Manchester United face the toughest task of the three English Premier League title hopefuls this weekend as Arsenal and Liverpool aim to put clear daylight between them and the defending champions. Saturday’s Matches * Bolton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur * Chelsea vs Manchester United * Leeds United vs Fulham * Leicester City vs Aston Villa * Liverpool vs Derby County * Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Rovers * Newcastle United vs Charlton Athletic * Southampton vs Everton * West Ham United vs Sunderland ON SUNDAY * Arsenal vs Ipswich Town Third-placed United, a point behind Liverpool and two behind leaders Arsenal, travel to FA Cup finalists Chelsea under pressure to win on a ground that has rarely served them well in the past. Claudio Ranieri’s side, Chelsea are assured of a UEFA Cup place next season but are clinging on to an outside hope of Champions League qualification instead. But draws in two of their last three games have seen them stutter in their bid for fourth place. Graeme Le Saux is definitely out with the calf injury he suffered in the opening minutes of Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final win over Fulham last Sunday.United on the otherhand want revenge for their 3-0 drubbing by Chelsea at Old Trafford earlier this season. But Alex Ferguson must consider his team selection carefully with the Champions League semi-final, first leg against Bayer Leverkusen next week. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs could be rested. Liverpool host second-from bottom Derby County on Saturday and Arsenal face relegation-threatened Ipswich Town at Highbury on Sunday. Defeat for Derby will condemn them to relegation to the English first division.Defender Stephen Wright is suspended but that is unlikely to knock Liverpool out of their stride too much. Emile Heskey is again missing for Gerard Houllier’s side but Nicolas Anelka is a more than capable deputy as Liverpool go searching for their seventh straight win. Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard are coming off good performances for England at Anfield in mid-week.John Gregory will try and lift his players after Derby threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 against Newcastle last week. Lee Morris, the 21-year-old striker, was one of their bright spots and will be given another chance as Derby aim to stave off relegation.For Arsenal, unbeaten since December 18 in the league, their match against Ipswich Town should be a foregone conclusion, even though Ipswich are battling for survival at the bottom.(Reuters)
