Blackburn Vs Chelsea

The league leaders are set to be given a stern test when they visit Blackburn on Saturday. The defending champions have played some scintillating football so far, scoring 25 goals and conceding a miserly two in nine matches, and they are already a healthy five points clear at the top. But regardless of Rovers currently struggling in 17th spot, they will not allow the Blues to strut their stuff at Ewood Park without offering plenty of resistance. Sam Allardyce's side, along with Wolves and Stoke, have come under fire of late for their physical approach. But tough-tackling Blues captain Terry feels the recent criticism directed at teams such as Blackburn is "unfair". It was interesting to see him add this week: "We can't expect to go to Ewood Park and pick up three points just because we're Chelsea Football Club. First and foremost we've got to go there and have a fight with them. We have to be prepared for a scrap." With neither side having played in midweek, Rovers go into this clash on the back of last Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Liverpool and will hope to welcome back defenders Ryan Nelsen (thigh) and Christopher Samba (suspension). Chelsea were given a few anxious moments last Saturday at Stamford Bridge before seeing off a plucky Wolves side 2-0 but having won three and drawn one of their last four league visits to Ewood Park, we expect their superb start to the campaign to continue. Not surprisingly bearing in mind current form and league positions, Carlo Ancelotti's side are a best-priced 1/2 with Ladbrokes to chalk up their eighth victory of the season which has no appeal to us. Rovers can be backed at 15/2 with Boylesports, while the draw is widely available at 10/3 and might tempt a few punters, but we believe class will tell and are steering clear of this one.

Arsenal Discover Form

Backing goals - plenty of them - is the way to go here. Arsenal's six home games this season have seen the Gunners find the net no less than 25 times. In four of those games they have scored at least four goals and it should also be pointed out that the other two games have brought two home goals. More can be expected against the league's bottom side. While Arsenal were beating Newcastle 4-0 in midweek, West Ham also won in the Carling Cup, beating Stoke 3-1. However, despite not playing their strongest side, the likes of Scott Parker and Carlton Cole could have done without going to extra time and playing 120 minutes. They could well tell in the latter stages of this match and Arsenal aren't a side to ease up these days. Sportingbet offer 23/10 that Arsenal score four or more. It seems fair given the stats and the circumstances. It's also worth considering backing Samir Nasri. We were gutted to highlight his goalscoring prowess last weekend only to resist backing him to net at Manchester City. In sparkling form, he duly did so and now has seven goals in his last seven games. He's 5/2 to find the target in this one and we can't back off again. Coral are odds-on, so it's a price that screams value, especially when you consider there's every chance he could be back on penalties following another Cesc Fabregas miss from the spot at Eastlands.

Liverpool will break bank in January

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson plans to make new signings in the January transfer window.

New Reds owners New England Sports Ventures are set to back Hodgson with funds in the new year to bolster the squad at Anfield following their takeover of the club earlier this month.

Hodgson is confident the new owners will give him the green light to move for the best players, but insists he will not spend money for the sake of it.

"If we want the right quality, we have got to be prepared to pay the right price," Hodgson told the club's official website.

"The owners know that perfectly well. We have got to make certain that if we go out and spend £20m, we are getting a £20m player.

"We want to be attracting the players that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter are chasing. It would be nice to think that we can shop at a high level.

"I'm like all managers in that I'm wary of the January transfer window. I think it can be dangerous as clubs try to correct mistakes.

"But, having said that, we are going to very interested in trying to improve our squad in January. There is no question about that. I am sure we will sign players."

Hodgson added: "What I would hope to do is get this group of players playing well enough so we don't need to panic.

"Then I can say to the owners, 'If we are going to spend a lot of money, let's get the right man.'

"I don't want to spend half the money that might be available on someone for the sake of buying when the player we actually want might not be available until the summer.

"The lucky thing is that we are rebuilding around several top-class players. We have got Reina, Carragher, Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt - it's not as if we are rebuilding from nothing."

Hodgson also aimed a swipe at some of former boss Rafa Benitez's signings, claiming a number of players have not proved value for money.

"I think you can pay an awful lot of money for poor players and you can pay not very much money for very good ones - it is all to do with how good your scouting and your eye is," he added.

"There are a lot of things here that the club has got to get right. We have got a lot more expensive failures on our list than good players that we have brought in for next to nothing.

"Free transfers don't necessarily mean that you have got a bargain. My experience of them has been very mixed. You need to be sure that the player you get can do the job you want from him."

Rooney Not Yet Ready

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could be out for longer than the three weeks first thought, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said.

Rooney, who signed a new five-year contract at Old Trafford last week, is currently away resting after suffering an ankle injury.

When asked at a press conference if three weeks was still the prognosis, Ferguson said: "I think it may be longer."

Rooney, 25, was injured in training last week during an extraordinary few days that ended with him committing his future to the club after previously stating a desire to leave.

He has since been given permission to travel to Dubai to recuperate.

Ferguson said: "There is no recovery, it is just rest.

"Before he went away we did his remedial in terms of what we could do at the time. Thereafter, rest - we're quite happy with that."