Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will be looking for his side to get back to winning ways this evening, as the Champions visit Wigan
There are eight games in the Premier League this evening. Chelsea host Fulham at Stamford Bridge looking for their first victory under new boss Rafa Benitez, after the Blues drew 0-0 with champions Manchester City last weekend.
Spanish striker Fernando Torres has come in for heavy criticism since he arrived at Chelsea, but Benitez will be hoping to get the best out of the Spanish striker, just as he did at Liverpool.
The visitors have lost their last two games in the top flight, at home to Sunderland before losing 1-0 at Stoke last time out.
The Cottagers are also in the midst of an injury-crisis. Bryan Ruiz, Alex Kacaniklic and Kieran Richardson will all miss the game and Brede Hangeland is still suspended.
Manchester City travel to Wigan looking to regain top spot in the Premier League, after that 0-0 draw with Chelsea combined with Manchester United winning sent the Red Devils to the top of the table. The visitors have had a typically up and down season and will be major underdogs in this clash.
Manchester United will look to retain their position at the top of the Premier League table, as they play host to West Ham at Old Trafford. United had to comeback from a goal down against rock-bottom QPR at the weekend to win 3-1.
West Ham suffered a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham in their last Premier League outing, which led to the Irons falling out of the top six places in the Premier League. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce will know that getting a victory at Old Trafford will be a difficult task.
Tottenham ended a miserable run of three defeats on the trot with that 3-1 victory over West Ham. Spurs host Liverpool this evening hoping to gain another victory and a step backwards towards the top four positions in the league.
However, the visitors arrive in decent form, currently on an eight-match unbeaten run. Reds striker Luis Suarez has been one of the outstanding players of the Premier League so far and will again be expected to be the main attacking threat for the Reds.
Elsewhere, high-flying West Brom travel to Swansea’s Liberty Stadium. The visitors moved up to third in the Premier League table with a 4-2 victory at Sunderland at the weekend and look full of confidence at the moment.
Swansea are comfortably in midtable. The Swans drew 0-0 with Liverpool on Sunday in a bore draw. Swansea have a decent record at home and will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Steve Clarke’s men.
Everton host Arsenal at Goodison Park, in what looks like a battle of two teams with top four ambitions. Everton came out the traps exceptionally fast this season, unlike recent seasons gone by. However, the Toffees have won just one out of the last seven games and have become draw specialists.
Arsenal’s last game out was an uninspiring 0-0 draw at Aston Villa. The team really did look lacklustre in the Villa encounter. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger rested some key defensive players at Villa Park ahead of this vital clash, with just a point separating the pair in the Premier League table.
Stoke City host Newcastle at the Britannia Stadium looking to climb up the table. The Potters defeated Fulham 1-0 on home turf at the weekend and are now 13 matches unbeaten at the Britannia. Tony Pulis’ side have also conceded just one goal at home this season.
Newcastle visit Stoke in shocking form. The Magpies lost 2-0 at Southampton at the weekend and are currently 14th in the Premier League table, just three points outside the drop zone. Another defeat and Alan Pardew’s men will be looking down instead of up.
Resurgent Southampton welcomes another in-form team Norwich to the St Mary’s Stadium. The Saints have recorded consecutive Premier League victories for the first time this season, after seeing off Newcastle at home and defeating QPR the previous weekend. A win could move Southampton out of the relegation zone.
The visitors are currently on a six match unbeaten run in the top flight, conceding just two goals in that run. The Canaries claimed a 1-1 draw at Everton at the weekend courtesy of a 90th minute header from defender Sebastien Bassong. The visitors will hope that form continues in this clash.
Can champions Manchester City regain top spot this evening?
