Source: Daily_Mail
PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Follow all the action as it happens
The big guns are out in force on Saturday for the 3pm kick-offs in the Barclays Premier League. Four of the top five are in action with the day's fixtures including; Arsenal v Fulham, Birmingham v Tottenham, Blackburn v Wolves, Chelsea v Everton, Manchester City v Bolton and Wigan v Stoke. Follow all the action with Sportsmail where you can send me your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Premier League (3pm)Arsenal 2-1 Fulham FT[LNB]Birmingham 1-1 Tottenham FT[LNB]Blackburn 3-0 Wolves FT[LNB]Chelsea 1-1 Everton FT[LNB]Manchester City 1-0 Bolton FT[LNB]Wigan 2-2 Stoke FT[LNB]17.01: Down at the bottom it's just as close, Wigan's draw means they remain in the bottom three but only on goal difference as they go level with Fulham on 15 points.[LNB]It's been a good day for West Ham too. Despite not playing they are off the bottom due to Wolves' defeat at Blackburn giving them an superior goal difference.[LNB]West Ham can join Wigan and Fulham on 15 points when they travel to Sunderland tomorrow and you can follow live coverage of that game with Sportsmail along with the earlier game of West Brom v Newcastle.[LNB]But for now that is all from me, thank you for following and enjoy the weekend.[LNB]16.59: It is still very close at the top, Just three points separate Arsenal, Manchester united, Chelsea and Manchester City, with Spurs a further three points behind in fifth.[LNB]16.57: Big boos ring out around Stamford Bridge, and that place just seems like a ticking time bomb as Arsenal go top of the pile.[LNB]16.55: Full-time: Chelsea 1-1 Everton[LNB]16.54: Full-time: Arsenal 2-1 FulhamFull-time: Birmingham 1-1 Tottenham[LNB]16.53: Everton are all over Chelsea in these late stages...who are the home side again?[LNB]16.52: Full-time: Wigan 2-2 StokeFull-time: Manchester City 1-0 Bolton[LNB]16.51: Bolton as you expect piling forward but City holding firm.[LNB]Super sub: Beckford pounced from the bench to grab a late equaliser for Everton[LNB]Full-time: Blackburn 3-0 Wolves[LNB]16.50: This game is dead but Robinson has done well to keep Blackburn's lead as healthy as it is, after he leaps well to keep out Stephen Hunt for his latest save.[LNB]16.49: Seven minutes of injury time at Stamford Bridge after that Cech incident.[LNB]16.48: Late chance to knick a draw for Fulham, Zoltan Gera hits a great effort from the edge that Lukasz Fabianski does well to tip away.[LNB]16.46: Everton continue to bomb forward and Chelsea are struggling massively in this game, big problems at that club.[LNB]16.43: GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 EVERTON[LNB]Another goal that has been coming. Jermaine Beckford reacts to a Leighton Baines ball into the box to fire past Cech.[LNB]As it stands Arsenal heading for the top.[LNB] Hard grafter: Gardner (left) celebrates his equaliser for Birmingham[LNB]16.40: GOAL! BIRMINGHAM 1-1 Tottenham[LNB]It's been coming, Craig Gardner has been scoring goals for fun this season and he takes advantage of some sloppy keeping and defending from Spurs to equalise, have to fancy them for the winner too.[LNB]16.37: RED CARD (Aleksandar Kolarov, Manchester City)[LNB]Second yellow for Kolarov after a nasty challenge on Sam Ricketts.[LNB]16.35: GOAL! ARSENAL 2-1 Fulham[LNB]It's that snood wearing Frenchman again. Samir Nasri skips through the defence, takes the ball around Schwarzer before swivelling onto his right foot to tuck the ball home. Relief at the Emirates.[LNB]16.34: Going to be some injury time at Stamford Bridge, Cech has only just got to his feet after that challenge.[LNB]16.33: Spurs increasingly under pressure but they produce the best chance in the last few minutes as Gareth Bale dances down the left-wing before his cross is urgently tipped away by Foster.[LNB]16.30: Nasty incident at Stamford Bridge, Tom Cahill goes in for a 50/50 challenge with Peter Cech but his studs make contact with the keepers head, given the keeper a nasty cut which he receives treatment for.[LNB]John Terry is fuming at the midfielder who defends himself saying he had to go for the loose ball.