United and Liverpool set for passion play

The England defender and United captain infamously ran the length of the pitch at Old Trafford to celebrate Rio Ferdinand's late winner in front of the Liverpool fans last season by screaming, clutching his shirt and pointing to the United badge.

He was fined 5,000 pounds for his exuberant celebrations and warned about his future conduct.

"Are you meant to smile sweetly and jog back to the halfway line?" Neville said of the incident. "People want footballers to be whiter than white. Do they want a game of robots?"

League leaders United, who have 19 points along with champions Chelsea, are full of confidence after a midweek Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen all but ensured their passage to the knockout rounds.

Liverpool, who beat Girondins Bordeaux 1-0 on Wednesday, have again struggled for consistency in the league and sit in mid-table on 11 points after eight games.

They should welcome back captain Steven Gerrard after the England midfielder was rested in midweek after suffering a hamstring injury.

Chelsea host fourth-placed Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge with the aftermath of Petr Cech's head injury sustained against Reading still rumbling on with coach Jose Mourinho calling for an inquiry.

The Czech Republic goalkeeper is likely to be out for several months after suffering a fractured skull in a challenge with Reading's Stephen Hunt. With deputy Carlo Cudicini also injured, third-choice Hilario was handed a debut for Wednesday's Champions League win over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

This weekend Reading are at home to an Arsenal side whose run of six consecutive wins in all competitions ended with a Champions League defeat at CSKA Moscow in midweek.

Inconsistent Tottenham Hotspur should need no motivation for their home clash with West Ham United on Sunday.

Spurs lost their final match of last season against their London rivals to miss out on a place in the Champions League qualifiers after a virus decimated their squad.

BASEMENT BATTLE

An early season relegation "six-pointer" takes place at The Valley where bottom side Charlton Athletic, on three points, host a Watford side who occupy one place above them.

Charlton manager Iain Dowie, who made an acrimonious departure from Crystal Palace in the close season, knows he is under real pressure to turn the club's season around.

"If there are any brickbats to be thrown, throw them at me. I understand that's going to happen because of the position we're in," Dowie said.

"But I always keep believing. I'm a believer that always sees the good in people."

Watford have played some entertaining football on their return to the Premier League but are still seeking their first win.