Manchester United sit on top of the Premier League today after beating Liverpool, while Chelsea dropped more points against Blackburn Rovers. On your brand new Football Weekly, James Richardson, Sean Ingle, Paolo Bandini and Fernando Duarte analyse the various machinations of the title race. Can the Blues regain their confidence? Are the Red Devils utterly unstoppable? And will Arsenal still have a say, or will the Champions League prove too much of a distraction?

Plus, at the bottom of the table, we ask: who’s more ill-equipped to get their team out of trouble – Brian Laws at Burnley, or Hull City’s, ahem, ‘football management consultant’ Iain Dowie?

Elsewhere, we pay tribute to Roy Hodgson’s formerly plucky and now formidable Fulham. After brushing aside Juventus, can the Cottagers go all the way in the Europa League?

Finally, never mind the caveats, Sid Lowe throws caution to the wind and indulges in the Lionel Messi love-in. Is the 22-year-old the best player ever to have kicked a pig’s bladder, or is he flattered by the current weakness of La Liga?

Have a listen and post your comments on the blog below. We’re also on iTunes, Facebook and Twitter, and if you enjoy this type of thing, get your daily dose of fooball with our tea-time email, The Fiver.

James RichardsonBen GreenSean InglePaolo BandiniSid LoweFernando Duarte

Wigan are without a win in three games and Blackburn have not triumphed in their last six, but while both Lancashire clubs require a victory, the first task is to ensure they have a game at all. Monday’s match against Bolton was postponed and Wigan have since hired a snowplough and bought seven tonnes of grit in a bid to make the DW Stadium accessible. A different sort of grit is sure to be required in a game that does not promise prettiness. The corresponding fixture last season provided Sam Allardyce with employment after Wigan’s emphatic 3-0 win prompted Blackburn to dismiss Paul Ince. Richard Jolly

Venue DW Stadium

Tickets £20-22 (0871 66 33 552)

Last season Wigan 3 Blackburn 0

Referee M Clattenburg

This season’s matches 15 Y44, R4, 3.13 cards per game

sportingbet odds Wigan 13-10 Blackburn 9-5 Draw 11-5

Wigan

Subs from Kingson, Pollitt, Scotland, Edman, Sinclair, Koumas, Cho, De Ridder, Amaya, McCarthy, Kapo

Doubtful Diamé (knee), Kirkland (back)

Injured None

Suspended None

Form guide LDLWLD

Disciplinary record Y25 R0

Leading scorer Rodallega 6

Blackburn

Subs from Brown, Emerton, Salgado, Pedersen, Roberts, Jacobsen, Olsson, Kalinic, Jones, Doran

Doubtful Emerton (groin), Samba (illness)

Injured Dunn (calf, 2 Jan), Grella (thigh, 2 Jan)

Suspended None

Form guide LLDDDL

Disciplinary record Y26 R1

Leading scorer Dunn 5

Match pointers

• Blackburn have never lost a Premier League fixture away from home on Boxing Day, winning two and drawing four

• Three of the four Premier League meetings between these sides at the DW Stadium have ended 3-0 while the other was a 5-3 win for Wigan

• Blackburn have failed to score in five of their last six league matches

• 76% of the goals Wigan have conceded have come in the second half of matches, the highest proportion in the top flight

• Blackburn have lost 12 of their last 14 matches away from home

Wigan AthleticBlackburn RoversPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk