Reds look to history in title bid

Owen admits facing his old club Liverpool is "a bit special"

Liverpool will hope history is on their side as they look to hold on to their Premier League lead going into 2009.

Only once in the last four years has a team that topped the Premier League at Christmas failed to win the title.

That was Arsenal last season, but after a Boxing Day win over Bolton, the Reds will hope to boost their title chances with victory over Newcastle on Sunday.

Assistant boss Sammy Lee said: "Newcastle will be tough but on this form we are looking forward to it."

A win will, temporarily at least, move Liverpool four points clear of Chelsea, who play at Fulham later in the day.

The Reds, who have beaten the Magpies in three of their last four league meetings, have been impressive away from home in the league this season, winning six and drawing two of their nine games, with a solitary defeat at Tottenham

They will be confident of extending that record against a Newcastle side shorn of four first-choice players either through injury or suspension.

One player who will feature for the Magpies is Michael Owen, who will line up against his former club for the first time at St James' Park.

Fulham won't lie down and allow us to do what we want to do. They will give us a bit of aggravation and that is what we expect Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins

The striker spent 15 years at Anfield before joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2004 and admitted the match would be a "bit special".

"I've still got a strong affection for them because I spent 15 years there and that will always be the same," said the 29-year-old. "But when it comes to the game on Sunday it is purely business."

Chelsea's Premier League away record in is even more impressive, having won eight and drawn one of their nine games this season.

The Blues could move nine points clear of Manchester United, who host Middlesbrough on Monday, with victory over eighth-placed Fulham, their near neighbours, at Craven Cottage.

On New Year's Day Roy Hodgson will celebrate his first anniversary as Fulham boss and he is currently presiding over his most fruitful period since taking charge.

Fulham, unbeaten in eight games, last experienced defeat on 1 November when they lost 1-0 to Everton at Goodison Park and Chelsea's assistant coach Ray Wilkins predicts a tough derby.

"Fulham won't lie down and allow us to do what we want to do. They will give us a bit of aggravation and that is what we expect," said Wilkins.

"We will go there as best prepared as we can and put up a very good performance. They are our closest rivals so we actually want to put one over on them. But they will make it very tough for us."

Over in north London, Arsenal will move above Aston Villa, who play at Hull on Tuesday, into fourth place if they beat Portsmouth at the Emirates in what will be Tony Adams' first return to Arsenal as a manager.

Everton host Sunderland in Ricky Sbragia's first game in charge since being appointed the Black Cats' permanent manager on Saturday.

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Sunderland suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat at Goodison Park last season, a defeat Sbragia watched from the stands in what was his first game as a member of Roy Keane's backroom staff.

"I was sitting up in the stand wondering what was happening," recalled the Scot. "I was thinking about not joining Sunderland after that, to be honest with you.

"That was the first time I joined Sunderland at Everton, so it would be nice to go back there and get something from the game."

In Sunday's other matches, Manchester City boss Mark Hughes returns to his former club Blackburn, Wigan visit Bolton and West Brom play Tottenham at The Hawthorns, while Stoke can move out of the bottom three if they beat West Ham at Upton Park.