Premiership Preview
Liverpool take on Chelsea in the game of the weekend while Manchester City host fierce rivals United on a Sunday that could definitively shape the title race. Elsewhere, Tottenham need points and fast - they play Derby - Newcastle are up against Aston Villa, and high-flying Everton go to Reading. Footballing World previews and predicts the outcome of all ten clashes.
Portsmouth v Bolton (1245 UK)
A relegation struggle is looming for Sammy Lee’s Bolton after defeats to Newcastle and Fulham, but while their own defence is struggling, they face a …

The failure of South Americans to adjust to the climate – weather – and culture – the Premier League – has frequently put managers off purchasing players who have great talent but little stomach for a life in England. Yet the increased expenditure has somewhat reversed this belief and vindication was delivered in the opening round of matches by three goals from three players born in Brazil, Paraguay and Peru.
The fact they all arrived or have previously played for European clubs, rather than rolling up directly from South America, clearly …

With more money spent than ever before this summer, the Premier League has attracted some of Europe’s best talent. But which players will make the most impact in a season that promises a three-team chase for the title and an intense scramble for European places?
Footballing World picks out seven of the most exciting deals to be completed; seven stars who will shake up the Premier League.
Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
A huge price tag does not detract from the talent of Torres, a striker with immense potential and forever linked with a major …

Our predictions for the 2007/8 season attempt to forecast the fate of clubs fighting for the title, a place in Europe or to stay in the Premier League. Part two covers the ten remaining sides, from Manchester City to Wigan. Do you agree?
Premier League Predictions: Part One
Manchester City
Stuart Pearce’s uninventive spell ended amidst anger and despondency from City’s support but following a hectic summer, the new owners have instilled fresh belief that a sleeping giant can be raised. Sven Goran Eriksson is the high-profile manager so many have craved, and …

Sven-Göran Eriksson has excited some and inspired fear in others with a spending spree that has brought in numerous exotic yet mostly unknown names. The Swede’s outlay will total more than £40m by the end of the month but with elevated expectations, Eriksson has little scope for failure next season.
A new owner, a high-profile, expensive manager and exceptional expenditure has galvanised Manchester’s secondary club into believing a return to Europe is imminent. While mediocrity under Kevin Keegan and Stuart Pearce resulted in restlessness, Eriksson is expected to transform City into …

As Sven-Göran Eriksson’s re-building of the Manchester City squad continues, in comes Geovanni to bolster the midfield.
Geovanni is an attacking midfielder who can play on the right, a position Manchester City have struggled to fill since the departure of Shaun Wright-Phillips. A quiet character, he was nicknamed Soneca (’Sleepy’) at Benfica, which should be a welcome change in the wake of a certain J. Barton.
A steadying but purposeful presence in midfield might be just what Manchester City need
Geovanni emerged at Barcelona in the early 00s having joined from Belo Horizonte …

If the sign of a good striker is scoring goals whilst playing in a poor team, then Manchester City’s latest acquisition Rolando Bianchi must be a fine player.
Last season with Reggina, he and his strike parter, the veteran Nicola Amoruso, netted 35 Serie A goals between them. With Reggina having been docked 11 points at the start of the season due to the ‘Calciopoli’ scandal, Bianchi’s emergence as an effective target man was central to them avoiding relegation.
Bianchi is a 5′10″ striker with an eye for goal and a decent …

Some sections of Manchester City support were reluctant in welcoming ex-Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri as his appointment neared, suggesting his reputation for tinkering – sometimes beyond any bizarre logic – and desire to spend lots of money would not be beneficial to the club. Most agreed, however, that he was a level above previous incumbent Stuart Pearce. Now the quandary has disappeared with Ranieri opting not to wait for former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to complete his takeover, and after taking the Juventus job, the pressure on his shoulders …