Preston can make it make it four successive League One wins on the bounce when they welcome Yeovil to Deepdale in leg one of Friday’s football treble.

North End have responded well from their shock home defeat to Colchester on the opening day of the new campaign – and first in the third tier of English football since relegation last season – by clocking up 10 points in four games.

By contrast, Yeovil have managed just one win in League One so far this season – at home to Oldham nearly a month ago – and are priced accordingly at 4/1 in the match betting for what would be a shock away win.

More encouraging for PNE manager Phil Brown, who revealed free agent El Hadji Diouf is training with the club this week, is the that fact his promotion-contenders have not conceded a league goal in 270 minutes.

His only worry is goalkeeper Iain Turner, who scored with a huge goal-kick in Preston’s last outing against Notts County on August 27, because of an elbow injury.

Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton was delighted with the way his side battled to a goalless draw against Tranmere at Prenton Park – the club first clean sheet of the new season – but it is difficult to make a case for the Glovers heading back North on Friday night.

Skiverton, who admitted “my players are going through the pain barrier for me at the moment” last week, has lost strikers Jon Obika and Andy Williams to injury and that can only blunt the Green and Whites as an attacking unit.

North End can be backed at 4/7 to beat Yeovil and are 2/1 to win promotion from League 1 this season, and it is difficult to envisage them flopping on Friday.

In Serie A, AC Milan drew twice in the league against Lazio (Milan 8/13, draw 12/5, Lazio 4/1 – Match Betting) last term – but only lost twice at home all season.

The defending champions are a short price to win on Friday at the San Siro in the opening game of the delayed Italian season, but they look too strong for the Rome outfit.

Finally, Augsburg have failed to win a match in Bundesliga in four attempts since promotion to the German top flight last season – and have not scored in 180 minutes – and on Friday entertain shot-shy Bayer Leverkusen.

The visitors have only netted twice in four games since the start of the new season and it may pay to side with a low goals projection at SGL Arena (Augsburg 3/1, draw 5/2, Bayer Leverkusen 8/11 – Match Betting).

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Who will be the players that will step forward and help their club lift the trophy or avoid the drop in the coming weeks?

The battle for survival has rarely been closer with just seven points difference between rock bottom and 10th place in the Premier League table.

With a new stadium just around the corner it would be disastrous for West Ham United to drop down into the Championship.

Only a few weeks ago it looked like the Hammers (7/4 to be relegated) would struggle to stay up this season but their inspirational skipper Scott Parker has been instrumental in their turnaround of fortunes.

The former Chelsea and Newcastle United midfielder has been tireless in the middle of the park, which has not gone unnoticed as England boss Fabio Capello started the 30-year-old in the Euro 2012 qualifying win over Wales last weekend.

West Ham have to face Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea before the end of the season and Parker will be essential to their chances of survival.

Another side struggling at the bottom of the table is Wolves (7/4 to be relegated) and their position has not been made any easier as striker Kevin Doyle has been ruled out for the rest of the season, after he picked up knee ligament damage on international duty with Republic of Ireland.

Step up potential England midfielder Matt Jarvis, who has been a stand-out player for Wolves this term.

The 24-year-old could make his England debut against Ghana on Tuesday night at Wembley, which would be well deserved if he makes it onto the hallowed turf.

Jarvis’ pace and creativity will be crucial for Wolves as they hope to continue their unbeaten run of four games and avoid a return to the Championship.

Despite winning the Carling Cup this season, Birmingham City (6/4 to be relegated) could consider this a campaign to forget if they finish in the bottom three.

After tremendous effort in the Carling and FA Cup they must now focus on Premier League survival and the experience of Kevin Phillips could be key.

The veteran striker has been a super sub for Blues this season in cup football but Birmingham boss Alex McLeish could use the former Sunderland goal machine to bring a bit of spark to the side as they hope to climb up from 19th place in the league.

At the top of the table, chasing the title are rivals Manchester United and Arsenal, with both sides desperate for silverware this season.

United (1/2 to win the Premier League) will be looking to their Portuguese star Nani for the creativity to unlock sides between now and the end of the campaign.

The former Sporting Lisbon star has admitted that his confidence has been knocked since he was injured by a Jamie Carragher tackle in the 3-1 defeat at the hands of arch rivals Liverpool.

Nani will have to put that behind him as United look to beat Liverpool’s 18 league titles.

As for Arsenal (11/4 to win the Premier League) they have failed to win any silverware since 2004 and upcoming star Jack Wilshere will be desperate to end the barren spell.

The 19-year-old has been outstanding for the Gunners in the heart of midfield and has not looked out of place in the international stage either.

If the north London club are to overtake United at the top of the table, they will have to hope Wilshere does not burn out before the end of the season, as his work rate and passing can unlock any defence in the Premier League.

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Johan Djourou

Arsene Wenger’s men highlighted their European credentials with a 5-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates on Tuesday.

The Gunners made light work of the 2009 UEFA Cup winners, with Marouane Chamakh (12/1 Champions League Top Scorer 2010/11), Jack Wilshere, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Alex Song on the scoresheet.

The result leaves Arsenal top of Group H, with three wins out of three and a three-point advantage over second-placed Shakhtar (1/5 to qualify from Group H).

