothing more than an anomaly for a team who only dodged relegation on the final day of the last campaign and they have been proved correct. Ahead of the arrival of Fulham at the DW Stadium, Martinez will be demanding a win which would see his side overtake that of Martin Jol. But a record of just 18 goals in 12 Premier League matches between the two clubs does not suggest a classic is in store.

On a rare quiet Sunday in England's top division, Tottenham host London rivals Queens Park Rangers. Harry Redknapp's men could overtake Newcastle, who travel to Stoke on Monday, in the coveted fourth place, if they defeat Neil Warnock's men by more than four goals. QPR will make the short trip to North London on the back of victory over Chelsea and with Manchester City next on a difficult fixture list. And the omens do not bode well for Warnock, with Spurs boasting an admirable record of a 16-game unbeaten home record in capital derbies.

Barclays Premier League Preview

It is the same fixture that provided the goal of the season last year, and with both teams flying at the top of the Premier League, the first Manchester derby of 2011/12 is arguably the most-anticipated fixture of the campaign so far. United host their neighbours City at Old Trafford, with Wayne Rooney scoring a spectacular overhead kick the last time the sides met in the league. 

In a week when the Stone Roses announced their return to the music scene, and with both clubs flourishing at this early stage, it is a good time to be a Mancunian - be it a Red or a Blue. But who will be celebrating to the beats of Ian Brown and co on Sunday afternoon? 

Elsewhere in the top flight there are more notable matches to whet the appetite as the table begins to take shape after eight games. There are other local derbies as Chelsea take on Queens Park Rangers for the bragging rights in West London, while Aston Villa host West Brom in a Midlands encounter.

It is a mark of the transformation at the Etihad Stadium in recent years that only two Manchester City players remain from the side that last beat United on their own patch only three years ago. Joe Hart and Micah Richards are the survivors from that day, and there is no doubt that Roberto Mancini's XI this weekend is a far cry from the one Sven Goran Eriksson fielded in 2008. The same result would see City go five points clear of their rivals although the stats are against them - Sir Alex Ferguson's men have been victorious the last four times the two teams have met at Old Trafford, and City failed to win away at any top-seven opponent last season.

While the spotlight will be elsewhere this weekend, Chelsea may not be too concerned about that as they begin to click into gear under Andre Villas-Boas. A 5-0 demolition of Genk in the Champions League on Wednesday saw Fernando Torres score two and took the Blues to a total of 13 goals in their last three matches. A local derby in the league against QPR has not been seen since 1996, although twice the two sides have met in the Carling Cup and the FA Cup in recent times - with Chelsea winning 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on both occasions. This clash, though, will be played out at Loftus Road, and Neil Warnock will have his players stoked for an upset.

More animosity will be shared in Birmingham on Saturday when West Brom makes the short journey from the Black Country to Aston Villa. Alex McLeish's start since switching allegiance from the blue half of the city has been a relatively solid one - the Scot building foundations at the back, especially at home. West Brom, meanwhile, started dreadfully but has picked things up. The Baggies are unbeaten in three games and Roy Hodgson will hope last week's success over Wolves will spark their season into life.

The owners of Blackburn Rovers, Venky's, issued a statement earlier in the week, like many other clubs, which they were steadfastly against the suggestion from the League Manager's Association chief executive, Richard Bevan, that relegation from the Premier League could be scrapped. But having accrued just five points from eight games this season, dropping out of the top flight could become a reality for Rovers. Steve Kean remains at the helm as Blackburn play Tottenham, who come into the game on the back of a Europa League victory over Rubin Kazan.

Arsenal is slowly turning the corner after their woeful start, having won five of their last six matches in all competitions. Yet there is still a sense of unease at the Emirates Stadium and when Stoke come to town on Sunday, you can put your house on the Potters not making it easy for the North Londoners. Two more contrasting styles you could not wish to see, with Arsenal's free-flowing approach at odds with Stoke's physical tactics. Both teams won in Europe in midweek, but this is a game Tony Pulis will relish.

The row involving Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra shows little sign of abating and it will be interesting to see if the Uruguayan is at all affected by off-the-pitch matters when Liverpool welcome Norwich to Anfield. Kenny Dalglish's side has been in good form since their battering at Tottenham in September, with three wins in four matches. Steven Gerrard marked his return to the fold with a goal against Manchester United and they will expect to come out of the Canaries clash with three points. However, Paul Lambert's team will be up for the challenge.

There is no doubt that the surprise package of the season has been Newcastle, and Alan Pardew deserves great credit as his side currently sit fourth in the table. This weekend the Magpies take on struggling Wigan Athletic, who are in a real rut. Roberto Martinez may now be wondering if he should have taken the Aston Villa job when it was offered to him in the summer, as his Latics side has lost five on the bounce. A sixth at St James' Park would increase the pressure on the Spaniard.

