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Manchester United vs Liverpool
This clash between these fierce rivals promises much but, as usual with so much at stake, will most likely deliver little. Liverpool are hoping to pull away in the close battle for the fourth and final Champions league spot, just three points ahead of rivals Everton with a superior goal difference. Sir Alex Ferguson is currently unbeaten in all previous battles with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. Prolific midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo (24 goals in the Premier League) will be looking for more success having surpassed George Best’ goal record for a season against Bolton on Wednesday, while Fernando Torres will also be hoping to add to his tally of 20 Premier League goals in his debut campaign. Despite this expect a tense affair with few goals, Liverpool having only conceded nine goals away all season whilst Man Utd have only conceded five at home. Manchester hold the upper hand having won the three points at Anfield earlier in this season, but Liverpool’s recent form suggests an upset could be on the cards.

Team news:
Manchester United: Rio Ferdinand, Edwin Van Der Sar, Louis Saha (all doubtful) Patrice Evra and Wes Brown likely to be recalled.
Liverpool: No new injury worries, although Daniel Agger (broken metatarsal) is out for the season and Harry Kewell is in Singapore captaining Australia.
Prediction: Man Utd too strong at home. 1 - 0.
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Chelsea vs Arsenal
Another top of the table clash, this time acting as a tasty appetiser for the upcoming Champions League quarter final. Top scorer Emmanuel Adebayor and the mis-firing Gunners have recorded four draws in their last four league games as their challenge for the title stutters, leaving them three points behind Manchester United. Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from their scintillating 4-4 draw at Spurs during mid-week, and abolish their reputation as big game bottlers having been out fought in the FA cup by Barnsley and out thought by Juande Ramos in the Carling cup final. Expect particularly warm receptions for Ashley Cole and William Gallas as they line up against their old team mates. Chelsea, undefeated at home, look favourites for this one.

Team News:
Chelsea: Petr Chech and Nicolas Anelka look likely to return, with John Obi-Mikel and Michael pushing for a start.
Arsenal: look set to remain unchanged from last week’s draw with Middlesbrough, with long term injuries Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky still absent.
Prediction: look for form man Joe Cole to shine in a 2-1 win.
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Tottenham Hotspur vs Portsmouth
Portsmouth Head to White Hart Lane hoping to improve their ever fading dreams of Champions League football, having fallen six points behind Everton in the race for fourth. Pompey’s hopes have been dealt a blow as £7 million striker Jermaine Defoe has been ruled out of facing his old club by an obscure rule drawn up when Defoe initially made his loan move to the south coast club. Portsmouth head into the game on good form having won their last three games. Spurs have a different agenda as they hope to push higher up the league after a disastrous start which accounted for Martin Jol’s job. Since winning the Carling cup, Juande Ramos’ team have been consistently inconsistent, picking up just one win since then and will be hoping for victory. White Hart Lane has seen the most goals this season (67), expect more here.

Team news:
Tottenham Hotspur: Skipper Ledley King continues slowly along the road to recovery and is likely to miss out again, while long term absentees Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou – Ekotto will also be unavailable.
Portsmouth: Defoe and Papa Bouba Diop ineligible, Spurs old boy Sol Campbell will also be sidelined. Expect Pedro Mendes and Richard Hughes to start.
Prediction: A highly entertaining 2- 2 draw.~
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Bolton vs Manchester City
Fresh from a disappointing away day at Old Trafford (what did they expect?) Bolton will be looking to ease their relegation troubles against a stuttering Manchester City. City’s abysmal post-Christmas form has seen them win just two away all season, whilst Bolton have had trouble finding the net in the post-Anelka era, having scored 28 goals all season, 11 belonging to the Frenchman. Expect a low quality affair as Bolton have lost their last five league games with City coming fresh off the back of a three game losing streak before beating Spurs in their last game. A classic this will not be.

Team news:
Bolton: Kevin Nolan and Gary Cahill look set to return having been injured during the loss against fellow relegation strugglers Wigan. Gavin McCann and Jussi Jaaskelainen are sidelined.
Man City: Key figures Muntari and Petrov will return, Richard Dunne looks to have shaken off a knock picked up mid-week while Michael Ball and Micah Richards continue their long term absences.
Prediction: City too strong (just) 2-0.
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Newcastle vs Fulham
Another six pointer at the wrong end of the table, Kevin “The Messiah” Keegan hopes to halt The Toon’s slide towards the Championship with their first victory under his leadership. A good second half showing against Birmingham saw Michael Owen score his seventh of the season, and Keegan will hope the former Real Madrid man can continue scoring. Where to start with Fulham? Four points away from safety and without a victory away all season (and the majority of last season) manager Roy Hodgson will hope last week’s win over in-form Everton will prove to be a turning point. Look for the heartbeat of the Fulham team Jimmy Bullard (who suffered his horrendous broken leg at Newcastle) to take centre stage in an otherwise dogged affair.

Team news:
Newcastle: Given, Milner, Carr and Emre are still missing, but Damien Duff, Charles N’Zogbia and Alan Smith are pushing for first team action.
Fulham: Alexi Smertin available for recall but unlikely to be called upon.
Prediction: Newcastle scrape a 1-0 win
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Reading vs Birmingham
Birmingham head into this game slap bang in the middle of the relegation dog fight, and will hope to ease their worries at Reading, who have also been dragged into the mix. James McFadden is the form man here and will hope to be the difference between these closely matched teams. Birmingham will be buoyed by a good performance mid-week against Newcastle, whilst Reading will hope a defeat against Liverpool will not affect this game. This game also marks the return of Martin Taylor, who has completed his three match ban for his well publicised horror tackle on Arsenal’s Eduardo.

Team news:
Reading: Reading look set to be unchanged from their last game.
Reading: Classy midfielder Sebastian Larsson should be fit, Martin Taylor may get a game.
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Aston Villa vs Sunderland
Martin O’Neill will be hoping that the feel good factor surrounding Villa Park will continue through to their encounter with Roy Keane’s Sunderland as they look to take all three points from the relegation threatened wearsiders. This is a must win game for the Black Cats who are flirting with relegation, only two points above the drop zone. However the omens do not look good. Sunderland are one of three teams who have yet to register a victory away from home this season, having only scored 9 goals and conceded a whopping 33 on their travels. They are also struggling for form, having lost their last four premiership fixtures. O’Neill will be hoping to get back on track after a loss of form which the villains fall 7 points behind Everton in the race for the final Champions League spot. Expect Villa’s class to outshine Sunderland’s grit and determination.

Team news:
Aston Villa: O’Neill is expected to name an unchanged team, except for experienced Swedish defender Olof Mellberg, who will miss out through suspension.
Sunderland: Key players Kieran Richardson and Michael Chopra are likely to return to add some creativity, however Dickson Etuhu will miss out.
Prediction: Villa’s English young guns to out-perform Sunderland. 3-1
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Blackburn vs Wigan
Blackburn’s promising start to the season has tailed off recently, seeing them slip further and further away from a spot in Europe. They will be hoping to set this right with a win against Wigan, but will face a tough challenge. The Lactic’s have been revived under Steve Bruce, and are unbeaten in four, helping them pull clear of the relegation zone. Blackburn are a different story however, with one point from their last two games. This should make for an interesting game, and one that is a lot closer than it seems on face value.

Team news:
Blackburn: New Swiss signing Johann Vogel will not feature as he is yet to receive international clearance, whilst Brett Emerton picked up a knock mid-week and will also miss out.
Wigan: Jason Koumas will sit this one out after the red mist descended against Bolton on Wednesday. Bruce looks short of attacking options as Emile Heskey, Marcus Bent and Antoine Sibierski are struggling to recover from injuries, although all may play some part.
Prediction: This is neck out on the line time, Wigan to grind out an away win. 2-1.
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Everton Vs West Ham
Finally Everton host an under-fire West Ham, who, although secured a gratifying win against Blackburn last week thanks to debutant Freddy Sears, have been short of form to say the least. The victory against Blackburn ended a run of four 4-0 defeats in a row, and speculation over Curbishley’s future. Everton will be looking to make up ground on Liverpool and close the three point gap on their Merseyside rivals, whilst hoping to gain some momentum for what could turn out to be the biggest Merseyside derby in years next week. They are the form side going into this game having gone four games unbeaten prior to falling against Fulham. This is a game to look out for as there should be some good football on display, with the possibility of fireworks if Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole are given the chance to combine and shine.

Team News:
Everton: Big worries for David Moyes as he looks set to be without key figures Andy Johnson, Tim Cahill, Victor Anichebe and Thomas Gravesen, although Manuel Fernandes has recovered and should play some part.
West Ham: Jonathon Spector will return from international duty in time to play, and midfield powerhouse Luis Boa Morte should come back into the side after being suspended, but The Hammers will be missing Julien Faubert, Danny Gabbidon, Matthew Etherington, Lee Bowyer and Craig Bellamy, who all miss out through injury.
Prediction: A close, and exciting affair, but Everton should prevail in the end. 2-1.