Arsenal look to consolidate against Blackburn

EPL Weekend Preview

After their midweek heroics in Madrid, Arsenal will look to consolidate that form on their travels to Ewood Park to face Blackburn on Saturday.

The Gunners have bad memories of Ewood Park in recent seasons but a slip here could see Blackburn leapfrog them into fifth position.

David Bentley, who moved to Blackburn from Arsenal in January will be looking forward to the match against his old team mates.

Paul Dickov is back in contention after missing the last two months with a dislocated shoulder.

The midweek game took its toll on Freddie Ljungberg who will sit out this clash with a calf problem. He is joined on the sidelines by Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Pascal Cygan, Robin Van Persie and Gael Clichy.

With Arsenal's European qualification hanging in the balance, the Gunners will look to push on here or risk falling further behind Tottenham in the table.

Charlton will welcome Aston Villa to The Valley after they drew 0-0 with Newcastle United in midweek.

The Addicks are again firmly in mid-table while Aston Villa have flirted with the relegation zone on many an occasion this season.

Mark Delaney is out for the Villans which will give England Under 21 international Liam Ridgewell his first start of the season.

Veteran striker Kevin Phillips could also push for a starting berth with Milan Baros.

Alan Curbishley will welcome Jason Euell's return to form while Alexei Smertin, Chris Powell and Talal El-Karkouri are vying for positions after being rested in midweek.

League leaders Chelsea entertain embattled Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge after the Blues lost to Barcelona in the midweek Champions League fixture.

A loss here for Chelsea would be their third in four games- a mind-boggling statistic under Mourinho's reign. Chelsea welcome back Michael Essien after suspension and William Gallas could be passed fit to play.

Harry Redknapp is working relentlessly to move his team away from the drop zone but admitted the Stamford Bridge mountain was difficult to climb.

Lomana Lua-Lua could start alone up front if Benjani fails a fitness test while Spurs loanee Wayne Routledge and Argentinian Andres D'Alessandro take up position in midfield.

Everton travel North East to Tyneside to take on Newcastle with veteran Dutch goalkeeper Westerveld making his debut for the Toffees.

Westerveld was signed on an emergency loan by David Moyes as his top three goalkeepers are all injured or suspended.

Phil Neville, Duncan Ferguson and Tony Hibbert are also suspended for this fixture but Joseph Yobo will return after African Nations Cup duty with Nigeria.

Alan Shearer remains a major doubt for the Glenn Roeder- led Magpies while Michael Owen and Kieron Dyer stay on the casualty list.

Speculation over the vacant Newcastle position has increased this week though highly fancied Wigan manager Paul Jewell said he was not interested in moving.

At St Andrews, an important basement battle takes place between Birmingham and Sunderland.

The miserable Black Cats have set up camp at the foot of the table and look set to make the trek back to First Division football at the end of the season.

Ex-Blackburn striker Jon Stead is still yet to score this season for Sunderland but Mick McCarthy will welcome the creative presence of Rory Delap for his debut game since he joined the Wearside club in January.

Steve Bruce's Birmingham side is fit and face a crucial period of games against West Brom and Middlesbrough and if they are to have any hope of surviving, a home victory here is essential.

On Sunday Liverpool and Manchester City go head to head at Anfield with Liverpool looking to erase the memory of their poor performance against Benfica in midweek.

Midfield giant Mo Sissoko will not feature again this season after he picked up an eye problem meaning Rafa Benitez may have to rely more on the ageing Dietmar Hamann.

Man City have ruled out Trevor Sinclair and Claudio Reyna from midfield, but manager Stuart Pierce will put his faith in newly signed striker Georgios Samaras to lead the line.

Fulham make the journey to the Reebok stadium to face a Bolton side determined to return to European football after they crashed out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday to Marseille.

Bolton will have to do without the services of Henrik Pedersen, who misses with a gashed foot, while Chris Coleman's cottagers welcome back Papa Bouba Diop after a long period of absence playing for Senegal.

In the last Premiership game on Sunday, West Brom and Middlesbrough face off at The Hawthorns.

Kanu and Diomansy Kamara return for the The Baggies while Steve McClaren's side will have to do without Fabio Rochemback for up to ten weeks with ankle ligament damage.

Finally on Sunday, Manchester United and Wigan face off in the Carling Cup final at Cardiff.

Rio Ferdinand returns for United while Wigan will be boosted by the return of Jason Roberts as both sides go in search of their first and only likely piece of silverware for the season.

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