Chelsea aiming to start New Year in style

The top eight teams all face each other when the busy English Premier League holiday schedule continues on New Year's Day with leaders Chelsea opening their Centenary Year with a tough visit to Liverpool.

The top four are all away with second-placed Arsenal facing Charlton Athletic in a London derby, Manchester United at Middlesbrough and Everton, who have slipped to fourth, away to Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea, who have lost only once in their 20 league matches and are unbeaten in their last 11, will need to be at their stylish best to beat Liverpool where they have won just six league matches in 98 years.

The last of those rare victories came on the opening day of last season when Chelsea won 2-1 at Anfield.

Another victory against Rafael Benitez's in-form side would add to a growing belief that 2005 will not only mark Chelsea's centenary, but also yield their first title since their only previous success in 1955.

Coach Jose Mourinho, who saw his men beat Liverpool 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in October, had to wait until the 79th minute on Tuesday before Dutch winger Arjen Robben scored the breakthrough goal in a 2-0 win at Portsmouth.

Similar patience might well be needed against a buoyant Liverpool side who have won their last three games.

Though results continue to go his way, Mourinho is no fan of the traditional crowded English holiday programme.

"My players are getting tired and to play this many games at this time of the year feels strange to many of them," he said after the win at Portsmouth.

ARSENAL BOOST

Arsenal travel across London to Charlton boosted by a 1-0 win at Newcastle on Wednesday, secured by skipper Patrick Vieira's strike just before halftime.

Arsenal, who trail Chelsea by five points, hammered Charlton 4-0 at Highbury in October but have won four of their last five matches and a fine derby is in prospect.

Manchester United travel to Middlesbrough in great spirits after Tuesday's hard-fought 1-0 win at Aston Villa, where Ryan Giggs topped an outstanding performance with the only goal.

United have won seven of their last eight league matches, but usually find it tough against Middlesbrough, coached by Alex Ferguson's former deputy Steve McClaren.

Boro saw off relegation-threatened Norwich City 2-0 on Tuesday with Cameroon striker Joseph-Desire Job scoring both goals in a three-minute spell early in the second half.

Ferguson knows the importance of Saturday's match to his side.

"We are climbing the table in terms of getting close to the teams behind Chelsea, but it's Chelsea who are the problem because they are on such a great run," he said after the win at Villa.

GOOD RUNS

Two other sides who have recently enjoyed good runs are Spurs and Everton, who meet at White Hart Lane.

Spurs followed a run of six successive defeats with a run of five straight wins before being held 1-1 by Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

Everton, who have not won at Spurs for 20 years, lost for the first time in eight games when they went down 2-0 at The Valley to Charlton.

Both clubs have European soccer in their sights for next season, though Spurs will particularly want the points as they face Manchester United and Chelsea next.

At the other end of the table, Fulham, who have lost their last three matches, will be looking to arrest their slide down the table in a London derby against Crystal Palace.

Bottom-placed West Bromwich Albion, who gained a highly fortunate 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Tuesday, will be hoping for their first win in nine matches since Bryan Robson became manager with victory at Bolton Wanderers, who have lost their last six games.

Albion's only win of the season was a 2-1 home victory over Bolton in October, and they badly need another win now to keep alive their faint hopes of avoiding the drop.