Manchester Utd v Wigan
Manchester United will be out to stretch the joint longest current winning sequence in the Premier League to six matches. All three points against Wigan will see them leapfrog Arsenal and go top of the table for the first time since they won their ninth Premier League title in May.
Wigan have lost all 17 of their Premier League matches against the so-called "big four", conceding 42 goals in the process. United are defending an unbeaten home league record this season; Wigan are chasing a first away win of the campaign. The Red Devils have scored only seven Premier League goals so far; only rock bottom Derby have a weaker attack (five goals).
Wigan have lost all five meetings with Manchester United in the league and Carling Cup final with an aggregate of 16-3. The Latics have conceded more Premier League goals to United than to any other club (12).
Aston Villa v West Ham
Aston Villa are chasing a fourth successive home win in the Premier League; West Ham are striving to avoid a third league defeat on the bounce. Victory would see the Hammers leapfrogging Villa.
Martin O'Neill's side are facing London opposite for the fourth time this season, and are yet to lose; although they did let a three-goal lead slip to share eight goals with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Monday.
All but two of Villa's 11 points have been picked up at home; the Hammers have gained two more points on the road than at home, even though they've played one more match at Upton Park. Half of the Premier League fixtures between these clubs have been drawn (12 of 24).
Arsenal v Sunderland
Arsenal are looking to extend the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League to 15 matches. They are on their best streak since the clubs' record run of 49 matches without defeat ended on 24 October 2004. The Gunners hold a 100% home league record; the Wearsiders are without a win on their travels.
This is Roy Keane's 50th league match in charge of Sunderland. Sunderland travel with the task of ending a 10-match losing run of Premier League trips to London, and have not won a top-flight match in the capital since beating Chelsea 2-4 on 17 March 2001. Arsenal are on the look out for a 50th competitive victory over Sunderland, and sixth in a row against them in the Premier League.
Blackburn v Birmingham
It's the second meeting in 10 days of these clubs at Ewood Park. Rovers won 3-0 in the third round of the Carling Cup on 26 September. Blackburn may have been knocked out of Europe on Thursday, but they have avoided defeat in 12 of their last 13 Premier League matches; Birmingham have won three of their last 14 in this league.
Both clubs have scored seven league goals this season, but the Midlanders have conceded twice as many as Rovers (10 to five). Blackburn are eager to clinch successive league victories for the first time this season; Birmingham equally keen to avoid consecutive league defeats for the first time. Birmingham have not won in the top-flight at Blackburn for 72 years, since a 1-2 triumph on the 28 September 1935.
Bolton v Chelsea
Chelsea return to the ground where they won their initial Premier League title in April 2005, looking to clinch back-to-back wins for the first time under Avram Grant, after Wednesday's 1-2 victory in Spain over Valencia in the Champions League; Bolton were also victorious in Europe having qualified for the group stages of the Uefa Cup.The Londoners have made their worst start to a Premier League season since 2000, and are looking for a first goal in five matches. Chelsea are vying for a fifth successive Premier League victory at the Reebok Stadium.
Bolton, unbeaten in five in all competitions, face one of the so called "Big Four" for the first time this season, having won one of their first eight league outings. They managed just one victory in their first nine matches of the 1963-64 season, when they went on to be relegated and exiled from the top division for 14 years.
Fulham v Portsmouth
This is the 50th competitive meeting of two clubs who had contrasting results last time out. While Fulham were holding Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge, Portsmouth were engaged in the highest scoring match in Premier League history; beating Reading 7-4.
The Cottagers have drawn their last four league matches and are on the longest current winless sequence in the Premier League of six games. Pompey are looking to complete three successive league victories for the first time in over a year .
Liverpool v Tottenham
Liverpool will want to return to winning ways immediately, after their first defeat of the season, home to Marseilles in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Their opponents, third-bottom Tottenham, made progress in Europe, qualifying for the group stages of the Uefa Cup.
The Reds have won four of their seven league games this term; Tottenham have lost four of their eight and made their worst ever start to a Premier League season. Rafael Benitez has not named an unchanged starting 11 for Liverpool since 31 October last year and has only done so once in 152 games.
The Merseysiders have not conceded a goal in five league games or 478 minutes (seven hours 58 minutes) of Premier League football since Frank Lampard netted for Chelsea from the penalty spot at the Bridge on 19 August. They're yet to concede a league goal from open play. Liverpool are unbeaten in six Premier League matches against Spurs, and were one of only three clubs to do the double over the Londoners last season.
Man City v Middlesbrough
Manchester City have a 100% home record in the Premier League; Middlesbrough have lost and failed to score in three of their four league games on the road.
Victory for City would give them five home wins and equal their tally for the whole of last season at Eastlands; victory for the Teessiders would take their total of away wins to two and equal the total they managed on their Premier League travels last term. Middlesbrough have gained more Premier League points against Manchester City than any other club, with the exception of Tottenham; 32 in both instances.
Newcastle v Everton
Newcastle go into this round of fixtures as the lowest placed of seven clubs still holding an unbeaten home record in the Premier League.
The Toffees' tally of 13 points after eight matches is on a par with last season, but they have never managed back-to-back top half finishes since the Premier League was instituted. They last achieved it in 1991, when they recorded a 10th straight top half finish in the old First Division.
Reading v Derby
This is a must-win match for both sides in the first ever top-flight meeting of the bottom-four pair Reading and Derby. Between them the Royals and the Rams have leaked 39 goals in their 16 combined league matches. Reading have shipped 16 in their last five; Derby 15 in their last three away from home.
Steve Coppell celebrates his fifth anniversary as Reading manager on Tuesday. This is his 199th match in charge; it is also the 250th league game of Billy Davies' managerial career in Scotland and England. Derby have only won one league game on Reading turf; 0-1 on 3 January 2005 in the Championship.
Manchester United will be out to stretch the joint longest current winning sequence in the Premier League to six matches. All three points against Wigan will see them leapfrog Arsenal and go top of the table for the first time since they won their ninth Premier League title in May.
Wigan have lost all 17 of their Premier League matches against the so-called "big four", conceding 42 goals in the process. United are defending an unbeaten home league record this season; Wigan are chasing a first away win of the campaign. The Red Devils have scored only seven Premier League goals so far; only rock bottom Derby have a weaker attack (five goals).
Wigan have lost all five meetings with Manchester United in the league and Carling Cup final with an aggregate of 16-3. The Latics have conceded more Premier League goals to United than to any other club (12).
Aston Villa v West Ham
Aston Villa are chasing a fourth successive home win in the Premier League; West Ham are striving to avoid a third league defeat on the bounce. Victory would see the Hammers leapfrogging Villa.
Martin O'Neill's side are facing London opposite for the fourth time this season, and are yet to lose; although they did let a three-goal lead slip to share eight goals with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Monday.
All but two of Villa's 11 points have been picked up at home; the Hammers have gained two more points on the road than at home, even though they've played one more match at Upton Park. Half of the Premier League fixtures between these clubs have been drawn (12 of 24).
Arsenal v Sunderland
Arsenal are looking to extend the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League to 15 matches. They are on their best streak since the clubs' record run of 49 matches without defeat ended on 24 October 2004. The Gunners hold a 100% home league record; the Wearsiders are without a win on their travels.
This is Roy Keane's 50th league match in charge of Sunderland. Sunderland travel with the task of ending a 10-match losing run of Premier League trips to London, and have not won a top-flight match in the capital since beating Chelsea 2-4 on 17 March 2001. Arsenal are on the look out for a 50th competitive victory over Sunderland, and sixth in a row against them in the Premier League.
