A look ahead to the weekend Premiership games in England

Aston Villa v Arsenal

Arsenal’s injury list has lessened slightly and although the visitors are still without Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby among others, they should still have enough about them to provide a severe test for Paul Lamberts floundering side, who are themselves coming off the back of a 5-0 drubbing at Manchester City last week.

Odds Aston Villa 17-4 Arsenal 8-11 Draw 25-8

Manchester U v QPR

Alex Ferguson now believes that a win against the bottom club should be regulation, especially as there is not yet a Harry Redknapp or any other permanent successor to provide the bounce factor that can often lift players after a managerial sacking. United have lost their last two in all competitions but this all points to a home rout.

Odds Man Utd 2-9 QPR 16-1 Draw 6-1

Sunderland v WBA

Sunderland could do with building on last Sundays restorative win at Fulham. With Shane Long, currently challenging Luis Suárezs mantle as the divisions hottest striker, Martin ONeill must trust his own centre-forward, Steven Fletcher, is in the mood to remind everyone precisely why he cost £12m.

Odds Sunderland 7-5 West Brom 2-1 Draw 12-5

Chelsea v Manchester C

In Rafa Benitez’s first game in charge he welcomes the champions to Stamford Bridge, a team who finished fifth last time he managed a Premier League side back in 2009-10 – coincidentally the last time City got an away win at Chelsea. There is only a four-point gap between them, despite all the talk of a crisis at Chelsea.

Odds Chelsea 6-4 Man City 13-8 Draw 8-3

Southampton v Newcastle

Such was the brio of Southamptons performance at Queens Park Rangers last week, that Nigel Adkins’s team go into this game as slight favourites. Newcastle are stuttering and have several key first-team players unavailable through injury while Southampton are playing with a swagger, especially at home.

Odds South’ton 6-4 Newcastle 13-8 Draw 5-2

Stoke v Fulham

While Fulhams goal haul is second only to Manchester United, away from home they have leaked goals in every match. With Stoke holding the best defensive home record in the league, it could be a tough ask for Fulhams depleted squad. For Stoke, Andy Wilkinson may miss out a with a back problem.

Odds Stoke 5-4 Fulham 11-4 Draw 9-4

Everton v Norwich

David Moyes has several injury concerns plus a one-match ban for Marouane Fellaini to contend with against an in-form Norwich team that has not conceded a goal in three matches or lost in six. Norwich keeper John Ruddy is expected to recover from a knee injury suffered in the United win in time to face his former club.

Odds Everton 4-9 Norwich 7-1 Draw 11-3

Swansea v Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers returns to the Liberty for the first time since swapping Swansea for Liverpool. A glance at the table would suggest he made the wrong move but Rodgers can be optimistic about his current clubs prospects, given they are undefeated in seven league games and have the divisions top scorer in Luis Suárez.

Odds Swansea 13-5 Liverpool 11-10 Draw 12-5

Wigan v Reading

The Royals claimed their first win of the season against Everton last week, and are now unbeaten in their last four. They could be unchanged, while the Latics lost Gary Caldwell with a hamstring problem as well as Ben Watson with a broken leg in last Saturdays defeat at Liverpool. Ryo Miyaichi and Franco di Santo are also doubtful for the visitors.

Odds Wigan 10-11 Reading 3-1 Draw 13-5

Tottenham v West Ham

The reality for Tottenham is that they have lost four of their last five league games and are performing like a team short of belief and purpose. That is in contrast to West Ham, whose spirits are high following a good start to their first season back among the elite, although that will be tested by the tough set of seven fixtures to come. This could be the easiest of the lot.

Odds Tottenham 4-6 West Ham 5-1 Draw 11-4