This weekend, the Premier League is observing another break due to international matches as England are on the brink of another sit-out from a major tournament in continental football. Probably their fate will be sealed in Tel Aviv this evening.

Steve McClaren, the England manager, is hoping Russia fail to get all points against Israel away so that England-Croatia next Wednesday will have value as the Whites try to sneak by the back door.

On the domestic scene, the excitement generated by Premier League matches all over the world has increased the TV revenue for next season, particularly from Asian countries. Meanwhile, the debate for a quota on foreign players rages on.

In the top coaches' field, one of the finest mentors in Europe, Juande Ramos, jumped on the bandwagon to join Tottenham after quitting Sevilla.

This season the managerial merry-go-round has worked overtime and left five casualties so far, but, more are expected.

The great cash chase, made possible by TV revenues, has seen club chairmen going frantic when things are going bad in terms of results.

This week, Wigan failed in their attempt to re-appoint Paul Jewell, who left the Latics at the end of last season. Jewell's assistant, Chris Hutchings, was sacked on November 5 after the club slumped to the bottom three. His right-hand man Frank Barlow took over on a temporary basis.

Jewell, 43, was at the helm of Wigan for six years and guided the club to promotion twice - to the Championship (2002-03) and the Premier League (2004-05).

In their first year in the top flight, Jewell's side finished 10th and reached the League Cup final.

The comings and goings in the Premier to date:

• Man. City: Sven Goran Eriksson (appointed on June 7) for Stuart Pearce (left on May 12).

• Chelsea: Avram Grant (Sept. 18) for Jose Mourinho (Sept. 15).

• Bolton: Gary Megson (Oct. 25) for Sammy Lee (Oct. 17).

• Tottenham: Juande Ramos (Oct. 29) for Martin Jol (Oct. 25).

• Wigan Athletic: Chris Hutchings sacked on Nov. 5.

Best of the best
The top group chasing honours in the Premier League has never been as it is at present.

Blackburn, who have a game in hand and lost at Manchester United last Saturday, can close the gap on the leaders to five points if they attain a win from their postponed encounter at home to Aston Villa.

A look at these statistics produces the answers to this great skirmish for the silverware.

Most home points
1. Manchester City 21 points
2. Arsenal, Man. Utd 19
3. Aston Villa 15
4. Newcastle United 13

Most away points
1. Liverpool 14 points
2. Chelsea, Portsmouth 13
3. Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Man.United 11

Best home attack
1. Arsenal 18 goals
2. Tottenham Hotspur 15
3. Manchester United 14
4. Fulham, Liverpool 12

Best away attack
1. Portsmouth 12 goals
2. West Ham United, Everton 10
3. Arsenal, Man. United 9

Best home defence
1. Man. Utd 1 goal conceded
2. Man. City 2
3. Chelsea 3
4. Liverpool 4
5. Blackburn 5

Best away defence
1. Liverpool 2 goals conceded
2. Arsenal, West Ham 4
3. Manchester United 5
4. Blackburn, Chelsea 6

Best overall attack
1. Arsenal 27 goals
2. Man. United, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur 23
3. Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle United 19

Best overall defence
1. Liverpool, Man. Utd 6 goals
2. Chelsea 9
3. Arsenal, West Ham 10

Most wins
1. Arsenal, Man. Utd 9 wins
2. Manchester City 8
3. Chelsea 7

Least overall losses
1. Arsenal, Liverpool nil
2. Manchester United 1
3. Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Portsmouth 2

Clean sheets
1. Man. United 8 blanks
2. Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man. City 7
3. Portsmouth 6
4. Aston Villa, West Ham 5

United lead the way

Manchester United, the only club to feature in all 11 categories, lead in four classes along with Arsenal and Liverpool.

If three points are awarded for a top placing, two points for a runners-up spot and one mark for a third place, overall statistics will read as follows:

1. Man. United 22 points
2. Arsenal 19
3. Liverpool 15
4. Chelsea 10
5. Man. City, Portsmouth 9