By Mark Meadows
London - Chelsea look set to be without injured left back Ashley Cole for the trip to Premier League strugglers Charlton Athletic at the weekend while leaders Manchester United face a tricky match at Tottenham Hotspur.
United maintained their six-point lead over Chelsea with a 4-0 win over Watford on Wednesday and although the Londoners kept pace by beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0, the loss of Cole to a serious looking knee injury has added to their defensive woes.
"He's not okay... he can't walk. It must be something serious," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told reporters.
On the plus side for Chelsea, Mourinho did say England captain John Terry could appear at Charlton on Saturday after two months out following back surgery but that Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz has only just started training after injury.
Despite a makeshift defence which has cost them points, Chelsea did not strengthen in the January transfer window amid reports of tension between Mourinho and club bosses, but then neither did United after Henrik Larsson's arrival on loan.
The Swede scored his first Premier League goal against Watford and could be a crucial asset in Sunday's trip to Tottenham Hotspur, who will be looking to bounce back from Wednesday's League Cup semifinal defeat to rivals Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger's men, in fourth, visit Middlesbrough in Saturday's late game while third-placed Liverpool will be looking to continue their excellent run of form in the city derby with inconsistent Everton.
Dubai International Capital pulled out of a deal to invest in Liverpool on Wednesday but after five league wins out of five there is not much wrong with the playing staff at the moment, especially after the late signings of Deportivo La Coruna defender Alvaro Arbeloa and Malaga youngster Francisco Manuel Duran.
They also hold the registration of West Ham's Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano after Fifa sanctioned the deal.
West Ham, third from bottom, visit Aston Villa while bottom club Watford entertain fifth-placed Bolton Wanderers.
Wigan Athletic, who have lost a club record eight league games in a row, host Portsmouth in sixth.
In other matches, Blackburn Rovers face in-form Sheffield United, Manchester City take on Reading and Fulham host Newcastle United.