The midweek Premier League programme in England saw the recent progress of Manchester United and Newcastle United halted as both teams conceded defeats, the champions going down at home to Everton (1-0) and the Magpies losing 3-0 to Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
The early kick-off today involves Manchester United and New-castle United, both sides seeking to get back to winning ways in this Old Trafford clash.
David Moyes said his club have no plans to open contract talks with Wayne Rooney any time soon. The United manager also feels the England striker is getting the plaudits he deserves.
Yet, the 1-0 upset to Moyes’s ex-club Everton on Wednesday was indeed hard to fathom for the Scot as United are now 12 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is still backing his team to go places this season.
“What a difference a few weeks have made to Newcastle,” he said before the Swansea match.
“From a team in trouble on the final day of September to one now flirting with the European places.”
Tomorrow, Arsenal will play hosts to Everton at the Emirates Stadium as the shrewd Arsene Wenger finally seems to have the media on his side.
On Wednesday, the Gunners beat Hull City at home but Everton’s feat on the same night was more impressive.
Wojciech Szczesny believes there will be no stopping Arsenal in the Premier League title race if the Gunners continue with their current form.
The Polish goalkeeper is amazed as everyone else at the excellent form of midfielder Aaron Ramsey.
Everton are on a high and now challenging for a place in the Champions League.
Manager Roberto Martinez is delivering the goods at Goodison Park. This week he urged striker Romelu Lukaku to score 25 goals to make the fans’ dream come true this season.
Another top match this afternoon will be played at St Mary’s Stadium where Southampton, who lost their unbeaten home run this week following a 2-3 upset to Aston Villa, play Manuel Pellegrini’s free-scoring Manchester City side.
Pellegrini, who played down renewed speculation over the future of striker Sergio Aguero, wants City to be top of the Premier League table by the time 2014 comes around.
Saints keeper Artur Boruc has been ruled out for six weeks with a fractured hand as the Saints slipped down the standings after back-to-back defeats in the league.
Following the trip to Sunderland on Wednesday, Chelsea will be on their travels again to play Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
Chelsea had Eden Hazard to thank for their thrilling 4-3 win over the Black Cats as the Belgium international was both provider and scorer on the night.
After the shuffling of players in his defensive department, Liver-pool manager Brendan Rodgers realised that a settled side will not suffer a 3-1 defeat at the hands of modest opponents, similar to that of last week to Hull.
In midweek, the Reds showed better form with scoring sensation Luiz Suarez sinking Norwich City single-handed after hitting in four goals in a 5-1 win at Anfield.
Today, Liverpool will stay at home to play troubled West Ham who were beaten 1-0 by lowly Crystal Palace in a London derby earlier this week.
At the Stadium of Light, Gus Poyet’s Sunderland host Tottenham looking to find a way out of the bottom position after the defeat to Chelsea.
Tottenham showed spirit and determination in their last two matches – a 2-2 draw with Man-chester United and a 2-1 win at Fulham.
Fixtures and forecast
Premier League
Crystal Palace-Cardiff X
Liverpool-West Ham1
Man. United-Newcastle (13:45)1
Southampton-Man. City 2
Stoke City-Chelsea 2
Sunderland-Tottenham (18:30)2
West Brom-Norwich1
Tomorrow:
Arsenal-Everton (17:00)1
Fulham-Aston Villa (14:30)1
Monday:
Swansea-Hull (21:00) 1
Standings: Arsenal 34; Chelsea 30; Man. City 28; Liverpool, Everton 27; Tottenham 24; Newcastle 23; Southampton, Man. Utd 22; Aston Villa 19; Swansea 18; Hull 17; West Brom 15; Stoke, Cardiff, Norwich 14; West Ham 13; Fulham, Crystal Palace 10; Sunderland 8.
The Championship
Birmingham-Middlesbrough X
Bolton-Doncaster 1
Brighton-Leicester X
Burnley-Barnsley 1
Derby-Blackpool (13:15) 1
Ipswich-Huddersfield 1
Leeds-Watford X
Millwall-Wigan X
QPR-Blackburn 1
Reading-Bournemouth 1
Sheffield Wed.-N. Forest 2
Yeovil-Charlton X
League Two
Morecambe-Cheltenham 1
Fa Cup Second Round
Bristol Rovers-Crawley 2
Carlisle-Brentford 2
Chesterfield-Southend 1
Fleetwood-Burton Albion 1
Grimsby-NorthamptonX
Hartlepool-Coventry 2
Kidderminster-Newport X
Leyton Orient-Walsall 1
Macclesfield-Brackley 1
MK Dons-Dover Athletic1
Oldham-Mansfield 1
Peterborough-Tranmere 1
Plymouth-Welling 1
Rotherham-Rochdale 1
Stevenage-Stourbridge 1
Wycombe-Preston 2
Tomorrow:
Cambridge-Sheffield Utd (13.00)2
Tamworth-Bristol City (15.00)X
Hot Four
Manchester United, West Brom, Bolton and Reading.