Premiere League Preview

All eyes will be on Old Trafford this weekend for the first clash between big four of the 2009/10 campaign.

It may still be early days in the new season but the importance of getting one over on your rivals should not be underestimated, at either end of the table.

Manchester United,Your browser may not support display of this image. Chelsea and much-touted Manchester CityYour browser may not support display of this image. all well-placed on the upper rungs of the Premier League ladder. Liverpool have stumbled to a disappointing start, and know they have ground to make up already, while the likes of Birmingham and Burnley have displayed enough promise to suggest that they could be dark horses as the top-flight marathon begins in earnest.

The latest round of fixtures will, however, be overshadowed by what promises to be a titanic tussle between Manchester United and Arsenal on Saturday evening - a game which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 in UK and ESPNSTAR in South East Asia.

Reigning champions United appear to have shaken off the surprise of suffering a shock loss at Turf Moor, and put five past Wigan last time out, and Sir Alex Ferguson will have his troops primed for battle. Arsenal, though, have been mightily impressive so far this term, scoring 10 goals in their two fixtures so far, and they will head to Old Trafford confident they can put down a significant marker in the title race.

While the Gunners and Red Devils will have aspirations of crossing the finish line first come next May, Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea are also expected to have a major say in the destination of the crown. The Blues have made a perfect start to the season, taking nine points from three games, but they will not have things all their own way at Stamford Bridge this weekend when they play host to a Burnley side who have adapted to life among England's elite with consummate ease.

At present, though, it is Tottenham who are looking down on the rest of the table from their lofty perch at the summit and Harry Redknapp'sYour browser may not support display of this image. men will fancy their chances of racking up a fourth consecutive success this week. Spurs welcome Birmingham to North London on Saturday looking to preserve White Hart Lane'sYour browser may not support display of this image. burgeoning status as a fortress few away sides are able to breach.

Liverpool's troubles so far have already been alluded to and Rafa Benitez will not be relishing a tricky trip to Bolton. The Reds appeared bereft of ideas in their hugely disappointing 3-1 defeat to Aston VillaYour browser may not support display of this image. on Monday and Gary Megson will have his Trotters team sensing blood.

Anyone looking for a surprise package to emerge from the midst of the 2009/10 campaign could do worse than cast an eye over ever-improving Sunderland. Steve BruceYour browser may not support display of this image. has got the Black Cats purring and a trip to fortress Britannia Stadium to take on Stoke will hold no fear for the wily former Birmingham and Wigan boss.

West Ham, or rather their supporters, have dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week and they will welcome the opportunity to turn attentions back to their performances on the field. A 3-1 victory over Millwall in the Carling Cup in midweek, a good result which has been somewhat overshadowed, should stand them in good stead ahead of a trip to Blackburn to take on a Rovers side yet to get off the mark.

Molineux promises to be bathed in gold this weekend as hosts Wolves take on Hull City. Mick McCarthy's side have made a solid yet unspectacular start to life back in the big time, while the Tigers will feel that they have yet to reap the rewards their industry this term has deserved.

Portsmouth kick-off Sunday's action with a lunchtime contest with Manchester City.With Sulaiman Al-Fahim now overseeing events at Fratton Park,Your browser may not support display of this image. having previously helped to manufacture the Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover at City, it will be intriguing to see which of the two sides now benefitting from Middle Eastern investment come out on top. The smart money would appear to be on the visitors, as they have taken maximum points from their two outings so far and are yet to concede, while Pompey have slipped to three consecutive defeats and look drained by the distracting takeover saga.

The South Coast outfit do not prop up the table at present, though, with that unfortunate honour going to Everton. The Toffees were expected to be among the frontrunners again this season, after taking positive strides in recent years, but a dismal start has seen them slip off the pace. A home date with inconsistent Wigan could help them to get back on track, but the Merseysiders will be forced to make do without Joleon LescottYour browser may not support display of this image. from now on after offloading the England international to Manchester City.

A busy weekend, which sees all 20 Premier League sides in action, comes to a close at Villa ParkYour browser may not support display of this image. on Sunday afternoon as Aston Villa take on Fulham. Martin O'Neill's men will have been buoyed by their heroics at Anfield last time out, while the Cottagers are looking to bounce back from a derby day setback at Chelsea last weekend.

Champions League Draw

Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Rangers now know who they will face in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Thursday's draw in Monaco has thrown up a host of intriguing fixtures in Europe's elite club competition.

Liverpool head up Group E and will tackle French giants Lyon, Serie A side Fiorentina and Hungarian outfit Debreceni as Rafa Benitez'sYour browser may not support display of this image. men aim to repeat their 2005 success.

