English Premiership

The Lancashire derby between Manchester United and Liverpool, this afternoon at Old Trafford, is one of the biggest fixtures of the season.

United, currently seven points ahead at the top of the Premier League standings, will put the icing on the cake if they grab all points from the all-Reds clash today.

United have more experienced players to rely on in their squad, particularly in attack. While Alex Ferguson has three match-winners in the up front department − Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov − the Kopites can only bank on Fernando Torres, who had a terrible season with injuries.

One newspaper critic in the UK remarked that when Sir Alex is in a joyous mood and wearing a big smile it is a sign for the rest of the managers to take notice as the Scot's team improve with every game they play.

At Anfield, the latest Liverpool victim to injury is Yossi Benayoun. He was out of the squad for the Champions League match against Real Madrid in midweek and will sit this one out as well with a hamstring injury.

In the Champions League, Liverpool put their poor form in the Premiership aside to do the double on Real Madrid with a 4-0 hammering at Anfield. United also progressed after their 2-0 home win over Inter.

Liverpool's last Premier League win at Old Trafford was on April 24, 2004 via a Danny Murphy penalty goal.

Since Guus Hiddink took over at Chelsea the Blues won five encounters and conceded a draw − Aston Villa (away 1-0), Juventus (home 1-0), Wigan (home 2-1), Portsmouth (away 1-0), Coventry (away 2-0), Juventus (away 2-2).

In the Champions League last 16 second leg on Tuesday, Chelsea drew away at Juventus to reach the quarter-finals 3-2 on aggregate. In-form striker Didier Drogba was again among the scorers.

Tomorrow, Chelsea will entertain Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. City are playing their best football of the season and are the only English club left in the UEFA Cup.

Contrary to Man. City, Aston Villa have hit a negative patch and have now gone six league and cup matches without a win, failing to score in half of those encounters.

Villa play Tottenham at home tomorrow. The Midlanders can chalk up their fourth league double of the season after they beat Spurs 2-1 at White Hart Lane.

Both sides fielded 'reserve' sides in their last UEFA Cup outings but still failed to emerge victorious in their next game as Villa drew 2-2 at home to Stoke and Tottenham lost the League Cup final to Manchester United.

In the Champions League, Arsenal made sure to become the fourth English team to move to the last eight following a nervy penalty shoot-out victory at Roma on Wednesday.

In the Premier League, the Londoners are now three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Arsenal, having seen off Burnley in the FA Cup fifth round, still have to beat Hull to claim a place in the last four against Chelsea at Wembley.

The return of Eduardo Da Silva and the skills of Russian Andrei Arshavin in midfield are delighting the Arsenal fans. This afternoon, the Gunners play hosts to Blackburn.

Last September, Arsenal hit four past the Rovers at Ewood Park, Emanuel Edebayor scoring a hat-trick on that occasion.

After coming from a goal down to beat Middlesbrough and earn a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, Everton square up to Stoke at Goodison Park, where they are unbeaten in their last nine league and cup matches.

Stoke, two points outside the relegation zone, have lost only once in their past five league games with striker James Beattie playing a big part in the Potters' revival.

Stoke and Fulham are the only Premier League sides not to win away this season.

Gianfranco Zola's West Ham, now within touching distance of a UEFA Cup berth, are favourites to beat bottom-club West Brom on Monday.

The Hammers, having won back-to-back league matches against Manchester City and Wigan, will be without the suspended Carlton Cole.

Sunderland and Wigan, who cross swords at the Stadium of Light today, are currently in clear waters.

Sunderland, however, have now gone eight matches without a win. Middlesbrough, now out of the FA Cup, will focus on their battle to escape the drop as they take on fellows-in-distress Portsmouth while Michael Owen could return for troubled Newcastle in their away match against Hull.