Arsenal aim to regain top slot, courtesy home game

Arsenal have the chance to return to the top of the English Premier League for at least 24 hours when they host local rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. With leaders Liverpool at home to Sunderland on Sunday the North London club could return to the top for the first time since October 6 after which two defeats let in Liverpool.

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SATURDAY Arsenal VS Tottenham Hotspur Chelsea VS Middlesbrough Manchester City VS Charlton Athletic Newcastle United VS Southampton West Bromwich Albion VS Aston Villa SUNDAY Birmingham City VS Fulham Blackburn Rovers VS Everton Leeds United VS Bolton Wanderers Liverpool VS Sunderland West Ham United VS Man United Story continues below this ad

The Merseysiders had their lead trimmed to a point by their 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough last week, also ending a run of seven successive wins, and could be second by Saturday night. Third-placed Chelsea play Middlesbrough (sixth) while Everton (fourth) will hope to make it five wins in a row at Blackburn Rovers (seventh). Following are the brief previews of some of the important matches this weekend:

Arsenal Vs Hotspur

Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman is unlikely to play because of a groin strain picked up last week and Swede Rami Shaaban, who played on Tuesday, should again deputise. Striker Nwankwo Kanu is out but defender Sol Campbell should be fit. Spurs have picked up just one point from their last three games to slip from third to eighth and another defeat against their greatest rivals would complete a miserable three weeks.

Chelsea Vs M’brough

After beating Liverpool to end a bad run last week, Middlesbrough face another stiff test of their early season credentials at in-form Chelsea.

The Londoners will be without Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (groin strain), not ideal against a Boro defence that has conceded just 10 goals this season.

Liverpool Vs Sunderland

It has been a bad week for Liverpool and manager Gerard Houllier has given Steven Gerrard a public dressing down and could drop him on Sunday. Sunderland meanwhile are showing signs of recovery under new manager Howard Wilkinson, as a win and two draws have hauled them out of the relegation zone.

West Ham Vs Man U

West Ham’s form at home has left them in trouble this season with five defeats and two draws from their seven home games. United are still without Roy Keane, injured and suspended, and are also missing Rio Ferdinand and Nicky Butt.

Blackburn Vs Everton

Everton, seeking a fifth successive league victory, could have captain David Weir back in the centre of defence in place of Alan Stubbs, who is struggling with a groin strain. Blackburn are likely to have some hangover after losing 2-0 at home to Celtic to crash out of the UEFA cup on Thursday. (Reuters)