Liverpool emulate Chelsea's clean sheets record

After this afternoon's match against Middlesbrough at Anfield, European champions Liverpool will jet off to Tokyo. On Thursday they play in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Club Championship, taking on Oceania representative Sydney or CONCACAF title winners Saprissa, of Costa Rica.

In the domestic scene, Liverpool have shown tremendous improvement compared to last season's first campaign for coach Rafael Benitez.

They won six straight league matches without conceding a goal to catapult themselves to the third spot in the classification.

So far, Liverpool have chalked up 11 clean sheets from 14 matches played. Chelsea - set a season record of 25 games without conceding a goal last term - have also 11 blanks to their credit but from 16 matches.

The two sides clashed in the last group game of the Champions League at Stamford Bridge in midweek. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

The result stretched Liverpool's record of straight matches without conceding a goal to nine at home and abroad. Today, the Reds entertain Middlesbrough in the 'first return' fixture of the season.

Today, Boro will play their 400th Premiership match, having lost four on their travels this season.

Chelsea vs Wigan. Chelsea, having had a tough time against newcomers Wigan in their first outing of the season at the JJB Stadium (they won with the last kick of the match) will be hoping to claim the points much earlier in the encounter this time.

Jose Mourinho has again stressed that they are not interested in signing German Michael Ballack in January.

After their great flourish early in the season Wigan look destined to lose five on the trot after three straight defeats - today's strenuous task and next Wednesday's game at Manchester United.

Man. United vs Everton. Manchester United exited the Champions League in midweek after their 1-2 loss to Benfica in Lisbon.

Wayne Rooney will welcome his ex-pals and then plot their downfall with his precise passing and lethal scoring.

Alex Ferguson has handed the captain's armband to defender Gary Neville while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a comeback in a reserves league outing. Neville will square up to his brother Phil, now at Everton.

For the first time this season Everton attained back-to-back league wins against Newcastle and Blackburn. Blues' Tim Cahill is suspended.

Tottenham vs Portsmouth. The Spurs, who had to work hard for the three points against bottom side Sunderland, will include winger Wayne Routledge in their squad for the first time since he broke his foot on the opening day of the season. The Spurs are seeking to extend an unbeaten home Premier League sequence to seven matches.

This week, Pompey engaged Harry Redknapp again as manager after he left Southampton.

Newcastle vs Arsenal. The Gunners are indeed a different kettle of fish when they are on the away front, having won only once, at Wigan.

Arsene Wenger's comments that he would not be rushed into freshening his squad in January has perhaps ruffled Thierry Henry's feathers, since he had always complained of a shortage of players at Highbury.

Pressure mounts on Graeme Souness sequel to the run of four matches without a win. Newcastle failed to defeat the Londoners in their last five home Premiership meetings.

Bolton vs Aston Villa. After beating Arsenal, to come at a par with the Londoners in their chase of a Champions League berth, Bolton will target a sixth successive top flight victory at the Reebok Stadium.

Villa, still reeling following that penalty miss at Newcastle that cost them two precious points, have won this fixture 2-1 last season.

West Brom vs Man. City. After their nap-hand win at Charlton, Stuart Pearce's City were glad to watch their attacking tandem of Andy Cole and Darius Vassell prove fruitful once more.

West Brom, having already earned a point away at City, will be hoping to repeat last season's performance when they gained the three points.

This is the 124th league clash between the contestants with City leading Albion 50-47 in terms of wins. Their first ever meeting at West Brom's backyard in 1899-1900, turned out to be a stalemate, a 0-0 draw.

Charlton vs Sunderland. Alan Curbishley is having sleepless nights as he strives to find the winning touch that had deserted him in the side's last seven excursions. No job is safe in the Premiership and every manager is judged on his results.

Another negative outcome today, against a team that won only once in 16 outings, could leave the fans and club unsettled.

Blackburn Rovers vs West Ham. Blackburn cannot believe how they lost all the points against Everton when they had the lion's share of the play.

They will be keen to claim their fifth win at Ewood Park.

The Hammers, who won at Birmingham on Monday night, lost six of their eight calls at Rovers' patch in the Premiership, including a 7-1 annihilation in 2001-02.

Birmingham vs Fulham. After their loss against West Ham at St Andrews, Birmingham will entertain another club from the capital - Fulham.

The Cottagers, carrying the tag of the best game starters of the division, bar Chelsea, will be keen to seek an early lead and hope for a draw as they did in their last visit to the Midlands against West Brom.