Bolton and Sunderland have also endured torrid starts and while Wanderers emerged victorious at the DW Stadium last weekend, Owen Coyle will not be happy with the fact that they sit 18th in the table. Steve Bruce's Sunderland are on the same points, six, and were perhaps unlucky not to pick up a draw at Arsenal last time out. The Black Cats have had a terrible 2011 in terms of results and with two months to go until the New Year, Bruce will be desperate for a turnaround before that comes to pass.

Everton have lost three games in succession but in fairness to the Toffees those defeats have come against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. They will be looking to take advantage of Fulham's fatigued Europa League legs on Sunday. The Cottagers lost in Krakow on Thursday and also fell to Stoke on their last Premier League outing. With both sides on seven points, they will want to move away from the bottom three.

Wolves play Swansea in the first kick-off of the weekend on Saturday. Wolves are on a dreadful run having lost their last five league games, while the Swans are beginning to get to grips with the standard required. Having said that, they are the only team in the top flight who have not earned a point away from home and Mick McCarthy will see this as a major opportunity to get back on the winning path.

Suarez Set To Escape Rap Over Evra Claims Of Racism

Luiz Suarez is likely to escape disciplinary action following allegations of racist abuse by Patrice Evra unless the Manchester United defender is able to offer secondary evidence of his claims when he meets the FA to discuss the matter within the next 48 hours.

Evra is due to be interviewed by members of the FA’s disciplinary unit in Manchester before the weekend after United granted permission for the governing body to speak to the French full-back following his claim that Liverpool forward Suarez racially insulted him “at least 10 times” during last Saturday’s Premier League encounter at Anfield.

But due to the hugely sensitive nature of Evra’s allegations, the 30-year-old will be expected by the FA to provide additional evidence of his claims, beyond his own accusation, that supports his suggestion that Suarez subjected him to racist abuse.

The FA is likely to require witness statements from players or officials supporting Evra’s claims or television evidence which provides grounds for further investigation.

Uruguay international Suarez has strenuously denied Evra’s accusation, but Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson confirmed on Monday that his player is determined to follow through with his complaint.

“He (Evra) thought he was slighted on Saturday. Obviously Patrice feels very aggrieved at what was said to him, so it rests in the hands of the FA now,” Ferguson said.

It was understood that Evra, who went public with his allegations in an interview with French broadcaster Canal Plus on Saturday, would meet the FA today or tomorrow, depending on his training schedule ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table fixture against Manchester City.

Suarez is only likely to be interviewed by the FA if the disciplinary unit is sufficiently persuaded by the United defender that his opponent has a case to answer.

Liverpool have already issued a public statement defending Suarez, but Ferguson has attempted to ease the tensions between the two clubs by insisting that the issue is “not something we would want to level against Liverpool” as a club.

Barclays Premier League Preview

There are massive derbies at the beginning and end of this weekend's action, while in between Manchester United and Manchester City will jostle for superiority at the top of the table. It is already shaping up to be a fascinating 2011/12 Premier League campaign but every team in the division will be looking to learn from what they have done in the opening few games and push on to better things. The likes of Bolton, West Brom and Blackburn may be the most desperate for points as they strive to pull clear of trouble, but others in mid-table will also be looking up rather than down.

Everton and Liverpool are two sides that will certainly hope to finish higher than their current positions, of 11th and 5th respectively, but local bragging rights are also hugely important and that is what supporters will be concerned about as Goodison Park provides the setting for the 216th Merseyside derby on Saturday lunchtime. The Toffees can climb above their rivals with a home victory but it will be no easy task against a Reds side that could welcome back Steven Gerrard for a first start of the season.

North London neighbours Tottenham and Arsenal lock horns in the second major derby of the weekend on Sunday afternoon. Spurs have been in impressive form since the transfer window slammed shut and will fancy their chances of piling more pressure on the Gunners. Arsene Wenger has enjoyed one of his less stressful weeks of the season following back-to-back wins in the Premier League and Europe, and three points against Spurs would provide a massive boost for his 13th-placed side.

Manchester City are another team in need of a boost after a week dominated by negative headlines about Carlos Tevez, who Roberto Mancini says refused to play against Bayern Munich in their UEFA Champions League defeat. Not much has gone wrong for City in the Premier League so far this season but it has been suggested that the Tevez row could damage their title hopes. City will be determined to prove otherwise and they could go top on Saturday by winning at Ewood Park against a Blackburn side whose manager Steve Kean has come under plenty of media scrutiny himself.

