Top two clash at Old Trafford

Current league leaders Manchester City and second-placed Manchester United cross each other’s shadow at Old Trafford tomorrow.

After their draw at Anfield last week, United were knocked off the top perch as City took advantage to gain sole leaderhsip with a 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

Against Villa, Man. City’s Mario Balotelli scored a gem of a goal in front of home fans and has now taken the mantle as Eastlands favourite from the unsettled Carlos Tevez.

The last time the Citizens started a league season with seven wins and a draw was way back in 1897-98 but manager Roberto Mancini, who is eyeing a long stint as Blues coach, is warning his players not to get distracted by their excellent take-off to a new campaign.

On the eve of the Anfield match, Alex Ferguson labelled the clash against Liverpool as the biggest game in world club football and, that includes the Barcelona-Real Madrid derby.

His stance was backed when it was learnt that 211 countries had tuned in to watch the Anfield duel that finished one-all.

Other big matches in other countries lag behind as a Milan derby at the San Siro attracts live coverage from 52 countries and a Barca-Real showdown 50.

In the last six years of Premier League meetings at United’s den, the home side won four to City’s one and the remaining match ended in a 1-1 draw.

In midweek, both sides won their group match ties in the Champions League − United at Otelul Galati 2-0 and City at home to Villarreal 2-1.

Chelsea, who scored a nap-hand victory over Genk, will be looking to make another stride forward as they hope for a draw between the two Manchester teams and a win for them at Queens Park Rangers.

Since losing at Old Trafford 3-1, the Londoners won three straight league matches scoring 12 goals, conceding three.

Queen’s Park have won once in their last seven league outings.

Newcastle, meanwhile, continued to show their true mettle, coming from behind twice to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw against Tottenham in their last match.

This was an acid test for the Magpies but Alan Pardew’s men showed their resilience and never-say-die spirit.

This afternoon Newcastle stay at home to tackle Wigan who are a place off bottom after a shaky start to the season.

At Anfield, Liverpool will be keen to go one better as they did against United in the visit of Norwich City.

Last week, the Reds enjoyed more possession but points are won on goals scored as the chances that went begging left boss Ken Dalglish frustrated.

Captain Steven Gerrard was over the moon to return to his first start in six months and score in that needle match as his 13th meeting with Man. United did not diminish his influence over his return.

Tottenham, having failed to keep their winning run going for six games, play Blackburn at Ewood Park. The last six meetings in the Premier League between these two teams at this same venue saw the visitors winning twice and draw three times.

Arsenal and Stoke clash at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

Last week, the Gunners recorded their second league win in three while the Potters earned a three-pointer at the fourth attempt.

In midweek, the Gunners attained a fine win in the Champions League against former table-toppers Olympique Marseille away, 1-0.

After surrendering their undefeated home record to Manchester City, Alex McLeish’s Aston Villa will be involved in a Midlands derby against West Brom at Villa Park.

McLeish has high hopes that central defender James Collins will return after injury to take part in this vital encounter.

West Brom are on a high after their 2-0 win over Midland neighbours Wolves.

Fixtures and forecast

Premier League

Aston Villa-West Brom - 1
Bolton-Sunderland - 1
Liverpool-Norwich (18:30) - 1
Newcastle-Wigan - 1
Wolves-Swansea (13:45) - 1

Tomorrow:
Arsenal-Stoke (14:30) - X
Blackburn-Tottenham (16:00) - 2
Fulham-Everton (14:30) - X
Man. Utd-Man. City (14:30)- X
QPR-Chelsea (17:00) - 2

Standings: Man. City 22; Man. United 20; Chelsea 19; Newcastle 16; Liver-pool 14; Tottenham 13; Stoke 12; Aston Villa, Norwich 11; Arsenal 10; QPR 9; West Brom, Swansea 8; Ful-ham, Everton, Wolves 7; Sunderland, Bolton 6; Wigan, Blackburn 5.

The Championship

Blackpool-Nottm Forest - 1
Cardiff-Barnsley - 1
Coventry-Burnley - X
Hull-Watford - 1
Ipswich-Crystal Palace - 1
Leicester-Millwall - 1
Middlesbrough-Derby - 1
Peterborough-Leeds (13:00) - X
Portsmouth-Doncaster - X
Reading-Southampton (18:20) - 2

Tomorrow:
Bristol City-Birmingham (16:00) - X

Monday:
Brighton-West Ham (20:45) - X

League One

Bournemouth-Bury - 1
Charlton-Carlisle - 1
Chesterfield-Hartlepool - X
Exeter-Rochdale - X
Huddersfield-Preston - 1
Leyton Orient-Sheffield Utd - 2
MK Dons-Scunthorpe - 1
Notts County-Brentford - 1
Oldham-Wycombe - 1
Sheffield Wed.-Colchester - 1
Stevenage-Yeovil - 1
Tranmere-Walsall - 1

League Two

AFC Wimbledon-Crawley - 2
Bradford-Northampton - 1
Burton Albion-Bristol Rovers - 2
Crewe-Macclesfield - 1
Dagenham-Aldershot - 1
Gillingham-Oxford Utd - X
Hereford-Barnet - X
Plymouth-Swindon - 2
Port Vale-Morecambe - 1
Rotherham-Shrewsbury - X
Southend-Torquay - 1

Hot Four

Hull City, Leicester City, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday.