Premier League preview

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to claim his first victory at the club against Norwich

The early Premier League kick-off this weekend sees Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.

Both London sides have made strong starts to their Premier League campaigns.

The visitors are currently top of the Premier League table and the Gunners are fifth, despite visiting both Anfield and the Etihad Stadium this season.

Chelsea may have started the season in good form, but could find it hard to score past the Gunners defence who have only conceded two goals in the top flight this season.

High-flying Everton host Southampton at Goodison Park, looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Leeds United in the Capital One Cup. Prior to that the Toffee’s had made a good start to their Premier League campaign and will be looking for that good league start to continue.

Premier League new boys Southampton gained their first league victory of the season last time out with a 4-1 defeat of Aston Villa at St Marys. The Saints then followed that victory up with a 2-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup.

In-form Fulham play host to English champions Manchester City at Craven Cottage. The home side go into this clash above the visitors on goal difference, with the Cottagers in sixth place and City a place below. Fulham will be hoping that new signing Dimitar Berbatov keeps up his good form.

The visitors have enjoyed a very mixed start to their league campaign. City drew 1-1 with Arsenal at home in their last league game and will be looking to recover from a 4-2 Capital One Cup defeat by Aston Villa.

Reading host Newcastle at the Madejski Stadium looking for their first league victory of the season, although the Royals did win 3-2 at QPR in the Capital One Cup. The victory should give them confidence heading into the clash with the Magpies.

The visitors went out of the Capital One Cup with a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United. However, the Magpies defeated Norwich 1-0 at the Sports Direct Arena in their last Premier League outing. Striker Demba Ba will be looking to continue his scoring streak, having found the net three times in two appearances.

Sunderland host Wigan, hoping to gain their first Premier League victory of the season. The Black Cats have drawn all four of their league encounters so far this season. Martin O’Neill’s side did secure a 2-0 midweek victory at MK Dons in the Capital One Cup though. New signing Steven Fletcher has scored four goals in just three appearances for his new club.

Wigan secured a very impressive 4-1 victory at West Ham in midweek in the Capital One Cup. However, the Latics lost their last Premier League outing 2-1 at home to Fulham. Striker Franco Di Santo should return to the starting line-up after missing the Fulham defeat.

Stoke are another team looking for their first league victory of the season as they host Swansea City at the Britannia Stadium. The Potters have drawn four and drew one of their matches so far this season.

The visitors defeated Crawley 3-2 in the Capital One Cup, after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Everton last time out in the league. Swans boss Michael Laudrup will be hoping that his side can get back to winning ways at the tough Britannia.

Two teams that haven’t yet secured their first league victories of the season meet at Carrow Road, as Norwich host Liverpool. The Canaries did defeat Doncaster 1-0 in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night and will be hoping to build on that win.

Liverpool also progressed to the fourth round of the Capital One Cup with a 2-1 victory at West Brom. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that the victory can breed the confidence for his team to repeat the trick in the top flight.

Manchester United host Tottenham at Old Trafford in the Premier League’s late kick-off. The home side secured their place in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup with a midweek victory over Newcastle. United defeated Liverpool at Anfield 2-1 in their last league outing.

Tottenham won 3-0 at Carlisle in the Capital One Cup in midweek and defeated QPR 2-1 in their last Premier League clash. Spurs have been moving up the table in recent weeks and currently find themselves 8th in top flight table.

In the Sunday clash Aston Villa host West Brom at Villa Park. Villa progressed into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup with a 4-2 victory at Manchester City. However, Villa suffered a 4-1 defeat at Southampton in their last league clash and will be looking for a better performance against their local rivals.

The Baggies went out of the Capital One Cup with a 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool. However, their league form has been superb this season. In their latest top flight clash they defeated Reading 1-0 at the Hawthorns.

Which game will be the biggest of the Premier League weekend?