We are back with new previews for this weekend English Premier League matches...

Saturday

Chelsea v Blackburn (1500GMT)

Many people have already written off Chelsea's bid to retain their Premier League title this season and they have certainly left themselves with a mountain to climb, currently nine points behind leaders Manchester United and having played a game more. Yet even though they have won just one of their last nine league outings to pile the pressure on under-fire manager Carlo Ancelotti, you would be foolhardy to think they are not capable of putting together a meaningful unbeaten run to at least get themselves back in contention. Star names such as Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Florent Malouda and Michael Essien have not suddenly become poor players overnight. Injuries to key players have not helped Chelsea's cause, but it is fair to say most of their big hitters have badly under-performed so far. Now the pressure is on and we expect the star names to step up to the plate. Blackburn are not an easy side to take on at the best of times, with new manager Steve Kean now starting to find his way in the hotseat after succeeding Sam Allardyce, despite speculation linking Diego Maradona with a sensational move to Ewood Park. But Rovers have not been good on their travels, winning just three of 11 matches on the road, and this is reflected in the odds with Chelsea a best of 3/10 and Rovers 11/1 (bet365/Skybet) - the draw is widely available at 9/2. The draw could have some appeal if you think the hosts will continue to struggle, but we think they're a home banker and will not be backing against them on this occasion.

Verdict: Chelsea 2 Blackburn 0

Manchester City v Wolves (1500GMT)

Wolves might have beaten Chelsea and Liverpool in recent matches, while City looked decidedly fragile at the back during Sunday's 2-2 FA Cup draw at Leicester to give some credence to a potential upset at Eastlands. But we think the key difference in this encounter will be the firepower City boss Roberto Mancini has at his disposal. Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Jo, Mario Balotelli and Roque Santa Cruz are already at the club and now Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko has arrived for £27m from German side Wolfsburg and is likely to be at least on the bench. It's an embarrassment of riches and it's starting to look as though City's policy is going to be "we'll score more goals than you". The big-spenders did lose 2-1 at Wolves earlier in the season but despite their recent high-profile successes, Mick McCarthy's side are still fourth from bottom. Their 1-0 win at Anfield was their first on the road in the league this season and they were quickly brought back down to earth when they lost at West Ham just days later. City are a best-priced 7/20 with William Hill, with Wolves 9/1 virtually across the board and the draw a best 21/5 (sportingbet). Wolves will show plenty of commitment, grit and determination but we feel it won't be enough to stop City cruising to victory.

Verdict: Man City 4 Wolves 1

Stoke v Bolton (1500GMT)

Much credit should go to these two sides who have firmly established themselves as solid Premier League outfits in recent seasons. The Potters go into the game just three points behind Wanderers, having played a game less, and both will harbour legitimate hopes of forcing their way into the European places. Neither are in great form with Bolton having failed to win in their last three league matches and they needed two late goals to see off non-league York in the FA Cup third round last Saturday. Stoke have won five of their last 12 games, but their inconsistency has proved to be a stumbling block, highlighted by their cup draw at home to Cardiff . They are still a formidable outfit at home with their voiciferous supporters, while Bolton have won only twice on their travels this term so backing a Stoke win at 6/5 does have some appeal. However, we can see this being another keenly-contested clash between the two - just as their first meeting was back in October at the Reebok Stadium when Wanderers claimed a narrow 2-1 win. With this in mind, we like the look of the draw at 23/10 with Boylesports and Bodog.

Verdict: Stoke 1 Bolton 1

West Brom v Blackpool (1500GMT)

Blackpool completed a notable double over Liverpool in midweek and earned high praise from both Ian Holloway and Kenny Dalglish. Holloway had got some stick for resting some of his players in the FA Cup defeat at Southampton but his decision was clearly vindicated as his side came from behind against the struggling Reds. West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo was an interested observer in the crowd at Bloomfield Road and he will have some work to do against the Tangerines if his side are to combat a well organised side playing with plenty of confidence. The Baggies have lost six on the trot and the prospect of hosting a side that has already won five on the road - a tally only bettered by Manchester City and Arsenal - will not be particularly tempting. Still, the layers favour a home win at 4/5, a price which looks particularly miserly for a team struggling to find any form. The visitors are 15/4 to collect all three points but Coral dangle 5/4 Blackpool-Draw in their Double Chance market - get on board at that price considering other firms are odds-on.

Verdict: West Brom 1 Blackpool 2

Wigan v Fulham (1500 GMT)

Few would have predicted Wigan versus Fulham as a relegation six-pointer at the start of the season, but both these sides go into Saturday's encounter at the DW Stadium in desperate need of points. Latics are in the bottom two and although Fulham are five places better off, they are separated by just a single point in a massively congested bottom half of the table. The hosts started the season in catastrophic fashion, losing 4-0 at home to Blackpool and then 6-0 at Chelsea and while they have only four games out of 21, they have managed some creditable results along the way against Spurs (won 1-0), Newcastle (2-2), Liverpool (1-1), Everton (0-0) and Arsenal (2-2). However, they will be boosted by the return of Charles N'Zogbia after a three-match suspension and his link-up with striker Hugo Rodallega will be vital to their chances of avoiding the drop. Fulham's fall from grace has been spectacular. Roy Hodgson guided them to a 12th place finish, as well as the Europa League final, last season and was crowned as manager of the year. But the Cottagers have struggled since Hodgson's summer switch to Liverpool. Mark Hughes took the reins and although they went seven games unbeaten at the start of the campaign, they have won just three games since October 16 - although they did beat the Latics 2-0 thanks to a brace from Clint Dempsey. With the squad they have, it appears they are definitely under-achieving but we still fancy Wigan to make home advantage count. Roberto Martinez's side are widely available at 6/4 and we thank that is a tempting price, with the draw a best 12/5 with Sky Bet and Fulham a generally best-priced 15/8.