If City are to reach the summit there would have to be a slip-up from Manchester United, and Sir Alex Ferguson does not expect that to happen after admitting their surprise 3-3 draw with Basel should provide a wake-up call to his troops. Basel were not expected to get anything from their trip to Old Trafford and neither are newly-promoted Norwich, who have risen into the top half on the back of two straight victories but know they face a different class of opponent this Saturday.

Chelsea trail the Manchester duo by three points ahead of their clash with bottom club Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday before the North London derby. The Blues will be without the suspended Fernando Torres as they seek to stay in touch with the leaders and inflict a sixth straight defeat on the Trotters, who have been cursed by rotten luck with injuries and this week learned Stuart Holden will be sidelined for another six months.

Just above Bolton in the standings are West Brom on four points, and the Baggies will not want to delay their ascent up the table any longer. Roy Hodgson takes his men to the Stadium of Light this Saturday to face a Sunderland side that has shown glimpses of potential but no consistency and are hovering just above the danger zone at present.

Newcastle have made an unbeaten start to the season to take up a place in the top four and, while even the most optimistic of fans will not expect the Magpies to stay there, they will be hoping the run continues at Molineux this weekend. Wolves also began well this term but struggled to maintain that form and are now on a three-match losing streak.

Wigan have also lost three in a row to slide into the bottom six and face a difficult challenge to return to winning ways against an Aston Villa side that has yet to taste defeat. Villa have drawn five of their six games, though, and will now be looking to build on that solid platform by collecting more three-point hauls.

Back to Sunday and another derby, this time in West London between Fulham and Queens Park Rangers. Martin Jol's Cottagers are the only team without a victory in the Premier League this season and would love to break that duck in their first match against QPR since 2001. QPR will be equally determined not to let that happen and are in buoyant mood after performing well since Tony Fernandes' takeover.

Stoke continued their bright start to the season last weekend by becoming the first side to take points off Manchester United, and will now be keen to underline their European credentials when they travel to the Liberty Stadium to meet Swansea. Brendan Rodgers' men are currently just a point outside the relegation zone but won their last home game against West Brom.

Barclays Premier League Preview

Manchester United will put the Premier League's only 100 per cent record on the line this weekend, while Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will be hoping for home comforts. Newcastle and Aston Villa be looking to make it six games without defeat and Tottenham head to the North West aiming to secure a third victory on the bounce. Finally, Roy Hodgson welcomes one of his former employers to the Hawthorns with West Brom stuck at the foot of the top flight table.

Manchester United are now the only side in the Premier League to still boast a perfect record and have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks. Stoke are the next side charged with the task of trying to halt the Red Devils juggernaut, while attempting to make amends for a sorry showing at Sunderland last weekend. The Potters required penalties to see off Tottenham in the Carling Cup in midweek, but Tony Pulis is likely to make sweeping changes to the team that figured in that game. United should be fresh after resting players for their trip to Leeds on Tuesday.

United wrap up Saturday's action, while their arch-rivals Manchester City get the weekend up and running. The Blues saw two points slip through their grasp at Fulham in their last top flight fixture and will still be smarting when they welcome Everton to the Etihad Stadium. The Toffees will make the short journey from Merseyside looking to build on a recent run that has seen them pick up seven points from their last three outings.

Arsenal find themselves languishing in 17th place in the table, with just one win to their name, and desperately need to establish some momentum in a home date with out-of-sorts Bolton. Arsene Wenger saw his men slip to a 4-3 defeat at Blackburn last weekend and make hard work of Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup. He will, however, feel that now is a good time to be facing the Trotters. Owen Coyle's men have lost four on the bounce since opening up with a convincing win at Queens Park Rangers and are currently second from bottom in the top flight standings.

Chelsea left Old Trafford last Sunday feeling they had been harshly treated by the match officials, with manager Andre Villas-Boas lodging a complaint to referees' chief Mike Riley. The Blues must put those grievances to one side, though, when they welcome Swansea to Stamford Bridge. The Swans have made a steady start to their debut campaign among English football's elite and secured their first Premier League victory against West Brom last time out. Chelsea is a formidable force on home soil, though, and will be keen to give former coach Brendan Rodgers a harsh reality check.

Liverpool, following a bright start, have suffered back-to-back defeats in the league and need to address that wobble before they fall too far behind the frontrunners. A meeting with Wolves will provide them with an ideal opportunity to rediscover their league form. Not that Mick McCarthy's side will be a pushover. Wolves may have also tasted defeat in their last two fixtures, but they will have fond memories of their last visit to Anfield - when they left with a 1-0 victory.

Newcastle are performing admirably under Alan Pardew and are one of only four sides yet to taste defeat in the league this season. They could have done without seeing their Carling Cup clash with Nottingham Forest in midweek go to extra-time, but can take plenty of positives from that tie - not least the return to action of Hatem Ben Arfa. The Magpies will be looking to bring Blackburn back down to earth with a bump this weekend, with Rovers' thrilling victory over Arsenal last weekend giving manager Steve Kean a bit of breathing space.

