United visit dejected Hammers

Manchester United, top of the all-time list of Premiership winners, have opened a five-point gap on second-placed Chelsea who won their midweek match at home to Newcastle 1-0.

West Ham's Alan Pardew got the sack earlier this week following three straight defeats culminating in a 4-0 loss at Bolton. Alan Curbishley, a former West Ham player and Charlton boss, has taken over at Upton Park.

Alex Ferguson has 'teased' Chelsea's Jose Mourinho with a 'catch us if you can' message following the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal.

The Red Devils are playing their best football with those who starred in the Eric Cantona era, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (when fit), finding that magical form once more.

Add to them the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha, and latest signings Edwin van der Sar, Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Michael Carrick, and you will have a reliable and complete squad.

Sir Alex is glad that Park Ji-Sung is ready to relaunch his career after a below-par period while Ronaldo became the third United player this season to win the 'Monthly Award' following Giggs and Scholes.

Just two weeks into the reign of new Icelandic owner Eggert Magnusson and a managerial casualty occurred at Upton Park. West Ham are a club renowned for giving the boss a chance but now it's a different story with a 'businessman' in charge.

'A mess of Blues'

Everton vs Chelsea. Chelsea are figuring in their worst Premiership campaign since Jose Mourinho arrived. His gamble in the market to sign Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko seems to have failed.

Both stars can still find their true form but in the meantime Chelsea have dropped 12 points since the start of the season.

Another setback, probably the most damaging of the term, is the injury to goalkeeper Petr Cech (will start training next month) and the failure to replace central defender William Gallas, who joined Arsenal in exchange for Ashley Cole.

This week, Shevchenko stated that he would never complain if he is dropped from the side. Roman Abramovich has placed £500 million in a trust fund to ensure the future of the club.

Everton's boss David Moyes refused to blame an injury crisis for his side's inconsistency.

Charlton vs Liverpool. The Reds, still connected with a Dubai company for a takeover bid in January, seem to have found last season's rhythm to move into a top-six placing.

The fans were happy to watch Jamie Carragher netting his first goal almost after a lapse of eight years, against Fulham.

Carragher's last goal was in the 7-1 (Fowler 3, Matteo, Owen, Thompson) beating of Southampton at Anfield on January 22, 1999.

Jose Reina has become the best Liverpool goalkeeper in history - the first to chalk up 28 clean sheets in 50 league matches.

Arsenal vs Portsmouth. Arsenal's meeting with Chelsea was a big boost for Premiership football, end-to-end stuff that kept both sets of supporters on the edge of their seats.

English game followers know that the Gunners are the best side tactically. They have attained their best two results away, a win at Manchester United and a draw at Chelsea. Following their away 1-0 win at Wigan on Wednesday, they will strive to close the gap further at the top.

Theo Walcott was voted BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Matthew Taylor's stunning goal for Portsmouth, at home to Everton, is already being hailed as one of 'the best goals ever'.

Aston Villa vs Bolton. Villa boss Martin O'Neill has revealed he has a direct telephone line with the club's new owner Randy Lerner for signing players.

The Midlanders have lost only once in their last six league outings but that also includes a 2-2 draw at lowly Sheffield United.

From late October, Sam Allardyce's Bolton have registered only two wins: home vs Arsenal and West Ham.

On the eight occasions the duo met at Villa Park in the Premiership, the Trotters won only once.

Reading vs Blackburn. Royals boss Steve Coppell has claimed the 'Manager of the Month' award for the second time this season as his side amassed 13 points from the last 18.

His counterpart today, Mark Hughes, is eagerly awaiting the opening of the transfer window to give his club a fair crack at competing in the league.

In their last four travels, the Rovers picked only one point

Man. City vs Tottenham. Martin Jol, whose side netted five at home to Charlton, remarked that Spurs are better equipped to go for a Champions League place this season.

His top signing Dimitar Berbatov has scored five league goals in the same number of encounters. Central defender Ledley King is playing through the pain barrier to ease the club's injury crisis.

City boss Stuart Pearce wants fellow managers to follow in his footsteps and condemn their own players for diving.

Newcastle vs Watford. Following three Premiership wins on the trot and being undefeated in five, Newcastle met their Waterloo at Chelsea in midweek. Yet they gave their opponents a good run for their money.

Glenn Roeder, happy to see ex-Inter striker Obafemi Martins finding his scoring boots, looks at Fulham's Zat Knight as the man who can bolster his backline.

The Hornets, anchored at rock bottom, registered their sixth 0-0 draw of the season at home to Reading last Saturday.

Wigan vs Sheff. United. After the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at Bramall Lane, Neil Warnock's Blades have now jumped to 16th place.

United's chief executive Kevin McCabe has warned the big guns that Phil Jagielka is staying put as Warnock will be bidding to convince his transfer targets to join his side next month.

The teams will be clashing for the first time in the Premiership and the last time they met (2004-05 in the Championship) the Latics made the double with wins of 2-0 at home and 4-0 away.

Fulham vs M'boro. Gareth Southgate believes he has a long, battling way to go since fellow managers apparently are not pleased with his position since he still has to earn his UEFA badge to manage in the Premiership.

The Cottagers, having lost four out of their last five, are stumbling slowly but surely down the table.