Premier League preview

Gunners have the chance to move eight clear

Arsenal have the opportunity to open up an eight-point lead over Manchester United in the Premier League title race.

With the Gunners travelling to Birmingham for Saturday's early kick-off, live on Sky Sports 1, and United's trip to Newcastle not kicking-off until 5.15pm, Arsene Wenger's men could strike an important psychological blow over their rivals.


And they are certainly in need of redressing the balance, having been on the wrong end of a 4-0 thumping at Old Trafford in last weekend's FA Cup fourth round meeting.


Alex McLeish's men have already frustrated Arsenal once this season, securing a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium, and are in desperate need of the points as they are only out of the drop zone on goal difference.


United, meanwhile, travel to the North East expecting a sterner test than in their last meeting with the Magpies.

Capitulation

Sir Alex Ferguson's side romped to a 6-0 win over the hapless Toon Army at Old Trafford last month prior to Kevin Keegan's return as manager.


Keegan is yet to taste victory in his second spell at the helm and witnessed a worrying second-half capitulation at Aston Villa last time out.


Liverpool swiftly brushed aside the criticism from their FA Cup humbling at the hands of Barnsley with a memorable 2-0 triumph over 10-man Internazionale.


Rafa Benitez urgently needs his players to transfer their European form to the domestic scene with Middlesbrough the next visitors to Anfield.


The relegation battle remains full of tension, with just 10 points between 12th-placed Boro and second from bottom Fulham.

Derby boss Paul Jewell makes an emotional return to the JJB Stadium with Wigan scrapping for survival and The Rams already doomed to the drop.


Fellow strugglers Fulham have a London derby to look forward to as they welcome inconsistent West Ham to Craven Cottage.


Sunderland, somehow, have conspired to be even more hapless than Derby on the road and make the testing trip to Fratton Park to tackle European hopefuls Portsmouth.


Seven consecutive defeats have sent Reading plunging into the bottom three, and they must quickly stop the rot which has set in as Aston Villa travel to the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.


The Lancashire derby at Ewood Park promises to be a heated affair, with Blackburn having not tasted victory since their 2-1 triumph over Bolton in the reverse fixture back in January.


Gary Megson's men will be determined to redress the balance, with local pride at stake alongside three precious Premier League points.