Everton can feel the heat again ...at White Hart Lane

While last season nobody gave Everton a chance to finish fourth in the final standings after losing key players Wayne Rooney and Thomas Gravesen, their fortunes have turned upside down this season. Everton are now occupying the bottom place despite strengthening the side at the start of the campaign.

The Toffees, bundled out of Europe from two competitions, have also been unlucky with injuries.

Yet, £5 million former Udinese defender Per Kroldrup (Denmark) will probably appear in the Blues' colours for the first time in the Premiership this afternoon after recovering from a groin operation.

For the first time in his career, manager David Moyes is feeling the heat that can see him become the first Premiership casualty of the season if negative results persist.

Everton have gained only three points (a win at Bolton) from a maximum of 21 so far. Today, they travel to one of their hoodoo venues - White Hart Lane - where they have not won in their last 19 calls in the league. Their last win came in season 1985-86 in the 'old' Division I. Gary Lineker, who later joined Spurs, was the scorer for Everton.

Tottenham will move into second place behind Chelsea if they earn at least a point today. They are third behind Charlton (play on Monday) on the same number of points but with an inferior goal difference.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy urged his players to deliver on the pitch after an announcement of a record annual profit of £4.1 million for the year ending June 30. Tottenham have ended their commitments with consecutive Premiership wins before the international break, the same way they had started the campaign.

Lampard's warning

Chelsea vs Bolton. Jose Mourinho was right to call on the media to pay his club more respect following the sound 4-1 triumph at Liverpool.

Soon after that remark, Frank Lampard warned his team-mates not to rise to the bait dangled by 'jealous' rivals desperate to undermine the club's remarkable opening of eight straight wins.

Lampard showed the way in England's win over Poland by netting the killer goal. The Wanderers, who in their last outing suffered their first away defeat of the season (1-2 at Wigan), gained positive results in their last two visits to Stamford Bridge, a 2-2 draw and a 2-1 win.

Charlton vs Fulham. The two defeats suffered by the Valiants this season came at home to London opposition (0-2 to Chelsea and 2-3 to Tottenham). So, they will be keen to claim their first win in their third capital derby.

Another manager in dire straits is the Cottagers' Chris Coleman as his side figured in three straight losses in the league.

Coleman's two major setbacks in the market were when he lost Louis Saha and then goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, both to Manchester United.

In the only four times (home and away) these two teams met in the Premiership, Charlton won twice - 2-1, 3-1, 0-1, 1-1.

Sunderland vs Manchester United. After a short break in Malta, Alex Ferguson returned home to the training routine, preparing his players to their north-east clash at the Stadium of Light.

In the twilight of his career, Ryan Giggs is enjoying his best spell with Wales, all this since John Toshack took over as coach.

The Black Cats are benefiting from a positive stretch of four League and Cup outings without defeat.

West Brom vs Arsenal. While Juventus continue to enjoy their best opening to a season with Patrick Vieira in the side, the Gunners needed an own-goal against ten-man Birmingham to win 1-0 at Highbury.

Arsene Wenger has again stressed that he was not worried about Thierry Henry's loyalty to the club and he was positive that when the time would come he would put pen to paper on a new deal.

Albion defender Neil Clement insisted that he was confident that the players had the mental strength to haul themselves away from the trouble of relegation.

Liverpool vs Blackburn. Reds forward Djibril Cisse, who feels unsettled at one time and next he says he wants to fight to regain his place, had the misfortune to break his leg in the match against the Rovers, at Ewood Park last season.

The 'Pool, following the 4-1 hiding at home to Chelsea, are expected to pull their socks up and show that they are still a side to be reckoned with. Rafael Benitez will have to do without injured skipper Steven Gerrard.

Ex-Liverpool player David Thompson, now at Rovers, believes he can become a part of the squad again after returning from injury.

In 11 previous Premier League clashes at Anfield, the guests won only once.

Manchester City vs West Ham. Stuart Pearce, who ended his playing career in 2001-02 at Manchester City, joined the club after a spell at West Ham. Tomorrow, Pearce will be keen to put one over his former side.

David James and Trevor Sinclair also played at Upton Park before they signed for City. The two sides are in the top half of the standings and the Citizens (played a game more) have a two-point cushion upon their rivals. Man. City have lost once at home (to Bolton 0-1), while the Londoners are undefeated on their travels.

The last time the Hammers were in the top flight in 2002-03 they won 1-0 (Kanoute) at City's lair. This arrived after eight attempts, having last emerged victorious at this venue in the 'old' Division I in 1981-82, 1-0 (Goddard).

M'boro vs Portsmouth. In midweek Pompey confirmed that executive director Velimir Zajec had resigned for personal reasons.

Coach Alain Perrin can follow in his tracks, but for different causes. Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock is being mentioned as a possible replacement if the Frenchman will be shown the back door.

Boro's mentor Steve McClaren is wearing a big smile after England qualified for the World Cup finals, where he will be gaining more experience as assistant to Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Before the international recess, Boro won 3-2 at Villa, while Portsmouth shared the points at home to Newcastle. The Teessiders still have to defeat the Fratton Park outfit after the only four meetings they had in the Premiership resulted in two wins for the southerners and two draws (home and away).

Wigan vs Newcastle. The Toon will be glad to have Michael Owen back in attack after he missed the last match through injury. Since the England man joined Newcastle from Real Madrid they are undefeated in four Premiership excursions.

The Latics have surprised even their own fans, having won four and drawn one in their last five League matches. Wigan are tucked behind Arsenal in eighth place - four points above Newcastle, who have played a game more.

Birmingham vs Aston Villa. The all-Midland affair is scheduled for tomorrow when Villa will be in search of their first win against their rivals, since the Brummies earned a place in the Premiership three seasons ago.

In the first campaign and the last the Blues did the double on Villa and in between sandwiched two draws in 2003-04.

While Steve Bruce will be without the suspended Ken Cunningham and Nicky Butt, his counterpart David O'Leary will hope to have Milan Baros back after injury.

In Scotland, Hearts, who in their last outing drew 2-2 at newly-promoted Inverness, can suffer their first defeat of the season at Celtic.

If the Bhoys complete the job in front of their own fans they will reach the 25-point mark, the same tally the side from Edinburgh are enjoying at present. Hearts have a superior goal difference of two goals.