Tottenham blasted four goals past nine-man Liverpool in their last Premier League fixture and will be looking for more of the same when they go to Wigan. The DW Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for Spurs down the years, though, with only two victories secured in their five previous trips to the North West. The Latics will be looking to pick up at least a point in their latest meeting, with successive defeats seeing them slip down the table.

The final fixture on Saturday sees West Brom boss Roy Hodgson square up to one of his former employers. Fulham are the next visitors to the Hawthorns and will arrive in the Midlands still searching for their first victory of the season. The Baggies and the Cottagers have both taken three points from their opening five fixtures and find themselves languishing inside the relegation zone. There is, however, still plenty of time for them to turn things around.

Sunday brings only one game this weekend, as Queens Park Rangers entertain Aston Villa. Neil Warnock's side, led by Joey Barton, eased past Wolves in their last top flight fixture, suggesting they are ready to make their mark back among the big boys. They will, however, have their work cut out against Villa. Alex McLeish may not have been a welcome appointment among a certain section of Villa supporters this summer, but the Scot has overseen an unbeaten start to the season - that has included four draws - and has his team sit sixth in the early standings.

Barclays Premier League Review

Manchester United maintained their 100 per cent start to the season, Manchester City slipped up and it was a weekend to forget for Liverpool and Arsenal. All three of the top flight newcomers won on the same day for the first time since 2007, while Everton and Sunderland picked up welcome successes.

The Premier League weekend kicked off at Ewood Park and an enthralling encounter between Blackburn and Arsenal provided thrills and spills aplenty. Seven goals were plundered in an end-to-end encounter, with the wind and rain doing little to dampen the spirits of Rovers boss Steve Kean. He desperately needed a win to ease the pressure on his shoulders, following a protest by a section of the home support, and he duly picked up three precious points in a 4-3 victory. Arsenal twice took the lead in the first half, with Gervinho breaking the deadlock on 10 minutes and Mikel Arteta notching his first for the club shortly after the half-hour mark. Rovers refused to lie down, though, with Yakubu's 25th minute strike ensuring they remained in contention at the interval. The Gunners imploded in the second half, as Alex Song and Laurent Koscielny put through their own net, while Yakubu bagged his second of the game. Marouane Chamakh stepped off the bench to hand the visitors a late lifeline, but they were unable to find a leveller and Arsene Wenger's men now find themselves sat 17th in the table with just four points taken from their five games so far.

Saturday proved to be a productive day for the Premier League new boys, with victories secured by Queens Park Rangers, Norwich and Swansea. QPR put in arguably the most polished display, as they disposed of Wolves 3-0 at Molineux. Joey Barton led from the front for Neil Warnock's men, with his eighth-minute opener setting the tone. Alejandro Faurlin doubled Rangers' lead two minutes later, with some scintillating football suggesting Warnock's summer transfer business is set to pay handsome dividends. One of his new recruits, DJ Campbell, put the seal on an impressive all-round performance three minutes from time.

Swansea were also 3-0 victors over the weekend, as they swept West Brom aside. The Swans launched a promotion push on the back of their home form last season and will be delighted to have secured their first three-point haul in the top flight. The Liberty Stadium proved to be a fortress too far for the Baggies, as they started slowly and never recovered. Paul Scharner's clumsy lunge on Joe Allen allowed Scott Sinclair to open the scoring from the spot, and the Swans were suddenly in full flight. Leroy Lita headed home a second on 24 minutes, before turning provider four minutes into the second half as his nod down was converted by Nathan Dyer.

Norwich were unable to make it a clean sweep of 3-0 wins, but they will have few complaints about leaving the Reebok Stadium on the right side of a 2-1 scoreline. The Canaries were able to take full advantage of some shambolic defending from Bolton to open up an unassailable lead. Anthony Pilkington bundled them in front on 37 minutes and Bradley Johnson powered home a classy header five minutes later. Bolton were staring a fifth successive home defeat in the face and saw their cause hindered further on the stroke of half-time when Ivan Klasnic saw red for butting Marc Tierney. Norwich shot themselves in the foot when they conceded a fifth penalty in as many games, but Martin Petrov's well-struck spot kick proved to be little more than a consolation for the hosts.

Elsewhere, Everton recovered from falling a goal behind to see off Wigan 3-1 at Goodison Park. Franco Di Santo edged the Latics in front with a deflected effort on 31 minutes, but Roberto Martinez's men were unable to hold on to that lead. Phil Jagielka restored parity inside two minutes and it appeared as though the spoils would be shared as the contest edged towards the final few minutes. There was, however, to be a late sting in the tail as Apostolos Vellios and Royston Drenthe netted their first goals in English football to ensure the points would be staying on Merseyside.

