The Manchester clubs, United and City, have started the new season on fire, sweeping aside all opposition with contemptuous ease.

Only Chelsea seem to stand between the two rivals sharing the major honours between them this season.

The Londoners have their first opportunity to draw a line in the sand when they visit Old Trafford today for an instructive clash with the Red Devils.

The Blues' young manager, Andre Villas-Boas, is putting his imprint on the side and proving that his success at Porto can be replicated in the English Premier League.

Chelsea are just two points behind United and City, who boast perfect records.

But, whereas Chelsea appear to have ground out results, both Manchester sides are playing cavalier, attacking football that is a joy to watch.

Some pundits tip Chelsea to get something from the match, but The Horse is in awe of United's professionalism and style this season and predicts a football lesson.

The bookies agree, though there is still an attractive 8-10 available on United. Chelsea are 33-10 and a draw is 5-2.

City go to Fulham's Craven Cottage in west London. The Cottagers are struggling under new Dutch manager Martin Jol and have scraped together just two points so far. They seem on a hiding to nothing and odds of 11-20 on City are too good to miss. Fulham are 5-1 and a draw is 3-1.

The Manchester double on the day comes to 18-10 and seems like a licence to print money. Go for it!

Slightly more risky might be the 17-10 available on Tottenham Hotspur, who welcome Liverpool to White Hart Lane.

Spurs did a home-and-away double over The Reds last season and though Kenny Dalglish's team has spent and improved, the home side boasts new additions in proven striker Emmanuel Adebayor and football writers' player of the season, Scott Parker.

The north London side had a nightmare start with matches against United and City - after riots caused their opener against Everton to be postponed - but bounced back with a solid 2-0 away win over high-flying Wolverhampton Wanderers last week.

There seems to be another tough journey in prospect for the Liverpudlians, who lost 1-0 at Stoke last time out. The bookies have actually priced them up as marginal 16-10 favourites. A draw is 22-10.

A Spurs-United-City treble comes to a tempting 13-2.