Premiership

During the 1980's Liverpool and Everton were the two major forces in the English game and regularly staged memorable encounters, none less than the two FA Cup Finals that they contested in 1986 and 1989.

Since that time, both sides have experienced limited success, with Everton particularly, struggling to live up to past glories. Liverpool's cup treble in 2001 saw their return to the big stage and it now appears that Everton, under the control of David Moyes, could be following them back to prominence.The match could not be more finely balanced as Liverpool are at home and are only one point behind the Toffeemen, having played a game less. The form guide points to Everton success though, as they have won seven of their last nine league matches, against the Reds' one point from 18.

The media spotlight will no doubt be on the first head-to-head of young strikers Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, but Everton fans will know that despite the immense hype surrounding Rooney, Owen has regularly broken team's hearts for some years and will not want to be outshone.

Liverpool have one doubt as Dietmar Hamann is struggling with a shin injury, but Everton are without three first choice defenders, the suspended Joseph Yobo, David Unsworth and the injured Tony Hibbert.

Prior to meeting, the two sides could each find themselves dropping a place in the league if Newcastle can win at home to Fulham on Saturday, making eight wins out of nine at St James Park this season. The Magpies are without Hugo Viana and will give a late fitness test to Nolberto Solano, while Fulham's attacking problems persist with Luis Boa Morte joining, Facundo Sava, Louis Saha and Barry Hayles on the sidelines.

In form side Manchester United face Worthington Cup semi-final opponents Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Sunday, with the return of inspirational skipper Roy Keane a possibility. United will be looking for nine wins in a row, so there may well be no room for Keane in the staring line-up. Blackburn are without the suspended David Thompson, but fellow England youngster David Dunn is back in contention after injury.

Leaders Arsenal host Middlesbrough, whose forwards still struggle to find the net, but have bigger worries at the back this weekend as Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu struggle to be fit. Colin Cooper and Tony Vidmar are likely to deputise.

Arsenal will continue with Gilberto Silva and Ray Parlour in midfield as Patrick Vieira and Edu are ruled out through injury.

Aston Villa are still looking for their first away league win of the season and will therefore not relish a trip to Stamford Bridge to face a solid Chelsea side, likewise Leeds will be nervous about a home tie against Southampton, who have made steady progression up the league in recent weeks.

The bottom four sides face each other this weekend as the fight for safety continues so early in the season. Rock bottom West Ham face next to bottom Bolton and both sides have important players back in contention. The Hammers welcome back Don Hutchison (for the first time this season) and Freddie Kanoute, whilst Kevin Nolan and Michael Ricketts are likely to be recalled by Sam Allardyce.

West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland come head-to-head having only scored 23 league goals between them this season. Sunderland are likely to be unchanged from the side that triumphed over Liverpool last Sunday.

Saturday's clash between Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic sees the Addicks without Jason Euell through suspension.

First Division

The weekend kicks off with a Friday night tie between the next to top Leicester City and next to bottom Brighton. Micky Adams brings his new charges to the Withdean Stadium knowing that it is not the fortress it was when he was in charge of the Seagulls, but will be aware of their steady improvement under Steve Coppell. The Foxes could close the gap on leaders Portsmouth to just two points and send Brighton bottom with a victory.

Portsmouth entertain lowly Ipswich with the news that Steve Stone has signed on free transfer from Aston Villa and goes in to the squad for the match.

The next four teams are only separated by goal difference and two of those, Nottingham Forest and Reading face each other at the City Ground. The division's top scorer, David Johnson, faces the division's best defence in an intriguing encounter.

The other two sides Norwich and Sheffield United will be looking to take advantage of any dropped points host Walsall and Preston respectively.

Two sides closing in on the play-off places are Rotherham and Crystal Palace and they face each other in a mid-day showdown on Sunday in front of the TV cameras.

On the back of an impressive draw against Portsmouth last weekend, Stoke will be looking to get out of the relegation places with a victory at Wimbledon and Bradford's welcome victory over high-flying Forest last weekend may well propel them to further success this week at Watford.

Two more sides languishing at the wrong end of the table are Grimsby and Sheffield Wednesday, who take part in what can only be described as a six-pointer. The Owls have not won on their travels this season, but will be looking to change that at Blundell Park.

Millwall versus Wolves, Gillingham versus Burnley and a midlands clash between Coventry City and Derby County round up the Division One action.

Second Division

The country's newest manager Keith Curle got off to a tremendous start with a 4-0 victory last weekend and will be looking to continue that form at Barnsley. The bottom side are strangely joint-second highest scorers in the division, but have let in 53 goals in their 21 league matches, so the appointment of an ex-international defender may prove a good move for the Stags.

Fellow strugglers Huddersfield also won at the weekend but will be hard pushed to repeat the feat at top of the table Wigan this time round. Other sides in the relegation places Cheltenham and Peterborough are against mid-table Wycombe and Blackpool respectively.

Cardiff can go back into second with a Friday night victory over Colchester, leap-frogging Bristol City, who beat them last weekend. The Robins could regain the ground however on Saturday, they are at home to Luton Town. The Stockport and Northampton players will also be able to get their Christmas shopping done on Saturday, as they clash on Friday night.

Chesterfield and Oldham Athletic will be looking to get back to winning ways, having both lost last week, at Saltergate, while Brentford will be hoping to take advantage of local rivals QPR's bad league form when they visit Loftus Road.

Port Vale against Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town against Crewe and Tranmere Rovers against Notts County make up the rest of the ties in the Second Division.

Third Division

Midweek FA Cup victors Bournemouth play host to Peter Taylor's Hull City at the recently rebuilt Dean Court. The surroundings will be familiar to the Tigers who have just moved to a new purpose built stadium where they got their first victory in midweek, a 1-0 win over Sunderland. Boston will be trying to move clear of trapdoor back to the Conference with a home victory over Shrewsbury, while Bristol Rovers who are also looking dangerously at the bottom are at Cambridge.

Friday night sees York and Lincoln look for an early advantage in the play-off push, while top sides Rushden and Hartlepool will not have benefited from the postponement of the Carlisle versus Scunthorpe FA Cup tie in midweek as they face those more refreshed sides.

In the other third division games on Saturday, Bury face Greater Manchester rivals Rochdale, Macclesfield visit Darlington, Oxford Utd take on Exeter City, Swansea City host London boys Leyton Orient, Torquay United welcome Southend Utd whilst Kidderminster travel to Wales for their match with Wrexham.