By Toby Prince
After a midweek of mixed fortunes for English sides in Europe, the Barclays Premier League returns with mouth watering fixtures this weekend.
From the fiercest rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United to the Merseyside derby, we take you on a tour of the key ties in the league.
Manchester City vs. Newcastle
Kickoff: Saturday, 3pm.
Venue: Etihad Stadium.
Match facts: Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 17 Barclays Premier League meetings with Newcastle United (W15 D2), their longest run without defeat against a single opponent in the competition.
City have netted two or more goals in each of their last 14 BPL encounters with the Magpies (39 scored in total).
The Blue side of Manchester have lost two league matches in a row for the second time under Manuel Pellegrini. They last lost three consecutive BPL fixtures in November 2008.
Head-to-head: Man City 10 Drawn 0 Newcastle 0
Chelsea vs. Southampton
Kickoff: Saturday, 5:30pm
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Match facts: Jose Mourinho has never lost a Barclays Premier League match to Southampton (W4 D2).
Southampton have won one of their last 13 trips to Stamford Bridge, a 4-2 victory in January 2002 (D4 L8).
Both league meetings between these clubs last season ended with a 1-1 scoreline, with all four goals coming in the first half.
Head-to-head: Chelsea 6 Drawn 1 Southampton 1
Everton vs. Liverpool
Kickoff: Sunday, 1:30pm
Venue: Goodison Park
Match facts: Everton have gone nine league matches without a victory against their neighbours Liverpool. They have not gone 10 without a victory against the Reds since 1984 (a run of 11 matches).
Liverpool have lost just one of their last eight BPL matches at Goodison Park, losing 2-0 in October 2010. The last three have ended in draws.
This fixture has seen the most red cards shown in Barclays Premier League history (20); four more than any other match in the competition.
Head-to-head: Everton 1 Drawn 6 Liverpool 3
Arsenal vs. Manchester United
Kickoff: Sunday, 4pm
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Match facts: Manchester United are unbeaten in four away matches against Arsenal. They have never gone five without a loss away to the Gunners in the Barclays Premier League era.
Arsenal’s win rate of 24% against Manchester United in the BPL is their lowest versus any team in the competition.
Wayne Rooney scored his first Barclays Premier League goal (October 2002), his first league goal for Man Utd (October 2004) and his 100th BPL goal (January 2010) against Arsenal.
Head-to-head: Arsenal 1 Drawn 3 Manchester 6
