English Premier League Fixtures, Preview, Picks: Injuries To Chelsea Could Shake-Up Premier League Leadership

But look in the review mirror, Chelsea fans (as if you need me to tell you). There are two, huge red bandwagons tracking down your own, and over the next two weeks, you’re going to get caught. Manchester United (third place, three points back) gets Wigan then Blackburn - both at Old Trafford. How’s that for the schedule evening out? If Chelsea only get draws at Birmingham City and Newcastle, they could be one point behind United come December.

They could also be behind Arsenal, though that looks less likely, given the Gunners’ fixture list. Arsenal hosts Tottenham on Saturday in the weekend’s marquee match, the second North London Derby since the season started. Next week, they’re at Villa Park, a match that seems dangerous until you see Arsenal has not lost at Villa since 1998. That combines with the 17 years it’s been since Spurs won at Arsenal to make four points expected, six points viable.