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Blues aiming to fend off chasing pack

Chelsea (2/7) will be hoping to stay leaders of the Premier League this weekend with a win at struggling West Brom (11/1).

The Blues make the trip to the West Midlands on the back of a shock Carling Cup defeat at the hands of Championship side Burnley.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray has made no attempt to play down the size of the task facing his side, as they come up against a Chelsea team with a 100 per cent record on the road - he said: "They are a joy to watch and in all departments they are top of the shop. "It's top versus bottom so it won't get any tougher for us but that's why we're here in the Premier League. It's the first of the big four that we're playing at home so we'll see how we approach that having played the others away from home."

The game could signal a return to Premier League first team action for Didier Drogba, who was involved in a coin-throwing incident against Burnley in mid-week.

With a chance to make amends for his mid-week misdemeanours, the Ivorian hitman is priced at (3/1) to score the opener.

Co-leaders Liverpool (8/13) are hot on Chelsea's heels, level on 29 points and they face an arguably more difficult trip to play Bolton Wanderers (5/1) in a north-west derby.

The Reds fared no better than Chelsea in their mid-week Carling Cup exertions, going down 4-2 in a humbling defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. But the game marked the welcome return of hot-shot Fernando Torres after a hamstring injury - the Spanish Euro 2008 winner is the club's leading league scorer.

Torres is (7/2) to score first, with Liverpool also bringing back the likes of Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso after they were rested in mid-week.

Meanwhile, Manchester United (1/7) have some ground to make up as they now lie eight points off the pace with a game in hand.

The champions host Stoke City (14/1) at Old Trafford and goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar says his team are well aware of the potential threat caused by the dangerous throw-ins of Rory Delap.

He told Sky Sports News: "We've been working on it of course and we've got one or two ideas. Of course you have to focus on the set-pieces from the opposite team and normally those of corner kicks or free-kicks and these are throw-ins so that's a different approach."

Cristiano Ronaldo has been in fine goal-scoring nick in the league since his return from an ankle injury in September, already having netted six times. The Portuguese international is reportedly close to signing a new contract after an unsettled summer - he is 3/1 favourite to open the scoring at Old Trafford with Wayne Rooney available at 11/4.

After the Arsenal (1/2) youngsters memorable showing in a 3-0 Carling Cup win over Wigan Athletic, boss Arsene Wenger may be tempted to introduce even more of his starlets into the starting line up for the home match with Aston Villa (6/1). The Gunners top league scorer Emmanuel Adebayor is 7/2 to break the deadlock, with Mexican sensation Carlos Vela 9/2.

BOWYER FAVOURITE TO BE SACRIFICED FIRST FOR WEST HAM CAUSE

Lee Bowyer is the 3/1 favourite with bookie Paddy Power to be the first player sold by West Ham following the Upton Park club's sudden financial concerns.

The not-so-happy Hammers' star strikers Craig Bellamy and Dean Ashton, despite their injury problems, are 7/1 and 8/1 respectively to be the first player sold. With their transfer value and big wages either of the two could be used as quick cash generators whilst similar high earners Lucas Neill and Matthew Upson 5/1 and 7/1 to be first out.

Meanwhile new manager Gianfranco Zola is 7/1 to be the first out of Upton Park should he be unhappy at the reneging of promised transfers funds

The financial crisis of Icelandic owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson could also see a sale of the East London club and West Ham are now 9/2 second favourites with Paddy Power, behind odds-on favourites Newcastle, to be the next Premier League club sold or taken over. Bill Kenwright's search for a billionaire see's Everton third favourites at 10/1 with the recently acquired Man City the 100/1 outsiders.

Darren Haines, spokesman for the bookie, said: "The credit crunch is really beginning to bite now and West Ham's ties to the Icelandic banks could see them as one of the first footballing casualties. The question punters are asking is whether the owners will sell the club or sell its assets."

- West Ham Wagers -

Who will be the first to leave West Ham

3/1 Bowyer 4/1 Boa Morte 5/1 Neill 7/1 Zola 7/1 Upson 7/1 Bellamy 8/1 Ashton 10/1 Green 14/1 Noble 18/1 Sears

Next Premier League Club To Be Sold 1/2 Newcastle 9/2 West Ham 10/1 Everton 16/1 Spurs 20/1 Sunderland 25/1 Liverpool, Hull, West Brom, Stoke 33/1 Bolton, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough 50/1 Blackburn, Wigan, Fulham, Chelsea, Aston Villa 66/1 Man Utd 100/1 Man City

See Football Specials at the Paddy Power website:

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