Weekend Football Focus

Arsenal v Fulham
2pm Sunday, Highbury - live pay-per-view game
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 2 (Pires 2) 1 (Malbranque)
Referee: Graham Barber (Tring)
Facts: Louis Saha's brace against Portsmouth on Monday took his tally to eight, already one more than the seven goals he scored in the whole of last season. Fulham have never won at Highbury and last forced a draw in 1964
Standout bet: Arsenal to win by two or more goals: 10-11 (Bet365)
A few weeks ago Arsenal looked to have about as much chance of qualifying for the next round of the Champions League as Ryan Parry has of becoming chief polisher of the Crown Jewels. Tuesday night's scintillating victory over Inter Milan has, however, breathed new life into their Champions League challenge while, in the Premiership, everything is going as planned. Fulham, for their part, should be a revitalised outfit following their 2-0 home win over Portsmouth, although Chris Coleman will know that his players will have to step up several gears if they are going to enjoy their Sunday afternoon in north London.
Verdict: ARSENAL CRISIS - WHAT CRISIS?

Blackburn v Tottenham
3pm Saturday, Ewood Park
Away ticket info: £25 (concs £15-£10). Tel: 0870 420 5001
Last season: 1 (Ostenstad) 2 (Keane, Redknapp)
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Tottenham have won three of their last six away fixtures at Ewood Park, while Blackburn are still without a clean sheet at home this season in the league
Standout bet: Draw (h-t), Spurs (f-t): 6-1 (Bet365)
That irrepressible little Irishman Robbie Keane came to the rescue against Aston Villa on Sunday although, for a considerable number of Spurs fans, the three points failed to paper over the widening cracks. The good news, though, is that French striker Frederic Kanoute is not too far off full fitness. Such are the vagaries of football that, it doesn't seem long ago that Blackburn manager Graeme Souness's light was burning brightly and he was being touted firmly as Glenn Hoddle's replacement. Since then however, the Ewood Park club have gone down the pan and Souness has, on occasions, looked a trifle disgruntled.
Verdict: DRAW MOST LIKELY

Charlton v Leeds
3pm Saturday, The Valley
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Euell) 6 (Kewell 2, Harte, Viduka 3)
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Charlton have lost four of five home matches against Leeds, who have gone four away games without a win and have let in 15 goals in their last four league fixtures.
Standout bet: Charlton to win: 7-10 (Stanley)
Paolo Di Canio is a bit like a wonky chair. Every time he is touched, he falls over. The Italian was at the epicentre of controversy again last weekend when he went down after contact in the box, duly slotted home the spot kick to earn Charlton a valuable point at Leicester and then complained he should have had another penalty. It's unlikely that Alan Curbishley's team will need any extra dramatics from Di Canio tomorrow, however, since they will be supremely confident of beating Leeds, a club who would be hard put to run a whelk stall, let alone a multi-million-pound business.
Verdict: NO WORRIES FOR CHARLTON

Chelsea v Manchester United
4.05pm Sunday, Stamford Bridge - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 2 (Gallas, Zenden) 2 (Beckham, Giggs).
Referee: Alan Wiley (Burntwood)
Facts: Chelsea have kept five clean sheets in a row. Manchester United haven't lost at Stamford Bridge since their 5-0 hammering in October 1999. Of the Chelsea line-up that day, only Celestine Babayaro and unused substitute goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini remain at the club
Standout bet: Ruud van Nistelrooy to score the first goal: 9-2 (William Hill, Bet365, Bet Direct)
Claudio Ranieri has said that, where football in concerned, he suffers from amnesia: the past is quickly forgotten and it's swiftly on to the next challenge. Well not many people who witnessed Wednesday's Champions League encounter against Sparta Prague will recall anything about it. I have a feeling, though, that even Claudio is going to remember the events of Sunday because this should indeed be a spectacular contest between two of the three horses left in the Premiership title race. Should the Blues go on to win, then they will surely be thinking: "This is our year!"
Verdict: BLUE FLAG FLYING HIGH

Nationwide Division 1

Bradford v Millwall
5.35pm Saturday, Valley Parade - live on Sky Sports 1
Away ticket info: Strictly all-ticket match. £15 (£5-£9 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999
Last season: 0-1 (Harris)
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire)
Facts: Millwall have gone nine away games without a win. Bradford, for whom Michael Branch has scored in his last two home matches, haven't won since their victory at Crystal Palace on 16 September
Standout bet: Draw 12-5 (Tote)
The tale of Bryan Robson should give fresh hope to jobseekers everywhere. After nearly getting jobs at Ipswich, Stoke, the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace (twice), West Ham, Stockport, Nigeria, Reading, Leeds and Tottenham, the former England captain has finally found work at Bradford. Unfortunately, his management technique of recruiting overseas mercenaries on huge wages is unlikely to work at Valley Parade.
Verdict: NO HERO'S RETURN FOR CAPTAIN MARVEL

C Palace v Coventry
3pm Saturday, Selhurst Park
Tickets: £19-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Tel: 08712 000071
Last season: 1 (Akinbiyi) 1 (McSheffrey)
Referee: Mark Warren (West Midlands)
Facts: Palace last won at Coventry in December 1990, while Gary McAllister's side are unbeaten in four away matches
Standout bet: Home win for Palace: 5-4 (William Hill)
Christmas came a whole month early for Kit Symons on Tuesday, but a 1-0 win at Stoke could be the last present he gets to unwrap in a long while. Symons has toughened up the Palace defence since he took over from Steve Kember three weeks ago, but his side still look short of ideas in attack. Palace have scored just twice in their last five league games and, against a Coventry side without a win in five, a single goal could win it.
Verdict: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING-NOTHING

Reading v Watford
3pm Saturday, Madejski Stadium
Away ticket info: £20 (£13 concs). Watford fans can pay at the turnstiles
Last season: 1 (Watson) 0
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Facts: Watford's last league victory over Reading came in an old Division Four fixture in September 1977. Steve Coppell's side have won four of their last five home matches
Standout bet: Reading to win 2-0: 7-1 (Coral, Bet Direct)
As rugby is the new football, Reading should be getting worried. The Madejski Stadium is also home to egg-chasing London Irish and Reading could soon be playing second fiddle to their tenants. Reading's promotion campaign has faltered since Alan Pardew left and a hard-working Watford outfit will make them work hard for their first win in three games. Rugby anyone?
Verdict: JUST ONE POINT FOR WATFORD