Liverpool were one of only three teams to win at Everton last season and have not lost at Goodison for six years, but they are struggling at the moment and Everton generally give up home points only to teams in top form - the other teams to win at Goodison last season were Manchester United and Chelsea. A home win is strongly fancied.

Liverpool are not the only big team who look vulnerable this weekend, with legitimate doubts over whether Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea can continue their 100 per cent starts to the season. Championship contenders fail to win about one-third of their games, so it pays to look for those opportunities and this weekend could be a prime example. All three are playing teams who finished in last season's top nine, two of them away, so this does not appear to be the right week for a short-priced all-up.

Manchester United, who visit Southampton in tomorrow's first televised game, have been slow starters in recent seasons (only one win in their first four matches in the past three years), but three wins out of three represents their best start under Sir Alex Ferguson. They have done well at Southampton in recent years, suggesting they can keep their run going, but Saints lost only two at home last season and a draw could be on the cards.

Chelsea's form so far has been overrated - they have been patchy in wins against out-of-sorts Liverpool and promoted Leicester - and Blackburn's visit to Stamford Bridge will be a stiff test of whether they have gelled as a team. Blackburn have not lost at Chelsea in nine Premiership matches, have general good away form and are the Premiership's top scorers this season, so the draw and away win look overpriced.

Arsenal also have a difficult away task on paper in tomorrow's later televised game at Manchester City, who are fourth in the table after two wins and a draw and have the attack to exploit Sol Campbell's absence through suspension. Arsenal's pace on the counter-attack makes them the best away team in the Premiership (only four defeats in their last 39 away games), however, and they should win, especially if City play as poorly as they did in their first home match against Portsmouth.

Newcastle are also vulnerable after another slow start cost them a Champions League place on Wednesday night, when they lost 1-0 at home to Partisan Belgrade and went out on penalties. They will need to be on their guard in tonight's later televised match against solid Birmingham and a goalless draw holds appeal, but Newcastle's attack should give them the edge. Birmingham would be more attractive if the dangerous Mikael Forssell, on loan from Chelsea, is selected to bolster their attack.

The best home bankers on today's English Premiership programme are two less-vaunted sides - Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. Last week's 0-0 scoreline at home to Liverpool did not reflect Villa's contribution to an entertaining game and they are fancied to beat promoted Leicester, assuming they don't repeat the defensive errors which cost them a point at Arsenal in midweek.

Spurs look an even better bet at home to Fulham, who appear to be going backwards and look unlikely to continue last season's good away record against fellow London teams. Spurs, like Villa, are beginning to show signs of improvement, especially up front, and this could be a breakthrough match for them.

The other live Premiership game features Wolves and Portsmouth, who have enjoyed contrasting fortunes on their promotion from Division One. Portsmouth have bought well and adjusted quickly, while the opposite is true of Wolves, whose better display in midweek owed much to a defensive outlook and Manchester United's sluggishness. The same 4-5-1 formation would be a negative tactic at home but could keep things tight and prevent the ageing Wolves midfield being overrun, as they were against Charlton last week, but either way it is hard to fancy Wolves until they show they can handle the higher level of competition.

Real Madrid and Barcelona, the two biggest names in Spanish football, could also be vulnerable on the opening day of the La Liga season. Madrid won 3-1 at home to Mallorca in the second leg of the Super Cup, but victory is no foregone conclusion against attack-orientated Real Betis. The Seville side have a good record against the champions and, with no value in backing Madrid, could be worth a wager.

Bilbao are attractive in their home match against Barcelona, who are favourites on reputation rather than recent achievement. Bilbao's San Mames stadium was rediscovering its status as a stronghold towards the end of last season and, even after signing Ronaldinho, Barcelona do not appeal at this stage.

The Serie A season kicks off in Italy, with Reggina v Sampdoria tonight's late televised game and champions Juventus opening on TV tomorrow against lowly Empoli. There are few attractive bets in Italy this week as most of the big teams are at home against weak opposition, but Reggina's improving home record should give them the edge over promoted Sampdoria.

BEST HOMES: Everton, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Reggina.

BEST AWAYS: Leeds, Portsmouth, Deportivo.

HIGH GOALS: Real Madrid v Real Betis, Juventus v Empoli, Manchester City v Arsenal.

LOW GOALS: Aston Villa v Leicester, Udinese v Roma.