A list of all the transfers and that…

ARSENAL

BBC Sport outlines the promotion and relegation issues in England and Scotland – plus the race for European places.

Manchester United were the first team to qualify for Europe

The title race will go to the final day of the season on Sunday 9 May, when leaders Chelsea host Wigan while rivals Manchester United entertain Stoke. Chelsea are assured of the title if they beat Wigan – and given Chelsea’s superior goal difference, United will need to win and hope Chelsea lose to win the title.

The top four sides in the Premier League qualify for the Champions League. The top three go straight to the group stage, while the fourth-placed team faces a play-off. Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham (who beat Manchester City on 5 May to seal their place) are all assured of a top-four finish.

English clubs are offered three places in the Europa League – for the FA Cup winners, the Carling Cup winners and the fifth-placed team in the Premier League.

Carling Cup winners Manchester United have already qualified for the Champions League, as have Chelsea who face Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.

The FA and Premier League have decided that Pompey should not play in Europe as they had not applied for a Uefa club licence (as administration meant they were not in a position to file their accounts), and rejected the club’s appeal.

Burnley’s relegation was confirmed after a heavy defeat by Liverpool

Unless that situation changes, the teams finishing sixth and seventh will also qualify for the Europa League. Manchester City will enter the Europa League, along with Aston Villa and Liverpool.

There are also extra Europa League places available for one team from each of the top three countries in Uefa’s Fair Play rankings. As of 31 December 2009, England were ranked third – and if Fulham win the Europa League final, Burnley are in line to take up the Fair Play place.

Portsmouth, who were deducted nine points after entering administration in February, went down on 10 April, while Burnley’s relegation was confirmed on 25 April after a 4-0 home defeat against Liverpool and Hull’s with a 2-2 draw at Wigan on 3 May.

Newcastle clinched promotion back to the top flight on Easter Monday

Newcastle United clinched an immediate return to the top flight on Easter Monday and were the first Football League team to be promoted. They won at Plymouth on 19 April to seal the title. They were joined by West Bromwich Albion on 10 April after their 3-2 win at Doncaster.

Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City, Leicester City and Blackpool will contest the play-offs.

Peterborough United were the first Football League team to be relegated after drawing 2-2 with Barnsley on Easter Monday. Fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle were sent down in the same game that saw Newcastle crowned champions. Sheffield Wednesday were relegated on the last day of the season after they could only manage a draw against relegation rivals Crystal Palace.

Norwich clinched promotion on 17 April and the title a week later

Leaders Norwich City clinched promotion on 17 April and secured the title on 24 April with a 2-0 win against Gillingham.

Leeds, Millwall, Swindon, Charlton and Huddersfield could all grab the second automatic promotion place on the final day of the season – but Leeds and Millwall are favourites. The other four teams will contest the play-offs.

Four teams will drop to League Two – Stockport County were condemned to relegation after losing 3-1 to Yeovil on 10 April, and Southend United joined them after a 2-2 draw at Oldham on 24 April.

Wycombe Wanderers were relegated on 1 May after losing to Leyton Orient, which all but mathematically confirmed Orient’s place in League One.

Hartlepool now join Tranmere, Exeter and Gillingham as candidates for the remaining relegation place after Pools were fined three points for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Brighton in April.

That leaves them just one point above the relegation zone going into their last game of the season, away to Brentford.

Notts County clinched the League Two title with a win over Darlington

Notts County, Bournemouth and Rochdale have clinched the three automatic promotion places, while County won the title with a 5-0 win at Darlington on 27 April.

Rotherham and Aldershot have secured their places in the play-offs – with six teams contesting the final two play-off spots on the last day of the season.

Two clubs will be relegated to the Blue Square Premier. Rock-bottom Darlington were relegated on 13 April, while Grimsby Town will join them unless they win at Burton on the final day of the season. That result would send Barnet down if the Bees fail to beat Rochdale, while Cheltenham are safe barring a heavy defeat for them at home to Accrington, coupled with wins for both Grimsby and Barnet.

Chester City’s demise means only three teams will be relegated

Stevenage Borough clinched the title and promotion to the Football League with a 2-0 win at Kidderminster on 17 April.

Oxford United and York City will contest the play-off final on 16 May for the second promotion spot.

Chester City were expelled from the Football Conference on Friday 26 February, liquidated and their results subsequently expunged, so only three teams will be relegated from the division.

Grays Athletic became the first club to be relegated in any of the top five English divisions on 3 April after a goalless draw with Kettering. Forest Green and Ebbsfleet United joined them on the final day of the season.

Four teams are promoted to the Blue Square Premier – the champions and play-off winners of the Blue Square North and South divisions.

Newport County were the first team in the top six tiers of English football to clinch promotion by beating Havant & Waterlooville 2-0 on 15 March to make sure of the Blue Square South title, while Bath City face Woking in the play-off final.

Southport took the Blue Square North title on the final day of the season with a 3-0 win at Eastwood Town. Alfreton Town and Fleetwood Town will contest the play-off final.

Rangers made sure of their 53rd SPL title on 25 April

Rangers clinched their 53rd SPL title with a 1-0 win at Hibernian on 25 April, and should enter the Champions League at the group stages. Celtic will definitely finish second and will enter the Champions League at the third qualifying round.

However, from 2011/12, the SPL will lose one of its two Champions League places after Belgium overtook Scotland in Uefa’s coefficient ranking table.

Teams finishing third and fourth will qualify for the Europa League, together with the Scottish Cup winners. Scottish Cup finalists Dundee United are guaranteed to finish third in the SPL so will qualify for the Europa League – but if they win the Cup, the additional Europa League place will go to the fifth-placed SPL team.

There are also extra Europa League places available for one team from each of the top three countries in Uefa’s Fair Play rankings. As of 31 December 2009, Scotland were ranked seventh.

The bottom club will be relegated to Division One.

Champions Inverness Caledonian Thistle returned to the SPL at the first attempt after rivals Dundee lost at Raith on Wednesday 21 April.

As the bottom club Ayr United were relegated to Division Two, whilst last-but-bottom Airdrie United face a play-off with three Division Two teams.

Stirling, who became champions on 1 May, will be promoted to Division One, with Alloa, Cowdenbeath and Brechin contesting a play-off withAirdrie United, the ninth-placed Division One team.

Clyde were relegated on 20 April after losing 2-1 at home to Stirling, while Arbroath face a play-off with three Division Three teams.

Livingston’s draw against Berwick on 17 April assured the side of the title and promotion.

Forfar, East Stirling and Queens Park will contest a play-off with Arbroath for a place in Division Two. There is no relegation from this division.



Wigan staged a stunning comeback against Arsenal today, scoring three times in the last 10 minutes to come from 2-0 down and claim a last gasp 3-2 victory. You can watch video highlights of it here.

In doing so they pretty much secured their Premier League status for another season – great news for everyone, because Wigan are one of the most aesthetically pleasing and the most pleasingly erratic side in the division. Today’s win means they have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea – yet lost 5-0 home and away to the other member of the Big Four (Man Utd for the retarded amongst you).

That added to crushing defeats to the likes of Bolton and Portsmouth – and of course the 9-1 capitulation to Spurs – is why we love them. Here is a selection of their more comedic results:

15-08-2009    Premier League    Aston Villa     0 – 2    Wigan Athletic
18-08-2009    Premier League    Wigan Athletic     0 – 1    Wolverhampton Wanderers
22-08-2009    Premier League    Wigan Athletic     0 – 5    Manchester United
19-09-2009    Premier League    Arsenal     4 – 0    Wigan Athletic
26-09-2009    Premier League    Wigan Athletic     3 – 1    Chelsea
03-10-2009    Premier League    Hull City     2 – 1    Wigan Athletic
31-10-2009    Premier League    Portsmouth     4 – 0    Wigan Athletic
22-11-2009    Premier League    Tottenham Hotspur     9 – 1    Wigan Athletic
28-11-2009    Premier League    Wigan Athletic     1 – 0    Sunderland
30-12-2009    Premier League    Manchester United     5 – 0    Wigan Athletic
21-02-2010    Premier League    Wigan Athletic     0 – 3    Tottenham Hotspur
08-03-2010    Premier League    Wigan Athletic     1 – 0    Liverpool
13-03-2010    Premier League    Bolton Wanderers     4 – 0    Wigan Athletic
18-04-2010    Premier League    Wigan Athletic     3 – 2    Arsenal

