Arsenal have the ability to turn over Chelsea

This Sunday sees two of the most passionate clashes in the Premier League take place, as Arsenal host Chelsea and Liverpool take the short trip across Stanley Park for the Merseyside derby against Everton, which sees both teams under the gun somewhat at this stage of the season.

Arsenal had motored up the table before the recent international break to sit in second spot, but last week's defeat away to Sunderland raised all the usual questions about their durability. While Chelsea aren't as thuggish as the Northern ruffians who habitually turn over the Gunners, they have a ruggedness about them that will certainly trouble the home side.

With no Gael Clichy or Kieran Gibbs at left back (both out with injury), the back four will have a slightly improvised feel to it, although Gunners' fans will be hoping to see the return of William Gallas and Andrei Arshavin after they clashed heads in the Champions League game against Standard Liege. Theo Walcott could start in the injured Robin van Persie's central striking role.

There are few injury worries for Arsene Wenger's opposite number Carlo Ancelotti, who is finding that his Serie A expertise is translating well to the Premier League. Frank Lampard may even return for the game having been treated by Madame Placenta, while Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka look set to face the club they both left acrimoniously.

A draw seems the likeliest result and will maintain the status quo of eight points between first and third place, but should any of Arsenal's outrageously talented attacking players fire on the day then the Gunners could roar back into contention in the title race.

The Liverpool derby sees two teams at very low ebbs in their recent history. In the red corner, Rafa Benitez has just seen his Anfield outfit knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage, and while there is no great impetus at the moment behind a 'Rafa out' campaign on the Kop, a defeat to their bitter urban rivals would surely be the beginning of the end.

However Everton are, if possible, in an even worse place. Beset by injuries, humiliated in Europe by Benfica, beaten midweek by Hull and having just learned that their plan for a much-needed new stadium has been rejected by the Government, David Moyes will need to deploy all his considerable man-management skills to fire his side.

If any game can do it, this will be the one, although a narrow Liverpool victory, while not dispelling longer term doubts about his future - especially after he set qualification for the Champions League next season as a must-do for the club - should ensure that Rafa Benitez is the happiest of the two gaffers come Sunday evening.

On Saturday the visit of Manchester United provides an interesting first test for new Portsmouth boss Avram Grant. The last time he was in charge of a team playing Sir Alex Ferguson's team, Grant was desperately unlucky to see his Chelsea crash out of the Champions League final on penalties having outplayed the Mancunians - but for John Terry's missed spot kick, Grant could still have been at Stamford Bridge.

Tomorrow won't see a repeat of that result - but not because Grant will finally turn the tables on his adversary. Man Utd, despite a loss in Europe in midweek by their 'youth side', will welcome back their first team stars and could hand out a humiliating spanking to the south coasters. Elsewhere, Spurs will try to maintain the high achieved by their 9-1 drubbing of Wigan when they travel to Aston Villa. Martin O'Neill's team is made of somewhat sterner stuff, and may burst Harry Redknapp's bubble.

The tie between Wigan and Sunderland will be doubly interesting - will the Latics keen to a) dismiss the memories of last week's horror show, and b) put former manager Steve Bruce's nose out of joint. A draw would keep everyone unhappy. Bolton should become the second Lancashire dispatched in a week at Craven Cottage - Fulham took apart Blackburn 3-0 on Wednesday, and may welcome back a raft of first-teamers.

Blackburn vs Stoke is the sort of game best watched on Teletext, a draw being the fairest result between a pair of well-organised cloggers. Don't bet against Manchester City recording their seventh straight draw when hosting Hull - the Tigers are three games unbeaten, and City still aren't firing on all cylinders. And the claret and blue clash between West Ham and Burnley could give Owen Coyle's side their first away win of the season as things continue to flatline at Upton Park. ·