Premier League preview

Everton entertain Liverpool, Chelsea take on Stoke, Arsenal meet Hull

Last updated: 26th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Premier League preview

Benitez and Moyes meet at Goodison Park

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Saturday
Everton v Liverpool
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Fulham v West Ham
Manchester United v Bolton
Middlesbrough v West Brom
Newcastle v Blackburn
Stoke v Chelsea
Arsenal v Hull
Sunday
Portsmouth v Tottenham
Wigan v Manchester City

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Everton take on Liverpool, Chelsea travel to newly promoted Stoke and leaders Arsenal entertain Hull.

The weekend's action kicks off with the first Merseyside derby of the season, which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD 1 on Saturday lunchtime.

Liverpool won the corresponding fixture at Goodison Park last term but the 2-1 scoreline did not tell the full story in a controversial clash which saw Everton reduced to nine men and then denied a penalty in the final seconds after Joleon Lescott had been dragged down by Jamie Carragher.

Saturday's match is guaranteed to provide its fair share of drama but Liverpool will be confident of claiming the local bragging rights once again after a bright start to their latest campaign.

Rafa Benitez's Reds were held by Stoke last weekend but they remain unbeaten after five games, while Everton are back in ninth and suffered Carling Cup disappointment at the hands of Blackburn on Wednesday.

Chelsea are level on points with Liverpool after salvaging a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Sunday, and Luiz Felipe Scolari's men will be keen to collect three points from their trip to the Britannia Stadium.

Tenacity

Stoke have shown plenty of tenacity in the early stages of their battle to avoid relegation, but they are currently in the bottom three and will find it difficult to follow up their creditable goalless draw at Anfield with another good result against a free-scoring Chelsea side that is perhaps starting to win the neutrals back over with their stylish brand of football.

Hull have fared better than Stoke so far, with their one blip a 5-0 reverse at home to Wigan, but they face a stern test against an Arsenal side on a run of three successive victories in the league.

Phil Brown may be somewhat relieved that Hull are not playing against the teenage Gunners who trounced Sheffield United 6-0 in the Carling Cup in midweek, but Arsene Wenger's senior team have been every bit as impressive and the French tactician may even be tempted to include one or two of his youngsters including Mexican sensation Carlos Vela.

Defending champions Manchester United are seven points adrift of Arsenal at present and, in the unfamiliar position of 15th, they are also looking a shadow of the side that conquered all before them last season.

Sir Alex Ferguson will hope the returning Cristiano Ronaldo can help fire United back among the leading pack, and the Portuguese winger could make his first Premier League start since May in the clash with Bolton.

The Trotters were desperate not to get sucked into another scrap for survival this term but they have not won since the opening day of the season and defeat at Old Trafford would likely leave them in the drop zone.

Desperate

Bolton's problems pale into insignificance when compared to Newcastle, who remain managerless and have now lost their last four games in all competitions following defeat to Tottenham in the Carling Cup.

Only 20,000 fans turned up at St James' Park to watch Wednesday's 2-1 loss and those who attend against Blackburn will be desperate to see their side return to winning ways.

Paul Ince's team have not been able to find much consistency this season but will feel that a visit to Tyneside is the perfect opportunity to record a third victory in a row in all competitions.

Aston Villa and Sunderland both endured miserable nights in the Carling Cup, with Martin O'Neill's men bowing out to Queens Park Rangers and Roy Keane describing the Black Cats' penalty shoot-out win over Northampton as 'one of the worst' experiences of his career.

Both sides are nevertheless going well in the league and Villa will be looking to tighten their grip on a place in the top four with a home win, while Sunderland can climb up from eighth if they extend their unbeaten record away from home.

Fulham have lost all their away games this season and won all their home matches, so Roy Hodgson will be pleased that Saturday's encounter against West Ham is to be held at Craven Cottage.

Gianfranco Zola made the perfect start to his Hammers reign with a 3-1 success against Newcastle and will want his team to show the same sort of form after a disappointing defeat to Watford in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Saturday's final clash sees Middlesbrough looking to maintain their 100 per cent record at the Riverside against a West Brom outfit currently fourth from bottom.

Low on confidence

Sunday's action features Tottenham going in search of their first league win against Portsmouth and Wigan hosting Manchester City, with both games live on Sky Sports 1 and HD 1.

First up is the clash at Fratton Park as Harry Redknapp and Juande Ramos both seek morale-boosting victories.

Tottenham are bottom of the table on just two points but they are unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions and perhaps head into the match with more confidence than their opponents.

Portsmouth have shipped ten goals in two games against Manchester City and Chelsea but a return to form could see them rise back into the top half of the table.

Manchester City looked like world beaters in crushing Pompey 6-0 last weekend but they were brought back down to earth by Brighton in the Carling Cup.

The likes of Robinho and Shaun Wright-Phillips should return at the JJB Stadium but Wigan have been quietly impressive in recent weeks and Steve Bruce will be targeting all three points.