SATURDAY

Blackburn picked up an excellent point against Liverpool on Boxing Day.

It was all hands to the pump, what with Mark Bunn's series of saves and goal-line clearances when he was beaten, but there has never been any doubt that the players are playing for Rovers boss Steve Kean despite their struggles this season.

Kean is talking about bringing three or four players in when the transfer window opens in January, but the only problem is who is going to want to come to Ewood Park with everything that is going on there, including protests against the manager every week?

I am sure Blackburn will dig in here, just as they did at Anfield, and make things difficult but I cannot see them getting anything at Old Trafford.

Even by United's high standards, they have had an impressive time of late. I'm sure Sir Alex Ferguson will shuffle his squad again, and it will still be too good for Blackburn.

Chelsea are enjoying a good run of form and they were impressive against Tottenham on Thursday night, but they are still not the team they were a couple of years ago.

The thing about their display at Wigan last weekend was that Chelsea thought - a little bit naively - that they had done enough. On the day, I felt that one or two players weren't putting enough in for the team, and one of those would have been Didier Drogba.

When Chelsea went 1-0 up, if they had knuckled down and gone for it they would have won that match, but they went into cruise-control instead. Credit to Wigan, they came back, changed their system and they got the draw.

Blackburn were 10 minutes away from victory last week against Sunderland but conceded silly goals - and that has been the story of their season so far.

They haven't had too many problems scoring and although Steve Kean's team lacks quality I don't feel he has lost the players like others are suggesting.

This is a West Brom side that have been consistently inconsistent, which will be very frustrating for their manager Roy Hodgson.

SATURDAY

Arsenal v Everton

Arsenal may have lost in the Champions League in midweek but forget about that, manager Arsene Wenger took the chance to rest a few players and I've no problem with that.

The fact is Arsenal are back at home, they are going well, and with Manchester United showing a few frailties in a few competitions the Gunners will want to keep chipping away and getting results. They've done extremely well of late and even though you feel that they are still vulnerable against the top teams they are still a good side and have shown that with a fine run of form.

Everton, on the other hand, were disappointing in the extreme against Stoke last week. I don't think they had a shot on goal and City easily kept them at bay.

SATURDAY

This is a big game for both teams too. Newcastle were absolutely outstanding defensively in their draw against Manchester United last week, with players throwing their bodies in the way and their goalkeeper Tim Krul making some tremendous saves.

Because of that point at Old Trafford, there will an expectancy from the Newcastle fans and I think they are going to get another draw here.

I think they have been better this year when teams have come on to them, and I think Chelsea will come to St James' Park and push on. Chelsea are not as good a team as they were and they don't have that awesome power in midfield but I still think they will attack.

Chelsea played a weakened team in their Carling Cup defeat by Liverpool on Tuesday but, for me, the biggest thing for their manager Andre Villas Boas to decide on is who are his best strikers, and then just stick with them.

SATURDAY

There have been a lot of games at 12.45 this season which haven't been great and I can't see this being a thriller either.

Stoke have started to concede a lot of goals but they have not had to play in the Europa League this week which will help them.

I fancy Stoke at home, Tony Pulis will have read the riot act to them this week and they will be well drilled.

SATURDAY

All kick-offs 1500 GMT unless stated

Norwich have been excellent at home all season but this is their first real test against an Arsenal team suddenly playing with real confidence.

The Canaries only know one way to play, they come forward but if you do that against the top teams they will just pick you off on the break with real quality.

Everybody knows about Robin van Persie and his goalscoring form but the key for Norwich will be trying to stop Arsenal in the middle of the park as that is where they will control the game.

SATURDAY

All kick-offs 1500 GMT unless stated

Newcastle just keep on going, and they passed a real test of their aerial defensive capabilities by beating Stoke on Monday. I was really impressed by how hard their midfield worked too, let alone their defenders.

But the Magpies' great start to the season has just built up the pressure. They will be expected to beat Everton but cast your mind back to when they played Wigan at St James' Park on 22 October. Everyone expected them to run the Latics over but, in the end, Roberto Martinez's side were unlucky not to get a point.

SATURDAY

All kick-offs 1500 BST unless stated

This is a huge game for Manchester United after they were beaten so heavily in last weekend's Manchester derby, but they will be ready for it.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson essentially played his second string in their midweek win over Aldershot in the Carling Cup and one of the things we have learned from Ferguson down the years is that there is often a backlash after a bad defeat, so we should definitely expect a reaction here.

SATURDAY

All kick-offs 1500 BST unless stated

Wolves have now suffered six straight defeats and their most recent, against local rivals West Brom, was probably the most difficult to stomach. I normally hate the term 'must-win' game, but that's exactly what this is for Mick McCarthy.

Aside from Blackburn at home on the final day of last season, you'd have to say this is his biggest match since taking over at Molineux in 2006. Chairman Steve Morgan has backed him exceptionally well but they're building a new stand and Steve's probably thinking 'hold on a minute, we need to be in the Premier League'.