Critics and journalists have observed that the battle for Champions League places has become more exciting than the race for the championship as Chelsea are now seven points clear of Manchester City at the top.

Two clubs in the running for a top-four finish are Southampton and Liverpool who square off at St Mary’s Stadium tomorrow.

The fourth-placed Saints are four points ahead of the Reds in seventh.

Southampton’s Ronald Koeman has won the manager of the month award for January.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has hailed the character of his team after they came from behind to win at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup.

Rodgers has declared that he now has his strongest squad available since taking over at Anfield in 2012.

In the last 10 matches down in the south, the Saints lead the Reds 4-3 in terms of wins.

2014 March: Saints-Liverpool 0-3.
2013 March: Saints-Liverpool 3-1.
2005 January: Saints-Liverpool 2-0.
2004 March: Saints-Liverpool 2-0.
2003 January: Saints-Liverpool 0-1.
2002 January: Saints-Liverpool 2-0.
2000 August: Saints-Liverpool 3-3.
1999 October: Saints-Liverpool 1-1.
1998 August: Saints-Liverpool 1-2.
1997 Sept.: Saints-Liverpool 1-1.

After having the weekend off due to their early exit from the FA Cup, Chelsea resume their pursuit of the title today with a home match against second-from-last Burnley.

In midweek, Chelsea drew 1-1 with French side Paris SG in their Champions League last 16 first-leg match at the Parc des Princes.

Chelsea captain John Terry has said that their title-winning experience is crucial at this stage of the season.

News that Eden Hazard has penned a new five-and-a-half-year deal is a further boost for Chelsea.

This afternoon, Manchester City host Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.

Montenegro forward Stevan Jovetic has slammed manager Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to leave him out of the club’s Champions League squad.

Cheick Tiote has returned to Newcastle nursing a knee injury. The hard-working midfielder broke down during Ivory Coast’s successful African Cup campaign.

Third-placed Manchester United head to the Liberty Stadium to play guests to Swansea.

Michael Carrick has been impressed with Argentine winger Angel Di Maria who joined United from Real Madrid last summer.

Swansea boss Garry Monk has said that Gylfi Sigurdsson has been badly missed and cannot wait for his return this weekend.

Beckham junior at Arsenal

A London derby in the offing is the duel between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is not getting carried away by his team’s FA Cup march after the Gunners beat Middlesbrough 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals.

Brooklyn Beckham, the son of former England midfielder David Beckham, was on the bench for Arsenal’s U-18 team on Saturday.

White Hart Lane hosts another London derby tomorrow as Tottenham cross swords with West Ham.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has promised entertaining football from his team for the remainder of the season.

The Hammers were knocked out of the FA Cup by West Brom.

Tomorrow, Everton entertain bottom-placed Leicester at Goodison Park.

Everton’s Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu was thrilled to be named player of the tournament at the African Cup.

New manager Tim Sherwood was seen jumping up and down after Aston Villa’s winner in the 2-1 FA Cup victory against Leicester last weekend.

Aston Villa remain at home to take on Stoke who were humiliated 4-1 by Blackburn Rovers in the cup.

Fixtures and forecast

Premier League - 16.00
Aston Villa-Stoke - X
Chelsea-Burnley - 1
Crystal Palace-Arsenal - 2
Hull-QPR - 1
Man. City-Newcastle (18.30) - 1
Sunderland-West Brom - 1
Swansea-Man. United - 2

Tomorrow
Everton-Leicester (15.05) - 1
Southampton-Liverpool (17.15) - 2
Tottenham-West Ham (13.00) - 1

Standings: Chelsea 59; Man. City 52; Man.United 47; Southampton 46; Arsenal 45; Tottenham 43; Liverpool 42; West Ham 38; Swansea 34; Stoke 33; Newcastle 32; Everton, Crystal Palace 27; West Brom 26; Sunderland 24; Hull 23; QPR, Aston Villa 22; Burnley 21; Leicester 17.

The Championship
Blackburn-Blackpool - 1
Brentford-Bournemouth - 2
Brighton-Birmingham - 1
Derby-Sheffield Wed. - 1
Huddersfield-Cardiff - 1
Ipswich-Reading - 1
Middlesbrough-Leeds (13.15) - 1
Millwall-Fulham - X
Nottm Forest-Bolton - 1
Watford-Norwich - X
Wolves-Rotherham - 1

League One
Barnsley-Crewe - 1
Bradford-Walsall - 1
Colchester-Bristol City - 2
Fleetwood-Notts County - 1
Leyton Orient-Oldham - X
MK Dons-Peterborough - 1
Port Vale-Doncaster - X
Preston-Scunthorpe - 1
Rochdale-Chesterfield - 1
Sheffield Utd-Coventry - 1
Swindon-Crawley - 1
Yeovil-Gillingham - X

League Two
AFC Wimbledon-Luton - X
Bury-Hartlepool - 1
Cambridge-Portsmouth - X
Carlisle-Wycombe - X
Dagenham-Burton Albion - 2
Exeter-Plymouth (14.00) - X
Newport-Morecambe - 1
Northampton-York - 1
Oxford-Mansfield - 1
Stevenage-Southend - X
Tranmere-Shrewsbury - 2

Hot four
Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County, Ipswich Town.