Ten things to look out for this weekend

LONDON - Alex Ferguson’s favourite claret, David Moyes’s 400th Premier League game, and the new excitement of Chelsea vs Liverpool1) Nigel Adkins sticking it to the (chair)manYou wouldn’t be surprised if Nigel Adkins confessed to constantly glancing over his shoulder for a sharp-edged shadow. After all, the papers have warned of an impending knife in the back for weeks. Defeat to Swansea and that moment may arrive. To these eyes that would be unfair and premature. But Southampton are bottom of the Premier League, you cry! Yes, they are. But there are mitigating factors: first, their schedule has been toughest-boy-in-junior-school hard – eight of their first 10 games have been against sides in the top 10; second, they were among the favourites to go down, so their league position is hardly a surprise. What’s more, the favourites to replace Adkins – Gianluca Vialli and Paolo Di Canio – have less ink on their managerial CV than he does. Perhaps Adkins isn’t the man to keep Saints up. But surely he deserves until at least the end of December, by which point his team will have played all their rivals for the drop, to make his case?2) Jol’s cavaliers at the Emirates …There were fears when Fulham lost Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembélé in the summer that they might regress. They still could. But at the moment they are a delight to watch, with Dimitar Berbatov’s giddiness a reflection of the have-a-go-hero philosophy at Craven Cottage. They are the third highest scorers in the Premier League – and, when you add the fifth worst defensive record to the mix, their 10 games have featured 37 goals. That said, they aren’t happy travellers against the top teams. Last season they drew two and lost five against the top seven, and their record at Highbury/the Emirates since being promoted to the Premier League is P11 W0 D3 L8. They may well lose on Saturday but even so, it should be entertaining.3) David Moyes’s 400th Premier League game as a managerSaturday’s game against Sunderland represents a significant milestone for David Moyes, who becomes only the fourth manager – after Sir Alex Ferguson (782), Arsène Wenger (610) and Harry Redknapp (593) – to reach the 400 club in the Premier League. But it is also, you sense, significant for both clubs’ hopes this season. Everton, having galloped out of the blocks, have had the handbrake applied by four successive draws. Sunderland, meanwhile, are chipping away at the legacy Martin O’Neill has built up in nearly two decades as a manager. Six goals in nine Premier League games is one worry, a surprising lack of confidence another. The Black Cats have a run of games against mid-table teams coming up. They need a couple of wins in the next month, otherwise the winter months could be bitter.4) QPR striving for their first win of the season … againLast week QPR became the first team since Watford’s 2006-07 season to win a big fat zero of their opening 10 games. Like Adkins, Mark Hughes has a defence: QPR have played seven top 10 sides in their opening 10 games. But that is where the comparisons end.Hughes has had the money to bring in players in. They should be doing better. A trip to Stoke, who have won one and drawn three of their games at the Britannia, is likely to be gritty and attritional. Hughes will hope his side can sneak a narrow victory.5) And so are Reading …Reading have not been disgraced on their return to the Premier League, but their defence needs to stiffen its sinews and draws need to become wins. On the surface, a visit from Norwich, who are yet to win away this season, is exactly the tonic required.But the Canaries are beginning to chirp under Chris Hughton and their away record against teams in the bottom half last season was pretty good – they won four and drew two of their nine games. Don’t be surprised if it’s settled late: Reading have scored four of their seven home league goals after the 85th minute.6) Can Aston Villa end the hoodoo?Aston Villa have long been Sir Alex Ferguson’s favourite claret. The Villans have won just one of their 33 league games against Fergie’s Manchester United, and have not beaten them at home since the “You can’t win anything with kids” season opener in 1995. United haven’t always impressed this season – that defence constantly looks capable of springing a leak – but they continue to find a way to win. You suspect it will be no different at Villa Park on Saturday.7) Excitement at a Chelsea vs Liverpool matchRemember the mid-noughties “shit hanging from a stick” games between these teams as José Mourinho and Rafa Benítez almost completely rebutted the theory that goals are overrated? The six out of eight games that finished either 0-0s and 1-0s; the hours of dreary nothingness? It’s becoming a distant memory. Three of the past four games between these two have featured three or more goals and there’s reason for both sets of supporters to be optimistic for Sunday. Chelsea have scored at least two goals in nine of their past 10 home fixtures; while Liverpool have – incredibly – won on three of their last four trips to Stamford Bridge.8) Carroll and co return to St James’ ParkSunday sees Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan – along with Big Sam, of course – return to Newcastle. West Ham have outperformed expectations this season, helped by the fact that seven of their opening 10 games were against sides in the bottom half, but the next few weeks will be a brutal test. From now until Boxing Day they face Newcastle (a), Stoke (h), Spurs (a), Manchester United (a), Chelsea (h), Liverpool (h), West Brom (a), Everton (h) and Arsenal (a). Last week’s battling point against Manchester City was a good start to a dastardly run, but the Hammers have not won in nine trips to St James’ Park.9) Man City and Spurs providing a few answersQuestions, questions: what has happened to City’s defensive solidity this season – and Spurs’ attacking elan? Which versions of these sides will turn up: the bitty City, who have flopped in Europe, or the side that are still unbeaten in the Premier League and came from behind to beat West Brom with 10 men? The Tottenham side that beat United at Old Trafford – or the one whose record against sides in the top 14 places is played six, won one, drawn two, lost three? If Spurs do spring a surprise it will be the first time they have won at both Manchester United and City since 1959-60.10) The Rome derby (and an all-important dash of West Brom)Yes, yes, it’s not the Premier League. But the Derby della Capitale looks spicier than an arrabbiata sauce with a double helping of chilli. Lazio are fifth, Roma sixth. The Giallorossi, under the attacking fundamentalist Zdenek Zeman, have the best scoring and second-worst defensive record in the league. A match that could well end 5-3. Or 3-5. Both teams with an eye on a Champions League spot? What’s not to love? Speaking of Europe, only goal difference separates West Brom from fourth place. A win at Wigan – and they have won four out of five against teams in the bottom half – would further enhance their claims. The Baggies have been brilliant defensively, with Claudio Yacob and Youssuf Mulumbu protecting a back four that have conceded only 11 goals, the fourth best record in the Premier League. But a trip to a Wigan side also finding their groove will be a stern test.