What says more than anything is that there are so many games that fit under the category ‘Wigan’s funny results’. A quick run through of the above:

• They started the season as they meant to go on – an impressive 2-0 away victory at Villa on the opening day was immediately followed by a 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves. A sign of things to come…
• Then four days after that, a thumping 5-0 home defeat to Man Utd. It looked like they just couldn’t cope with the extra class of the Big Four. A 4-0 defeat to Arsenal next month added weight to that.
• Then Chelsea on Sept 26th – all expected a comprehensive defeat. But being Wigan they turned them over 3-1.
• Next game after beating Champions elect Chelsea – Hull City. Which of course they lose, 2-1.
• Then at the end of the October they faced Portsmouth, already looking to be doomed to the Championship. They lose 4-0 in what was comfortably Pompey’s biggest win of the season.
• 22nd November – they nearly equal the Premier League’s biggest ever defeat, losing a barely believable 9-1 to Spurs. And it could have been more.
• Then of course they go out and win their next game, 1-0 against a strong Sunderland side.
• The return match against Man U – did their win against Chelsea give them more confidence against the Big Four? Did it bollocks, they lose 5-0 again to make it 5-0 defeats home and away.
• But being Wigan that couldn’t be their highest aggregate deficit to anyone – in February they lose 3-0 to Spurs to make that 1-12 overall.
• Another Big Four game came against Liverpool in March – of course Wigan beat them too, 1-0.
• That was immediately followed up with a 4-0 defeat to struggling Bolton
• And now Arsenal, 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go, and a 3-2 win. That means they have beaten three of the Big Four – the other one they lost both games 5-0 to…

That is both incredible and really funny. And to add to that, they have a manager who is on record saying he prefers to lose playing nice football than win playing ugly. Antiquated and brilliant.

What’s more, they are Chelsea’s opponents on the last day of the season – they’ve already had an influence on the destination of the title (United have won 6 points from them [and plus 10 goals] whereas Chelsea have won none, so far) and they could yet determine where it goes.

Wigan Athletic – not only everyone’s second favourite Premier League team, but potentially one of the most influential…

Following a meeting between the Football Association and the twenty Premier League chairmen, the vaunted Champions League 4th place play-off idea has been thrown to the scrap heap.

Richard Scudamore told the media today that the proposal did not receive sufficient support from top flight bosses and will not be examined further.

This development may surprise many, given that 14 clubs must support such proposals in order for them to be explored more seriously.

Outside of the traditional ‘Big Four’, one would expect almost universal support for a change that would dangle the gold-plated carrot of Champions League qualification in front of a team finishing as low as seventh in the league.

Is there any chance that some level of pragmatism is finally sinking into football authorities? Perhaps they fear the consequences of such a temptation.

The lure of more realistic Champions League qualification would surely lead many ambitious chairmen into spending beyond their clubs’ reasonable means. We could end up with six or seven Pompey’s on our hands.

If you look at the last three PL final tables, we might have had the salivating prospect of European giants Barcelona locking horns with the likes of Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton. On these grounds alone, it would seem a sensible decision.

Winning the Premier League is considered the most significant achievement because it measures results over 38 hard-fought matches. The same logic should apply to the 4th CL place.

The play-offs would add yet more exciting games to the schedule. However, with four teams currently vying for that one position, isn’t it exciting enough already?

Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Everton (not to mention their recent draw with Hull) coupled with United only getting a point against Villa means Arsenal are only six points behind Ancelloti’s men, and five points behind Fergusons. Here is how the top of the table looks:

Even this unpredictable season, I think we can rule out Liverpool. And prior to last night, it was arguable that you could rule out Arsenal, too. Not any more… look at this run in:

Away games to Stoke and Spurs, and a home game to Man City, are the only games against sides in the top half of the table! (Assuming Birmingham will slip to their rightful place). It’s not inconceivable (although is unlikely) that Arsenal could win every single one of those games. And if they do, you have to fancy them making up six points on Chelsea. And five on United. It’s a big if, but Arsenal’s title challenge is back on track…

Fancy it?

Traditionally football has been tribal, with rival factions roaring on their boys and wishing ill upon their rivals, the love of winning and hatred of losing overriding all else. And certainly that has its own thrill and attraction. But to purely appreciate football, wouldn’t it be better to watch as an abstract neutral, observing with detachment and disinterest?

Before I begin, I must admit this is more relevant to the ‘top’ sides, those that feature regularly on TV – and therefore more relevant to fans of those teams. Lower league fans largely enjoy the same impunity I do, and that’s why it’s better to support a shit team. You can enjoy watching the good ones. And before I make my case, I must confess a bias to my cause. Shrugging off my childhood glory supporting of Man United I am now a semi-serious supporter of the mighty Swindon Town – but on the whole, I am largely a neutral.

This allows me to watch Big Four clashes, local derbies, grudge matches, heated rivalries and so on without my emotions being influenced, without the potential for my day being ruined, without a visceral hatred toward eleven men on a pitch or other people in the bar. I can enjoy it for what it is, a sport. My ‘loyalties’ don’t turn me into a moody, abusive, blind acolyte.

Because I don’t support a football team, I can watch football and enjoy it. I am a football fan, not a fan of a footballing entity. Not a ‘team fan’.

I actually feel sorry for die-hard fans. They cannot watch and enjoy a game without it somehow influencing them – league position, transfer targets, cup qualification, impact on rival teams, etc. Super Sunday becomes an emotional rollercoaster rather than an enjoyable pastime.

Furthermore, following a team (literally) is pretty shit. Cost, travel, having to spend your time amongst football crowds (which in all honesty are pretty disgusting, both actually and as a reflection of humanity), the lows (as few teams actually enjoy many highs) the mis-management, the bad signings, the underperformances – a lot of it is suffering, bearable only for the occasional 1-0 away win at Bolton.

Of course, I exaggerate. It’s not all bad. But being a fan of a team is certainly worse than being a fan of the game.

In fact I would go so far as to say, if you support a team, you don’t really like football that much (bear with me). You don’t watch football to appreciate great games, great players, and great goals (how anyone who says they like football doesn’t enjoy watching Arsenal is beyond me), you watch football for the small minded neanderthal tribality of it, the sense of belonging, of being part of something. I know (many) people who won’t watch Man Utd because they can’t bear it, won’t watch Arsenal in case they win, etc. That’s not liking football. That’s liking a team – and therefore not liking another one (or more).

For many, football is just an outlet. An outlet for aggression and loyalty, an outlet to moan and suffer, a chance to feel part of something, something to give your life some meaning. These people don’t like watching the sport – they just like being in a gang. An excuse to hate.

You may find this polemic – I am not disbaraging every team’s every fan – merely saying that if you watch football to follow a team, you like the team and all it provides – not the sport.

But that’s just one point of view. Perhaps you enjoy football more because you support a team – it gives an extra angle/edge to the viewing pleasure. I’d love to hear from you. I’m open minded. Unlike your average ‘team fan’.

Arsene Wenger is clearly an intelligent man and brilliant manager. However, in the light of his team’s 3-0 home humbling to Chelsea, he runs the risk of damaging his considerable credibility. Read on to find out why…

In the build-up to this vital match, Wenger issued a call to arms for his players – they can no longer be considered a young team; now is the time to deliver against the league leaders. 90 minutes later, and Arsenal’s fragility had been cruelly exposed by a bullying, clinical Chelsea. Having set the scene in advance, Wenger would surely have to concede – his team fell badly short in both final thirds. A lack of incision in attack; a lack of organisation in defence.

