PREVIEW: Rejuvenated Manchester City look to extend gap at top

By Ben James Feb 23, 2012, 9:55 GMT

London - A rejuvenated Manchester City will be hoping to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack this weekend as the Premier League returns front and centre.

After a slump in form which saw them lose four matches in an eight-match streak in all competitions, Roberto Mancini's side have won their past four.

Two of those have come in the Premier League, helping them to stay two points clear of their rivals and neighbours Manchester United at the top, and with United not playing until Sunday, they could be five points clear by then.

Their 4-0 win over holders Porto in the Europa League in midweek perhaps flattered their performance but though winning in Europe is a goal for City, domestic glory remains the number one target.

'We are top of the Premier League and if we win the next 13 games we will win the league,' Mancini said this week.

The imminent return of Carlos Tevez to first-team action - Mancini said he will be ready within two weeks - has boosted City's attacking options.

Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko scored in midweek and Mancini said strength in depth is likely to be key all the way to the end of the season.

'Sergio has been important during the season but it is important now and during the last two months to have all the strikers available.

'If we have Carlos, Mario (Balotelli), Edin and Sergio on the top (of their game) I think it will be good for the team.'

Mancini will be confident of taking maximum points from this weekend's home game with struggling Blackburn, a side they have not lost to in eight Premier League encounters.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have a quick turnaround from their match with Ajax in the Europa League on Thursday night as they think about Sunday's trip to Norwich City.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was set to rotate his squad for the Ajax clash and is hopeful that Wayne Rooney will be fit for Norwich after a throat infection.

Third-placed Tottenham Hotspur, just five points behind United, take on fourth-placed Arsenal at the Emirates.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has injury concerns over Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Emmanuel Adebayor but Luka Modric is expected to return from illness.

Arsenal are desperate to clinch a top-four spot having been hammered 4-0 by AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League clash in Italy and then been beaten in the FA Cup last weekend.

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe believes Arsenal will be fired up because their season is in danger of slipping away and expects a typically tough derby match.

'It's going to be a difficult game but I'm confident, obviously, with the way we're playing,' Defoe told London radio station LBC.

'We've got a really strong squad now and everyone's playing well. Everyone's firing and team spirit is fantastic which I think is always important if you want to try to achieve something. We've got a great chance to go there and get three points.'

With seventh-placed Liverpool in Carling Cup final action, Newcastle and Chelsea, the sides immediately above them, have the chance to extend the gap in the race for a top-four spot.

Fifth-placed Chelsea will look to pick themselves up after a midweek 3-1 Champions League defeat at Napoli by beating second-bottom Bolton Wanderers, while Newcastle host managerless Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Bottom side Wigan Athletic take on Aston Villa while Queens Park Rangers entertain Fulham, West Bromwich Albion face Sunderland and Stoke battle it out with Swansea in the weekend's other matches.