The final game on Saturday saw Aston Villa held 1-1 at home by Newcastle. Gabriel Agbonlahor appears to be closing in on the form that made him an England international not all that long ago, and he was among the goals again this weekend. He stroked home after 13 minutes, handing Villa the perfect start. Both sides had opportunities to add to the scoring in the first half, but a leveller did not arrive until the 57th minute. Leon Best was the man in the right place at the right time for the Magpies as he crashed the ball past Shay Given at the second time of asking. Villa's keeper put in another eye-catching performance, with Yohan Cabaye left cursing the Republic of Ireland international at the final whistle following a fantastic late stop.

Sunday brought another hatful of goals, with Manchester United and Chelsea providing four in an eagerly-anticipated clash at Old Trafford. The Red Devils were in inspired mood once again as they cemented their standing at the top of the table. Chris Smalling was allowed to waltz in at the back post to nod them in front after just eight minutes, blowing the game wide open. Both sides contributed to a thoroughly entertaining encounter thereafter, with Nani's spectacular strike eight minutes before half-time marking a particular high point. The in-form Wayne Rooney then rolled in a third for the hosts shortly before the interval, leaving Chelsea to contemplate whether they were about to go the same was as Arsenal at the Theatre of Dreams. Fernando Torres finally ended his goal drought inside the opening 60 seconds of the second half, but it was to be another day to forget for the Spaniard. He could, and should, have had a hat-trick, with one glaring miss after rounding David de Gea handing another crushing blow to his confidence. Torres' misdemeanour arrived after Rooney had shanked a penalty well wide of the target, with his standing foot giving way as he struck the ball. In the end it did not matter as United secured a fifth straight win in the league.

Manchester City were unable to preserve their own perfect start to the campaign as they suffered an uncharacteristic wobble at Fulham. Roberto Mancini's side looked to be heading for another three points after Sergio Aguero added another two goals to his impressive tally. The Argentine is already looking like money well spent, with the target found eight times in just five outings. His efforts were not enough at Craven Cottage, though, as Fulham staged a stirring fightback. Bobby Zamora hauled the Cottagers back into the game 10 minutes into the second half and City started to rock. Danny Murphy then saw a speculative strike take a wicked deflection on 75 minutes, with his effort nesting in the bottom corner after leaving Joe Hart wrong-footed. City remains second but Mancini has admitted that he needs more players if they are to compete on multiple fronts.

Tottenham have recovered well from opening defeats to United and City to pick up back-to-back wins, and their latest success has sent out an ominous message to the rest of the division. They put four past Liverpool at White Hart Lane, the side expected to be their closest challengers for a top-four finish this season. The Reds did not help their own cause as Charlie Adam and Martin Skrtel both saw red, but Harry Redknapp's side ruthlessly saw off the nine men. They led through Luka Modric's stunning opener by the time Liverpool saw their numbers reduced. Jermain Defoe then fired home shortly after Skrtel's dismissal and Emmanuel Adebayor displayed Lionel Messi-esque touch and poise to bag a second half brace and wrap up the points.

Sunderland will hope that their season is now up and running after claiming their first victory of the campaign in comprehensive style. Stoke were put to the sword at the Stadium of Light, with the goal-hungry Black Cats netting four times without reply. A rare effort from Titus Bramble put Sunderland on their way, before an own goal from Jonathan Woodgate had them two up inside 11 minutes. Things got even worse for the Potters before the break, as Craig Gardner saw a shot loop over Asmir Begovic and all but end the game as a contest. Sunderland took their foot off the gas after the interval, but were able to add a fourth shortly before the hour mark as Sebastian Larsson swept home a free-kick.

Barclays Premier League Preview

After a busy week of European football for many teams, it is a return to Premier League action.

Seven top-flight sides played in the Champions League and Europa League in midweek and it will be interesting to see how those particular teams adapt to the rigours of the domestic division after some tough fixtures.

In what should be a cracker of a Super Sunday, Manchester United host Chelsea in the most anticipated tie of the weekend, with Tottenham taking on Liverpool.

Elsewhere, the pressure is on Blackburn manager Steve Kean as Rovers welcome Arsenal to town, while high-flying Manchester City visit Fulham.

Champions Manchester United have swept away all opposition in the league so far this season, with a ridiculous 13 goals scored in their last two games. All eyes will be on Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon when Chelsea travel to the North West, and you can watch the action live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1 from 4pm. Andre Villas-Boas faces his biggest test so far since joining the Blues but will have been heartened by a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night - United drew with Benfica in Lisbon. Expect fireworks in this one.

