Manchester United can go clear at the top

Manchester United will get the chance to go clear at the top of the Premier League tomorrow as they entertain Sunderland a full 24-hours before Chelsea and Liverpool go head to head on Sunday afternoon.

Once again Sir Alex Ferguson comes up against one of his former players in the form of Steve Bruce. The United boss has a great record against his ex-players as not just Bruce but the likes of Mark Hughes and Roy Keane can confirm. The game will also give Anton Ferdinand the chance to test himself against his older brother, while Kieran Richardson will enjoy a return to his old stamping ground.

Fourth-placed Spurs will also get the chance to make up ground on the leaders when they travel to Bolton on Saturday. A convincing win could lift them up to second place.

The other game of note on Saturday takes place at Wolverhampton where struggling Wolves take on pointless and unpaid Portsmouth. Paul Hart's Pompey have endured a disastrous start to the season with seven losses out of seven and to cap it all the players were not paid this week. If they are to have any chance of survival then this is must-win game against another side that look set to struggle in the top flight - defeat is unthinkable.

On Sunday the game of the day has to be Liverpool's visit to Chelsea. The fortunes of these two teams may be switching. Chelsea were imperious until their shock defeat against Wigan last weekend and they then made hard work of their Champions League win over minnows Apoel Nicosia this week.

As for Liverpool, they started the season badly but appeared to be moving nicely through the gears - thrashing Hull 6-1 at Anfield last week. However, they were outclassed by Fiorentina in the Champions League on Tuesday. How they respond will be fascinating. A Liverpool win could throw the title race open – and would go down very well on both sides of Manchester. A loss would leave Liverpool as real outsiders.

Arsenal entertain Blackburn in Sunday's early game and need a win to maintain the pace that the front-runners have set. Like Liverpool the Gunners have already lost two games and can't afford too many more slip ups. But they will be confident of overcoming Sam Allardyce's muscular but limited outfit. ·