Liverpool running hot for 202nd Merseyside derby

Everton and Liverpool go into the 202nd Merseyside derby in sharply contrasting form, while Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal should secure their second wins of the festive season today.

Chelsea visit Manchester City, United go to struggling Birmingham City and Arsenal host Portsmouth.

Liverpool beat Newcastle United 2-0 to notch up their eighth successive Premier League win on Monday as Everton slumped to a 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa, their second four-goal drubbing in a row.

"I did not think we played terribly badly when we had the ball but we look very fragile at the moment and liable to concede goals," said Everton manager David Moyes, whose side are 16th in the table, 13 places below Liverpool.

"We have got the derby now and we definitely need to come out of it with more credit than we are achieving at the moment," Moyes added. "We have a soft centre at the moment."

Chelsea, nine points clear at the top, will again be without midfielder Michael Essien for the trip to Manchester City, the only side to beat them in the league last season.

Ghana international Essien missed Monday's 3-2 win over Fulham through illness and Chelsea needed a late goal from Hernan Crespo to maintain their 100 per cent home record.

Manager Jose Mourinho was pleased with his players who squandered a 2-0 lead before seeing off their west London neighbours.

"It was a good experience for the character of my team because 2-2 with 20 minutes to go, you have to play under difficult circumstances," Mourinho said.

Manchester United visit struggling Birmingham seeking their eighth win in nine Premier League matches.

United, 3-1 winners at Birmingham last week in the League Cup quarter-finals, welcome back winger Cristiano Ronaldo from suspension and defender Wes Brown should shake off a knock sustained in Monday's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Birmingham, managed by former United defender Steve Bruce, will be without midfielder Muzzy Izzet who was sent off in the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.

Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp could return for Arsenal against Portsmouth after being rested for the 1-0 win at Charlton.

Arsenal, whose first win and first goal in four league games lifted them to seventh, are still without the injured Robin van Persie, Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy.

Portsmouth, improving since the return of manager Harry Redknapp but still in the relegation zone, will be without Frenchman Laurent Robert who was sent off during the 1-1 draw against West Ham and injured defender Linvoy Primus.

Blackburn Rovers entertain bottom side Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers host Middlesbrough, Aston Villa travel to Fulham, Newcastle United face Charlton, West Brom meet Spurs and West Ham take on Wigan Athletic.

Today's fixtures in England

Premier League
Arsenal-Portsmouth 8.45 p.m.
Birmingham-Man. Utd 8.45 p.m.
Blackburn-Sunderland 9 p.m.
Bolton-Middlesbrough 9 p.m.
Everton-Liverpool 9 p.m.

Fulham-Aston Villa 8.45 p.m.
Man. City-Chelsea 8.45 p.m.
Newcastle-Charlton 8.45 p.m.
WBA-Tottenham 8.45 p.m.
West Ham-Wigan 8.45 p.m.

The Championship
Coventry-Crewe
C. Palace-Derby
Hull-Ipswich
Luton-Brighton
Millwall-Watford
Norwich-Burnley

Plymouth-Preston
QPR-Cardiff
Reading-Leicester
Sheffield Wed.-Wolves
Southampton-Sheffield Utd
Stoke-Leeds

League One
Blackpool-Oldham
Bournemouth-Barnsley
Bradford-Walsall
Bristol City-Rotherham
Chesterfield-Swindon
Colchester-Scunthorpe

Doncaster-Brentford
Hartlepool-Southend
Huddersfield-Port Vale
MK Dons-Nottm Forest
Swansea-Gillingham
Tranmere-Yeovil

League Two
Boston-Carlisle
Chester-Wrexham
Darlington-Barnet
Grimsby-Lincoln
Mansfield-Bristol Rovers

Notts County-Northampton
Peterborough-Oxford
Rochdale-Bury
Rushden-Cheltenham
Shrewsbury-Macclesfield
Stockport-Torquay