'Pool have to show character after Tokyo setback

Following the upset to Sao Paulo in the Club World Championship final in Tokyo, European champions Liverpool will have a severe test in the Premier League against a revived Newcastle at Anfield.

The Reds will be keen to show their true spirit and continue on the good work in the domestic scene after missing out on the world crown in a match they dominated but were badly let down by the officials who annulled three Liverpool goals.

Liverpool have enjoyed a sequence of seven straight Premiership victories without conceding a goal and have moved up to third place in the standings behind Chelsea and Manchester United.

Their objective is to stretch even further this remarkable run and hold on to their lofty position.

Graeme Souness, who used to grace the Anfield turf, and his deadly Newcastle forward Michael Owen, who was in the Reds' front line the season before the arrival of Rafael Benitez, will be keen to put one over their former side.

The Toon, who appear an ordinary side without Owen (after a spell sidelined with injuries) have won back-to-back matches against Londoners Arsenal (home) and West Ham (away).

Chelsea double

Chelsea vs Fulham. At last, Chelsea buried their jinx at Highbury against Arsenal and claimed a double on their rivals with a 2-0 victory last Sunday for the first time in 36 years. In 1969-70 the Blues beat the Reds 3-0 at home and away.

The Gunners appear to be out of the running for the championship title now. Arsene Wenger said that he must build for the future.

The Cottagers, without an away win this season, have failed to emerge victorious in their last seven league visits to Stamford Bridge.

Man. United vs WBA. West Bromwich boss Bryan Robson will be visiting Old Trafford for the second time this season following their 3-1 loss in the fourth round of the League Cup.

United are on a seven-match unbeaten league run - six wins and a draw. The Red Devils have also pieced together a sequence of 13 consecutive Premiership matches in which they have always scored - the best by any club this season.

West Brom shocked their rivals with a 1-1 draw last season. Yet, they are still in search of their first three-pointer on their travels.

Tottenham vs Birmingham. Martin Jol, who will be without Jermaine Defoe through injury, was glad to watch his side score a total of 11 goals in their last four league matches after the 3-3 draw at Middlesbrough.

Spurs will seek to attain their 20th league victory under Jol as they showed their resilience once more at Boro.

Tottenham have efficiently picked up 12 points from matches in which they were in arrears.

The Blues' 4-1 home hiding to Manchester City was their 10th league defeat.

Sunderland vs Bolton. Sam Allardyce, whose side lost only once in their last 13 league and cup matches, will be looking to strengthen the squad next month to make up for the loss of players on African Nations Cup duty.

On the only four past occasions (home and away) the two sides met in the Premiership, the Black Cats lost once.

Charlton vs Arsenal. The Gunners' home upset to Chelsea was hard to fathom for the fans. Yet, they can only point their fingers at the quality of the squad they possess.

With too many young and untested players in a squad, no manager can expect to challenge for the championship crown. It is no use for Arsene Wenger to insist that he does not need to strengthen the side in January. Results are proving him wrong.

The Valiants' two home wins so far were attained in their opening season fixture and in their last outing.

Wigan vs Manchester City. The Latics have silenced their critics with a resounding 3-0 home win over Charlton to keep their place in the top six. They followed it up by claiming a semi-final berth in the League Cup sequel to their 2-0 home win over Bolton in midweek.

The Citizens, having mustered two victories from six matches, will have forward Andy Cole back from suspension. They will be in search of their fourth success on the away front, adding to wins against Charlton, Sunderland and Birmingham.

M'boro vs Blackburn. Middlesbrough will hope to close the gap in head-to-head matches against Blackburn since the Rovers lead 44-36 on all-time past league matches.

Last term, the Teessiders did the double on the Ewood Park outfit with a 1-0 victory at the Riverside and 4-0 away.

Mark Hughes has called out for a winter break. His team will have to play four games in eight days during the festive period.

Portsmouth vs West Ham. There was a great welcome for Harry Redknapp as he returned to Fratton Park, where he plotted the downfall of West Brom for three precious points - Pompey's first home league win.

The Hammers have scored in seven straight Premiership matches that yielded them ten points.

Today's meeting is the first clash between the contestants in the Premiership.

Aston Villa vs Everton. Both sides finished on the losing end in their last excursion, Villa at home to Manchester United and Everton against Bolton at Goodison Park.

Villa chairman Doug Ellis told manager David O'Leary that he will have no money to spend in the January transfer window.

His counterpart David Moyes will probably strengthen his ailing side - his first choice will be to lure Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen back 'home'.