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\n\tManchester united! Liam Gallagher<\/a> and John Squire<\/a> have emerged as favorites for the U.K. chart title with their first collaborative album.<\/p>\n \n\tBased on midweek sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company<\/a>, Liam Gallagher & John Squire <\/em>(Warner Records) takes pole position. <\/p>\n \n\tGallagher is no stranger to life at the top. Across his career, Liam has landed eight U.K. No. 1 albums as a member of Oasis, and a further five as a solo artist.<\/p>\n \n\tLiam Gallagher & John Squire<\/em> would represent a first leader for Squire, who has impacted the top 10 on four occasions as guitarist with the Stone Roses, and once as bandleader of the Seahorses. <\/p>\n \n\tComing in at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is The Mandrake Project<\/em> (BMG), the seventh solo record from Bruce Dickinson<\/a>, best known as lead singer of Iron Maiden. The Mandrake Project <\/em>is the British heavy metal veteran\u2019s first full-length release since 2005, and is set to become his first U.K. top 10 as a solo artist. <\/p>\n \n\tLeeds, England rock favorites Kaiser Chiefs<\/a>\u2019 should nab an eighth U.K. top 10 appearance with Easy Eighth Album<\/em> (Kaiser Chiefs), on track for a No. 3 debut. Kaiser Chiefs have twice led the tally, with 2007\u2019s Yours Truly, Angry Mob<\/em> and 2014\u2019s Education, Education, Education & War<\/em>. <\/p>\n \n\tYard Act<\/a>, also from Leeds, is targeting a No. 4 start with their sophomore studio release, Where\u2019s My Utopia?<\/em> (Island), while Manchester-formed rock act Everything Everything complete an all-new top 5 on the midweek tally with Mountainhead<\/em> (BMG). It\u2019s on track to bow at No. 5, for what would be their sixth U.K. top 10 album. <\/p>\n \n\tThe current leader<\/a>, Rod Stewart<\/a>\u00a0and Jools Holland\u2019s Swing Fever<\/em> (EastWest\/Rhino) is expected to swing from the chart zenith, down 1-6. <\/p>\n \n\tAfter dominating the 2024 Brit Awards over the weekend, where she collected a record-setting six honors, RAYE<\/a> is on the rebound. The homegrown R&B star\u2019s debut My 21st Century Blues<\/em> (Human Re Sources) is set to vault 96 places for a top 10 reentry, at No. 7. My 21st Century Blues<\/em> won album of the year at the BRITs<\/a>, and peaked at No. 2 following its release last year. The British artist also won for artist of the year, song of the year for her No. 1 single \u201cEscapism\u201d (featuring 070 Shake), R&B act, new artist and songwriter of the year.<\/p>\n \n\tMeanwhile, British rapper and songwriter Skrapz (real name: Christopher Kyei) is tracking for a top 10 berth with Reflection<\/em> (1&Only), his fourth studio LP. It\u2019s new at No. 8 on the midweek tally, and predicted to become his first U.K. top 10 album. <\/p>\n Also heading for U.K. top 40 enters are recordings from Big Big Train<\/a> (The Likes Of Us<\/em> at No. 13 via Century Media), Jacob Collier<\/a> (Djesse Vol. 4 <\/em>at No. 18 via Decca) and These Wicked Rivers (Force of Nature<\/em> at No. 36 via Fat Earth).<\/p>\n \n\tAll will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Friday, March 8.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n