Duel of the unscathed

The top two sides in the Premier League, Chelsea and Liverpool, currently separated only by goal difference at the top of the standings, square up at Stamford Bridge. They are the only two sides undefeated in the top flight so far.

Chelsea enjoy a better goal-difference of nine goals. To date, they have netted in every league match they played and scored 12 goals alone in three matches... vs Portsmouth (home 4-0), Manchester City (away 3-1) and Middlesbrough (5-0) away.

Liverpool have also been doing well, yet they are leaving their fans on tenterhooks up to the final whistle. This has been happening at home and in Europe, but the most significant comeback feats came in their last two league outings - vs Manchester City away and Wigan at home... on both occasions they were two goals down.

The absence of Fernando Torres is a big blow for the Reds but Chelsea also have key players sidelined. In their 5-0 romp against Middlesbrough, the Londoners were missing Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole.

Last season both encounters between Liverpool and Chelsea finished in draws, 1-1 at Anfield and 0-0 at Stamford Bridge. In the Champions League this week, Chelsea beat Roma 1-0 at home and Liverpool drew 1-1 away to Atletico Madrid.

Upton Park. Arsenal will be playing their second London derby of the season, at West Ham, after they lost at Fulham 0-1. This upset was the first of two to date, having later gone down at home to Hull 1-2.

This meeting can be dubbed as a duel between master Arsene Wenger and rookie Gianfranco Zola, a clash between two ambassadors of the game.

In Fenerbahce this week, Arsenal played a superb game, winning 5-2. The Hammers are coming from back-to-back losses to Bolton (home 1-3) and Hull (away 0-1).

Goodison Park. While Everton have now descended to 16th place in the classification, Manchester United continue to climb to find their rightful place.

Their 4-0 home win over West Brom was backed by a 3-0 triumph against Celtic in the Champions League, also at Old Trafford.

The Hawthorns. Hull City go marching on, chalking their second home win of the season in the 1-0 win over West Ham. Shrewd manager Phil Brown remarked that the Tigers can improve on their astonishing third placing.

This is the first meeting between West Brom and Hull in the Premier League, having both been promoted this season.

JJB Stadium. Wigan were unlucky not to share the spoils at Liverpool last week. Tomorrow they cross swords with Aston Villa. The Latics have won only once at home in four games, 2-1 against Manchester City.

In the league, Villa have drawn blanks at home for the second time but on the away front they won two of their last three. On Thursday, they beat Ajax 2-1 at Villa Park.

Fratton Park. Portsmouth are still reeling from a 0-3 upset to Braga in the UEFA Cup on Thursday.

Tomorrow, they face Fulham who are shipping in too many goals on the away front. The ten conceded are the worst in the division.

Fulham are positioned just above the relegation zone, having not won in their last five league and cup matches.

City of Manchester Stadium. Manchester City earned a draw at Newcastle after being awarded a dubious penalty that saw Habib Beye harshly sent off.

Beye's red card was rescinded on Thursday... it was the third major blunder by referee Rob Styles in the last two years. Mark Hughes's side can expect a tough game from Stoke, the new 'Wimbledon' of the Premier League with their tough tackling and long-ball method.

Ewood Park. Managers Paul Ince, of Blackburn, and M'boro's Gareth Southgate are finding the going tough in the Premier League.

The Rovers board blasted reports suggesting that Roque Santa Cruz had an escape clause in his contract that would allow him to leave the club when he wanted to.

After the 5-0 hiding by Chelsea, Southgate warned his players that they could face a long hard winter if they do not improve.

Stadium of Light. The north-east derby between Sunderland and Newcastle is the needle match of today's four-match programme.

Black Cats boss Roy Keane has remarked that he would not be involved in big transfers next January.

Newcastle could have gained their second win of the season against Manchester City, but they still looked happy at the way they played in their bid to get the club out of the present mess.

White Hart Lane. While boardroom meetings have become the order of the day at Tottenham, their Spanish coach Juande Ramos is walking on a tight rope, particularly after the 0-2 defeat to Udinese in the UEFA Cup.

Spurs, who take on Bolton tomorrow, will be without suspended duo Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson at the back.