30/08/2009

Adrian Chiles has the last word on the weekend's Premier League fixtures, with highlights of the day's three games and the best of the action from Saturday's matches.

At Fratton Park, Manchester City's expensively assembled squad will hope to claim maximum points against Portsmouth. The summer signings of Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Gareth Barry give Mark Hughes a formidable squad, but can the Welshmen shape new-look City into title challengers? The departures of Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson have weakened Pompey, but Fratton Park is usually a tricky a venue for visiting teams.

The surprise package of the 2008/09 season, Fulham, visit Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa. Fulham snatched a European spot in that campaign, despite only narrowly beating the drop the previous year. The omens are against Roy Hodgson's side - Fulham haven't taken maximum points away at Villa since 1973.

Everton face a Wigan side under new management at Goodison Park, with Roberto Martinez succeeding Steve Bruce as Latics boss. The Spaniard has a reputation for encouraging his sides to play open, attractive football, so Wigan could be well worth watching as the season progresses.