New feature alert! Dan's weekly football preview...

It's a preview in almost every sense of the word, although much to the chagrin of no-one, Chelsea trail 2-1 to Aston Villa's centre halves at Villa Park with 10 minutes to play (Prediction: late, late penalty to make it 2-2, Martin O'Neill goes mental. Better case scenario: Steve Sidwell scores an absolute scorcher and does 'an Adebayor'). The highlight so far is Martin O'Neill being sent flying by Nicolas Anelka.

Predictions, then. United to overcome Bolton but only after some brave resistance. I'll say 2-0, Little Mickey Owen to bag one. Arsenal to tear apart Birmingham, but probably concede too, I'll say 4-1, and Rosicky and Walcott to get themselves on the scoresheet. Everton should overcome Wolves without too much difficulty (3-1), ditto Spurs at Portsmouth, although Spurs being Spurs, they'll make it difficult. I fancy goals galore, and Crouch and Defoe to aid the infliction of a 3-2 defeat against their old employers. You can't look beyond Stoke at home, especially against a West Ham that's playing well enough (although Stoke won't give them an inch) but just not getting the results. 1-0 that'll be.

Sunderland-Liverpool is the tricky one to call today. Sunderland were excellent at Old Trafford, and have great energy and also more importantly effectiveness in midfield, while Bent and Jones are gelling into a great big man/small man (see: Crouch/Defoe) partnership. You can't see where the magic will come from for Liverpool without Gerrard and Torres, and although Agger returns, Liverpool have shipped goals this season and will struggle going forward without their main two men. 2-1 for the Mackems, Bent and Andy Reid to bag one each, and Kuyt to nick one for that lot.

Tomorrow, I expect Blackburn to scrape a win in the fierce Lancashire derby (2-1), and a plucky, energetic and wholly underrated Wigan to hold City to a draw, the boy Rodallega netting for the Latics, and probably Bellamy for City again (1-1).

Expect goals as usual outside the Premier League, probably at the Hawthorns were Brom take on Reading, and at Ipswich were I'm backing Keano to finally register his first win against Swansea. League One's hard to call at the best of times, today especially with all the pacesetters away from home, and in League Two, Notts County will slip up again at Rotherham, and Bournemouth should overcome Accrington to keep order at the top of league.

In 'proper' football today, St Helens Town are at home to Nelson. Last week's away game at Flixton had an attendance of 8. Yes, 8. Eight. I fancy Town to win 3-0.

Abroad, big game in Italy is Juventus-Fiorentina, in Spain it's all about Valencia-Barcelona, and the Bundesliga as ever should be a feast of goals, especially Werder Bremen-Hoffenheim.

My first prediction of the day was wide of the mark, but it's certainly bittersweet, and Villa held on to beat Chelsea 2-1, paving the way for United to return to the top.

Enjoy.

Dan.