Chelsea's game at Stamford Bridge is an unexpected second versus third clash, with Everton having been heavily tipped for relegation even before the August sale of teenage striker Wayne Rooney to Manchester United.

Chelsea are on a roll of five consecutive wins in all competitions and eight victories in their last nine games, despite the continued absence of Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba through injury.

Coach Jose Mourinho has the Premier League's meanest defence with just three goals conceded in their 11 games, while the attack is now beginning to click with his men scoring four times in each of their last two league games.

Team spirit is particularly high after a fourth straight Champions League win at CSKA Moscow in midweek booked them into the knockout stage of Europe's money-spinning competition.

But Everton, just three points behind their hosts, will be a stern test for Mourinho's side. Unbeaten in their five away league games this season, they could well grind out a point.

Arsenal, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference, could benefit from any dropped points by their London rivals -- provided their battered self-confidence does not lead them into further trouble after a bad fortnight for Arsene Wenger's team.

ARSENAL'S HANGOVER

Yet to recover from the ending of their record 49-match unbeaten league run by Manchester United on October 24, Arsenal needed a 90th minute equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw with struggling Southampton last weekend.

Adding to the frustration at Highbury was the squandering of an early lead over Panathinaikos in midweek as Arsenal's Champions League campaign was hit by a third consecutive draw.

Wenger's first XI have not won since mid-October, though Arsenal's youngsters beat Manchester City 2-1 away in the League Cup, and the continued absence of injured central defender Sol Campbell is clearly making itself felt.

Palace may have been a pushover at the start of the season as they tried to cope with Premier League football but Iain Dowie's managerial skills have turned around a side who have now won three of their last four league games.

Fans in Manchester are gearing up for Sunday's first derby of the season, with United hosting City at Old Trafford.

United looked to have turned the corner of a disappointing season by beating Arsenal, only to suffer a shock 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth last weekend that leaves them nine points adrift of the champions in seventh place.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy's four-goal blast against Sparta Prague in midweek will have buoyed United spirits, though, while City will be hoping for more fireworks from right winger Shaun Wright-Phillips as they battle a rash of injuries.