excluding the reserve-filled Carling Cup disaster.
The Latics go on the road seeking a result, having earned just a draw in four road matches to date. Wigan won't have to deal with midfielder Michael Carrick, who suffered a cracked elbow against Roma. Owen Hargreaves remains out as well along with 'keeper Edwin van der Sar. Defender Wes Brown is unlikely to see time. Along with failing to have a win all season on the road, Chris Hutchings' team is without a three-point result since a 3-0 home win against Sunderland on Aug. 18.
Aston Villa v. West Ham United (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Setanta)
The only other Saturday fixture pits a pair of mid-table teams at Villa Park. Aston Villa is coming off a shocking squandering of two points when they blew a 4-1 lead at Tottenham in the last 21 minutes on Monday night to settle for a 4-4 result. West Ham spent last weekend giving Arsenal one of their stiffest league tests this season, but the Hammers succumbed 1-0.
Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker faces his former team in a grudge match of sorts for him, as he felt he was poorly treated by Alan Curbishley. Reo-Coker's former engine room partner teammate Hayden Mullins is excited for the opportunity to combat the man Mullins called "probably the best midfield partner I have had." Striker Craig Bellamy returns to action from hernia surgery for West Ham.
Arsenal v. Sunderland (Sunday, 7 a.m. ET, Setanta)
The Gunners weren't as impressive in the last week as they'd been for most of the young season, but they still secured a pair of 1-0 wins, first at West Ham and them at Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League. Robin van Persie had the only goal in each contest, but Arsenal looked sluggish in the Romanian fixture. They'll take on Sunderland on Sunday, looking to regain sharpness. Roy Keane's Black Cats have a win, loss and draw in their last three matches and sit just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Arsenal's injury situation is beginning to clear up in anticipation of Sunday's match. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann and defender William Gallas are back training, but Arsene Wenger may not see fit to play either at Emirates. Tomas Rosicky and Alex Song are both healthy but not fit to play. Sunderland midfielder Dickson Etuhu is back after serving a one-game suspension for accumulated cautions.
Liverpool v. Tottenham Hotspur (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel)
The drama of the three goals in less than a half-hour gained Tottenham a point and a bit of consolation against Aston Villa on Monday night. But, despite the exciting draw and securing qualification into the UEFA Cup group stage on Thursday, Spurs still sit in the relegation zone with just one win in eight league matches. Another loss to a league rival and the calls for Martin Jol's head could reach a deafening tenor, though striker Robbie Keane, who scored as a sub on Thursday, is tired of hearing such rumors.
After losing at home to Marseille in Champions League action Wednesday, Rafa Benitez's club is no longer the joyful side of weeks past. With just one point in two European matches, last year's finalist are in early danger of not emerging from the group phase. In league play, the Reds have allowed just two goals -- both on penalties -- this season, but a fourth draw will probably only see them fall further behind the three teams above them. Jermaine Pennant will be back after sitting out the Marseille match with two yellow cards at Porto, but defender Fabio Aurelio may miss the match at Anfield with a back injury he suffered against Marseille.
Bolton Wanderers v. Chelsea (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET, Setanta)
After failing to score against the previously defenseless Fulham backs in a scoreless draw last weekend, Chelsea actually looked like a team capable of doing things with their 2-1 win at Valencia in Champions League play. Joe Cole and Didier Drogba had the goals, but the latter will be unavailable for Avram Grant this weekend after his reckless high boot caught Stephen Davis in the neck on Saturday. Frank Lampard might return, but it appears that Michael Essien and Shaun Wright-Phillips will be out again. John Terry, who suffered an undisciplined elbow to the cheek and broken bone from Clint Dempsey, was back on the field with a facemask on Wednesday.
Bolton need points in league play. They reside with table-bottom Derby at five points, and Sammy Lee now faces the daunting task of trying to move Wanderers out of the relegation zone while playing at least four more matches in UEFA Cup group play. Nicolas Anelka's sixth goal of the season against Robotnicki Kometal on Thursday ensured Bolton's advance. Lee thinks his team has the depth to survive both, but that's a minority opinion.
Reading v. Derby County (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET)
Bobby Convey is still out for a banged-up Reading squad as they host Derby. Reading does welcome back defender Ibrahima Sonko, who has missed nearly nine months with a serious knee injury. Billy Davies' squad is fully fit and desperate for points on the road this weekend.
Newcastle United v. Everton (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET)
Michael Owen has recovered from duel groin-area injuries, and is likely to play when the Magpies host the Toffies this weekend. Everton is back on track with a win against Boro last weekend followed by a 3-2 home victory over Metalist Kharkhiv, one that ensured David Moyes' squad's advancement into the UEFA Cup group phase. James McFadden, a killer in international matches as it turns out -- he had the game-winner in Scotland's Euro Cup qualifying win against France -- had a big goal in Everton's second-half comeback.
Manchester City v. Middlesbrough (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET)
With an impressive, 3-1 win against Newcastle last week, Sven-Goran Eriksson's club erased all doubts as to his team's intentions this season. Still sitting third in the table, explosive Man City tries to secure three more points at home. Elano's playmaking in the midfield -- one goal, five assists -- help make City one of the league's most threatening teams. Boro, meanwhile, has been outscored 9-2 in their last four league matches -- three losses and a draw -- and their next three matches? At Man City on Sunday, Chelsea at home and at Manchester United. It appears Gareth Southgate's club will be battling for survival all season.
Blackburn Rovers v. Birmingham City (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET)
Blackburn faces Birmingham for the second time in less than two weeks. Rovers and Blues also met in a Carling Cup match that ended in Birmingham's 3-0 demise 10 days ago. Roque Santa Cruz capped the scoring in that game, and Mark Hughes' club will probably be able to focus more on the League Cup now that they're out of Europe. A 2-0 loss at Larissa in the first leg of qualifying for the group stages was too much for Blackburn to overcome on Thursday, despite a 2-1 win in the second leg. In league play, Blackburn hasn't won since Sept. 1, but they'll face one of the league's lowest scoring teams in Birmingham (seven goals in eight matches).
Fulham v. Portsmouth (Sunday, 11:10 a.m. ET)
Pompey might normally bemoan the continued absence of injured striker Nwankwo Kanu for their upcoming match at Craven Cottage, but his replacement against Reading last week, Benjani, scored three goals. Harry Redknapp has predictably promised Benjani another start against the Whites' porous defense. Fulham, though, was quite stout against Drogba and Chelsea, with Carlos Bocanegra and Paul Konchesky leading the way, and Fulham even came a nice finish from the full three points at Stamford Bridge. Now Lawrie Sanchez's team must put together the tight defense of last and high-powered offense of the rest of the season if they are to earn breathing room from the relegation zone. Too many draws -- a league-high four -- keeps them just a point from the bottom three.
Brendon Desrochers is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