But rather than admitting any shortfall in his own team, Wenger chose to blame the officials. He reasoned that Arsenal dominated the game and Chelsea scored with their first shot.

A dose of reality is required. Chelsea had 5 shots on target to Arsenal’s 3. Possession ended up only 51-49 in Arsenal’s favour. If Arshavin’s goal was disallowed harshly, what of Sagna dragging down Anelka in the box and Vermeulen’s rugby tackle of Terry, both offences committed in the area?

With the news of Robin van Persie’s extended absence still raw, and in the immediate aftermath of an embarrassing home defeat, maybe you can excuse Wenger’s reaction. But in the cold light of day, he must surely recognise that Arsenal lack leadership and power across the field. The Invincibles team was built around exactly that.

Their frailties will rarely be exposed against the majority of teams in the Premier League and Champions League. But against the top teams in Europe, the Gunners’ soft centre will be there for all to see. Until Wenger addresses this and performs a major overhaul, Arsenal fans will have a long wait for their next major trophy.

Roughly a quarter of the way into the new season and the Big Four have experiences vastly contrasting fortunes. We have a look at them…

Chelsea

Won five from five, on a great run currently, Drogba firing, Lampard re-finding his goalscoring touch, defence shored up… it all looks good for Carlo Ancelotti. Defeats to Wigan and Aston Villa have blighted their record but they are rightly strong favourites for the title. The return of Joe Cole is a boon, and there is a definite feeling around Stamford Bridge that not only is the Premier League there for the taking, but the Champions’ League too. The fact their transfer embargo has been suspended, allowing them to spend big in January when they lose influential players to the ACN, is significant.

Man United

United have been far from convining this season yet still have 25 points, only two less than Chelsea. They have lacked invention (Rooney aside), their formerly rock solid defence has looked ropey (Evra aside) and they already appear reliant on old timers Giggs and Scholes, who will not last the season. Nani has been nothing short of disastrous, Valencia yet to impress, Owen yet to convince he is not shot… yet they keep winning. Reputation is single handedly dragging them to victories. But how long will that last?

Liverpool

An all round disaster. Neither Gerrard nor Torres are or have been fully fit, and they have lost six of their last seven in all competitions. They have lost five in the league already, from eleven matches – last season they lost only two all season. Carragher looks shot, Alonso has left a gaping void… Benayoun is the only one who has really stepped up. They are in big trouble, Rafa is in big trouble, and Man City, Villa, Spurs et al must be filled with hope.

Arsenal

Outsiders at the start of the season (well, not ours) Arsenal have been playing some cracking football. They set a new Premier League record for goals scored and create reams of chances – but as their draw with West Ham showed (2-0 up with 18 mins to go) they still have a soft core. That will need to be largely eradicated (depending on how much their rivals struggle) for them to last the pace.

Our Prediction

1. Chelsea

2. Arsenal

3. Man United

4. Man City

5. Liverpool

6. Villa

Courtesy of F365:

Arsenal
* The Gunners are scoring an incredible average of 3.37 goals per Premier League game this season.

* If games ended after 45 minutes, Arsenal would be top of the table with 19 points.

* All Arsenal’s points have been won against bottom-half opposition. They have lost both games – against Manchesters United and City – against top-half clubs.

* Cesc Fabregas has been credited with a massive nine assists in seven games.

Aston Villa
* Just three of their 12 goals this season have been scored from open play.

* Villa have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season.

* James Collins’ last Premier League goal came in April 2006 for West Ham…against Chelsea.

Birmingham City
* Lee Bowyer’s 38th-minute goal was the first Birmingham have scored before the 70th minute this season.

* Bowyer is the only player to score more than one goal for the Blues this season.

* The 3-1 defeat to Arsenal was their first of the season by more than a single goal.

* Birmingham have got the same points after nine games (7) as Stoke at the same stage last season.

Blackburn Rovers
* Blackburn have lost only one of their last eight Premier League games at Ewood Park – on the opening day of the season against Manchester City.

