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London. Several of England’s leading clubs will look to banish the memory of a disappointing week in the Champions League by getting back on track in the Premier League this weekend.

Manchester City may be five points clear at the top of thedomestic table heading into this weekend’s matches, but its hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout phase were dealt a huge blow by a 2-1 loss to Serie A side Napoli.

Before Roberto Mancini’s team goes in search of a reviving win at Liverpool on Sunday, crosstown rival and Premier League champion Manchester United will be on the lookout for a pick-me-up today at home to Newcastle.

By surrendering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Benfica at Old Trafford, United left itself needing to avoid defeat in its final group match at FC Basel next month to be sure of qualifying for the knockout phase.

But if it beats a resurgent Newcastle, it will at least close the gap on City to two points.

“People can look at the season and criticize and maybe we are not in the position we would like,” said United midfielder Darren Fletcher. “We had one disastrous result in the league against Manchester City [a 6-1 derby defeat] and a couple of draws in the Champions League, but overall it has been a solid start.”

No one, though, is more in need of a domestic tonic after a poor Champions League result than Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Wednesday’s 2-1 loss at Bayer Leverkusen followed back-to-back home league defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal. Chelsea is now 12 points behind City, and with Blues owner Roman Abramovich notorious for firing under-performing managers, many feel the 34-year-old Portuguese’s days with the Londoners could already be numbered.

Failure to take maximum points today against a Wolves side that has struggled away from home this season will intensify the pressure on Villas-Boas, but the Chelsea boss is well aware of what his side needs from him.

“They expect the manager to inspire them,” he said. “That’s my job: to motivate and inspire these people to change our faith. The talent is immense; the work is good. The responsibility is mine.”

Villas-Boas found a supporter in Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, who cited Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger as an example of what can happen to a good manager given time. Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat of Borussia Dortmund means the Gunners are the only English club already assured of a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League.

“Look what Villas-Boas achieved in Portugal. You don’t achieve that unless you are good,” McCarthy said. “Some people wrote off Arsenal and Arsene Wenger eight games ago, and how ridiculous does that look now? They are now the only English team guaranteed to progress in the Champions League.”

Arsenal, which won just once in its opening five games, is at home to London rivals Fulham.

Today’s other fixtures see last-place Wigan travel to a Sunderland side only two points above the relegation zone itself, while Bolton, which is in the bottom three, welcomes Lancashire rival Everton to the Reebok.

Third-place Tottenham travels to West Brom, while two promoted clubs in Norwich and QPR meet at Carrow Road. Elsewhere, Stoke faces second-bottom Blackburn Rovers.

Sunday sees Swansea at home to Aston Villa in a match where a win for the Welsh club will put it above the visitors in the table.

 Agence France-Presse