English Preview League Fixtures, Previews, Picks: Merseyside Derby Headlines English League’s Return

While a Merseyside derby between the 17th and 18th placed teams is not the Manchester City-Chelsea, Chelsea-Arsenal-esque headliner that we've recently gotten from the English Premier League, the lack of quality amongst the league's weekend fixtures is augmented by depth. A battle between the league's bottom two helps avoid any truly lop-sided matches (while creating the drama of an early six-pointer), while the league's top three face intriguing challenges from upper-mid-table foes. Only Arsenal looks to be part of a potentially lop-sided affair, but with the Gunners' pre-break struggles, there will be drama in whether Arsene Wenger's charge can learn to live without Cesc Fàbregas.

For teams like Arsenal who have UEFA Champions League matches next week, this weekend represents a delicate balancing act. Players are coming back from an international break that saw many play two matches in five days. With the next three days one part rest and one part travel, managers for Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham risk wearing-out their talent ahead. Decisions will need to be made as to whether Europe or league takes priority, particularly for a Spurs squad with a number of players returning ahead of matches against Fulham and Internazionale.

While the league's elite worry about that juggling act, the rest of the table stands to achieve some clarity by Monday. The league's bottom two (West Ham, Wolverhampton) meet in the Midlands, while the next two meet on Merseyside. Come Monday, we'll know which teams have volunteered to be embattled through winter. Battles at the Reebok, St. James' Park, and Ewood Park could separate the league's mid-table sides into relegation worries and Europe aspirants. Meanwhile, a trio of clubs at the middle of the standings will try to pull the leaders back to the pack. While the variability of ten matches are likely to lead to conflicting results, there is the small chance that the Premier League will be a lot clearer by the time clubs transition into European competition.

10. Newcastle United (2-1-4, +0, 15th) versus Wigan Athletic (2-2-3, -9, 14th), Saturday, St. James's Park - Newcastle will be without Hatem Ben Arfa while trying to snap a two match losing streak. Wigan's put their disastrous start behind them and have started climbing the table.

9. Arsenal (3-2-2, +7, 4th) versus Birmingham City (1-4-2, -3, 16th), Saturday, Emirates Stadium - Arsenal has struggled in their last two matches, both against Birmingham-level teams. On the other hand, the Birmingham City troubles we predicted at season's start have manifested as City's adjusted to life without Joe Hart and peak performances from Roger Johnson and Scott Dann.

8. Blackburn Rovers (2-2-3, -1, 13th) versus Sunderland (1-5-1, +0, 11th), Monday, Ewood Park - Sunderland's already taken points from Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. Now's the time to apply those performances to the rest of the league and translate one point results into three.

7. Bolton Wanderers (1-5-1, -1, 12th) versus Stoke City (3-1-3, -1, 7th), Saturday, Reebok Stadium - Both these teams have won as many as they're lost and have identical goal differences. Yet one is seventh. The other is 12th. Yay three point win!

6. Manchester United (3-4-0, +7, 3rd) versus West Bromwich Albion (3-2-2, -3, 6th), Saturday, Old Trafford - Manchester United's posted shutouts in their last two matches, defensive form they'll need to maintain against a West Brom side that's scored nine goals in their last four matches.

5. Blackpool (3-1-3, -4, 9th) versus Manchester City (4-2-1, +6, 2nd), Sunday, Bloomfield Road - Richest versus poorest. High versus no expectations. Opportunistic versus ambitious football. Sky blue versus tangerine orange. There may be no greater contrast of clubs than Blackpool and Manchester City.

4. Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-2-4, -5, 19th) versus West Ham United (1-2-4, -9, 20th), Saturday, Molineux Stadium - Awfully early for a true six pointers, but the loser of this match will have no choice but to consider themselves most likely to go down. West Ham's found five points in their last three matches and carry hopes the international break didn't kill their momentum.

3. Fulham (1-6-0, +1, 10th) versus Tottenham Hotspur (3-2-2, +2, 5th), Saturday, Craven Cottage - Mark Hughes has never lost while manager of Fulham. How can Harry Redknapp hope to compete with that and prepare of a mid-week battle with Internazionale?

2. Aston Villa (3-1-3, -3, 8th) versus Chelsea (6-0-1), Saturday, Villa Park - Chelsea will be without Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and (still) José Bosingwa. Aston Villa will likely be without Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey. Recently history between these clubs have included both blowouts and upsets, but with Gerard Houllier now in tow, it remains to be see how Villa will approach the league's leaders.

1. Everton (1-3-3, -1, 17th) versus Liverpool (1-3-3, -4, 18th), Sunday, Goodison Park - Normally a friendly rivalry, this year it will be a desperate rivalry, with whomever doesn't win left to stand at the quarter pole, looking up on the league from a relegation spot. Liverpool will be without this season's best performer, Dirk Kuyt, who picked up an ankle injury while playing for the Netherlands. Everton hasn't beaten Liverpool in league since 2006.

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