Champions Manchester City seem to have lost their way in the title race lately after dropping four points from their last two matches to fall nine points behind leaders Manchester United.
Last week, the Citizens were somewhat lucky to grab a point against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium as the visitors looked in control after taking a 2-1 lead courtesy of a Steven Gerrard screamer.
However, a blunder from Liver-pool goalkeeper Pepe Reina gifted Sergio Aguero the opportunity to score a 78th-minute equaliser as City had to settle for a second successive draw after the stale-mate at QPR.
This evening, Roberto Mancini’s Citizens play away at South-ampton boosted by the return of Ivory Coast brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure from the Africa Cup.
Another plus for City is skipper Vincent Kompany who will undergo a late fitness test after making an earlier than expected recovery from a calf injury.
Mancini insisted this week that the title race is far from over but with 13 games left to play and with nine points to recover his com-ments seem like those coming from a desperate man.
In their last three outings, the Saints, with Argentine Mauricio Pochettino now settling in his new job as manager, have drawn two and lost the other.
Manchester United have a tricky fixture coming up tomorrow when they host Everton at Old Trafford.
Last season, Everton held United to a thrilling 4-4 draw at Old Trafford, a result that ultimately cost the Red Devils the league title.
No doubt, manager Alex Ferguson will be wary of any pitfalls against a side that also beat United 1-0 at Goodison Park in August. Everton have not lost in their last eight league and cup matches.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s dismal season shows no sign of abating after a 3-2 upset to Newcastle left them with only a third-place finish as their best hope for the season.
The pressure is on manager Rafael Benitez and a poor result against Wigan this afternoon could spell the end of the Spaniard’s tenure at Stamford Bridge with Jose Mourinho now being linked with a return to the London capital in summer.
Tottenham, one point behind Chelsea in fourth place, host Newcastle at White Hart Lane today with Emmanuel Adebayor a welcome addition for the Spurs after the injury to striker Jermaine Defoe.
Newcastle, who spent big in January, chalked up back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time this season following victories over Aston Villa and Chelsea.
After their hard-earned 1-0 win over Stoke City in their previous outing, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal take a trip to the northeast to play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Left-back Nacho Monreal has made a winning start to his Arsenal career as Lukas Podolski continued to score crucial goals for the Gunners with his winner against the Potters.
Fixtures and forecast
Premier League
Chelsea-Wigan 1
Norwich-Fulham X
S’thampton-Man. City (18:30) 2
Stoke City-Reading 1
Sunderland-Arsenal X
Swansea-QPR X
Tottenham-Newcastle (13:45) 1
Tomorrow
Aston Villa-West Ham (14:30) X
Man. United-Everton (17:00) 1
Monday:
Liverpool-West Brom (21:00) 1
Standings: Man. United 62; Man. City 53; Chelsea 46; Tottenham 45; Everton 42; Arsenal 41; Liverpool 36; Swansea, West Brom 34; Stoke, West Ham 30; Sunderland 29; Fulham, Norwich 28; Newcastle 27; Southampton 24; Reading 23; Wigan, Aston Villa 21; QPR 17.
The Championship
Blackburn-Ipswich 1
Blackpool-Millwall 1
Bolton-Burnley 1
Brighton-Hull City (18:20) 1
Bristol City-N. Forest X
Charlton-Birmingham 1
Huddersfield-Cardiff 2
Middlesbrough-Barnsley 1
Peterborough-Leicester 2
Sheffield Wed.-Derby X
Wolves-Leeds United X
League One
Bournemouth-Portsmouth 1
Brentford-Bury 1
Carlisle-Stevenage X
Colchester-Preston X
Coventry-Yeovil 1
Doncaster-Walsall 1
L. Orient-Tranmere 1
Notts County-Crewe 2
Oldham-MK Dons 2
Scunthorpe-Crawley X
Shrewsbury-Sheffield Utd 2
Swindon-Hartlepool 1
League Two
Accrington-Southend X
Aldershot-Plymouth 1
Barnet-Port Vale 1
Bradford City-Gillingham X
Burton-Rotherham X
Chesterfield-AFC Wimbledon 1
Dagenham-Cheltenham X
Morecambe-Exeter X
Northampton-Rochdale 1
Oxford-Bristol Rovers 1
Torquay-Fleetwood X
Wycombe-York City X
Hot Four
Chelsea, Stoke City, Tottenham, Middlesbrough.