This Weekend in the Premier League

First, some final notes on Stoke City v. Arsenal:

• Stoke City are unbeaten in 11 matches across all competitions.
• Rory Delap terrifies me.
• If I weren't a Gooner, this would actually be an incredibly intriguing match-up. Instead, I'll just be bouncing nervously.
• I say this as it pits Stoke's sheer physicality against Arsenal's precision, angles, and finesse.

Around the League, times Eastern because I said so:

7:45 am: Chelsea v. Manchester City; Stamford Bridge, London

• One of Chelsea's biggest opportunities to drop three points comes tomorrow morning.
• Chelsea will be without Petr Cech for 3-4 weeks with a calf injury...
• ...but, always willing to help Arsenal, striker Emmanuel Adebayor will be unavailable, as he begins serving a four-match ban for picking up a red card Wednesday at Stoke in an FA Cup replay.
• Also, there's the whole John Terry-Wayne Bridge thing...

10 am: Burnley v. Portsmouth; Turf Moor, Burnley

• With a nine point deduction on its way for entering administration, Portsmouth will begin preparing for next season in the Championship by playing a side currently sitting in the relegation zone as well. This would've been a "six-pointer" if it weren't so obvious now that Pompey's going down.

10 am: Birmingham City v. Wigan Athletic; St. Andrew's Stadium, Birmingham

• Birmingham went 12 matches unbeaten in the league earlier this year, but have won once in their last five as their form is slipping.
• Wigan sits two points clear of the drop zone.

10 am: Bolton Wanderers v. Wolverhampton Wanderers; Reebok Stadium, Bolton

• Another relegation six-pointer on the docket. Bolton sits in 18th, clear of Burnley on goal difference. Wolves are one point ahead of them, in 16th.

8 am Sunday: Tottenham Hotspur v. Everton; White Hart Lane, London

• Everton is the in-form team of the moment, coming off wins over Chelsea and Manchester United, but were just blasted out of the Europa League after losing 3-0 in Lisbon.
• Fortunately for them, everyone on Tottenham is sick!

10 am Sunday: Sunderland v. Fulham; Stadium of Light, Sunderland

• Sunderland may never win again. Seriously, it's been three months now.
• If Fulham puts a run together, they could challenge for European qualification. They're probably the lowest team in the table right now capable of saying that, sitting in 9th. It's a very long shot, their nine points out of 4th.

10 am Sunday: Liverpool v. Blackburn Rovers; Anfield, London

• Liverpool made quick work of some team from Romania that nobody has ever heard of in the Europa League after their exile from the Champions League. 4th place is still up for grabs.

10 am Sunday: CARLING CUP FINAL - Manchester United v. Aston Villa; Wembley Stadium, London

• Come on you Villans!

Not playing this weekend: West Ham United and Hull City, because of the Carling Cup Final. West Ham lost 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Hull City had their match with Villa postponed.