The only other side with a 100 per cent record is Manchester City and Roberto Mancini will be looking to make it five wins from five on the banks of the Thames at Fulham. City marked their Champions League debut with a draw at home to Napoli in midweek while Fulham played Dutch outfit FC Twente in the Europa League. Martin Jol's side have made a sluggish start to the campaign but it is still early in his reign and he has plenty of time to get them going.

Tottenham earned a 0-0 draw with PAOK Salonika in the Europa League on Thursday - a competition Harry Redknapp has been none-too-shy about criticizing. His side has three days to recover before Liverpool go to the capital on Sunday, looking to bounce back from their defeat at Stoke. Kenny Dalglish was certainly outspoken after the 1-0 reverse in the Potteries and these are two teams who will be desperately trying to break into the Premier League's top four this term. Watch the action live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1 from 1pm.

Blackburn fans will protest against Steve Kean before Saturday's home tie against Arsenal, which is a lunchtime kick-off. Rovers have only earned one point from a possible 12 this season and a certain section of supporters are calling for his head at this early stage. Kean insists that he has the backing of the club's owners but another defeat and he could be the Premier League's first managerial casualty, which was expected in August. Arsenal earned a credible draw at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday and are seemingly on the road to recovery after their Old Trafford nightmare.

Tony Pulis will be justly proud of his Stoke team after their draw away to Dynamo Kiev on Thursday, although the Potters were so close to a famous victory in Eastern Europe. Pulis had a number of players missing who could return when his fifth-place team goes to Sunderland. For the Wearsiders the season has not gone according to plan so far. Asamoah Gyan's shock departure to the UAE has added to Steve Bruce's woes - he needs a win.

Two sides looking to bounce back from defeats last weekend are Norwich and Bolton, with the pair locking horns at the Reebok Stadium. Manchester United tore Owen Coyle's men to shreds and there were sure to be some heated words in the dressing room at the final whistle. Norwich, meanwhile, played well against West Brom but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. The Canaries will want to get their teeth into a shaky Trotters defence.

Newcastle currently occupies fourth in the standings after an impressive start, but they face a tricky encounter away at Aston Villa, who have been unspectacular but solid under Alex McLeish. Hatem Ben Arfa is close to a return which will be a boost to the Magpies, although Davide Santon suffered a knee injury in training on Thursday. Alan Pardew's men were held to a 0-0 draw at QPR on Monday night while Villa were fortunate to come away with a point from their match at Everton.

Yorkshire grit

A good start to the season for Wolves was ended last week after they fell to Tottenham, but Mick McCarthy has the chance to see his side get back to winning ways when QPR go to Molineux. This is a meeting between two Yorkshire managers who certainly do not mince their words and there could be some interesting verbals after the match in the Black Country. Rangers are slowly settling into life back in the Premier League and this one is difficult to call.

Unrest remains the order of the day at Everton but if the Toffees can overcome Wigan at Goodison Park then they will be well placed in the top half of the division. Question marks always remain over the Wigan defence, especially away from home, but David Moyes is now short of options up front after summer sales. A North West clash is always a spicy occasion, even if there is not really any bad feeling between these two sides, and the Everton board will be hoping a win can appease the dissenters.

Finally, Swansea will be desperate to break their goalscoring duck when West Brom travels to South Wales. The Swans had a decent game at Arsenal last week and could have snatched a point were it not for Danny Graham's profligacy in the final third. The Baggies have only managed three points from four games and, with the Liberty Stadium a tough place to visit, Roy Hodgson will know this is not an easy game.

Kenny Dalglish Calls For More Referee Talks

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish believes there should be more communication between managers and match officials.

Dalglish met with referees' chief Mike Riley on Monday after voicing frustration at a number of decisions during his side's 1-0 loss at Stoke.

"We had an extremely informative and amicable discussion, which has given us all a better understanding of how things operate," said Dalglish.

"Maybe it's something that should happen more often."

Following his discussions with Professional Game Match Officials' general manager Riley at Liverpool's Melwood training ground, Dalglish added: "It's our job to best represent the club and protect its interests.

"But we have the utmost respect for the job referees do and have never wanted or asked for any form of preferential treatment - simply a level playing field for everyone.

"We will continue to conduct ourselves in a dignified and respectful manner at all times.

"From our perspective it was certainly worthwhile sitting down together."

During Saturday's game at Stoke, Dalglish took issue with the penalty awarded against his side for Jamie Carragher's challenge on Jonathan Walters - who then converted the resulting spot-kick - and two rejected penalty claims of their own for handball against home players.

And Dalglish said the Stoke game was far from an isolated example.

"The first four games have had contentious decisions in them and every one has gone against us," he said after the Stoke match.

"If I feel the club is suffering in any shape or form I will need to go the same route other people go and see if we can gain some benefit from that.

