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A relegation three pointer is live on television in the form of Newcastle vs Charlton on Saturday evening, while Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United will form many banker trebles this weekend as they all tackle opponents they will be expected to beat writes David Walker.

Sheffield United get another lunch time airing on live television, this time against reigning champions Chelsea. There is no point in previewing this match in too much detail as the expected outcome is obvious. Chelsea have won 10 out of  their last 11 matches in all competitions and a 1-0, or 2-0 victory is the call.

Not much to say about Arsenal vs Everton apart from history is very much on Arsene Wenger’s side. Arsenal have won the last 10 at home against Everton and 13 out of 15 in North London since the Premiership’s inception. Nine matches have finished over 2.5 goals with the Gunners netting four goals past the hapless Toffees on as many occasions and spanking them 7-0 in 2005. Home banker material at 2/5.

With Chelsea facing a relatively easy task in the steel city, Manchester United face a sterner test at Bolton. Sam Allardyce’s side have won their last four matches, notably against Liverpool and away to Newcastle, conceding just one goal in the process. United have won their last three and beat Liverpool comfortably last weekend. United have won four of their last seven visits to Bolton and are unbeaten against the Trotters on their own turf in the Premiership. United @ 10/11.

Fulham, unbeaten in their last three, are relishing life in the top 10 of the Premiership while last season’s surprise package Wigan are hovering dangerously above the relegation zone. However, Wigan will be buoyed by the 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City last week, their first win in seven matches and could earn a draw at 9/4 at Craven Cottage.

Liverpool will not look forward to facing a remarkably still unbeaten Aston Villa side this weekend. The Reds, languishing in 11th place, have lost two of their last three Premiership matches while the Villains are the only undefeated side left in the top four divisions. Villa have drawn their last three matches 1-1 and another draw at 5/2 could be achieved at Anfield.

Both Portsmouth and Reading are battling to maintain their top 10 positions but honours could go to the home side on Saturday. Both sides will feel the effects of Carling Cup ties in the week but Pompey’s excellent home form, which has seen them win three out of four matches at Fratton Park this season, will see them through. Pompey @ 17/20.

Watford are still waiting for their first Premiership win but have proven to be tough competition as five draws in nine matches so far suggests. Tottenham are struggling in mid table but are improving. They have won two of their last three Premiership matches and five of their last six in all competitions and could well condemn the Hornets to just their second home defeat of the season. Spurs @ 11/10.

Newcastle United vs Charlton Athletic is a televised teatime relegation six pointer. The last two encounters at St James’ Park between this pair have been drawn but given Charlton’s dire predicament I can’t see anything other than a home win. The Addicks are rooted to the foot of the table and are winless in six Premiership matches. Newcastle have also lost four of their last five in the league but Charlton’s dismal away record stands out. They are winless in 18 trips on the road and have dropped 50 points out of 54 available in the last year. Newcastle @ 4/5.

West Ham need to stop the rot if they are to avoid relegation this season. They have lost their last eight matches in a row and it’s 11 since they last saw a win. Marlon Harewood’s goal in the humiliating 2-1 Carling Cup defeat at Chesterfield was the first goal the Hammers scored in eight matches. Blackburn are showing decent form, despite losing to Bolton last weekend, but have not won at Upton Park since 1994. A draw at 9/4 may be the sensible option here.

Manchester City are unbeaten in the league at home this season while Middlesbrough have not won on their travels. Simple case of a home win then? Wrong. Manchester City have not beaten Middlesbrough in seven home Premiership attempts, with Boro winning the match 1-0 on four occasions since the top flight was established in 1992/93. This remarkable statistic cannot be ignored - away win at 21/10.

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Old rivalries and derby matches galore will be played out across two days this weekend. Expect bottom clubs Charlton and Watford to do each other no favours at The Valley on Saturday, while Sunday could produce upsets at Old Trafford and the Riverside Stadium at large odds writes David Walker.

Last season Wigan Athletic and Manchester City were involved in a ding-dong Boxing Day encounter which finished 4-3 in Wigan’s favour. At the moment, Manchester City are fairing better than Paul Jewell’s side in the league, in 12th position on nine points compared to 17th and five points but with two inconsistent teams, home advantage could prevail at 13/10.

It’s the battle at the bottom of the Premiership as last placed Charlton tackle London rivals Watford, themselves just one place and one point better off. This will be a match that neither side want to lose and as a result could end in a draw at 12/5 which won’t benefit either of them.

Chelsea vs Portsmouth is one for the big hitters who will plough into Chelsea at odds on. Despite Portsmouth’s lofty position in the league in which they are just three points behind Jose Mourinho’s side there will only be one winner. For those of you who don’t want to bet on Chelsea at short 1/4 odds, taking Portsmouth on the handicap at 4/5 or backing under 2.5 goals at 4/5 could be profitable at a better price.

After a run of four matches without victory, Everton will see their match against struggling Sheffield United as a must win. Neil Warnock’s side are just outside the relegation zone in 16th, but are unbeaten in their last two matches. The bookmakers fancy an Everton cakewalk at 4/7 but it won’t be as easy as the odds suggest.