Europe’s top club prize has eluded Wenger to date, with the nearest he has come to lifting the trophy coming back in 2006, when Arsenal lost to Barcelona in the final.

But Djourou, who was handed a start on Tuesday in the absence of Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen, feels their time may have come.

The Swiss international said: “I think the result shows that Arsenal is ready to go as far as possible in the Champions League.

“It’s early but it shows people that we can do well in the competition. We are more or less qualified even though there are still three games left.”

Arsenal (1/8 to win Group H) can move a step closer to qualification for the knockout stages with victory in the Ukraine on November 3.

But the Gunners turn their attentions to important domestic matters this weekend, when they face Manchester City at Eastlands (Man City 13/10, Draw 11/5, Arsenal 2/1 – Match Betting) on Sunday.

Having already lost to West Brom and Chelsea, Lukasz Fabianski has targeted the clash with Roberto Mancini’s men as a must-win game.

The goalkeeper added: “It’s a massive game for us because we want to be in the title race. We want to go there for sure to win the game. We have to win it.”

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Liverpool

The Anfield boss was in charge of Fulham last season as he guided them to the final of the same competition but when asked what his priority was Hodgson confirmed the league was more important, but he is still targeting European success (Liverpool 12/1 – Premier League outright).

“If you are going to prioritise you would prioritise the league always,” explained Hodgson.

“You would like to do both but if one was forced to choose one, you would prioritise the Premier League.”

Hodgson’s comments came after he was asked whether Spanish striker Fernando Torres would be fit to face Trabzonspor. Liverpool’s star man came off the bench in the Reds’ season opener against Arsenal last weekend but he may not be risked tonight as Hodgson is eager for the forward to be fit to face Manchester City on Monday.

However, Hodgson revealed Torres is eager to play some part against the Turkish side and hinted he may be handed a place on the bench.

“We don’t want to throw him in too early but he is very keen to get back in,” Hodgson said of Torres.

The Liverpool boss will be without the services of midfielder Javier Mascherano and defender Daniel Agger.  Both suffered knocks in the 1-1 draw with the Gunners and are set to miss out tonight.  Mascherano’s place looks set to be taken by new-boy Christian Poulsen, while Fabio Aurelio is in line to fill in for Agger at left-back for the Europa League tie (Liverpool 9/1 – Europa League outright).

Mascherano is still expected to depart Anfield before the transfer window closes on September 1 but Hodgson will not allow the Argentine star to leave on the cheap.  Since his switch from West Ham, Mascherano has established himself as one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League and Hodgson is adamant the club will receive a fair price for one of their prize assets.

“He hopes that a club comes in where he could be reunited with his family – which is the major problem for him – that offers us what he is worth and we accept that,” said Hodgson when asked about the situation regarding Mascherano.

“But he has also made it clear that he doesn’t regard it as a hardship to play for Liverpool Football Club. In fact, it’s the reverse. It’s because of family matters that he wants to go.”

Denmark international Poulsen has been brought in by Hodgson to replace Mascherano if the Argentina international can find a new club.  Former Anfield boss Rafael Bentiez, now in charge of Inter Milan, has been linked with a swoop for Mascherano but so far the Italian giants have been unable to agree a fee with Liverpool.

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The South Americans went down 3-2 to an impressive Dutch outfit at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday evening. 

The Atletico Madrid hitman netted from 30 yards out to put his side back on level terms after Giovanni van Bronckhorst gave the Europeans the lead with one of the goals of the tournament.

However, strikes from Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben put the result beyond doubt before Maximiliano Pereira netted a late consolation goal for Uruguay.

Forlan was substituted with five minutes to play after struggling with a tendon strain but the striker is now undergoing treatment in the hope of being fit enough for the third place play-off on Saturday.

“I have had a problem with my tendon, this has been going on for a couple of days already and I wasn’t really in the game,” he said.

“I thought warming up before the game I was going to be at my best, but it wasn’t like that for me.

 ”We will wait and see if I can make it in time for Saturday.”

Forlan has four goals in the tournament and will have the chance to add to that tally against Spain or Germany in Port Elizabeth  if he’s passed fit.

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Bayern lead 1-0 from last week’s first leg in Germany but have made the journey to France with just 17 players, of which a couple are struggling with knocks, such is the extent of their injury woes at the minute.

However, Van Gaal is sure his threadbare squad can manage and will instruct his side to go out and improve on their slender lead – secured by Arjen Robben’s brilliant goal at the Allianz Arena (Robben 13/8 anytime goalscorer).

“We are not the kind of team whose aim is just to avoid conceding goals when we enter the field,” said Van Gaal.

“I’ve never told my players to play like that since the beginning of the season and I won’t start on Tuesday.

“We have many injuries and many problems,” he added.

“We have brought 17 players and if they cannot play, then we will still have 14 players. We will still be able to field 11 players.”

Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan and Bayern winger Franck Ribery are suspended for the showdown after they were both sent off in the first-leg while Danijel Pranjic is also banned for the visitors.

Bayern are also missing midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, who came off the bench in the first leg, as he has a stomach virus.

Lyon’s main injury concern ahead of the game is over key defender Cris, who picked up a knock in the first leg, while winger Michel Bastos sustained a leg injury in training on Friday.

Former Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, however, is on stand-by to start if required after getting over a calf problem.

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