* With four goals, David Dunn has already scored more times this season than in any campaign since 2002/03.

* Rovers have come from behind to win twice this season – against Villa and now Burnley.

Bolton Wanderers
* Bolton have exactly the same record after eight games (W2, D2, L4) as last season.

* The Trotters have not kept a clean sheet this season.

* Didier Drogba is the only striker to be credited with more assists than Kevin Davies.

* Bolton have not beaten a team currently in the top half of the Premier League table since January.

Burnley
* Burnley and Blackburn are the only two teams in the 92-strong league without a single point away from home.

* Only Hull have conceded more goals than the Clarets this season.

Chelsea
* Chelsea have not lost two consecutive away games in the Premier League since September 2007.

* Didier Drogba has been directly involved in 13 of 19 Chelsea goals this season.

* They have not failed to score in any Premier League game since April 22 v Everton.

* Six of the eight goals they have conceded this season have come from set-pieces.

Everton
* The draw against Wolves was the first time they have failed to beat them at Goodison Park in seven attempts.

* The Toffees have conceded only six goals in their last seven games after that opening-day drubbing by Arsenal.

* Everton have three points more than at the same juncture last season.

Fulham
* Bobby Zamora’s opener against Hull was their first first-half goal since his strike on the opening day of the season against Portsmouth.

* Zamora has either scored or assisted four of Fulham’s eight goals.

* The Cottagers are two points better off than at the same stage last season.

* Fulham have had the same back four (Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky) for all but 20 minutes this season.

Hull City
* Hull have won three games in the whole of 2009.

* They managed no shots on target in 90 minutes against Fulham.

* The Tigers’ last away win was at Craven Cottage in March.

Liverpool
* The last time Liverpool failed to score in consecutive Premier League games was September 2007.

* Jamie Carragher is the only outfield player to play every minute for Liverpool in the league this season.

* Liverpool were credited with 69% of the possession against Sunderland.

Manchester City
* For all their attacking talents, City have actually scored fewer goals in their first eight games that at this stage last season.

* City have drawn both games (v Villa and Wigan) they were losing at half-time.

* They have yet to win at Wigan in the Premier League.

Manchester United
* Despite their supposedly poor form, United have four more points from nine games (22) than they had amassed at the same stage last season

* They have not lost a single point from a winning position this season.

* They have benefited from three own goals at Old Trafford this campaign.

Portsmouth
*No striker has scored for Portsmouth in the Premier League since April 18.

* Six of Pompey’s eight defeats this season have been by a single-goal margin.

* Nine of the 15 goals conceded by Pompey this season have come from set-pieces.

Stoke City
* Stoke were credited with just 38% of possession at home to West Ham and had the worst pass completion rate in the division at 63%.

* No midfielder has scored for Stoke this season.

Sunderland
* Victory over Liverpool marked Sunderland’s first victory over Big Four opposition in seven years.

* Darren Bent has scored the first goal in six of Sunderland’s nine games.

* Sunderland are joint bottom of the disciplinary table with Tottenham. Captain Lorik Cana has picked up four of their 18 bookings.

Tottenham Hotspur
* Ledley King became Spurs’ 11th league scorer at Portsmouth.

* Four of Tottenham’s nine games have ended in a 2-1 win for Spurs.

* Jermaine Jenas has been booked four times in five games since his return from injury.

West Ham
* Carlton Cole has committed more fouls than any other player in the Premier League this season.

* West Ham have not started a season this badly since they were last relegated in 2002-03.

* The Hammers enjoyed 65% of the possession against Fulham last week and then 62% against Stoke.

Wigan
* No Wigan game has featured more than one first-half goal this season.

* The Latics have garnered two more points under Roberto Martinez than at the same stage under Steve Bruce last season.

* Wigan’s record against top-half opposition is the fifth best in the Premier League.

Wolves
* No Wolves game has featured more than one first-half goal this season.

* Middlesbrough and West Brom both had more points than this Wolves side at the same stage last season.

From Sky: Chelsea look to continue their formidable start to the 2009/10 Premier League season as they travel to Wigan Athletic, while bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth host Everton on a weekend of nine top-flight fixtures.

