Leading duo City and United vie for supremacy

Premier League clubs in England always face a daunting task in trying to strengthen their placing in the standings during the Christmas period.

Front runners Manchester City and Manchester United ex-perienced contrasting fortunes in Boxing Day as the Blues could not go beyond a goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion while the Reds crushed 10-man Wigan Athletic5-0 at Old Trafford.

As the title race resumes this weekend, only goal difference separates the two Manchester clubs who both are on the 45-point mark.

United are again at home today to host Blackburn Rovers and tomorrow Manchester City travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland.

With the January transfer window now looming large, Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, declared that he must first sell players before adding new names to his squad to ensure that his club falls in line with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules next year.

Sunderland are a revitalised side since the appointment of Martin O’Neill as manager.

He is looking to convince Craig Gardner to stay at the club until the end of the season but ditched plans to bring back Asamoah Gyan who is currently on loan in Qatar.

At Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson is set to hand Ryan Giggs a new contract for an amazing 23rd season. The shrewd Scot is also hopeful that Michael Carrick can maintain his fine form of late and help the club to more silverware this season.

Blackburn Rovers head to Old Trafford in fine mood following an unexpected 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Monday.

Manager Steve Kean has declared that the criticism aimed at him by the Rovers fans has only served to increase his resolve to steer the team out of troubled waters. Kean said he is confident that the under-fire owners Venky will provide him with the money required to bolster his ailing side next month.

Third-placed Tottenham, who returned to winning ways at Norwich on Tuesday, will be in Wales today to face Swansea who earlier this week were held by QPR.

On-loan striker Emmanuel Adebayor has warned his Tottenham team-mates that they must be more clinical in front of goal to secure their place in the Champions League next season.

After their disappointing draw to Fulham at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will again have home comforts when they tackle Aston Villa this afternoon.

Manager Andres-Villas Boas is expected to delve into the market next month and sign a defender as Florent Malouda has shown his intentions to move elsewhere, probably in France.

Bent staying put

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish stressed that the club’s record-signing Darren Bent will stay put next month, dashing any hopes that his prized-asset will leave the club next month.

At the Emirates Stadium today, Arsenal host Queens Park Rangers in a London derby.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is pondering his transfer options next month and has been linked with a sensational loan deal to former club stalwart Thierry Henry.

The Gunners are also being linked with Germany international Lukas Podolski, currently on the books of Cologne.

QPR boss Neil Warnock is also expected to bolster his squad next month as he looks to bring in the right players to help the club avoid the drop after only one season in the top flight.

Tomorrow, West Brom, buoyed by the point gained against Man. City, will be looking to keep the good work going when they host Everton at the Hawthorns.

The Baggies, however, face a tricky task as Everton have enjoyed some good form away from home lately.

Norwich are up against Fulham at Carrow Road today with Canaries manager Paul Lambert admitting that he was only focusing on survival and nothing else at the moment.

On the other hand, Andrew Johnson is expected to leave Ful-ham when the transfer window re-opens next month.

At the wrong end of the standings, strugglers Bolton and Wolves cross each others’ shadows at the Reebok Stadium in the ‘battle of the Wanderers’.

Today’s fixtures and forecast

Premier League

Arsenal-QPR - 1
Bolton-Wolves - X
Chelsea-Aston Villa 1
Man. United-Blackburn 13:45 - 1
Norwich City-Fulham - X
Stoke City-Wigan - 1
Swansea-Tottenham - 2

Playing tomorrow:
Sunderland-Man. City 16.00 - 2
West Brom-Everton 13:30 - X

The Championship

Barnsley-Leeds United - X
Derby-West Ham United - 1
Leicester-Portsmouth 13:15 - 1
Millwall-Crystal Palace - 2
Watford-Doncaster - 2
Birmingham-Blackpool - 1
Burnley-Hull City - 1
Coventry-Brighton - 1
Middlesbrough-Peterborough - X
Nottm Forest-Cardiff - 1
Reading-Ipswich Town - 1

League One

Brentford-MK Dons - X
Colchester-Exeter 14:00 - 1
Leyton Orient-Charlton 18:20 - 2
Oldham-Notts County - X
Preston-Sheffield Wed. 14:00 - X
Scunthorpe-Chesterfield 14:00 - 1
Sheffield Utd-Hartlepool 14:00 - 1
Walsall-Rochdale 14:00 - 1
Wycombe-Stevenage - 2
Yeovil-Bournemouth 14:00 - X

League Two

Aldershot-Plymouth 14:00 - 2
Bradford-Shrewsbury - 1
Bristol Rovers-Crewe - 2
Macclesfield-Port Vale 14:00 - 1
Morecambe-Burton 14:00 - X
Northampton-Swindon - X
Torquay-Oxford 14:00 - 2
Wimbledon-Southend - X

Hot Four
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Stoke City