Both Aston Villa and Fulham are enjoying life in the top half of the table after several seasons in the doldrums but the smart money will be on the home side this weekend. Martin O’Neill’s side are not only unbeaten this season but they have won four of the last five encounters against Fulham at Villa Park, apart from last season which finished goalless. Aston Villa at 8/11.

The jewel in the Premiership fixture list this weekend is undoubtedly Manchester United vs Liverpool. Top of the table United tackle stuttering Liverpool who have dropped points against Bolton and Blackburn in their last two matches. However, there could be an upset on the cards. Liverpool have won three of their last six visits to Old Trafford by a single goal and United have already lost at home to Arsenal this season. Liverpool at 7/2.

This derby fixture between Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers is often very tight with few goals to cheer. It finished goalless twice last season and produced two 1-0 away wins the season before. In fact, this encounter has produced home and away draws in three of the last five Premiership seasons and that is not a trend I would want to back against. Another draw at 11/5.

In the North East derby Middlesbrough will have their work cut out against Newcastle. Middlesbrough have not beaten Newcastle for three seasons at the Riverside Stadium, with recent results finishing in two wins for the Magpies and a 2-2 draw sandwiched in between. Neither side has any form of note, which makes the 19/10 odds on Glenn Roeder’s side all the more tempting.

The second London derby of the weekend sees struggling Spurs against relegation threatened West Ham. The bookmakers fancy a home win but it’s worth pointing out that this encounter has produced only five Premiership wins for Spurs in 11 matches played so the odds on about them does not look too appealing, despite how poorly the Hammers have faired in recent weeks. A tight match is expected, with six of the last eight league meetings finishing with two goals or fewer. Under 2.5 goals @ 4/6.

After a sluggish start to the season, Arsenal are finding their rhythm and will no doubt be paired together with Chelsea in numerous double bets this weekend. Considering Reading took points of Manchester United and kept Chelsea to within one goal at the Madejski Stadium this season the odds on Arsenal are not tempting. However, an interesting statistic is Reading have lost to Arsenal in all five competitive games ever played between the pair and unsurprisingly an away win at 8/15 is the expected result.

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Both Manchester United and Chelsea have great opportunities to stretch their lead at the top of the Premiership while Sunday could see Newcastle beat high flying Bolton at tempting odds writes David Walker.

Manchester United have a great opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premiership in this lunch time kick off. Wigan have struggled for form and goals and could find United too much for them. Alex Ferguson’s side need to improve on their victory against Newcastle following disappointing results against Reading and Arsenal in recent weeks. United @ 4/7

Another no brainer this one. Arsenal have broken their Emirates Stadium duck and could give Watford a thrashing. The Hornets showed tremendous spirit in the 3-3 draw at Fulham but Arsenal are in a different class altogether. Only one result can be backed - Arsenal @ 1/5.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur is usually a close encounter with no real trends to speak of results wise other than Villa are rarely beaten at home. However, past results indicate a low scoring match, with the last seven encounters producing two goals or fewer. A tricky result to predict but a confident bet on under 2.5 goals is the recommendation.

Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers are two sides in mixed form but Liverpool have had the better of this fixture in recent seasons, winning three out of the last five at Anfield. Liverpool are the overwhelming favourites with the bookmakers but their short 1/2 odds don’t warrant a value bet.

Manchester City vs Sheffield United is a match that both sides will fancy their chances of winning. City have been terrible stretching back to last season but have performed much better in their last two matches, beating West Ham and drawing at Everton. The Blades also earned their first victory of the season by beating Middlesbrough in the last minute but it’s the home side that could come out on top here at 8/11.

If Middlesbrough are to avoid slipping in to the relegation zone this weekend, they need to bring Everton back down to earth with a bump. However, the Toffees have proven hard to beat, drawing their last three games. Another low scoring stalemate at 9/4 is the call here.

Harry Redknapp, now at Portsmouth, squares off against his old club and he won’t have a better opportunity to send West Ham back to East London with nothing. Pompey have been a surprise package and despite losing their last two games can bounce back at Fratton Park. West Ham have lost their last five on the bounce including UEFA Cup defeats home and away against Palermo and will not relish a trip to the south coast. Portsmouth at evens.

The live pay-per-view offering should not hold any surprises, despite Reading earning a draw against Manchester United in similar circumstances a fortnight ago. Chelsea will win at 1/2 but it is likely to be a tight encounter as they make it difficult for themselves.

Despite heavy investment over the summer, Newcastle are struggling this season and have won just two out of seven Premiership matches so far. That record should improve against third placed Bolton who have won their last two against Portsmouth and Liverpool. However, history is on the Magpies side who have won six out of the last seven at St James’ Park stretching back to the 1995/96 season and tasty odds of 13/10 can be had on a home win.

Fulham entertain rock-bottom Charlton in a match they will be expected to win. The Cottagers hit back from 2-0 down against Watford in their last game, leading the match at Vicarage Road 3-2 until Ashley Young snatched a late equaliser. At home, Chris Coleman’s side are traditionally strong and the Addicks confidence is at rock bottom, having lost their last four matches on the trot. Fulham at 11/10.

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