The above is a tale of two hugely contrasting beginnings to the new campaign. The Blues have powered their way to the summit and Carlo Ancelloti’s charges look unyielding. Pompey, though, are already, and worryingly so, considered an opponent whom three easy points are there for the taking.

Among the other encounters on the sixth weekend of the latest campaign, Manchester United head to the Britannia Stadium, Liverpool entertain struggling Hull City, Arsenal meet London rivals Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur host newly-promoted Burnley and Sunderland clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers in Sunday’s only game.

After an opening victory in the Midlands promised so much, Wigan Athletic have largely slumped. And the fixture compiler has been unfair to them as they prepare to tackle Chelsea after travelling to Arsenal seven days prior. And the omens are not good for the Latics, who have faired awfully against the so-called ‘big four’, having failed to win in 34 attempts.

For Chelsea, this is a chance to match their best-ever start to a Premier League term, as they eye a seventh straight win under Ancelotti. Next up for the Blues comes a fierce test at home against Liverpool, so three points at the DW Stadium is crucial to stand them in good stead ahead of their first meeting with a title rival.

Portsmouth are in action versus Everton on Saturday lunchtime, in a game that can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1. Having become the only team in Premier League history to lose their opening six games, the future is already looking bleak on the South Coast. However, Pompey can take heart from having beat Everton in both their meetings last season, while the Toffees have not yet won on the road this term.

Off the back of their dramatic success last weekend, Manchester United return to league action against Stoke City. A late goal saw the Red Devils take the spoils in last term’s corresponding fixture, and again this time around the encounter promises to be a tricky affair for the champions. But with striker Wayne Rooney rested during midweek and in frightening goalscoring form, boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be optimistic of disposing of the Potters.

Liverpool lock horns with Phil Brown’s Hull City spying a fourth successive triumph. The Reds showed character and grit to overcome West Ham United last week but will be hopeful Saturday’s test will be more of a routine outing. Goals can be expected, with 25 scored in five games between these two sides, while the leaky Tigers must call upon some of that early-season spirit from 2008/09 if they are to come away from Anfield with anything to show from their trip West on the M62.

Arsenal got back to winning ways against Wigan but visit a ghost of last campaign in shape of Fulham on Saturday’s evening kick-off. The Cottagers took four points off the Gunners last term, with Arsene Wenger’s men even failing to find the back of the net in those two clashes. But Fulham have looked unusually rocky to date, and as Wenger reinstates his more senior personnel the Frenchman will be optimistic that his side can avoid another poor showing against their London rivals.

Tottenham Hotspur’s momentum has been somewhat dented by match-ups versus United and Chelsea, but they tackle Burnley in a seemingly more winnable game. The two clubs met in the Carling Cup last season, with Spurs edging out the then-Championship outfit over two legs of 10 goals. The Clarets will of course be envisaging an upset, and they could see Tottenham’s weakness as their backline, which has failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous eight outings.

Blackburn Rovers welcome Aston Villa to Ewood Park, the former stuttering and the latter in fine temper. Interestingly, under the stewardship of Paul Ince at the time, after five games last campaign Rovers had three points more than their current total under Sam Allardyce. Villa, meanwhile, will look to the in-form Gabriel Agbonlahor to help fire them to a fifth straight league victory.

Birmingham City are in action against Bolton Wanderers in what is expected to be a low-scoring game, with neither side really finding their shooting boots to date. Trotters manager Gary Megson has come in for much criticism from supporters already this campaign, but a late point claimed last week and a midweek win in the Carling Cup has helped to ease what has been growing pressure.

On Sunday, Sunderland take on Wolves at the Stadium of Light live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1. The Black Cats suffered a surprise defeat last time out in the league so must look to respond from that setback at Burnley. Indeed, Steve Bruce’s side have lacked consistency, with each of their wins followed by a loss. For Wolves, who have faired poorly on Wearside, the encounter is a chance to record back-to-back Premier League triumphs.