[LNB]16.27: Birmingham have brought on Nikola Zigic and it seems to have at least panicked Spurs. William Gallas and Bassong are having increasingly to do much more at the back in this half.[LNB]16.24: What a game at the Eastland. Bolton sit back with Martin Petrov's corner falling to Zat Knight whose header is blocked before Kevin Davies fires the rebound over.[LNB]16.22: All the inspiration Everton need lays in this stat from InfoStradaLive:[LNB]Chelsea have not scored in the second half of their last five Premier League matches.[LNB]16.20: What a chance for Everton to equalise! Jermaine Beckford who has only just come on see his header hit the post and agonisingly roll across the line before Chelsea clear. The Champions are hanging on.[LNB] Slide in: Bolton's Chung-Yong Lee tackles Aleksander Kolarov of Manchester City[LNB]16.19: And Another! David Silva from outside the box produces some silky skill before seeing his shot cannon off the crossbar and out to safety.[LNB]16.17: City have woken up and it's now they who are doing the battering, Mario Balotelli is the latest to go close forcing Jussi Jaaskelainen into saving with his legs.[LNB]16.14: GOAL! BLACKBURN 3-0 Wolves[LNB]Game over here and Wolves heading for the bottom of the league. Morten Gamst Pedersen fires a free-kick into the box for Ryan Nelsen to bury past Hennessey.[LNB]16.12: Top save from Ben Foster, Spurs on top again and Jermain Defoe's snap shot on the edge of the box forces the England keeper to leap across his goal to tip it out for a corner.[LNB]16.09: Bolton battering Manchester City, Kevin Davies has had the best chance but he could only blaze over the bar from inside the box.[LNB]16.06: What a double save from Asmir Begovic, Mauro Boselli has two efforts in quick succession but the Stoke keeper stands firm. Wigan much the stronger at the start of the second half.[LNB]16.05: It looks like that deflection from Cleverly's strike for Wigan seemed to have come off Rory Delap.[LNB]16.04: Fulham seem to believe in themselves much more in this game, almost as if they scent a wounded animal in Arsenal. No chances yet but that first 20 minutes of Arsenal dominance seems a long time ago.[LNB]16.02: Back underway in the Premier League.[LNB]15.57: Down at the bottom that leaves Everton in a scary position, just one point separates them from the drop if all stays the same.[LNB]15.50: From those of you who like a close title fight. As things stand just four points separate the top five.[LNB]15.45: Half-times all round in the Premier League.[LNB]15.43: GOAL! BLACKBURN 2-0 Wolves[LNB]Wolves are fading badly but that is a well worked goal by Rovers. Brett Emerton latches onto a Jason Roberts punt to bury the ball past Wayne Hennessey.[LNB] No mistake: Didier Drogba scores from the penalty spot just before halftime[LNB]15.42: GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 Everton[LNB]Horrendous mistake from Phil Neville as his back-pass is run onto by Nicolas Anelka who is wiped out by Tim Howard, He is booked but how the keeper stays on I don't know as it's a clear goal scoring opportunity.[LNB]Didier Drogba makes no mistake from the penalty spot.[LNB]15.40: GOAL! WIGAN 2-2 Stoke[LNB]All action at the DW Stadium, Maynor Figueroa plays in Tom Cleverley and it's hero to zero stuff for Robert Huth who deflects the midfielder's shot into his own goal.[LNB] Lend us a hand: Steven Mouyokolo (right) and Jason Roberts challenge for the ball[LNB]15.38: What a game at Wigan, the home side should equalise for the second time but Hendry Thomas misses from a couple of yards out as the ball flashed across the six yard box. Dear me wwe have seen some bad misses this season.[LNB]15.35: Bolton doing more of the pressing at Eastlands, they are winning quite a few corners but as yet have not gone that close to an equaliser.[LNB]15.32: GOAL! Wigan 1-2 STOKE[LNB]Superb from Stoke, often accused of a long ball team, they produce a fine attacking move that ends with Ricardo Fuller squaring the ball for Matthew Etherington to restore the Potters lead inside the box.[LNB] Clinical: Diomansy Kamara puts away a rare Fulham chance[LNB]15.31: GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 FULHAM[LNB]The apocalypse seemed more likely than a Fulham's equaliser but thankfully only the latter happened. Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci have a clash of heads at the back with Diomansy Kamara alert enough to mop up the ball and produce a cool finish from 12 yards out.[LNB]Koscielny has had to be replaced by Djourou after that through injury.[LNB]15.30: GOAL! WIGAN 1-1 Stoke[LNB]Good response from Wigan but they are slightly fortunate. Ben Watson's free-kick falls for Danny Collins but he can't prevent himself from turning the ball into his own goal.[LNB]15.29: GOAL! BLACKBURN 1-0 Wolves[LNB]Sorry Wolves fans, a corner in the box is headed by Ryan Nelsen into a packed penalty area and David Dunn is on hand to nod it past the line despite Wolves players best attempts to clear it.[LNB]15.27: Very even game at Ewood Park, both sides have produced some good stuff in this game so far but no real chances since that manic start.[LNB] Goalbound: Bassong was first on the scene to score for Tottenham[LNB]15.24: Birmingham are in danger of getting hammered, Spurs continue to pile forward with just the latest chance falling to Peter Crouch who fails to get a shot in off Aaron Lennon's cross. Poor control.[LNB]15.20: GOAL! Birmingham 0-1 TOTTENHAM[LNB]What a renaissance this player has had at Tottenham. A week after Sebastien Bassong put the shackles on Fernando Torres he reacts like a striker to fire Spurs in front inside the six yard box.[LNB] Mobbed: Stoke players celebrate Robert Huth's (4) opening strike[LNB]15.18: GOAL! Wigan 0-1 STOKE[LNB]Slightly fortunate but Robert Huth won't care. He rockets a free-kick from nearly 20 yards that takes a wicked deflection leaving Ali Al Habsi completely wrong footed in the Wigan goal.[LNB]The Latics are in HUGE trouble if this stays the same.[LNB]15.16: Birmingham showing signs of a Carling Cup hangover, as Spurs the sharper of the two sides in the early stages.[LNB] Double take: Samir Nasri showed some neat skill to put Arsenal ahead[LNB]15.14: GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 Fulham[LNB]This has been coming, Samir Nasri is playing with confidence and this goal proves it. Eight yards out he checks one or two times (almost mickey taking) before tucking it past Mark Schwarzer, this could be a long afternoon for Fulham.[LNB]15.12: Much ado about nothing at Stamford Bridge, both teams will be desperate for a win given their recent form in the league.[LNB]15.09: We should have seen that Tevez goal coming, this from Opta:[LNB]Carlos Tevez has scored six goals in nine Premier League games against Bolton Wanderers and four in three for Manchester City.[LNB]15.07: Very bright start from Wolves. First Robinson does well to tip Nenad Milijas onto the post before George Elokobi's follow up hits both the post and bar.[LNB] Early doors: Snood inspired Carlos Tevez fires Manchester City infront[LNB]15.05: GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 Bolton[LNB]Training ground bust ups could be the new 'in' thing. City have stormed out the blocks and Yaya Toure's pass sets Carlos Tevez on his way, who after skipping past Gary Cahill leaves himself with a one-on-one that the Argentine makes no mistake with.[LNB]15.03: Bright start from Wolves, Matt Jarvis not for the first time this season bursts down the wing before cutting inside and forcing a good save from Paul Robinson.[LNB]Underrated player the Wolves winger.[LNB]15.01: It's kick-off in the Premier League.[LNB]14.59: Just some predictions from myself:[LNB]Arsenal 3-0 FulhamBirmingham 2-0 TottenhamBlackburn 0-0 WolvesChelsea 2-1 EvertonManchester City 2-0 BoltonWigan 1-1 Stoke[LNB]Bad day for the away sides*.[LNB]*In my opinion.[LNB]14.58: Just before the games get underway click here for Dominic King's exclusive interview with Phil Neville, who I can say speaks with great honesty, refreshing stuff.[LNB]14.55: But the stats people at Opta and InfoStradaLive have both combined to bring up some bad omens for Fulham.[LNB]Respectively they tell us Fulham have won just three of their 43 Premier League London derbies away from home and none of the last 32.[LNB]And have never won in all 23 previous league visits to Arsenal stretching back 97 years.[LNB]14.53: Either way Spurs have a tough task in defeating Birmingham today, our friends at Opta tell us that Birmingham have only lost one of their 11 Premier League games against London sides at home since the arrival of Alex McLeish.