Arsenal

Arsène Wenger believes that Theo Walcott is benefiting from going to the World Cup with England last year. “Theo learnt about the big-match atmosphere and the pressure of playing for your country,” the manager said. “We’re seeing the product.”

Played 10 Won 8 Drawn 2 Lost 0 For 22 Against 7 Points 26
Next match Saturday Manchester United (h)

Manchester United

Michael Carrick has resumed full training, but the England midfield player is unlikely to start away to Arsenal on Saturday. The 26-year-old dislocated an elbow in the Champions League victory over AS Roma last month.

Played 11 Won 8 Drawn 2 Lost 1 For 19 Against 4 Points 26
Next match Saturday Arsenal (a)

Manchester City

Sven-Goran Eriksson has given a vote of confidence to Joe Hart, the England Under-21 goalkeeper, who was demoted to the bench after conceding six goals against Chelsea on Saturday. “My decision is absolutely not a reflection on Joe’s performance,” the City manager said.

Played 11 Won 7 Drawn 1 Lost 3 For 15 Against 13 Points 22
Next match Monday Sunderland (h)

Chelsea

Avram Grant believes Carlo Cudicini is the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League after Petr Cech. “Chelsea have the two best goalkeepers in the country,” the first-team coach said. “Carlo deserves some minutes and will play this season.”

Played 11 Won 6 Drawn 3 Lost 2 For 16 Against 8 Points 21
Next match Saturday Wigan Athletic (a)

Blackburn Rovers

Ryan Nelsen, the captain, has admitted that he will struggle to get back into the first team. The New Zealand defender has been out of action for six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-0 Uefa Cup defeat by Larissa.

Played 10 Won 6 Drawn 3 Lost 1 For 15 Against 9 Points 21
Next match Saturday Liverpool (h)

Liverpool

Rafael BenÍtez’s hopes of signing James McCarthy, the 16-year-old Hamilton Academical midfield player, are increasingly unclear. Liverpool have been the most persistent club, but Barcelona and Reading are among the favourites to sign him.

Played 10 Won 5 Drawn 5 Lost 0 For 17 Against 6 Points 20
Next match Saturday Blackburn Rovers (a)

Portsmouth

Harry Redknapp says it would have been “ridiculous” for Matthew Taylor to come on as a substitute to take the last-minute penalty against West Ham United on Saturday. “He hasn’t had a warm-up and it’s his first touch,” the manager said.

Played 11 Won 5 Drawn 4 Lost 2 For 19 Against 12 Points 19
Next match Saturday Newcastle United (a)

Newcastle United

Mark Viduka has not yet returned to full training after missing the past three matches with a calf injury. The Australia striker, who has scored three goals in six games for the club, is unlikely to be risked at home to Portsmouth on Saturday.

Played 10 Won 5 Drawn 2 Lost 3 For 17 Against 13 Points 17
Next match Saturday Portsmouth (h)

Everton

Joseph Yobo is delighted to have been asked to fill the role of captain in the recent wins over Larissa and Derby County in the absence of Phil Neville. “It’s a huge honour and a big responsibility for me,” the defender said.

Played 11 Won 5 Drawn 1 Lost 5 For 15 Against 13 Points 16
Next match Saturday Birmingham City (h)

Aston Villa

Craig Gardner, the England Under21 midfield player, says he is benefiting from the advice given to him by Stiliyan Petrov, his rival for a place in the side. “He’s had a lot of experience, so the advice is really useful,” Gardner, 20, said.

Played 10 Won 4 Drawn 3 Lost 3 For 14 Against 13 Points 15
Next match Saturday Derby County (h)

West Ham United

Alan Curbishley believes that the players who joined the club in the summer are not injury-prone, despite injuries to five of them. “A lot have been impact injuries, such as a broken leg, only one or two are muscle,” the manager said.

Played 10 Won 4 Drawn 2 Lost 4 For 12 Against 9 Points 14
Next match Sunday Bolton Wanderers (h)

Reading

Nicky Shorey, the England left back, believes that the team can push on after their inconsistent early-season form. “The character is still there and the boys are still good players,” Shorey said. “You don’t become bad players overnight.”

Played 11 Won 4 Drawn 1 Lost 6 For 14 Against 23 Points 13
Next match Saturday Fulham (a)

Birmingham City

Wilson Palacios, the on-loan Honduras midfield player, has been told that he has the option to return home after the kidnapping of his 15-year-old brother. A Birmingham spokesman said: “He has permission to return at any time.”

Played 11 Won 3 Drawn 2 Lost 6 For 11 Against 15 Points 11
Next match Saturday Everton (a)

Fulham

Lawrie Sanchez has about £4 million to spend in the January transfer window. The manager wants a forward and a centre back and is keen on Bobby Zamora, of West Ham United, Kyle Lafferty, of Burnley, and Patrick Kisnorbo, of Leicester City.

Played 11 Won 1 Drawn 6 Lost 4 For 13 Against 17 Points 9
Next match Saturday Reading (h)

Sunderland

After representing Nigeria for the first time last month, Dickson Etuhu could be missing for five weeks in the new year because of the African Cup of Nations. “Let’s cross that bridge if we come to it,” the 25-year-old midfield player said.

Played 11 Won 2 Drawn 3 Lost 6 For 12 Against 20 Points 9
Next match Monday Manchester City (a)

Wigan Athletic

Marcus Bent has revealed that the players exchanged a few choice words after the 3-2 defeat by Birmingham City last Saturday. “People have to be told what they are doing wrong so that they can put it right,” the forward said.

Played 11 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 7 For 10 Against 17 Points 8
Next match Saturday Chelsea (h)

Middlesbrough

Despite initially being ruled out until the new year after knee surgery last summer, Emanuel Pogatetz has made a reserve-team return. “That’s what he does,” Colin Cooper, the first-team coach, said. “The lads call him The Terminator.”

Played 11 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 7 For 11 Against 22 Points 8
Next match Saturday Tottenham Hotspur (h)

Tottenham Hotspur

Gareth Bale has returned to light training. The left-sided Wales player suffered a foot injury in a tackle with Gérémi during the 3-1 defeat by Newcastle United at St James’ Park ten days ago.

Played 11 Won 1 Drawn 4 Lost 6 For 18 Against 23 Points 7
Next match Saturday Middlesbrough (a)

Bolton Wanderers

El-Hadji Diouf, the Senegal forward, has changed his mind about retiring from international football after consulting Youssou N’Dour, the singer. “I have decided to rejoin the national team of my country, which I love deeply,” he said.

Played 11 Won 1 Drawn 3 Lost 7 For 10 Against 17 Points 6
Next match Sunday West Ham United (a)

Derby County

Peter Taylor has praised Adam Pearson, the club’s new chairman. Taylor, who was at Hull City with Pearson, said: “He’s the best chairman I have worked under by a country mile. He is very hands-on and is not a fool about football.”

Played 11 Won 1 Drawn 3 Lost 7 For 5 Against 24 Points 6
Next match Saturday Aston Villa (a)