Battling West Ham out to derail United’s title push

After a March in which there were only two full rounds of matches, normal service is resumed in the Premier League once again this weekend.

First up, league leaders Manchester United take on West Ham on Saturday lunchtime and could open up an eight-point gap over Arsenal if they win. Below them the Gunners and Chelsea will be hoping to maintain the pressure on United.

But it is further down the table where the real drama is taking place. The difference between 12th place and 18th place is just three points and even Sunderland in ninth place could still be relegation candidates.

Here's The First Post's guide to the weekend's action:

West Ham v Man Utd
Perhaps the most intriguing game of the weekend is the first to kick off, as Manchester United arrive in east London to take on West Ham on Saturday lunchtime. Before the international break the Hammers were in better form than United and were dragging themselves out of the relegation places. Manager Avram Grant will be praying that his side can maintain that impetus against the league leaders, who will once again be without the energising presence of Alex Ferguson on the touchline - he is two games into a five match ban. West Ham have not conceded a goal for two games and last time United visited Upton Park they were beaten 4-0 in the Carling Cup. A repeat of that scoreline is unlikely, but given that United will be without Rio Ferdinand, Johnny Evans and possibly even Nemanja Vidic, West Ham will be hoping that they can get something from the game. For their part, United will be motivated by the prospect of opening up an eight point gap over Arsenal at the top of the league.

Birmingham v Bolton
Birmingham may have won the Carling Cup but they are still in real danger of going down, and after taking just one point from their last five games manager Alex McLeish knows he needs a win against Owen Coyle's mid-table outfit who realistically have nothing left to fight for in the league. Bolton triumphed on their last visit to St Andrews in March and earned themselves a place in the FA Cup semi finals into the bargain, but that was a rare away win for the Trotters and on this occasion Birmingham must be favourites.

Everton v Aston Villa
Aston Villa's flirtation with relegation is in danger of turning into a serious relationship and Gerard Houllier's outfit need to follow Everton's example and start winning games if they want to be able to enjoy the spring. Everton were in a similar position to Villa a few weeks ago but three wins and a draw in their last four games have helped them climb to eighth in the table. Villa are seven points behind them in 14th place but if they lose this one they could find themselves in the drop zone. However Everton will be without Jack Rodwell, Louis Saha, Mikel Arteta and Marouane Fellaini, and that will give Villa some hope.

Newcastle v Wolves
Wolves may be down in 18th place but they are one of the Premier League's form teams - or they were before the international break. Meanwhile, Newcastle have managed just one win in their last 10 league outings and are one of the many clubs in mid-table anxiously looking over their shoulders as the main relegation candidates fight their way out of trouble. A win for Wolves, who will be without Kevin Doyle, would leave Mick McCarthy's men just one point behind the Magpies. However a draw at St James's Park is the more likely outcome.

Stoke v Chelsea
Will this be the week that Fernando Torres finally breaks his duck for Chelsea? The Spanish striker's barren run has to end at some point and with Chelsea's form improving by the week this game could be the one - unless, of course, Carlo Ancelotti, who has pretty much a full squad to choose from, decides to leave him out ahead of the Champions League clash with Manchester United next week. The Blues look as if they are out of the title race but it is not inconceivable that, if they remain unbeaten for the rest of the campaign, that they could exert some pressure on United and Arsenal. Stoke have an FA Cup semi final to look forward to, but can't afford to get complacent in the league as they are not out of the woods yet. The Potters need a couple more wins to make themselves safe, but they are unlikely to get one against Chelsea.

West Brom v Liverpool
Baggies boss Roy Hodgson will be desperate to get one over on the club that dispensed with his services earlier in the season. Like the other 'W' clubs at the bottom of the table West Brom are fighting hard and have gone five games unbeaten. They face a tough test against Liverpool, though. Since Kenny Dalglish took over from Hodgson the Reds have taken 20 points from a possible 30, and the new look strikeforce of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll is set to become one of the most potent in the Premier League. An added bonus for the Reds is the possible return of Steven Gerrard in midfield. However, the Baggies will refuse to roll over and a draw is a distinct possibility.

Wigan v Tottenham
Spurs will not be relishing their visit to the DW Stadium which comes just three days before they play Real Madrid in the Champions League, particularly because they have only two fit centre backs - Sebastien Bassong and Michael Dawson - and cannot afford any more injuries. The Latics may be bottom of the table, but they, like the teams around them, are fighting tooth and nail and, after beating the Londoners at White Hart Lane, will fancy their chances of doing the double over Harry Redknapp's men. Spurs may have one eye on Real Madrid, but they cannot afford any slip ups in the fight for next season's Champions League spots. A win would leave them just one point behind Manchester City in fourth.

Arsenal v Blackburn
The Saturday evening game pits Arsenal against Blackburn. The Gunners are still smarting from their recent Carling Cup, FA Cup and Champions League defeats and will be determined not to hand the league to Manchester United by losing to the likes of Blackburn. Arsene Wenger will be boosted by the news that Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott are all fit again, while Robin Van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Aaron Ramsay should also recover from knocks picked up on international duty in time to play. Blackburn are 13th in the table, but only one point clear of the relegation zone and will be motivated by a need to pick up points. However, they are unlikely to find Arsenal in a charitable mood and the Gunners should run out clear winners.

Fulham v Blackpool
The Sunday lunchtime game sees Blackpool head to the banks of the Thames to take on Fulham. The Seasiders' season, which began so well, has turned into a nightmare and there is no doubt that Ian Holloway's team are in serious danger of a swift return to the Championship. That said, a Blackpool win would see them leapfrog Fulham, who are by no means safe with 35 points. But although the Cottagers are in a precarious position they are strong at home and should prevail over the stuttering Seasiders.

Man City v Sunderland
The final game of the weekend sees Roberto Mancini's City side entertain Sunderland, who have lost five of their last six games. City have not been convincing of late and need a win to maintain their hold on fourth place in the table, but they could not hope for a better fixture than this. Sunderland's only hope wuld appear to rest on the shoulders of their strikeforce, Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck, both of whom will be lifted by their appearances at Wembley for Ghana and England in midweek. However, Joe Hart in the City goal will be determined not to let Gyan get the better of him twice in one week. ·