Premier League preview

Ince returns to Old Trafford, while Kinnear takes charge

Last updated: 4th October 2008

Arsene Wenger Arsenal manager

Wenger: Which Arsenal will arrive at the Stadium of Light?

Individual match stats and previews
Saturday
Blackburn v Man Utd
Sunderland v Arsenal
West Brom v Fulham
Wigan v Middlesbrough
Sunday
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Everton v Newcastle
Man City v Liverpool
Portsmouth v Stoke
Tottenham v Hull
West Ham v Bolton


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Chelsea host high-flying Aston Villa, Manchester City welcome Liverpool and Arsenal travel to Sunderland.

With many teams returning from European action, Saturday's Premier League fixture list appears a little empty, but Arsenal's trip to the Stadium of Light catches the eye.

Black Cats are often associated with bad luck and Roy Keane will be hoping to pile more misery on Arsene Wenger when the Gunners cross his Sunderland side's path.

Wenger felt 'physically sick' when watching his youngsters slump to one of the biggest upsets in Premier League history at the hands of Hull last weekend, but the Londoners thumped Porto in midweek and it will be interesting to witness which Arsenal arrives on Wearside.

Saturday evening sees Blackburn boss Paul Ince come up against his former Manchester United leader Sir Alex Ferguson at Ewood Park.

Ince joins fellow Ferguson protégés Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce in crossing swords with their former master in a story that would not be out of place in Star Wars, while a North West rivalry only adds to the spice.

United were comfortable victors in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, but Ince has made a positive start to life at Blackburn and the clash promises to be an intriguing character.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough will attempt to halt their stone-like sink down the table when they meet Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

Gareth Southgate's charges started the season in fine form prompting, possibly premature, talk of a top-seven finish, but injuries have ravaged Boro in recent weeks and the Teessiders find themselves without a win in four games in all competitions.

Wigan, on the other hand, remain unbeaten on all fronts since a defeat to Chelsea in the second week of the season. Surely you do not need me to tell you what the form book points to, but the uncertainty is what makes the Premier League so fascinating.

West Brom - who got the better of Boro last time out - host Fulham in Saturday's other game, with the Baggies hoping for another three-point haul and the Cottagers looking to avoid a third successive defeat.

Sunday sees the majority of action in the top flight and Aston Villa's clash with Chelsea appears the standout fixture.

Martin O'Neill's Villa - who have their sights set on a place in the UEFA Champions League next term - have lost only once this season, away to Stoke, and find themselves sat third in the table.

Villa have already earned a draw against Liverpool in 2008/09 and O'Neill will again be keen for his men to demonstrate their capabilities against one of the Premier League's 'big four'.

And it would appear a good time to be facing a Chelsea side, already badly hit by injuries, who will be without the services of star striker Didier Drogba following the Ivorian's knee injury in a disappointing stalemate with CFR Cluj on Wednesday.

Another team looking to prove their credentials against one of the Premier League's big boys is Manchester City, and Mark Hughes' nouveau riche outfit will be eager for a positive display against Liverpool.

However, City face a difficult task as their opponents in red arrive with an unbeaten record this season and they are also riding the crest of a Merseyside wave of confidence following recent successes against United, derby rivals Everton, and a Champions League demolition of PSV Eindhoven.

Newcastle's trip to Everton - live on Sky Sports 1 and HD 1 - also has an appealing look, with two sides failing to live up to expectations this season.

'You couldn't make it up' has probably been the most used phrase in Tyneside this season following managerial departures and all round unrest, and Sunday could provide the latest instalment of drama as interim manager Joe Kinnear takes charge of the Magpies for the first time.

The Toffees, though, will be just as eager as Kinnear to find themselves with a smile on their face come Sunday evening as they look to end a truly woeful record at Goodison Park, which has seen them fail to record a point at home this season.

West Ham's meeting with Bolton at Upton Park, the early offering on Sky Sports 1 and HD 1, will see two managers with apparently contrasting fortunes.

Italian chief Gianfranco Zola has made a 100 per cent league start to life with the Hammers, but Bolton boss Gary Megson has not seen his side win since the opening day against Stoke.

Megson is right to bemoan his side's defeat at United last weekend following Cristiano Ronaldo's controversial penalty, but the Trotters cannot excuse a run of one point from a possible 15 and it already looks as if Bolton supporters could be suffering from repetitive strain injuries to their necks come May following a succession of nervous looks over their shoulders.

Tottenham supporters will have been rubbing their hands with glee when the fixture list was first published and 5th October displayed a home date with newly-promoted Hull.

Three points would have seemed a certainty for the Spurs faithful, but now it does not appear such a certainty.

Juande Ramos's team remain rooted to the bottom of the table as they continue to stretch their worst start to a Premier League season and, when Hull's sensational success in North London last weekend is also considered, a home win does not appear guaranteed.

Finally, Portsmouth , fresh from their European success welcome Stoke to Fratton Park with the hosts looking to build on victory over Spurs and the visitors eager to forget a defeat to Chelsea.