That's it - the end of internationals for 2009. It's heads down for an assault on four club competitions. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton are ready for the resumption.

TALKING POINTS
It is difficult to know what Wolves fans are more looking forward to: competing for points with the league leaders at fortress Stamford Bridge, or hearing 'Liquidator' ring out round a stadium.

Harry J Allstars' rocksteady instrumental has been an official 'Chelsea song' since 1970, when the matchday programme gave away copies as competition prizes. It actually reached no.9 in the UK chart 40 years ago this week, and it is unlikely there were earlier adopters than the Fulham Road supporters.

The song has provided a rousing entrance for generations of players at the Bridge, but was banished years ago from the Molineux p.a. system. Whereas in SW6 it is accompanied by rhythmic (well, mostly - could be better) handclaps and wholesome chants of 'Chelsea!', in the West Midlands the 'lyric' took on an altogether more gutter tone. 

Well, let's hope goodness prevails and the clean version drowns out the filth. It is, after all, a 'Winter World of Love' (to quote Engelbert Humperdinck's alternative 1969 chart-topper) in west London, with Chelsea well placed on all fronts as the often-decisive flurry of Christmas matches draws near.

Impressive performances at both ends of the field have underpinned the Blues' pacesetting.

The most fruitful phases of the game this season have been the opening and closing 15 minutes of the second half, when nine and seven respectively (16 in total) of the Blues' 29 goals have been scored.

At the same time, our opponents are least successful in the first 15 and last 30 minutes of matches. Only one league goal has been conceded in those periods: Paul Scharner's last-minute breakaway goal at Wigan.

Then again, the league leaders also have its tightest defence: under Carlo Ancelotti Chelsea have picked the ball out of the net just eight times. The next best in that respect are Manchester United and Aston Villa, who have both let in 12.

In fact, Chelsea had the best defensive record in four of the last five seasons, and as we know it is not always an indication of title-winners. In 2007 United took the title with more goals conceded. However, in seven of the last ten going back to 1999/2000, the stingiest team has scooped the top honour too.

Clean sheets are of course the foundation of success. No one has breached the defence at Stamford Bridge in the league since a certain Hull City midfielder on the opening day of the season.

Even so, there is room for improvement, which is a good sign. For instance, Chelsea have scored just two league goals in the opening half-hour of matches to date.

The worry now is a growing casualty list, particularly from the recent international training camps and matches. After the previous break the Blues travelled to Aston Villa minus injured Michael Ballack - who has yet to be on the losing side this season.

The team squandered good openings to lose 1-2 to a Villa side that simply took their chances at set-pieces. Wolves will undoubtedly see capitalising on any similar lacks of concentration as their route to a point or three. Although they haven't won a match since mid-September, they have hit the net in their last four matches. Three of those ended in draws against teams above them, and it will be a weakened Chelsea that they face this weekend.

Never the less, Chelsea's record of not dropping a single point to teams in the bottom five this season provides hope that the first 3pm Saturday kick-off at Stamford Bridge since 2 May will go according to the form book.

Manchester City have beaten Liverpool only once since their most recent win at Anfield, in 2003. The fixture has already been labelled a fourth-place play-off, however, and City would move four points clear of their northwest rivals, game in hand, with a win.

Injury-hit Arsenal's visit to suddenly confident Sunderland will be a test of their mettle ahead of Chelsea's visit next weekend. Manchester Utd host Everton, who have not won at Old Trafford since 1992.

Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Liverpool v Man City 12.45pm - Sky Sports
Birmingham v Fulham 3pm
Burnley v Aston Villa 3pm
Chelsea v Wolves 3pm
Hull v West Ham 3pm
Sunderland v Arsenal 3pm
Man Utd v Everton 5.30pm - ESPN
Sunday
Bolton v Blackburn 1.30pm - Sky Sports
Tottenham v Wigan 3pm
Stoke v Portsmouth 4pm - Sky Sports
Wednesday
Fulham v Blackburn 8pm
Hull v Everton 7.45pm

The race for the Premier League Golden Boot
Torres (Liverpool) 10
Drogba (Chelsea) 9
Bent (Sunderland) 8
Rooney (Man Utd) 7
Saha (Everton) 7
Van Persie (Arsenal) 7