In the last weekend before the international break, Manchester United and Liverpool, both vying for the Premiership title this season, played Fulham and Aston Villa respectively.

The Red Devils lost 0-2 at Craven Cottage but Liverpool trounced Villa 5-0 at Anfield, trimming the gap at the top to a single point with champions United having a game in hand.

This weekend, United entertain Villa at Old Trafford and Liverpool travel to London to play guests to Fulham.

Villa are the best travellers in the Premier League along with Chelsea as both won 10 matches on the away front so far. However, Villa did not find their footing in the bitter upset at Anfield last month. Manager Martin O'Neill's dream that his side will be playing in the Champions League next season is starting to fade away.

The Midlanders have now lost three straight league matches (away Manchester City, home Tottenham and away Liverpool).

At this time last season, they also went through a negative patch, losing at Portsmouth (0-2), Sunderland (0-1) and Manchester United (0-4).

United, meanwhile, will have to pick themselves up from rare back-to-back defeats in the league (vs Liverpool 1-4 and Fulham 0-2).

United will probably have defender Gary Neville back but they will be without the suspended Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney.

Liverpool, boosted by the 13-goal rush in their last three outings, will be hoping to keep the momentum going and continue to breathe down United's necks.

Rafa Benitez has decided to extend all contracts to his backroom staff and has now started to focus on those players whose deals expire at the end of season. Steven Gerrard signed yesterday.

Liverpool are enjoying one of the best periods since Benitez took over at Anfield. The Reds are pursuing a record sponsorship deal with Carlsberg which could net them €60 million at the end of the season.

Fulham, having won their last two league matches, have climbed to ninth place with an outside chance of a UEFA Cup place.

After their defeat to Tottenham, third-placed Chelsea want to return to winning form to keep the pressure on the top two. Since the arrival of Guus Hiddink, who might stay at the Bridge after all, the Blues have lost only once in eight outings.

Today, Chelsea travel to the north-east to play Newcastle who have Alan Shearer as a new manager in the club's last-ditch attempt to escape the dreaded drop.

The Magpies, having fallen into the drop zone, have won only once in 14 league and cup matches.

Fourth-placed Arsenal have become a rejuvenated team lately and for the umpteenth time the board has offered Arsene Wenger a contract for life.

The Gunners are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and in the last four of the FA Cup. They have won five of their last six matches. Today, the Londoners will duel with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, where they lost twice in the league.

Mark Hughes's City must improve their away record of a single win if they want to make a realistic push for a place in Europe next season.

Everton and Wigan are sixth and seventh, respectively, but the Merseysiders have a cushion of seven points. Steve Bruce's Latics will leave no stone unturned to beat Everton and bring European football home for the first time in their history.

Everton defenders Tony Hibbert and Joseph Yobo are still sidelined but they are confident that they can make the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.

Today, West Ham entertain Sunderland in search of their third double of the season, having won at home and away against Fulham and Wigan.

West Ham are unbeaten in last four league games, while Sunderland have not won in the same number of outings.

In the seven Premier League encounters between these two sides, the Black Cats won once − 2-0 (Varga, Hutchinson) in 2000-01.

Many are asking will Tottenham sustain their revival?

In 11 league and cup matches the Spurs have only lost once, considering that the League Cup final ended in a draw before the penalty shoot-out. When Harry Redknapp took over at White Hart Lane, the club was struggling but now they stand an outside chance of claiming a UEFA Cup place.

This afternoon, Tottenham play troubled Blackburn at Ewood Park. Ex-Rovers stalwart David Bentley, fighting for a regular place in the Spurs side, may be used from the start by Redknapp.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate recently had another vote of confidence from his chairman. Today, they travel to Bolton.

In the past four games at this venue, the two sides shared the spoils − 0-0, 1-1, 0-0, 0-0.