Weekend football focus

Arsenal v Aston Villa
3pm Saturday, Highbury
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 2 (Henry 2) 0.
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Aston Villa are still looking for their first away win in the league. Arsenal have scored 10 more Premiership goals than any other team. Andy Townsend scored the winner for Villa when they last won a league game at Highbury, in 1993
Standout bet: Arsenal minus one on h'cap - 10-11 (BlueSq)
Assuming Arsenal are successful in their attempt to become football's 49ers - for the uninitiated that's games unbeaten - most interest will centre on the reception that David O'Leary receives from the Highbury faithful. Of course there was a time when he was cheered from the Highbury rooftops, but the locals have never really forgiven him for falling out with Patrick Vieira in 1997. Ever since then they have been distinctly unimpressed by his cheery Oirish routine and will be in an even worse mood should his team achieve what the other 48 have failed to do. Bejaysus, he wouldn't do that, would he?
Verdict: LUCK OF THE IRISH RUNS OUT

Birmingham v Man Utd
12.45pm Saturday, St Andrew's - live on Premiership Plus
Last season: 1 (Grainger) 2 (Ronaldo, Saha)
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Manchester United are unbeaten in their past 10 games. Birmingham, who had four wins in their first eight league games last season, have just one at the same stage this term
Standout bet: Away win for United - 5-6 (Sean Graham)
Never the cheeriest of souls, Sir Alex Ferguson often reserves his iciest blasts for the end of international weeks. If it was up to him England would indulge in nothing more strenuous than the odd kickabout in the mid-July sun, not confront Hurricane Baku three days before United play an important game. Of course it could have been worse for the purple-cheeked sage. Time was when he would have had to deal with the fallout from the force 10 storm that is David Beckham as well. Bet that cheered him up no end.
Verdict: BRUM STAY GLUM

Blackburn v M'boro
3pm Saturday, Ewood Park
Last season: 2 (Babbel 2) 2 (Juninho 2)
Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds) Facts: Middlesbrough have gone four games without a win and have kept only one clean sheet in the league. Blackburn striker Jon Stead is still waiting for his first goal of the season
Standout bet: Four goals or more - 13-5 (BlueSq, Coral)
After all the criticism he copped for the feeble way Wales played against England last week, Mark Hughes will be glad to get back to the meat pie and two veg of the Premiership. Do not expect his Blackburn side to come over all shy and retiring tomorrow. This is the sort of game they must win to reaffirm their status as one of the Premiership's middle rankers - no one seriously expects them to either win anything or get relegated.
Verdict: GOOD NEWS HUGHES

Bolton v Crystal Palace
3pm Saturday, Reebok Stadium
Away ticket info: £29 (£14-£20 concs). Tel: 08712 000 071
Referee: Neale Barry (Scunthorpe)
Facts: Palace's only away win against Bolton came in a 1980-81 League Cup tie. Bolton are unbeaten in four home matches so far this season
Standout bet: Andy Johnson to score Palace's first goal - 3-1 (Bet365)
October is a big month for Iain Dowie's Palace. That first Premiership win came against Fulham and now it's Bolton tomorrow followed by West Brom and Birmingham. Good job they're getting the really tough ones out of the way before they face Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle. With nine (don't laugh) internationals from Dowie's squad on duty this week, he will have been praying they all returned undamaged to carry on the recovery. Two wins and a draw (okay, one of the wins was against Hartlepool in the Carling Cup) of late have given Palace heart and they were helped by a confident performance in the Fulham game from Hungarian goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly. He looks a real character . . . the new John 'Budgie' Burridge.
Verdict: CHEEP, CHEEP PALACE

Charlton v Newcastle
4.05pm Sunday, The Valley - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: £25 (£16-£20 concs). Tel: 020 8333 4010
Last season: 0-0.
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Facts: Charlton have kept three clean sheets in a row at The Valley and are unbeaten in eight at home. Alan Shearer has scored four goals in his last three games
Standout bet: Newcastle minus one on h'cap - 16-5 (BlueSq)
Considering his players are supposed to be a bunch of preening prima donnas, Graeme Souness's accession at Newcastle has been remarkably uneventful. No public falling-outs or dressing room dressing downs . . . just a series of solid performances that has seen Newcastle creep effortlessly up the table. And Alan Shearer just keeps on scoring goals. Charlton should watch out.
Verdict: BLACK AND WHITE ALL RIGHT

Everton v Southampton
3pm Saturday, Goodison Park
Last season: 0-0.
Referee: Barry Knight (Kent)
Facts: Both of Everton midfielder Tim Cahill's goals this season have been headers. Only Tottenham (5) have scored fewer Premiership goals than Southampton (6)
Standout bet: Home win for Everton - 5-6 (Stan James)
This has all the hallmarks of the Premiership's least glamorous fixture. Everton, all muscle and hustle, should have too much Scouse nous for a Southampton side who are rapidly emerging as everyone's favourite outside bet for relegation. Whether the addition of Christian Damiano to their coaching ranks will give them extra Gallic flair remains to be seen. It transpires that James Beattie is stepping out with a Z-list actress. Didn't do much for Danny Murphy, did it James?
Verdict: SAINTS ALIVE - BUT ONLY JUST

Fulham v Liverpool
3pm Saturday, Craven Cottage
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Saha) 2 (Heskey, Murphy)
Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington)
Facts: Ian Pearce is the only Premiership player to have received a first-half red card this season. Fulham are bottom of the Premiership's disciplinary league.
Standout bet: Fulham (h-t), Fulham (f-t) - 11-2 (BlueSq)
These are interesting times for Fulham with an ongoing court case and a rumoured takeover by some casino owners from northern Cyprus. So we can only hope for some serious action on the pitch as well. Perhaps Mohamed Fayed, buoyed by his performance in the witness box, will pick the team or rush on to score the winner in the 90th minute. After the sort of week he's had, Fulham fans should expect the unexpected.
Verdict: FULHAM - BY THE ODD GOAL IN NINE