All the elite teams in the English Premier League must be on their guard this weekend after some of the results by the so-called lesser clubs in recent weeks. Only Manchester United, who host Blackburn at Old Trafford, have what may be termed an easy match.
United are unbeaten in their first 14 games, but even they have given up points to lowly sides, drawing more (four) than they have won (three) against teams in the bottom eight. Three of the draws, though, came on the road and it has been a different story at Old Trafford, where United have won six out of seven and dropped points only to West Brom, who were flying at the time.
The biggest negative against United is their goals tallies have gone down at home, but they should be too good for Blackburn, who remain poor travellers with just seven points out of 42 when playing away to top-10 teams since the start of last season.
Chelsea and Manchester City face tests of nerve at Newcastle and Stoke respectively, while Arsenal go to Aston Villa without skipper Cesc Fabregas, and Tottenham, whose manager Harry Redknapp scents a chance to get into title contention after last week's derby win, are at home to Liverpool.
Manchester City must show they have improved if they are to win at Stoke, who have two wins and a draw in home matches against City since joining the Premier League. There has been a send-off in all three of those matches, which is a sign of the physical combat City must withstand if they are to take three points. Stoke have moved up to eighth with three straight wins and they look a value chance for another win over City.
Chelsea should have won at Birmingham last week and they can make amends at Newcastle as long as they cope with the aerial challenge of Andy Carroll. That is not guaranteed, given their defensive problems, and they look too short.