With another Gameweek down, we rule over the fixture list once again, seeking out those sides who appear to have a smooth passage through the festive period and those who may well suffer a rough route into 2011…

The Highs

Man City
Roberto Mancini’s side unleashed the shackles somewhat against Bolton at the weekend, peppering their opponents’ goal with efforts. This new emphasis on attack, coupled with a defence that has kept the most clean sheets in the league, is taken into a run of games that has them face kind opponents both at home and away over the coming weeks. Discount the potentially tricky Eastlands clash with Everton in Gameweek 18 and the next real test doesn’t arrive until Gameweek 22 with a trip to the Emirates. Once back from bans, both Carlos Tevez and Aleksandar Kolarov look irresistible targets for this spell, while David Silva must creep into the reckoning in midfield.

Liverpool
Even before last night’s Anfield clash with Villa, Roy Hodgson’s side look to have a set of fixtures that allow them to progress up the table over the Christmas period. With Steven Gerrard set to return, possibly by Gameweek 19 if not before, Liverpool should gain extra impetus and could fetch reasonable returns at both ends. A punt on Sotirios Kyrgiakos as a goal-getting Bonus magnet at the back for just 5.1 looks a particularly good option with Newcastle, Fulham and Wolves in the next four.

Everton
The hugely encouraging display at Stamford Bridge will provide plenty of confidence for an Everton side that has struggled for consistency. They will take that boost into a home clash with Wigan this weekend and follow that with a run that, a trip to Eastlands aside, appears to give them potential to climb up the table. Clean sheets continue to look a big ask for Moyes’ men but owners of Tim Cahill will likely be holding firm right up to his expected departure for the Asian Cup over Christmas.

Also Consider…
Tottenham – The home clash with Chelsea won’t intimidate an in-form Spurs and following that, trips to Blackpool and Villa offer plenty of goal potential. They are followed by home clashes with Newcastle and Fulham.

West Brom – a strong performance against Newcastle will provide a timely boost ahead of derby matches at Birmingham and at home to Wolves. Such matches are hard to call but meetings with Blackburn and Fulham follow to extend a decent run for Di Matteo’s side.

Fulham – Mark Hughes’ outfit have little form to cling to but can at least take comfort in a fixture list that hands them three Craven Cottage clashes that could help them dig their way out of the mire.

The Lows…

Arsenal
While Samir Nasri’s form has sparkled brightly enough to mask the flaws in Arsene Wenger’s defence, the fixture list hands them a series of tough tests that may yet reveal them further. The trip to Old Trafford this coming Gameweek starts proceedings, while clashes with Stoke, Chelsea and City in the next six appear to afford little by way of home comforts – they will all severe tests for very different reasons. Trips to Wigan and Birmingham meanwhile, provide unpredictable opponents who could stretch Wenger’s men. The message appears to be keep Nasri, think twice about further investment.

Man United
Aside from City, these are testing times for the top four. United’s clash with Arsenal this weekend is hard to call but, if Alex Ferguson’s men falter, they will face severe tests against Chelsea at the Bridge, followed by uncomfortable tussles with Sunderland (who have already seen off Chelsea) and Birmingham at St Andrews. Attacking returns should keep flowing but clean sheets look endangered over that run of four.

Newcastle
The new manager won’t get any favours from the fixture list. This weekend’s home meeting with Liverpool will provide a stern enough test but that’s followed by a decidedly tricky trip to Birmingham with consecutive clashes with top four candidates in City and Spurs to come next. Wigan and West Ham wait for them on the other side but by then the Magpies could be in deeper trouble.

Be wary of…
Stoke – home encounters with Blackpool, Fulham and Everton look crucial over the coming weeks but their run of away games that appear to offer little by way of potential returns.

West Ham – Two more trips to Blackburn and Fulham seem likely to extend the Hammers run of miserable away days and they are sandwiched between tough home matches with City and Everton.

Birmingham – fail in the local derby with Wolves this coming Gameweek and they will face a pressure home game with Newcastle before embarking on a nightmare run consisting of a trip to Goodison and home matches with United and Arsenal.