Manchester United have the chance to regain top spot in the English Premier League if they beat Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday night.
The Gunners profited from United’s postponed match against Blackpool last weekend to go top for the first time this season when they beat Fulham at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger’s men have been rather unconvincing of late but nobody can deny them the fact that they are first in the standings despite having lost four matches this season – three at home and one away.
United are still unbeaten and claimed a new club record after their latest victory (7-1 at home to Blackburn) − chalking up a se-quence of 15 Premier League en-counters undefeated from the start of the season, beating Ron Atkinson side’s run of 1985-86.
Yet, that year the Red Devils failed to become champions and their next title came at the dawning of the Premiership in 1992-93 with Alex Ferguson in charge.
The last time Arsenal were at the top of the Premier League was on September 20, 2008 after a 3-1 win at Bolton.
The Londoners, who in midweek beat Partizan Belgrade 3-1 to secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, have won back-to-back Premier League matches against Fulham (2-1) and Aston Villa (4-2). They are also through to the semi-finals of the League Cup after ousting Wigan in the quarter-finals.
United are also through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League as group winners after topping their section following a 1-1 draw with Valencia at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Last season, the Red Devils did the double over the Gunners − 2-1 at home and 3-1 away.
Another nail-biting encounter tomorrow sees Tottenham host Chelsea at White Hart Lane.
Carlo Ancelotti is going through one of his most difficult spells as Chelsea manager after seeing his side conceding two defeats from their last four league outings.
The Italian admitted this week that he is feeling the pressure but is not concerned with losing his job at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham, with Rafael van der Vaart in line for a comeback, are currently four points adrift of Chelsea and undefeated in their last four league outings.
Man. City travel to strugglers West Ham and will be harbouring hopes of keeping in touch with the front runners. The Citizens are trailing Arsenal by three points and have not been beaten in their last six league games.
Carlos Tevez, having settled his differences with manager Roberto Mancini, insisted that he had no plans to quit the club despite suffering from homesickness. In an increasing impressive campaign, David Silva has won his sixth player of the match award in the 1-0 win over Bolton.
Tomorrow’s Lancashire derby, between Bolton and Blackburn, will be a cracker for both sets of fans.
Blackburn did the double over Bolton last season and the Rovers are still unbeaten in matches against the Trotters from their last six meetings.
Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen said that his side were unlucky to lose the points at Manchester City and they have high hopes to make amends against Blackburn.
Alan Pardew will make his debut as Newcastle manager today when the Magpies host Liverpool at St James’ Park.
The dismissal of Chris Hughton as Newcastle manager shocked Tyneside but Pardew is hopeful of winning the faith of his players and fans in the coming weeks and victory against Liverpool would be an ideal start for the new Magpies boss.
At Craven Cottage, Fulham play hosts to Sunderland. The Cottagers are under pressure at the moment as they are still in search of their first league win in six matches and are currently hovering above the relegation zone, three points above bottom-placed West Ham.
In the six times these two teams met in the Premier League, the Cottagers have lost only once in front of their own fans − 1-3 in April 2008.
Everton, boosted by the point won at Chelsea last week, return to Goodison Park to host Wigan.
Everton manager David Moyes is still baffled by his team’s poor form in front of their own fans as the Blues have only managed one point from their last three matches.
Meanwhile, the weekend pro-gramme will include two midland derbies as Aston Villa host West Brom today and Birmingham travel to Wolves tomorrow.
This will be 63rd league en-counter between the Baggies and the Villans with the former leading 62-43 in terms of wins.
Fixtures and forecast
Premier League
Aston Villa-West Brom - X
Everton-Wigan - 1
Fulham-Sunderland - X
Newcastle-Liverpool 18:30 - 2
Stoke-Blackpool - 1
West Ham-Man. City - 2
Tomorrow:
Bolton-Blackburn 14:30 - 1
Tottenham-Chelsea 17:00 - 2
Wolves-Birmingham 14:30 - X
Monday:
Man. United-Arsenal 21:00 - X
Standings: Arsenal 32; Man. United 31; Chelsea 30; Man. City 29; Tottenham 26; Bolton, Sunderland 23; Liverpool, West Brom 22; Stoke, Blackburn 21; Newcastle, Blackpool 19; Birmingham 18; Everton, Aston Villa 17; Fulham, Wigan 15; Wolves, West Ham 12.
The Championship
Barnsley-Sheff. United - 1
Bristol City-Derby - 1
Burnley-Leeds United - 1
Crystal Palace-Hull 18:20 - X
Leicester-Doncaster - 1
Middlesbrough-Cardiff - 2
Norwich-Portsmouth - 1
Preston-Ipswich - X
Reading-Coventry - 1
Scunthorpe-N. Forest - pp
League One
Bournemouth-Hartlepool - 1
Carlisle-Dagenham - 1
Colchester-Yeovil - 1
Huddersfield-Brighton - X
Notts County-MK Dons - X
Oldham-Swindon - pp
Plymouth-Exeter - 1
Sheff. Wed.-Bristol Rovers - 1
Southampton-Brentford - 1
Tranmere-Leyton Orient - X
Tomorrow:
Charlton-Walsall 15:00 - 1
League Two
Barnet-Accrington Stanley - X
Bradford-Hereford - 1
Burton Albion-Southend - 1
Chesterfield-Torquay - 1
Lincoln City-Oxford United - pp
Macclesfield-Gillingham - X
Morecambe-Port Vale - 2
Rotherham-Aldershot - 1
Shrewsbury-Cheltenham - 1
Stevenage-Northampton - 1
Stockport-Crewe - 2
Wycombe-Bury - X
Hot four
Everton, Stoke City, Leicester City, Reading.