Blackburn v Birmingham
It's the second meeting in 10 days of these clubs at Ewood Park. Rovers won 3-0 in the third round of the Carling Cup on 26 September. Blackburn may have been knocked out of Europe on Thursday, but they have avoided defeat in 12 of their last 13 Premier League matches; Birmingham have won three of their last 14 in this league.
Both clubs have scored seven league goals this season, but the Midlanders have conceded twice as many as Rovers (10 to five). Blackburn are eager to clinch successive league victories for the first time this season; Birmingham equally keen to avoid consecutive league defeats for the first time. Birmingham have not won in the top-flight at Blackburn for 72 years, since a 1-2 triumph on the 28 September 1935.
Bolton v Chelsea
Chelsea return to the ground where they won their initial Premier League title in April 2005, looking to clinch back-to-back wins for the first time under Avram Grant, after Wednesday's 1-2 victory in Spain over Valencia in the Champions League; Bolton were also victorious in Europe having qualified for the group stages of the Uefa Cup.The Londoners have made their worst start to a Premier League season since 2000, and are looking for a first goal in five matches. Chelsea are vying for a fifth successive Premier League victory at the Reebok Stadium.
Bolton, unbeaten in five in all competitions, face one of the so called "Big Four" for the first time this season, having won one of their first eight league outings. They managed just one victory in their first nine matches of the 1963-64 season, when they went on to be relegated and exiled from the top division for 14 years.
Fulham v Portsmouth
This is the 50th competitive meeting of two clubs who had contrasting results last time out. While Fulham were holding Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge, Portsmouth were engaged in the highest scoring match in Premier League history; beating Reading 7-4.
The Cottagers have drawn their last four league matches and are on the longest current winless sequence in the Premier League of six games. Pompey are looking to complete three successive league victories for the first time in over a year .
Liverpool v Tottenham
Liverpool will want to return to winning ways immediately, after their first defeat of the season, home to Marseilles in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Their opponents, third-bottom Tottenham, made progress in Europe, qualifying for the group stages of the Uefa Cup.
The Reds have won four of their seven league games this term; Tottenham have lost four of their eight and made their worst ever start to a Premier League season. Rafael Benitez has not named an unchanged starting 11 for Liverpool since 31 October last year and has only done so once in 152 games.
The Merseysiders have not conceded a goal in five league games or 478 minutes (seven hours 58 minutes) of Premier League football since Frank Lampard netted for Chelsea from the penalty spot at the Bridge on 19 August. They're yet to concede a league goal from open play. Liverpool are unbeaten in six Premier League matches against Spurs, and were one of only three clubs to do the double over the Londoners last season.
Man City v Middlesbrough
Manchester City have a 100% home record in the Premier League; Middlesbrough have lost and failed to score in three of their four league games on the road.
Victory for City would give them five home wins and equal their tally for the whole of last season at Eastlands; victory for the Teessiders would take their total of away wins to two and equal the total they managed on their Premier League travels last term. Middlesbrough have gained more Premier League points against Manchester City than any other club, with the exception of Tottenham; 32 in both instances.
Newcastle v Everton
Newcastle go into this round of fixtures as the lowest placed of seven clubs still holding an unbeaten home record in the Premier League.
The Toffees' tally of 13 points after eight matches is on a par with last season, but they have never managed back-to-back top half finishes since the Premier League was instituted. They last achieved it in 1991, when they recorded a 10th straight top half finish in the old First Division.
Reading v Derby
This is a must-win match for both sides in the first ever top-flight meeting of the bottom-four pair Reading and Derby. Between them the Royals and the Rams have leaked 39 goals in their 16 combined league matches. Reading have shipped 16 in their last five; Derby 15 in their last three away from home.
Steve Coppell celebrates his fifth anniversary as Reading manager on Tuesday. This is his 199th match in charge; it is also the 250th league game of Billy Davies' managerial career in Scotland and England. Derby have only won one league game on Reading turf; 0-1 on 3 January 2005 in the Championship.
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