Taking north-west derby as a stalemate could well pay off

Liverpool's slender hopes of gate-crashing the top four took a blow as they lost 3-1 at West Ham but Kenny Dalglish's men need no further motivation for the small matter of Manchester United's visit to Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds would delight in hindering their rivals title push, already made a touch more precarious by Tuesday's loss at Chelsea, but the hosts are bet365's 15/8 outsiders for the points while Sir Alex Ferguson's men are 13/8 with William Hill to come out on top. Totesport quote 12/5 for a draw.

Arsenal can inflict a fifth straight defeat on Sunderland, a result Betdaq rate at 1.45 (9/20). Arsene Wenger's men are an enticing 5/2 at 888Sport to shade it by one. Man City, meanwhile, look a home banker at 2/5 with Betfred to beat Wigan.

In-form Portsmouth have to be fancied at a hefty 1.95 (19/20) with Betdaq to grab a sixth consecutive success as they play host to a struggling Sheffield United team without a win in 13 and, also in the Championship, Partybets make high-flying Leeds 8/13 to beat Doncaster and Coventry's Marlon King, who has struck five times in his last six, is 11/2 with Paddy Power to notch first against Bristol City.

Sheffield Wednesday stand out at 1.73 (8/11) with Betdaq as they face an ailing Plymouth side on the brink of administration. Finally in League Two, leaders Chesterfield, fresh from a 4-1 triumph over second-placed Wycombe are a generous 11/8 (William Hill) at Cheltenham and Betfred mark 4/5 against promotion-chasing Port Vale as they host struggling Macclesfield.