Chelsea expect festival game

SATURDAY

BLACKBURN ROVERS vs EVERTON

Everton will be confident of continuing their remarkable season on the short trip to struggling Blackburn, although the Ewood Park side won both last season’s league meetings. David Moyes’s side have lost only three league games this season, and it would be a major surprise if they do not notch their 12th victory.

CHELSEA vs NORWICH CITY

Chelsea will be overwhelming favourites to maintain their cushion at the top of the standings against Norwich, while latter would be more than happy to secure their 10th draw of the campaign against the league leaders, who shaded a high quality 2-2 draw with champions Arsenal last weekend.

MANCHESTER UNITED vs CRYSTAL PALACE

United’s run of four successive Premier League wins was halted last Monday and this must be a cause of worry. And with it the injury to striker Louis Saha who will misses out again. But Nistelrooy’s return after a calf problem could spell trouble for Palace, who are struggling to score and suffered a new setback this week when winger Tommy Black broke his leg.

SUNDAY ACTION

LIVERPOOL vs NEWCASTLE UNITED

This is a vital match for two teams struggling to live up to big reputations. Both were held to 1-1 home draws by Portsmouth in the pastweek, and Liverpool will be desperate for victory after last weekend’s defeat by Everton in the Merseyside derby. Newcastle strikers Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert are still doubtful through injury.

PORTSMOUTH vs ARSENAL

Portsmouth should be confident after successive 1-1 draws at Newcastle and Liverpool but the champions need to close what may well be an eight-point gap on Chelsea at the top of the table. Arsenal gave Portsmouth a master class in an FA Cup quarter-final at Fratton Park last season, producing a scintillating display of attacking football in a 5-1 victory. They battled to a 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Sunday and welcome back captain Patrick Vieira from suspension, though his midfield partners Fredrik Ljungberg and Edu miss out again.