The EPL returns with something of a bang this Saturday, offering up a number of key clashes that could have major implications at both ends of the table come season’s end.

First up on Saturday, sixth-placed Manchester City visit seventh-placed Liverpool as both sides attempt to end a poor recent run of form and force their way back into the top four. Second-placed Arsenal, meanwhile, face a tricky trip to big improvers Sunderland, Manchester United host Everton and leaders Chelsea will be confident of retaining top spot as they welcome struggling Wolves to Stamford Bridge.

Elsewhere, Burnley will be aiming to claim another home scalp when they tackle Aston Villa, Hull lock horns with fellow-strugglers West Ham and Birmingham take on Fulham in a game that many punters will be eyeing as a sure-fire draw.

Sunday sees three fixtures, starting with a return to the Reebok Stadium for Sam Allardyce as his Blackburn side face Bolton. Tottenham then take on inconsistent Wigan hoping to cement their place in the top four, before rock-bottom Portsmouth head to the Potteries for a clash with a Stoke side currently occupying the dizzy heights of ninth place.

The stand-out game in this week’s round of the EPL is of course Sunday’s showdown between title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, but before the top two go head to head at Stamford Bridge there are a number of other crucial clashes to keep punters on their toes.

Aston Villa will be confident of extending their five-match unbeaten run as they welcome struggling Bolton to Villa Park, while Ewood Park will play host to a potential relegation six-pointer when Blackburn take on bottom-placed Portsmouth.

Manchester City’s excellent home record and Burnley’s woeful form on the road suggests that there will only be one outcome when the two meet at the City of Manchester Stadium, but there looks to be a tighter contest in prospect when 5th-placed Tottenham entertain 8th-placed Sunderland.

Saturday’s late kick-off sees Arsenal travel to Wolves looking to build on their comfortable derby win over Spurs last time out.

First-up on Sunday Hull lock horns with Stoke, as Tigers’ boss Phil Brown battles to keep himself in a job, before another under-fire manager, West Ham’s Gianfranco Zola, leads his troops into battle with injury-hit Everton at Upton Park. The mid-table clash between Wigan and Fulham looks a difficult one to call given both sides’ inconsistency and the same can be said of Sunday’s late game, the titanic meeting of Chelsea and Manchester United.

The round is completed on Monday when floundering Liverpool face a must-win home game against Birmingham.

This weekend’s round of games in the English Premier League gets underway with a Saturday lunchtime blockbuster as fierce North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur go head to head at the Emirates Stadium. The capital then plays host to another intriguing encounter later on Saturday, as Fulham host a Liverpool side looking to use last week’s impressive victory over Manchester United as a springboard from which to relaunch their stuttering title challenge.

Elsewhere, leaders Chelsea will be anticipating a rugged contest at the Reebok Stadium as they take on Bolton, while Manchester United will be confident of securing a home win at the expense of a Blackburn side who have conceded 13 goals in their last three Premiership games and have also had an outbreak of swine flu to contend with.

Burnley welcome Hull to Turf Moor in a clash that could have major relegation implications come the end of the season and the same could also be said of Stoke’s home game against Wolves.

Aston Villa will be confident of continuing their surge up the table as they take on injury-ravaged Everton at Goodison Park and surprise high-fliers Sunderland will fancy their chances of downing 19th-placed West Ham at the Stadium of Light.

Portsmouth’s season of misery has continued this week with the club being hit by a transfer ban due to unpaid debts arising from previous deals, although with inconsistent Wigan providing the opposition on Saturday, Paul Hart’s men may be able to provide a glimmer of hope by chalking up what would be their first home win of the season.

Unusually, there is just one game on Sunday and it takes place at St Andrews where Birmingham entertain a Manchester City side desperate to recapture their early season form and force their way back into the top four.