LONDON: Chelsea can cement their position on top of the Premier League with a win over Birmingham on Saturday, while new Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini gets his first taste of English football against Stoke.

With second-placed Manchester United not in action until Sunday’s clash at Hull, Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea will move seven points clear if they can defeat Birmingham at St Andrews. But Ancelotti would be wise not to take Birmingham for granted. While Chelsea have looked surprisingly vulnerable during a run of one win in six matches in all competitions, Birmingham have risen to seventh place on the back of a nine-match unbeaten run.

Ancelotti, who will be without injured France striker Nicolas Anelka, needs a big performance from Didier Drogba after his anonymous effort in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at West Ham. “Birmingham have had five consecutive victories and a draw,” Ancelotti said. “Above all, it’s difficult to play up there.”

While Ancelotti looks for the solution to Chelsea’s recent inconsistency, his compatriot Mancini will hope for an early sign that there is no dressing room dissent over his appointment. Several of City’s players including Craig Bellamy and Shay Given were reported to be unhappy that Mark Hughes was sacked to make way for former Inter Milan coach Mancini.

Rafael Benitez is another manager under close scrutiny this weekend after Liverpool’s woeful 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth last Saturday left them eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa. Missing out on a spot in the Champions League would leave Benitez in severe danger of losing his job and Spaniard, whose side hosts Wolves, acknowledges things must change soon.

Liverpool’s poor form has given Villa and Tottenham hope of snatching one of the top four spots. Villa, who have beaten United, Liverpool and Chelsea this season, go in search of a big four cleansweep at Arsenal on Sunday. Tottenham travel face Fulham, who thrashed United 3-0 last weekend. That loss was the lowest moment for United in an erratic campaign marred by injuries to a host of defenders.

Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to have Nemanja Vidic or Wes Brown back at Hull, but he knows the hosts will go on the attack in an attempt to exploit United’s weakness at the back.