The festive football action is in full swing and Thursday sees one of the biggest matches of the next few weeks, when Tottenham’s title credentials (16/1 Premier League Outright) will be tested with the visit of Chelsea for a London derby to relish at White Hart Lane.

Tuesday night marks the start of the cliché-ridden ‘busy festive period’ as four sets of Premier League players put aside wrapping presents to concentrate on more important matters. The big game takes place at Ewood Park as Blackburn entertain Bolton, while Wolves host Norwich in the night’s other fixture.

Three of the top four in the Premier League are in action on Sunday on what is a pre-festive treat for armchair fans and punters alike. Here we preview the games.

Tottenham Hotspur could have a thankless night ahead of them when travel across the Irish Sea to take on Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League on Thursday (Shamrock 6/1, draw 7/2, Spurs 4/9 in the match betting).

The Premier League teams will be tested to the maximum over the festive period, with a packed fixture list. Injuries and suspensions are starting to kick in and could have a major impact this weekend – with the rarity of all seven matches kicking off at 3pm.

Chelsea’s impressive 3-0 Champions League win over Valencia on Tuesday has eased the pressure on their young coach, Andre Villas-Boas, but the Portuguese still has plenty of work to do to convince he is the right man to bring silverware back to Stamford Bridge (Chelsea 14/1 – Premier League Outright).

Liverpool (6/5 in Match Betting) are without stricken midfielder Lucas Leiva while Fulham (5/2, Draw 23/10) are expected to make several changes after their Europa League defeat to FC Twente for Monday night’s Premier League clash at Craven Cottage.

Sunday throws up potentially the first ’six-pointer’ of the Premier League season as Wolves welcome Sunderland to Molineux. Both teams are in rotten runs of form and are in desperate need for three points. Elsewhere, Everton will be hoping Stoke have another European hangover when they head to Goodison Park for what should be a physical encounter.

There are seven Premier League matches on Saturday with league leaders Manchester City likely to secure three points against Norwich at the Etihad Stadium, but the stand-out games in our treble sees the under-fire Andre Villas-Boas take his Chelsea side to Newcastle, rock-bottom Blackburn host Swansea and Manchester United travel to Aston Villa.

Wednesday will be a big day for a number of young hopefuls at Old Trafford, as Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is set to field a raw side for their Carling Cup quarter-final with Crystal Palace (United 2/9, draw 5/1, Palace 12/1 in the match betting).