Manchester UnitedYour browser may not support display of this image. - winners in 2008 and finalists in 2009 - are the top seeds in Group B, with Sir Alex Ferguson'sYour browser may not support display of this image. side facing lengthy trips to CSKA Moscow and Besiktas, while they must also tackle German champions Wolfsburg.

Chelsea have to overcome Porto, Atletico MadridYour browser may not support display of this image. and APOEL Nicosia if they are to secure safe passage from Group D into the knockout phase as they aim to claim the trophy which has become something of a Holy Grail for the Stamford Bridge club.

Arsenal tackle Champions League newcomers AZ Alkmaar,Your browser may not support display of this image. Greek powerhouse Olympiakos and Belgian side Standard Liege in Group H after overcoming Celtic in their qualifying round.

Rangers' bid to reach the latter stages in Europe sees them placed in Group G alongside top seeds Sevilla, Stuttgart and Unirea Urziceni of Romania.

Brazilian playmaker Kaka has been handed an immediate return to AC MilanYour browser may not support display of this image. with Real Madrid paired alongside his former club, plus Marseille and FC Zurich in Group C.

Defending champions Barcelona tackle Inter Milan in Group F - in two clashes which will see Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto'o facing their former clubs - with Dynamo KievYour browser may not support display of this image. and Rubin KazanYour browser may not support display of this image. completing the quartet.

Bayern Munich,Your browser may not support display of this image. who lifted the trophy in 2001, are up against Juventus, French champions Bordeaux and Maccabi Haifa in Group A.

The clubs will now meet home and away across six matchdays from September to December with the top two qualifying for the knockout phase, with the ultimate prize on offer in the final at Real's Santiago Bernabeu on 22nd May.

Champions League groups and fixture schedule

Group A: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Bordeaux, Maccabi Haifa.
Group B: Manchester United, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, Wolfsburg.
Group C: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille, FC Zurich.
Group D: Chelsea, Porto, Atletico Madrid, APOEL Nicosia.
Group E: Liverpool, Lyon, Fiorentina, Debreceni.
Group F: Barcelona, Inter Milan, Dynamo Kiev, Rubin Kazan.
Group G: Sevilla, Rangers, Stuttgart, Unirea Urziceni.
Group H: Arsenal, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Standard Liege.

Matchday 1: 15th/16th September
Matchday 2: 29th/30th September
Matchday 3: 20th/21st October
Matchday 4: 3rd/4th November
Matchday 5: 24th/25th November
Matchday 6: 8th/9th December

Chelsea's Euro Dream Crush into Blue

Barcelona booked their place in the champions league final with Iniesta’s stunning injury time winner in west london.

Ghanian midfielder Michael Essien's stunning 9^th minute strike looked to be enough for Chelsea to set up a repeat of last season's final against Manchester United, but two minutes into added time, Andres Iniesta scored the most dramatic of away goal of his life.

Chelsea were furious at the final whistle as they felt they should have been awarded up to three penalties over the 90 minutes, with Didier Drogba particularly vocal and furious in his criticism of the referee.

Chelsea v Barcelona

Barcelona had dominated in terms of possession, but Iniesta’s effort, which followed a costly error by Michael Essien, was, incredibly, their first shot on target. Pep Guardiola’s team had shown that they had substance to fortify their style, refusing to accept defeat even after being left to play the final quarter of the game a man short when Éric Abidal was sent off for a perceived professional foul on Nicolas Anelka. Chelsea’s regrets will centre around Ovrebo’s performance, which Guus Hiddink, not one for exaggeration, called the worst that he had witnessed in his long career, but it should also be noted that Barcelona were wrongly denied a penalty in the first leg.

Chelsea had taken the lead when Essien beat Víctor Valdés with a superb left-volley that crashed in off the crossbar from 25 yards, and, by the time the game entered its closing stages, it seemed that the relentless strength of Essien, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda had won the day, along with their devotion to a game plan that had neutralised Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and the rest.

Two unsuccessful penalty appeals Chelsea could tolerate, at least while they were leading, but their agitation grew in the second half as Ovrebo continued to give them short shrift. The next two were less sound, as Yaya Touré stayed just within the laws with two excellent tackles to nick the ball off the feet of Drogba, then Anelka. Less understandable was Ovrebo’s intransigence when Gerard Piqué blocked Anelka’s flick with a hand, which, intentionally or not, was raised away from his body.

None of this would have mattered had Drogba not shot straight at the legs of Valdés but, after Abidal’s red card, Chelsea sat back and paid the price. Essien’s slip allowed Eto’o and then Messi to set up Iniesta for a shot that faded away from Petr Cech at the last moment.

Even then there was time for another penalty appeal, Ballack’s shot hitting the outstretched arm of Eto’o, leaving Chelsea to wonder if they will ever lift the European Cup. Terry and his team-mates are not getting any younger and there could come a point when they wonder if it is just not meant to be.