PREVIEW: No slip-ups allowed as title race begins to hot up

Manchester United and Arsenal each head into this weekend knowing that they cannot afford to many more slip-ups if they are to maintain their challenge for the English Premier League title.

   Sir Alex Ferguson's United sit three points clear of Arsenal with nine games to play, though Arsene Wenger's side have an extra game to play.

   Manchester City and Chelsea are within sniffing distance behind the top two but three more points for United and Arsenal this weekend could really make it just a two-horse race for the title.

   Having lost to Chelsea and Liverpool in their two most recent games, United have let Arsenal back into the race and anything other than a win over Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Saturday is likely to let their rivals in.

   United are still without Rio Ferdinand but Ferguson will hope to welcome Nemanja Vidic back in defence after he missed the midweek win over Marseille.

   Nani came through his return from a gashed knee without any discomfort and Antonio Valencia also returned from six months out with a broken leg in midweek.

   Ferguson could yet be on the sidelines if he does not appeal against a five-match touchline ban for comments about a referee.

   His opposite number, Owen Coyle, has taken the team to seventh in the league but his captain Kevin Davies believes the team can make it even better, especially as he ended a goal drought in the FA Cup win at Birmingham last weekend.

   "Johan (Elmander) and I always seem to score in the same game," Davies said.

   "It had been a while since I scored and it does begin to play on your mind. Mine was only a penalty but we will both get a big lift from the goals and I am looking forward to an exciting end to the season."

   Arsenal manager Wenger is managing a growing injury crisis as his side head to West Bromwich Albion, themselves fighting to stay above the relegation zone.

   The Gunners will be without Johan Djourou and Alex Song while captain Cesc Fabregas is doubtful after missing the last few games with a leg injury.

   "I don't think it's down to one player," Wenger said. "We would like Song back and we would like Fabregas back. We have now to cope with Djourou [being] out and he is an outstanding player.

   "I don't know when Song will be fit again, but certainly not for Saturday."

   Manchester City and Chelsea have not given up on their own title ambitions yet but both teams almost certainly need to win all their remaining games to stand a chance.

   That's not going to be easy, since the two sides meet at Eastlands on Sunday.

   City will have a quick turnaround from their Europa League clash with Dynamo Kiev and Chelsea will have had an extra day to recover from their clash with FC Copenhagen.

   Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was delighted to see his side ease into the last eight of the Champions League and plans to rotate his squad for the trip to City.

   "(Fernando) Torres, (Michael) Essien and (Florent) Malouda who were not involved from the start against Copenhagen will play on Sunday against Man City," he said.

   "I wanted to do this to maintain the players fresh and with good motivation. If we want to achieve something we need all the players with good motivation.

   "To maintain this good moment we have to continue to win. Sunday will be a very important game - for both teams."

   Fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur host third-from-bottom West Ham United while Liverpool have to win at Sunderland to keep alive their outside hopes of ending the season in the top four.

   Bottom side Wigan Athletic face fourth-from-bottom Birmingham City, while Wolves, just two points above Wigan, are away to Aston Villa.

   Blackburn Rovers take on Blackpool, Stoke City play host to Newcastle and Everton meet Fulham in the weekend's other games.