The weekend Premiership matches previewed

Liverpool v Manchester U

Liverpool are bidding to increase Wayne Rooneys woes with another home league win over Manchester United. Memories of Luis Suárezs magnificent display last season should concern the visitors suspect defence. This will be Kenny Dalglishs 250th league game in charge of Liverpool.

Odds: Liverpool 11-5 Man Utd 6-4 Draw 12-5

Wigan v Bolton

Given their form – Wigan have experienced four straight defeats while a seventh consecutive loss for bottom-placed Bolton would be their worst sequence in the top flight since 1903 – this is more likely to be a thud-and-blunder derby settled by a single goal than the expansive encounter venerated by managers Roberto Martínez and Owen Coyle.

Odds: Wigan 11-8 Bolton 9-4 Draw 12-5

Manchester C v Aston Villa

Neither side has lost a Premier League game this season, although Villas unbeaten run has caused rather less fuss than Citys. Even his fiercest critics in the Holte End have been forced to concede that Alex McLeish has begun well. Gabriel Agbonlahor has shaken off a back problem.

Odds: Man City 4-11 Aston Villa 19-2 Draw 4-1

Stoke v Fulham

Stoke manager Tony Pullis will wait on the fitness of Matthew Etherington after the winger had a sugar injection in an ailing back. With Jermaine Pennant and Kenwyne Jones likely to be out, Etheringtons presence could be key against a Fulham side that crushed QPR 6-0 in their last game.

Odds: Stoke 6-5 Fulham 14-5 Draw 9-4

QPR v Blackburn

QPR defender Danny Gabbidon is out again with a knee injury while Armand Traore is likely to return to the starting line-up after a one-match ban as Kieron Dyer (foot) remains out. Blackburn pair Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Goodwillie reported back from international duty with niggles.

Odds: QPR 10-11 Blackburn 18-5 Draw 5-2

WBA v Wolves

Black Country derbies are traditionally fiercely contested but this one feels like it has additional significance. Wolves are desperate to end a run of four successive defeats while Albion have won only once in seven league matches. Steven Fletcher is ruled out after picking up a calf injury, while Albion are boosted by the availability of Peter Odemwingie.

Odds: West Brom 20-19 Wolves 3-1 Draw 5-2

Chelsea v Everton

It is five years since Everton last lost a league game at Stamford Bridge. Yet the visitors will still arrive in south-west London wary. Chelsea are gathering momentum, the vibrancy of their 5-1 humiliation of Bolton in their last game before the international break still fresh in the memory.

Odds: Chelsea 3-8 Everton 10-1 Draw 4-1

Newcastle v Tottenham

Unbeaten Newcastle are fourth and, for the moment, the club has in Alan Pardew a manager surely enjoying a small sense of security. A fixture of this sort will help to indicate the prospects of Harry Redknapps side finishing in the top four. Remains to be seen if they can score enough goals on their travels.

Odds: Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham 6-4 Draw 5-2

Arsenal v Sunderland

It feels as if the international break has diluted the sense of unease at both of these clubs but the spotlight will be back on the loser. Or, in the case of a draw, Arsenal. No team with less than eight points after seven games has finished in the Premier League’s top four, although three sides have made fifth.

Odds: Arsenal 5-11 Sunderland 15-2 Draw 7-2

Norwich v Swansea

Norwich, in ninth, have the same number of points as fellow top-flight new boys Swansea, but while only one place lower in the league, the Welsh side have lost all three of their away matches. Visitors will be boosted by return of Leon Britton, hailed by manager Brendan Rodgers as one of their stars so far.

Odds: Norwich 5-4 Swansea 5-2 Draw 12-5