Spurs unlikely to bridge gap

FA Premiership previews: It is 10 years since Spurs won a Premiership game at Highbury and the spell is unlikely to be broken this afternoon.

Their revival under caretaker manager David Pleat stalled with a 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough followed by last Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Bolton which left White Hart Lane gloomy again.

Arsenal will seek to sweep aside Pleat's pedestrian midfield with the sort of awesome pace which destroyed Leeds a week ago. Then it will be down to the number of times they can match the excellence of their approach work with the accuracy of their finishing.

Either way Tottenham's defence, which has conceded just two goals in seven games under Pleat, should be in for a busy afternoon.

Amid the euphoria of Chelsea's 4-0 demolition of Lazio midweek, Claudio Ranieri has reminded his players they have set a standard which must be maintained at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

"I want to see my players do the same against Newcastle," the head coach said. "It's important they show the same intelligence."

Chelsea have so far followed each Champions League group game with a Premiership victory but recent domestic displays have not touched the heights of their two victories over Lazio.

Ranieri is bound to freshen up his team but Newcastle have less scope for rotation. United's away results have been good, with just one defeat - at Arsenal - from eight games, the past four of which they have won.

Liverpool's excellent run of Premiership results against Manchester United ended last season in defeats provoked by Jerzy Dudek's blunder at Anfield and Sami Hyypia's red card at Old Trafford.

There is a long process of recovery ahead for Gerard Houllier's team and although a win over the champions tomorrow at Anfield would galvanise them, there may be weariness from Thursday's match on a sodden pitch in Bucharest. The line-up will change if Michael Owen returns after an ankle injury.

United are in better condition and Diego Forlan will be aiming to score in a fifth consecutive match. But, despite beating Rangers 3-0, they are still short of their best form.

Guardian Service