Now it’s time for action at home

Arsenal are at home to Bolton Wanderers and Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford as England’s top clubs return to d...

Arsenal are at home to Bolton Wanderers and Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford as England’s top clubs return to domestic duties after making victorious season debuts in the Champions League. By contrast, beaten sides Liverpool and Newcastle United will be looking to bounce back against West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland respectively.

Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers

Fredrik Ljungberg, who made a goalscoring return from a hip operation in Arsenal’s midweek win over Borussia Dortmund, will make his domestic debut at Highbury. Robert Pires and Giovanni van Bronckhorst are still on the long-term injury list, while fellow mid-fielder Ray Parlour is out with a knee problem.

Morale is sky high and, provided they can avoid over-confidence, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp should keep Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen busy.

Liverpool vs West Bromwich Albion

Comprehensively outplayed by Valencia in midweek, Liverpool will be looking for three points that would do as much for team morale as for their league campaign. Michael Owen, who came on as a second-half substitute against the Spaniards, should start in place of El Hadji Diouf, flanked by Emile Heskey or Milan Baros.

Gerard Houllier is hoping central defender Stephane Henchoz recovers from a calf strain which ruled him out of the trip to Spain. Goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, who admitted after the Valencia game “We played like girls”, will be looking to make amends.

Manchester United vs Tottenham

Manchester United’s 5-2 win over Maccabi Haifa have lifted spirits, especially among the strikers after Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs and Diego Forlan all got on the scoresheet.

But their miserly showings on premier league duty — with five goals in six games — is a worry, as is the fact that United’s defence still allowed Haifa to score twice. Van Nistelrooy is a doubt after picking up a calf strain against the Israelis, Phil Neville will continue to deputise for injured Nicky Butt in mid-field and Gary Neville may return at right-back after a five-month absence. Paul Scholes and Roy Keane are still on the long-term injured list.

Middlesbrough (8) v Biringham City (9)

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With Szilard Nemeth and Massimo Maccarone on sparkling form up-front, Steve McClaren should be confident of shrugging off last weekend’s defeat to Everton and taking all three points from the Premier League new boys.

Cameroon mid-fielder Geremi, on loan from Real Madrid, is fitting in well and should keep his place. World Cup winner Juninho remains on the long-term injured list after cruciate ligament surgery. (Reuters)