Verdict: Wigan 2 Fulham 1

West Ham v Arsenal (1730GMT)

The big question for Hammers fans is whether their side can show a semblence of their winning form from their last two matches in Cup competitions? Or will they continue to scratch around in the league with indifferernt displays that have left them rooted to the foot of the table with Avram Grant under intense pressure? They were truly appalling at the back in the 5-0 drubbing at Newcastle and Grant has managed to secure the experienced Wayne Bridge to help boost his defence. Bridge is under no illusions what is ahead and wants to play his part in helping the Hammers survive. Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal lacked a spark in their midweek Carling Cup defeat at Ipswich and his side will only have themselves to blame if they miss out on a gilt-edged chance to secure some silverware. They are four points behind Manchester United at the top of the table and after an impressive victory over Chelsea at the end of December which looked set to launch their title bid, draws against Wigan and Manchester City have seen them rather hit the buffers. 8/13 is the best price available for the Gunners but this is a fixture that West Ham invariably put on a display - even in a losing cause like the 1-0 defeat at the Emirates in October. If they can harry the Arsenal midfield they could have some joy so the potential to nick a point is up for grabs.

Verdict: West Ham 1 Arsenal 1 (DJ)

Sunday

Birmingham v Aston Villa (1200GMT)

Both teams are scrambling around in a bid to bring in some fresh faces before Sunday and help out with their respective battles to pull clear from the bottom. Birmingham have got a blow in with the arrival of David Bentley - he potentially adds some extra quality in midfield and from set pieces but you wonder how much Alex McLeish will actually get out of him. Gerard Houllier is in France trying to wrap up the signature of Jean Makoun and the word is the deal could be done - so punters may need to stay alert to a couple of extra factors come by kick-off. Birmingham came out on top here in the Carling Cup recently but this fixture has gone the way of Villa lately and they will be looking for a fourth win on the trot. Gabby Agbonlahor is sure to be popular in the scoring markets having notched on his last three visits to St Andrew's but he has been troubled by injury and only scored twice all season - maybe this ground could turn things around for him. This could be a very nervy afternoon for both considering their precarious position and Birmingham's midweek defeat at West Ham in the Carling Cup highlighted some very shaky defending to go along with a late blunder from Ben Foster. As both strive for any sort of consistency, it looks like being a match best left alone.

Verdict: Birmingham 1 Aston Villa 1

Sunderland v Newcastle (1200)

If revenge truly is a dish served cold, Sunderland will be hoping the Arctic temperatures return in time for Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby. No-one on either side of the divide should need reminding of the scoreline the last time these two sides met at the end of October, but for any neutrals who have had a dose of amnesia, it finished Newcastle 5 Sunderland 1. Recounting that day, Steve Bruce said this week: "What did I do (after the game)? I went home and went to bed. I haven't watched the game again, I didn't even watch the news. It was a total blackout. The players at the end of that week all went out together to the local restaurant and we had a conversation - what was said will remain private - but for all of us, it was about the response, what we were going to do and how we could put it right." A fortnight later they won 3-0 at Chelsea but you can bet it was this game they were talking about when they were looking to "put it right". Both sides come into the game on the back of FA Cup third-round defeats by lower-league sides, though Sunderland's was a much-changed side while Newcastle's was much closer to full strength. Prior to last weekend they'd won back-to-back Premier League games and just Bolton separate them in the table so despite the result at St James' Park there shouldn't be much between them. Pushed, I'd marginally fancy the Black Cats at 6/5 with home advantage but their record against their fiercest foes is pretty shabby at home - just one win in eight - so we'll give this a swerve.

Verdict Sunderland 2 Newcastle 1

Liverpool v Everton (1405)

Liverpool's owners certainly had an eye on this fixture when they gave Roy Hodgson his marching orders. Kenny Dalglish is 0-2 so far and has admitted there is much work to do - but the signs are there of some improvement in terms of commitment. They could not take advantage of a fast start given to them by Fernando Torres at Blackpool and Dalglish will surely want to focus on their defensive frailties which has seen them keep just one clean sheet in seven games. Everton have saved their best for the 'top' sides in the league - so it is just a case of whether you consider Liverpool still remain in that bracket. 12 goals in seven games against sides from the top six is a good return so David Moyes must be a little disappointed that his side remain in the bottom half of the table. There is a still a worry that they do not score enough but five goals in the FA Cup at Scunthorpe should have given that department a timely boost. With that in mind, both teams to score at a fraction of odds-on could be the wager to take out of a game that is not the easiest to predict.

Verdict: Liverpool 1 Everton 1

Tottenham v Manchester United (1610)

As if the footballing couch potato doesn't have enough to look forward to with the Birmingham and Merseyside derbies on the box, the final part of their three-course square meal could be the best of the lot with table-toppers Manchester United travelling down to White Hart Lane. United may not be at their free-flowing best but they've stumbled their way to the top of the table primarily on the back of a phenomenal home record. Only once have they failed to win at Old Trafford this season (they drew with West Brom) but away from home they've looked much more unconvincing, with no fewer than seven draws in their nine away matches to date. And that's a stat we're keen to capitalise on. It's only two away games since they drew at Birmingham and their two road wins have both been by a single goal so even if they're in front here we should certainly get a good run for our money. Spurs too aren't shy of a draw - only Bolton in the top 12 have drawn more at home than them and it's interesting to note both Chelsea and Manchester City secured a point in N17. Their record against United is dreadful given their stature - they've not beaten them in any competition since 2000/01 - but they're a better side now than they have been for many a year. For me, it all points to a stalemate.

Verdict: Tottenham 1 Manchester United 1