[LNB]14.51: That's not a mis-print at St Andrews, Spurs have named two keepers on their bench in Carlo Cudicini and Stipe Pletikosa.[LNB]And that means no Robbie Keane at all. How has he gone from being Spurs' talisman to less value than a third substitute keeper?[LNB]More to the point why has Harry Redknapp named three keepers in his squad?[LNB]14.50: As ever click here to read Andy Townsend's previews of ALL this weekend's matches (except Bloomfield Road obviously).[LNB]14.48: Mauro Boselli comes into the Wigan side for today's Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke at the DW Stadium as Roberto Martinez's only available striker.[LNB]Hugo Rodallega serves the final game of a three-match ban while Franco Di Santo (ankle) and Victor Moses (shoulder) are injured, and Boselli himself was a slight doubt with a knee problem.[LNB]Ben Watson is preferred to Jordi Gomez in midfield.[LNB]Stoke duo Jermaine Pennant and Andy Wilkinson both lost their battles to be fit so Danny Higginbotham and Jonathan Walters come into the team that drew 1-1 with Manchester City last weekend.[LNB]Wigan v StokeWigan: Al Habsi, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Steven Caldwell, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Watson, Diame, Thomas, Cleverley, Boselli. Subs: Pollitt, Gomez, McArthur, Boyce, Stam, McManaman, Mustoe.Stoke: Begovic, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Collins, Walters, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Fuller, Jones. Subs: Sorensen, Whelan, Gudjohnsen, Diao, Sanli, Faye, Shotton.Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire)[LNB]14.45: Birmingham's Carling Cup goal hero Nikola Zigic is relegated to the substitute's bench for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.[LNB]The Serbian international had scored the quarter-final winner against Aston Villa in midweek but Zigic and midfielder Sebastian Larsson make way for Jean Beausejour and Craig Gardner respectively.[LNB]Spurs boss Harry Redknapp makes two enforced changes from the side which gained a last-gasp win over Liverpool.[LNB]Striker Rafael van der Vaart (hamstring) and defender Younes Kaboul (hip) are ruled out and replaced by Jermain Defoe and Sebastien Bassong.[LNB]Birmingham v TottenhamBirmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Gardner, Ferguson, Beausejour, Bowyer, Fahey, Jerome. Subs: Taylor, Murphy, Larsson, Derbyshire, Michel, Zigic, Jiranek.Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Bale, Crouch, Defoe. Subs: Cudicini, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson, Kranjcar, Corluka, Sandro, Pletikosa.Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)[LNB]14.42: Chelsea captain John Terry returns to lead the side against Everton in the Barclays Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]Terry has missed the last three league games with a sciatic nerve problem but replaces the injured Alex (knee) at the heart of the defence.[LNB]Michael Essien is back after a three-match ban and replaces Ramires in midfield.[LNB]Everton make five changes from the side trounced by West Brom last weekend.[LNB]Phil Neville, Jack Rodwell, Marouane Fellaini, Louis Saha and Seamus Coleman are handed a place in the starting line-up, with John Heitinga, Ayegbeni Yakubu, Victor Anichebe stepping down to the bench.[LNB]Tony Hibbert is out with an ankle problem and Mikel Arteta suspended.[LNB]Chelsea v EvertonChelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Malouda, Kalou, Drogba, Anelka. Subs: Turnbull, Ramires, Ferreira, Sturridge, Bruma, Kakuta, McEachran.Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha. Subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Osman, Yakubu, Anichebe.Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)[LNB]14.39: Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure returns to the team against Bolton at Eastlands following a migraine.[LNB]He replaces James Milner in one of two changes manager Roberto Mancini makes to his side following the draw with Stoke in their least league game.[LNB]Pablo Zabaleta, who played in the victory over Salzburg in the Europa League in midweek, retains his place with Micah Richards on the bench.