Chelsea seek record, Manchester City aim to keep up chase

Chelsea will try to stay unbeaten for a club record 24th straight match when they visit Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday having had little time to recover from their midweek win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Jose Mourinho's men maintained their unbeaten start with a 3-0 home victory over Spurs which preserved their six-point lead over champions Manchester City at the top of the table. They have not lost any match since April.

City, who won 4-1 at Sunderland with in-form striker Sergio Aguero scoring twice to take his tally to 19 in all competitions, are at home to erratic Everton.

With stuttering Southampton, in third, hosting improving fourth-placed Manchester United on Monday, the leading pair could be clear of the pack by Saturday night as pre-season predictions of a two-horse title race come closer to reality.

After 14 matches Chelsea have 36 points, City 30, Southampton 26 and United 25.

Veteran striker Didier Drogba, who scored Chelsea's second goal against Tottenham, said he enjoyed the busy December period and was delighted they were top and not chasing the leaders.

"It's better to be in this position," he told Sky Sports "It's good for us. I love this time of year and hope we are going to make our fans very happy this December."

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, who scored his first goal of the season in the win at Sunderland, told the club's TV channel the champions were back in good form after a somewhat patchy start.

Wednesday's win was City's fourth in a row in all competitions and the Argentine defender said: "I think we look much better than at the beginning of the season. We are sharper and very clinical. Sergio (Aguero) is in great form and we want this to continue."

Things are also looking up in the red half of Manchester with United beating Stoke City on Tuesday to chalk up their fourth successive league win.

They will try to do what local rivals City did last Sunday by taking all three points from Southampton at St Mary's. Skipper Wayne Rooney, who missed the game against Stoke, is expected to recover from a knee injury.

Fifth-placed West Ham United, a point behind Manchester United, host Swansea City on Sunday, while Arsenal, who are a further point back in sixth, travel to Stoke on Saturday.