"I'll speak to the owners first and see what they say because the last thing I want to do is for my behaviour to impinge on the club's success in any way."

Barclays Premier League Preview

A lot has occurred since the last round of Premier League fixtures - the transfer deadline has passed with its usual ebullient ceremony and international fixtures have been and gone. The top flight returns and, after an early taster with three matches played for the majority of sides, the season can now move up the gears as the battle for coveted league points hits full speed. A myriad of players will make their debuts at various clubs this weekend following the deadline-day hysteria, when even Arsene Wenger had the chutzpah to dabble in a few hasty purchases. Surely the Gunners hit their nadir against Manchester United last time out? Well, anything less than a home victory against Swansea would see them sink further into the mire. Elsewhere, United go to Bolton, Tottenham have the opportunity for their first points at Wolves, Manchester City host Wigan and Chelsea travel to Sunderland.

After Arsenal's spectacular defeat at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, Arsene Wenger did not say anything in the dressing room at the final whistle. He did not have to, really. An 8-2 humbling against a side you are supposed to be challenging for the title speaks for itself. Even the most dedicated United fans so used to savouring schadenfreude could not help feeling a twinge of sympathy towards their North London opponents. It was a result that convinced Wenger a spree in the market was required and he has strengthened with the purchases of Mikel Arteta, Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benayoun on loan. Swansea go to the Emirates having not scored in the league so far, anything less than a win for Arsenal would see the doubters find their voice once more.

Both Manchester clubs have made impressive starts and defending champions United go to Bolton looking to continue their ruthless form in front of goal. Owen Coyle's Wanderers have amassed three points from their three games so far and will hope an evening kick-off at the Reebok can galvanise the fans and players into making life as difficult as possible for their fellow North Westerners. Wayne Rooney is currently the man to watch having demonstrated his sharpness for England in Bulgaria - while Gary Cahill remains a Bolton player despite interest in him during the window.

Manchester City have a plethora of options available to them after their powerful spending, and going forward they are now arguably the most dangerous outfit in the division. Chief executive Garry Cook has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons this week and City will be keen to get back out and make heads turn because of their football. Wigan Athletic make the short journey to the Etihad stadium but it would be a real turn up for the books if Roberto Martinez's men come away with anything other than a comfortable beating - but as we all know, anything can happen in the Premier League.

It is fair to say that Chelsea have made a tepid start to the campaign under the stewardship of Andre Villas-Boas, but despite not setting the world alight with their performances, they remain unbeaten and have earned two wins and a draw. There is no doubt the Portuguese Villas-Boas needs time to exert his authority and stamp on his team at Stamford Bridge, but there are signs that things are beginning to fall into place. Juan Mata scored on his debut last time out although Didier Drogba will miss the trip to Sunderland after a head injury against Norwich. Steve Bruce's Black Cats need a victory to give them a kick up the proverbial derriere, having lost to Newcastle and drawing to Swansea, while falling to Brighton in the Carling Cup.

Tottenham have suffered two defeats in two but to be fair to Harry Redknapp and company, those results were against the Manchester clubs in imperious form. It is difficult to say whether the home reverse at the hands of City at White Hart Lane was more down to the bravura of Roberto Mancini's team or the hapless display by Spurs. Luka Modric is still in the ranks which is a major boost but Rafael van der Vaart is sidelined for the foreseeable future. Tottenham face a tough challenge to end their mini-rut when they take on Wolves at Molineux. Mick McCarthy's side has made a fine start to the season and has conceded just one goal so far.

Another team that has hit the ground running is Liverpool. Kenny Dalglish did a fantastic job last season after taking the reins from Roy Hodgson - a period in the club's history that was perhaps forever destined to end in tears. The miasma around Anfield has well and truly been lifted by the Scot, who has seen his charges continue where they left off last year so far this term. Yet the Reds have a tough trip on their hands when they go to Stoke City, who was one of the busiest teams at the close of the transfer window. Tony Pulis caught the eye with the capture of Peter Crouch, and the striker could make his Potters debut against his former club.

All is not well on the other half of Merseyside, however. Short of cash, with protests against the board and Bill Kenwright, there is unrest at Goodison Park. Losing Arteta was a major blow for Everton while Jermaine Beckford, not exactly prolific but one of few options up front for David Moyes, departed for Leicester City in the Championship. In the Darwinian, cut-throat world of the Premier League, nowadays if the cash is not available, then what usually follows is a slide down the rankings. Moyes will be desperate for a positive result at home to Aston Villa to lift the gloom, but Alex McLeish's men look relatively solid at the moment.

