Leaders Manchester City and fourth-placed Chelsea will be looking to avoid Monday blues when they face each other at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.
The Citizens, still smarting from their exit from the Champions League, are currently 10 points clear of the London side. Victory over Chelsea would put a huge dent in the latter’s hopes of winning the title in manager Andre Villas-Boas’s first season in charge.
After back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League, Chelsea have fought back with convincing victories over Wolves, at home, and Newcastle, away. The Blues, who beat Valencia 3-0 in their midweek Champions League match, will surely be determined to extend their winning run and rejoin the hunt for the league title.
Manchester City’s 5-1 rout of Norwich was the fifth time they won a match with a four-goal margin or more.
City manager Roberto Mancini remarked that the Premier League title is his top priority.
Manchester United will be seeking to narrow the gap on their neighbouring rivals when they host Wolves at Old Trafford this afternoon.
Alex Ferguson’s side are making a habit of pulling off 1-0 wins and keep the pace with the front runners. The narrow victory over Aston Villa was their fourth by one goal this season.
On Wednesday, United suffered humiliation after losing 2-1 at Swiss underdogs Basel to bow out of the Champions League at the group stage. The Red Devils will now continue their European adventure in the Europa League.
Wolves are breathing more easily after their fine home win over Sunderland, even if it was only their fourth of the season.
Tottenham are, without doubt, one of the most in-form sides in the Premier League at the moment after collecting an amazing 31 points from 33 to go up to third in the standings. Tomorrow, they will have a hard nut to crack, away at Stoke, as the latter have improved lately.
Eighth-placed Stoke laid down another bogey as they won at Everton for the first time in 30 years.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal, safely through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, entertain Everton.
The Gunners have won six out of their last seven league matches with Robin van Persie in hot scoring form.
Former Arsenal hero Ian Wright remarked that, were Arsene Wenger to steer the Gunners to a top-four finish, it would be one of the Frenchman’s greatest ever achievements.
After all the talk in the media that the Everton chairman was ready to give David Moyes the cash to strengthen his squad, the manager lamented that he may not be able to sign a striker next month.
Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat at Fulham when they host Queens Park Rangers.
The Reds are concerned about the dire form of striker Andy Carroll, bought from Newcastle for £35 million, as the Englishman was ineffective at Craven Cottage on Monday.
QPR striker Heidar Helguson has equalled a club record with a fourth goal in as many matches in the 1-1 draw at home to West Brom.
Newcastle, after losing their unbeaten home run in the championship, travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has called Hungarian youngster Tamar Kador to his 18-man squad after Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini were ruled out by injuries.
Canaries boss Paul Lambert has urged his players to move on and forget their 5-1 hiding at Manchester City.
Martin O’Neill will make his debut as manager of Sunderland in tomorrow’s game against Blackburn at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats were shocked at Wolves as they gave up a 1-0 lead and a penalty in a 2-1 loss.
Blackburn’s 4-2 home win over Swansea has lifted them off bottom and gave manager Steve Kean a lifeline.
At the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, with nine points and firmly in the relegation mire, hope for a change in fortunes against Aston Villa.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle insisted that he had no plans to quit despite his team’s poor run.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given will be sidelined for a month after suffering a hamstring injury against Manchester United.
Fixtures and forecast
Premier League
Arsenal-Everton - 1
Bolton-Aston Villa - X
Liverpool-QPR - 1
Man. United-Wolves - 1
Norwich-Newcastle - X
Swansea-Fulham - X
West Brom-Wigan - 1
Tomorrow:
Stoke-Tottenham (17:00) - 2
Sunderland-Blackburn (14:30) - 1
Monday:
Chelsea-Manchester City (21:00) - 2
Standings: Manchester City 38; Manchester United 33; Tottenham 31; Chelsea 28; Arsenal, Newcastle 26; Liverpool 23; Stoke 18; Aston Villa, Everton, Norwich, QPR 16; Fulham, West Brom 15; Swansea, Wolves 14; Sunderland 11; Blackburn 10; Bolton, Wigan 9.
The Championship
Barnsley-Ipswich (18:20) - 1
Birmingham-Doncaster - 1
Burnley-Portsmouth - 1
Coventry-Hull - X
Derby-Bristol City - X
Leicester-Peterborough - 1
Middlesbrough-Brighton - 1
Millwall-Cardiff - X
Nott’m Forest-Crystal Palace - 1
Reading-West Ham - X
Southampton-Blackpool (13:45) - 1
Watford-Leeds - 2
League One
Brentford-Hartlepool - 1
Colchester-Bury - 1
Huddersfield-Bournemouth - 1
Leyton Orient-Exeter - 1
Oldham-Sheffield Wed. - X
Preston-Stevenage - X
Scunthorpe-Carlisle - 1
Sheff. United-Rochdale - 1
Tranmere-MK Dons - X
Walsall-Charlton - 2
Wycombe-Chesterfield - 1
Yeovil-Notts County - 2
League Two
Wimbledon-Acc. Stanley - 1
Aldershot-Shrewsbury - X
Bradford-Plymouth - 1
Bristol Rovers-Swindon - 2
Cheltenham-Southend - X
Crawley Town-Burton Albion - 1
Dagenham-Port Vale - 2
Hereford-Rotherham - 2
Macclesfield-Gillingham - X
Morecambe-Oxford United - 1
Northampton-Crewe - 1
Hot Four
Arsenal, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leicester.