[LNB]Former City winger Martin Petrov is back in the Bolton team, with Matt Taylor stepping down following the draw with Blackpool.Man City v BoltonMan City: Hart, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Kolarov, Toure Yaya, De Jong, Barry, Silva, Tevez, Balotelli. Subs: Given, Richards, Milner, Adam Johnson, Lescott, Vieira, Jo.Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Mark Davies, Muamba, Petrov, Elmander, Kevin Davies. Subs: Bogdan, Steinsson, Taylor, Klasnic, Moreno, Blake, Cohen.Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)[LNB]14.36: Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce makes two changes to his starting line-up as Rovers look to remove last weekend's Old Trafford wipeout from their system at home to Wolves.[LNB]Gael Givet replaces Pascal Chimbonda at the back and set-piece specialist Morten Gamst Pedersen is back from injury to replace Herald Goulon.[LNB]Wolves boss Mick McCarthy also makes two changes with Christophe Berra returning from suspension to replace David Jones, and Steven Mouyokolo in for Richard Steerman.[LNB]Blackburn v WolverhamptonBlackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Jones, Emerton, Dunn, Pedersen, El-Hadji Diouf, Roberts. Subs: Bunn, Kalinic, Mwaruwari, Hoilett, Hanley, Morris, Mame Diouf.Wolverhampton: Hennessey, Zubar, Mouyokolo, Berra, Elokobi, Ward, Mancienne, Milijas, Foley, Doyle, Jarvis. Subs: Hahnemann, Stearman, Ebanks-Blake, Hunt, Bent, Winnall, Doherty.Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)[LNB]14.33: Arsene Wenger reverts to his strongest available line-up for Arsenal's Barclays Premier League game against Fulham.[LNB]After making several changes for Tuesday's Carling Cup quarter-final win over Wigan, manager Wenger names the same XI who beat Aston Villa in the league three days earlier.[LNB]Fulham recall John Pantsil for Chris Baird and hand a second start to 19-year-old left-back Matthew Briggs.Arsenal v FulhamArsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Rosicky, Arshavin, Chamakh. Subs: Szczesny, van Persie, Walcott, Denilson, Djourou, Gibbs, Bendtner.Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Gera, Kamara. Subs: Stockdale, Kelly, Baird, Andrew Johnson, Duff, Eddie Johnson, Greening.Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)[LNB]14.30: Thank heavens for under-soil heating. Without this wonderful feature under the Premier League pitches, it could have been much more than just Blackpool-Manchester United that bit the dust this week (Bloomfield Road incidentally does not have it).[LNB]Despite games being cancelled up and down the country, the 3pm Premier League kick-offs remain untouched. Just as well, the lead at the top of the Premier League is likely to change and it's set to chop and change just as much at the bottom. Football is set to win again, team news on the way...[LNB] Hotshot: Didier Drogba will hope to fire Chelsea back to the top of the table[LNB] All the latest Premier League team news ahead of the weekendMario Balotelli involved in training ground scrap with Man City team-mate Jerome BoatengArsenal striker Chamakh targets 20 goals on debut season at the Emirates Come on, it's not THAT cold! Manchester City and Tottenham stars go to extremes to keep out winter chill[LNB] Explore more:People: Kevin Davies, Mick McCarthy, Sam Allardyce, Martin Petrov, Adam Johnson, Pascal Chimbonda, James Milner, Andrew Johnson, Roberto Mancini, Steven Mouyokolo, Matt Taylor, John Pantsil, John Terry, Sebastien Bassong, Victor Anichebe, Victor Moses, Ben Watson, Phil Neville, Danny Higginbotham, Roberto Martinez, Michael Essien, Harry Redknapp, Craig Gardner, Jordi Gomez, Louis Saha, Younes Kaboul, Sebastian Larsson, Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane, Alex McLeish, Nenad Milijas, Paul Robinson, Gary Cahill, Matt Jarvis, Carlos Tevez, Robert Huth, Aaron Lennon, Peter Crouch, Matthew Etherington, Ryan Nelsen, Danny Collins, Laurent Koscielny, David Dunn, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, David Silva, Wayne Hennessey, Ben Foster, Zat Knight, William Gallas, Gareth Bale Places: Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, United Kingdom