The first of Sunday's games sees Norwich host West Brom at Carrow Road. Hodgson's Baggies have put in a few decent performances but have yet to get off the mark and if they slip to another defeat the pressure will be on their experienced boss - no matter how perplexing that sounds at this early stage of the season. Paul Lambert's Canaries seem to have a swashbuckling spirit in their play and they will need that if they are to stay up - another display like the one at Chelsea last time out and they will prove stern opponents.

Finally, Blackburn is one of three clubs yet to pick up a point and they travel to the capital to take on Fulham, who have just one draw to their name. Steve Kean is still the favourite to be the first top-flight manager ousted this term, although Rovers made some shrewd purchases late on this summer - most notably Scott Dann from Birmingham. Martin Jol's Cottagers have not really got going yet - they will see this home tie as the perfect opportunity to do so.

Chelsea Boss Targets Manchester Clubs

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas says his aim is to 'grab' the two Manchester clubs after their impressive starts to the Premier League season.

Manchester United and Manchester City are the only top-flight sides to have won each of their opening three games this season.

Between them, Sir Alex Ferguson and Robert Mancini's sides have scored a total of 25 goals - an average of over four goals per game.

Chelsea are only two points behind but have found it difficult to beat West Brom and Norwich in their two home games after drawing a blank in a stalemate at Stoke on the opening day of the campaign.

But Villas-Boas is excited about the competition that his side will face this season from the leading clubs in the division.

He said: "It's good for them. They've gone on to score a lot of goals and it's good for British football.

"We just hope to score one more goal than the opponents.

"Man United played to perfection and managed to score a lot. They are, with Man City, leading the table for the Premier League and we are two behind them.

"We want to grab them.

"Our objective is on shortening distance and not on what the others do in terms of performance."

The Blues travel to Sunderland in the Premier League this Saturday and Villas-Boas is looking for an improvement from his side.

He said: "I think it can be better and our objective is to transform it.

"We have to improve on a weekly basis, on a game-to-game basis. It's what people expect from us - to get fluency in the way we play.

"I'm very happy that we have been creating enough chances to win games and this is a good sign for us.

"We just need to improve on the quality and fluency of the game."

Reds Exploring Uruguay Link

Liverpool is to explore the possibility of tapping into Uruguay's emerging talent, with two internationals from the South American nation now on their books.

The Reds snapped up promising defender Sebastian Coates during the summer transfer window and he will link up with countryman Luis Suarez at Anfield.

Coates was signed from Nacional, the same club that helped to launch Suarez's career before he went on to make a name for himself at Dutch giants Ajax.

Nacional are the most successful club in Uruguayan football and Liverpool believe a partnership between the two sides could be beneficial to all concerned.

Director of football Damien Comolli is keen to look into the issue and admits discussions have been opened regarding a possible cross-continent understanding.

"I've got to thank the people from Nacional, the directors and their chairman because they have been very helpful," the Frenchman told Liverpool's official website.

"They tried to help the player (Coates) complete his will, which was to come here.

"They tried to find a solution for us to make it happen. We now have strong links with them because both Luis Suarez and Sebastian Coates have come from this club and been developed by their academy.

"We are talking about a partnership with them that we would like to create over the next three, four or five years, to see if there is more talent coming through.

"Maybe we can help them to develop their standards and in turn have the ability to bring those young players here.

"During the Copa America they had 14 players out of the 23 who had at some point played at Nacional or were developed by Nacional. That is a fantastic record for their academy."

Comolli added: "It is very interesting for us

"We already have a strong link with South America through Lucas (Leiva), Maxi (Rodriguez) and Luis.

"Since it's been a success with Luis - and I'm sure it will be for Sebastian - why don't we try to make it an even bigger success by bringing in other players from Nacional?"

Fergie Wary Of Chelsea

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists Chelsea remain a "big threat" for the Premier League title this season.

United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen had branded Chelsea's squad 'too old' to provide any real competition for the title this season.

However, Ferguson is not of the same thinking and believes Chelsea will be up there challenging as he has a lot of respect for their experienced squad.

"They have tremendous experience with the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, John Terry, Alex, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres - there aren't any young kids in that team," Ferguson told Inside United.

"But they don't have 36 or 37-year-olds like Ryan Giggs. Lampard and Drogba are 33, Anelka is 32 - not dissimilar to (Michael) Carrick and Rio Ferdinand, and we wouldn't be saying they are dead and buried, would we? So why should they be?

"They'll still be a big threat and we expect them to challenge."

Ferguson will lock horns with new Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas for the first time later this month and Ferguson admits he does not know a great deal about the young Portuguese tactician.

"He has a different set-up there to me, but I'm sure he'll get plenty of advice from others and he'll do fine. I don't know much about him," added Ferguson.

"He's a young man and it's a big step coming into the Premier League from the Portuguese championship, but given time and support anything is possible."