Drogba will lead Chelsea to victory over Man United

All eyes this weekend will be on the Sunday afternoon clash between first and second, Chelsea vs Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. With just two points between them, whoever wins this game will take the lead at the head of the Premier League; a draw would allow Arsenal, should they win on Saturday, to tighten the race at the top to just three points covering the first three.

Chelsea will probably start favourites; they drew in the Champions League on Tuesday night, as did United, but did so with Didier Drogba playing at the height of his powers, scoring both goals and terrifying the Atletico Madrid defence. With Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand both likely to miss Sunday's game for Man Utd, the second string in the centre of defence, Wes Brown and Jonny Evans, will have to be at their very best to control the Ivory Coast international.

In the middle of the park the hosts look to have the edge too; Frank Lampard is scoring again, Joe Cole has made a fine return following long-term injury, and Florent Malouda, Salomon Kalou, Michael Ballack and Deco are all competing for places. Sir Alex was very grateful for a goal from his old warhorse Paul Scholes, but in the febrile atmosphere of a Chelsea vs Man Utd game, the veteran's suspect tackling could invite a red card.

The pluses for the Old Trafford side from the weekend were the goal from Michael Owen, and the liveliness of summer signing Gabriel Obertan, who caused problems every time he launched an expedition down the left. However Carlo Ancelotti will feel that he has enough to inflict a second defeat of Fergie's men (following the volatile Community Shield victory).

As mentioned, a resurgent Arsenal could take second for at least a day with a win at Wolves in Saturday's late game. The Gunners were absolutely magnificent in midweek, tearing AZ Alkmaar to shreds in a masterclass of passing and finishing that ended 4-1 and had the purists purring.

Arsene Wenger may choose to rest some of the personnel from that night, but it is scant consolation for Mick McCarthy when the bench at Arsenal on Wednesday included Tomas Rosicky, Eduardo and Aaron Ramsey. Only over-confidence from the Londoners will cause this to end in anything other than an emphatic Arsenal win.

Fourth-placed Manchester City have a chance to secure their position as they entertain Burnley at the Stadium of Manchester. Turf Moor may be a relative fortress for Owen Coyle's newly promoted side, but on the road they have failed to take a point and could be on the end of a rugby score if City's much-vaunted strike force all click.

Spurs in fifth will be asking themselves whether they can recover from a mauling at the hands of north London rivals Arsenal; in the run-up to that game Robbie Keane had suggested the two teams were closer than ever in skill. The embarrassing ease with which Cesc Fabregas scored the second goal 11 seconds after Tottenham kicked off after the first goal had gone in gave the lie to that. Sunderland will be tough opponents to turn over, and Harry redknapp will need all his managerial nous to inspire his charges.