Eriksson takes on Fergie

LONDON – Only two games into the Premier League season and Manchester City hosts neighbour United with one manager already four points clear of the other in the standings.

It’s not Alex Ferguson. While the United manager is bemoaning the loss of four points as well as Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo because of injury and suspension, former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is already having to calm the euphoria of City fans after a perfect start.On his return to club soccer and in his first season in the Premier League, the Swede has begun with two shutout victories over West Ham and Derby.The team is level on points with Everton and Chelsea at the top of the standings, and Eriksson has to caution against celebrating too soon.”Sunday is a big one.Of course, they are the champions, so it is a big test for us,” said Eriksson, who goes head-to-head with Ferguson.City has home advantage and United, which is yet to win and has scored only one goal, is already without two of its star players.Injured in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at home to Reading, Rooney is sidelined for up to two months with a hairline fracture of his left foot.Ronaldo starts a three-game suspension after being sent off in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Portsmouth for an apparent head-butt on Pompey defender Richard Hughes.Rooney’s absence from Wednesday’s game at Fratton Park meant that Carlos Tevez made an earlier debut than expected.Although Tevez didn’t score, he was impressive and set up an early goal for Paul Scholes.The other is Liverpool vs.Chelsea on Sunday.Both teams are yet to drop a point so far.Chelsea came from behind to win 2-1 at Reading on Wednesday while Liverpool’s only Premier League game so far was a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa on Saturday.While the Blues have Didier Drogba and John Terry back from injury but no sign of return for Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack, the Reds are worried about Steven Gerrard.The inspirational midfielder and captain sustained a hairline toe fracture in Wednesday’s Champions League 1-0 victory at Toulouse but is set to play in Sunday’s game at Anfield.Everton, which leads the standings on goals scored from City and goal difference from Chelsea, hopes to maintain its own convincing start with a victory at Reading.Blackburn and Arsenal also won their opening games and meet at Ewood Park on Sunday, while last-place Tottenham aims to recover from two losses with a home victory over promoted Derby on Saturday.Also Saturday, it’s Portsmouth vs.Bolton; Birmingham vs.West Ham; Fulham vs.Middlesbrough; Wigan vs.Sunderland; and Newcastle vs.Aston Villa.Nampa-APWhile the United manager is bemoaning the loss of four points as well as Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo because of injury and suspension, former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is already having to calm the euphoria of City fans after a perfect start.On his return to club soccer and in his first season in the Premier League, the Swede has begun with two shutout victories over West Ham and Derby.The team is level on points with Everton and Chelsea at the top of the standings, and Eriksson has to caution against celebrating too soon.”Sunday is a big one.Of course, they are the champions, so it is a big test for us,” said Eriksson, who goes head-to-head with Ferguson.City has home advantage and United, which is yet to win and has scored only one goal, is already without two of its star players.Injured in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at home to Reading, Rooney is sidelined for up to two months with a hairline fracture of his left foot.Ronaldo starts a three-game suspension after being sent off in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Portsmouth for an apparent head-butt on Pompey defender Richard Hughes.Rooney’s absence from Wednesday’s game at Fratton Park meant that Carlos Tevez made an earlier debut than expected.Although Tevez didn’t score, he was impressive and set up an early goal for Paul Scholes.The other is Liverpool vs.Chelsea on Sunday.Both teams are yet to drop a point so far.Chelsea came from behind to win 2-1 at Reading on Wednesday while Liverpool’s only Premier League game so far was a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa on Saturday.While the Blues have Didier Drogba and John Terry back from injury but no sign of return for Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack, the Reds are worried about Steven Gerrard.The inspirational midfielder and captain sustained a hairline toe fracture in Wednesday’s Champions League 1-0 victory at Toulouse but is set to play in Sunday’s game at Anfield.Everton, which leads the standings on goals scored from City and goal difference from Chelsea, hopes to maintain its own convincing start with a victory at Reading.Blackburn and Arsenal also won their opening games and meet at Ewood Park on Sunday, while last-place Tottenham aims to recover from two losses with a home victory over promoted Derby on Saturday.Also Saturday, it’s Portsmouth vs.Bolton; Birmingham vs.West Ham; Fulham vs.Middlesbrough; Wigan vs.Sunderland; and Newcastle vs.Aston Villa.Nampa-AP