Manchester United

The home match against Aston Villa, which had been moved to March 30, will kick off at 5.15pm on Saturday, March 29, having been brought forward to help the club to prepare for their Champions League trip to AS Roma on April 1.

Played 30 Won 22 Drawn 4 Lost 4 For 61 Against 15 Points 70
Next match Sunday Liverpool (h)

Arsenal

Luke Freeman, the 15-year-old striker who joined the club from Gillingham in January, has been nicknamed “Owen” by his academy team-mates because they think that his finishing is as good as Michael Owen’s. “I am my own player,” Freeman said.

Played 30 Won 19 Drawn 10 Lost 1 For 58 Against 22 Points 67
Next match Sunday Chelsea (a)

Chelsea

Avram Grant has told his players that they need to win all their remaining league matches if they want to be champions. “We will not play for draws,” the first-team coach said. “We have to play to win.”

Played 30 Won 19 Drawn 8 Lost 3 For 53 Against 22 Points 65
Next match Sunday Arsenal (h)

Liverpool

Fernando Torres is confident of adding to his tally of 27 goals in all competitions this season. “I hope to score many more goals for Liverpool this season,” the Spain forward said. “It’s easier to score goals when the whole team is on form.”

Played 30 Won 16 Drawn 11 Lost 3 For 55 Against 21 Points 59
Next match Sunday Manchester United (a)

Everton

James Vaughan hopes to return from injury to help the club’s push for Champions League qualification. After a successful second operation on his left knee, the striker, 19, said: “I’m in very good spirits. I know I’ve got to work really hard.”

Played 30 Won 17 Drawn 5 Lost 8 For 47 Against 25 Points 56
Next match Saturday West Ham United (h)

Portsmouth

Sol Campbell may not be fit to return against Tottenham Hotspur, one of his former clubs, at White Hart Lane on Saturday. “Sol is struggling with a knee injury,” Harry Redknapp, the manager, said. “We’ll have to wait, but I’m not too hopeful.”

Played 30 Won 14 Drawn 8 Lost 8 For 44 Against 31 Points 50
Next match Saturday Tottenham Hotspur (a)

Aston Villa

Martin O’Neill believes that Craig Gardner, who has been filling in at right back for much of this season, could make a permanent transition from midfield. “It is a position that he is pretty comfortable with,” the manager said.

Played 30 Won 13 Drawn 10 Lost 7 For 52 Against 39 Points 49
Next match Saturday Sunderland (h)

Manchester City

Thaksin Shinawatra has assured Sven-Göran Eriksson, the manager, that he is happy with the club’s overall performance this season. The chairman had expressed concern at a recent dip in form, but is satisfied with the team’s development.

Played 30 Won 13 Drawn 9 Lost 8 For 36 Against 34 Points 48
Next match Saturday Bolton Wanderers (a)

Blackburn Rovers

John Williams, the chairman, believes that the experience of Johann Vogel, the 31-year-old Switzerland midfield player who has signed a 2K-year contract with the club, could be vital as they pursue European qualification.

Played 30 Won 12 Drawn 10 Lost 8 For 39 Against 37 Points 46
Next match Saturday Wigan Athletic (h)

West Ham United

The proposed new stadium is likely to have a capacity of 50,000 – 10,000 lower than first mooted. The club have asked the Health and Safety Executive to examine gas-holders that could affect the site at West Ham railway station.

Played 30 Won 12 Drawn 7 Lost 11 For 33 Against 36 Points 43
Next match Saturday Everton (a)

Tottenham Hotspur

PSV Eindhoven want to resign Lee Young Pyo, who has little more than a year left on his contract, and have asked the full back about his salary demands. “He is a very interesting player,” Stan Valckx, the PSV technical director, said.

Played 30 Won 9 Drawn 9 Lost 12 For 58 Against 51 Points 36
Next match Saturday Portsmouth (h)

Wigan Athletic

The club will not appeal against the red card shown to Jason Koumas during the 1-0 victory at home to Bolton Wanderers last weekend amid fears that the FA could extend the midfield player’s three-match ban.

Played 30 Won 8 Drawn 7 Lost 15 For 27 Against 42 Points 31
Next match Saturday Blackburn Rovers (a)

Middlesbrough

The club have an option to extend Fabio Rochemback’s contract by two seasons, but will do so only if the midfield player is eager to stay. “There is no point in taking it if he doesn’t want to be here,” Gareth Southgate, the manager, said.

Played 30 Won 7 Drawn 10 Lost 13 For 27 Against 44 Points 31
Next match Saturday Derby County (h)

Newcastle United

Mark Viduka has dismissed reports that his fitness had caused a rift with Kevin Keegan. “Totally untrue,” the Australia striker, who returned against Birmingham City on Monday, said. “The manager has been very positive towards me.”

Played 30 Won 7 Drawn 8 Lost 15 For 31 Against 57 Points 29
Next match Saturday Fulham (h)

Reading

Steve Coppell, the manager, has defended the form of John Oster, the winger, who has been criticised by fans. “John takes risks and if it doesn’t work, he can look bad,” Coppell said. “But he’s a good player and I have a lot of time for him.”

Played 30 Won 8 Drawn 4 Lost 18 For 35 Against 57 Points 28
Next match Saturday Birmingham City (h)

Birmingham City

Radhi Jaidi has placed his international retirement on hold again after being called up for Tunisia’s friendly with Ivory Coast in Paris on Wednesday. The 32-year-old defender had twice said that he would end his international career.

Played 30 Won 6 Drawn 9 Lost 15 For 34 Against 46 Points 27
Next match Saturday Reading (a)

Sunderland

Roy Keane may try to sign Diego Forlán, the Atlét-ico Madrid forward, if Sunderland stay up. “It will depend what league we are in,” the manager said of his former Manchester United teammate. “If Diego is available, I might be interested.”

Played 30 Won 7 Drawn 6 Lost 17 For 26 Against 48 Points 27
Next match Saturday Aston Villa (a)

Bolton Wanderers

Galatasaray, the Turkish club, are leading the chase to sign Jussi Jaaskelainen. The Finland goalkeeper, who is out of contract in the summer, has interested Barcelona, Inter Milan, Fenerbahçe and a number of Premier League clubs.

Played 30 Won 6 Drawn 7 Lost 17 For 28 Against 45 Points 25
Next match Saturday Manchester City (h)

Fulham

Roy Hodgson has singled out Brede Hangeland, the Norway defender who joined the club from FC Copenhagen in January, for praise. “He’s a gentleman and he’s made a significant contribution with his desire and workrate,” the manager said.

Played 30 Won 4 Drawn 11 Lost 15 For 27 Against 49 Points 23
Next match Saturday Newcastle United (a)

Derby County

Stephen Pearson, one of the club’s best players this season, is to see a specialist about a hernia problem. The midfield player is in the Scotland squad to face Croatia next week, but missed the defeat by Manchester United on Saturday.

Played 30 Won 1 Drawn 7 Lost 22 For 14 Against 64 Points 10
Next match Saturday Middlesbrough (a)