Friday, August 25 2006 17:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Manchester United are determined to continue their perfect start in the English Premiership on Saturday (26 Aug, 2006) and will be hoping cross-town rivals Manchester City can do them a favour by toppling Arsenal.

United, top the table with two straight wins, travel to Watford, Arsenal go to City while Liverpool host West Ham in their bids not to be left trailing in United's wake.

Champions Chelsea travel to Blackburn on Sunday (27 Aug, 2006) looking to get their bid for a third straight title back on track after Wednesday's shock 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.

United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reckons that three years without some Premiership silverware at Old Trafford has fired up his team-mates with a steely determination.

"It's been a really good start. We're young and we've got a fresh squad," says the Norway striker.

"We've had the experience of losing for the past couple of years, and we've lost together and that's put good hunger back into the team and the spirit is fantastic."

But Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd says his team refused to be intimidated by United.

"It will be hard, but if you worry about reputations, you might as well go back into the Championship without even playing the matches," he says.

Solskjaer insists the Red Devils are concentrating on blazing a trail at the top of the Premiership rather than worrying about Chelsea's progress.

"We don't think about any other results. As long as we play as we can, we'll be winning games," he says.

However, Arsenal skipper Thierry Henry says Chelsea's defeat at Middlesbrough had given everyone plenty to cheer.

"The result is not only good for us. Everyone can look at that result and say, 'We can have a go'. We'll see what we can do at Manchester City."

He adds that he was not fully fit and may have to content himself with a place on the substitutes' bench at City's Eastlands home.

"Body-wise I'm OK but I've had trouble turning with the ball and putting some pace into it," he says.

"Usually it takes a month or a month-and-a-half to get going. I have to take it slowly and if I can go out there and help the team, I will."

Liverpool hosts West Ham in the first league match at Anfield this season and are determined not to lose further ground.

"People are talking about catching Chelsea, but we know it's going to be really difficult because they are such a good team," says their Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso.

"There's a long way to go and we've only played one game. But we feel confident that we can do things properly this season to mount a challenge."

West Ham have four points from their first two matches.

Everton travels to Tottenham, who puts on a classy performance Tuesday (22 Aug, 2006) to beat Sheffield United 2-0, with goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Jermaine Jenas.

But Spurs boss Martin Jol says the pair face a race against time to be fit to face the Toffees.

"Berbatov got a knock on his ankle but hopefully he will be OK," the Dutchman says.

"JJ did not train on Thursday because he had a problem with his toe. We will have to wait and see but hopefully he will be available."

Charlton have lost both their matches so far, leaving new boss Iain Dowie raring to get stuck into Saturday's (27 Aug, 2006) visitors Bolton, who have not won away from home in eight months.

"It's a pressure game, but I can't wait for it. We have not had an ideal start, but this is where character comes to the fore," he says.

Their top striker Darren Bent should have recovered from a dead leg sustained midweek.

Bolton assistant boss Sammy Lee says they are determined to end their winless streak.

"We don't want to get into some sort of scenario where we are only known as a home team," he says.

"We have got to make sure we don't get into that mould. We want to get into a mould of whether we are playing home or away, we perform to our maximum."

Wigan is top-flight debutants last season and they host Reading, who finds themselves in the same boat this time around. Elsewhere Saturday (26 Aug, 2006) Sheffield United, who are runners up to Reading in the second-tier Championship last year, visit Fulham.

In Sunday's (27 Aug, 2006) matches, Blackburn host Chelsea, while Newcastle travel to Aston Villa. Middlesbrough welcome Portsmouth on Monday (28 Aug, 2006).

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated):

Saturday:

Charlton v Bolton, Fulham v Sheffield Utd, Liverpool v West Ham (1145 GMT), Manchester City v Arsenal (1615 GMT), Tottenham v Everton, Watford v Manchester Utd, Wigan v Reading

Sunday:

Aston Villa v Newcastle (1300 GMT), Blackburn v Chelsea (1500 GMT)

Monday:

Middlesbrough v Portsmouth (1900 GMT)