Barclays Premier League Season 2011/2012

[ballsathome]

Dalglish: United draw proves a point

16 October 2011

Kenny Dalglish believes Liverpool's disappointment at drawing with Manchester United highlights the team's improvement since his return.

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An 81st-minute header from substitute Javier Hernandez secured a point for United at Anfield on Saturday.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard had given the hosts the lead with a free-kick in the 68th minute of the English Premier League match.

And Dalglish, who returned to the managerial hot seat at Liverpool in January, considers it is a sign of the advances his side have made that the players were downbeat after being unable to seal victory over the Premier League champions.

"We could have had all three points after what I think was pretty even and sterile beginning to the match," Dalglish said.

"I think it's a real indication that the players were disappointed in the dressing room after the match about drawing with a team like Manchester United. That shows how far we have come."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson considered a draw the right result, not to mention an improvement on his team's poor record from their recent visits to Anfield.

"If you forget the last three games here and just focus on the context of today’s game, I believe the result is a fair one," Ferguson said.

"You can never be completely confident a goal will come when you are 1-0 down with 15 minutes to go but we do have the players who can come on and do that."

"It was a typical United v Liverpool game. They are always very intense, but I don’t think the game really started until Liverpool scored.

Once they did, I think it was a very good game after that."

Much was made of Ferguson's decision to leave out Wayne Rooney and field Phil Jones as a defensive midfielder, with only one striker up front for United.

Dalglish was unconcerned about the unusual line-up his side were confronted by when the squad lists were handed in.

"Their team selection was not a surprise," he said.

"I think it was a compliment to us as well."

"Fergie always changes his team after an international break and they have got an important game on Tuesday.

I've always said it's a squad effort and obviously Sir Alex thinks the same way."

 

[ballsathome]

Wolves lose Fletcher to injury
Wolves have been dealt a Black Country derby blow with last season's leading scorer Steven Fletcher having been ruled out of Sunday's clash with West Brom.

Blackburn name new assistant coach
Blackburn have named Paul Clement as their new assistant head coach.

Agent: Balotelli won't leave Man City
Mario Balotelli's agent has moved to clarify talk of the Manchester City striker joining Napoli in a swap deal involving Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Giggs seeking new Man United deal
Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs has revealed he plans to open talks with the club over a new one-year contract.

Redknapp considering Beckham situation
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits he is unsure if he will make a new move to sign David Beckham.

Liverpool owner hails 'genius' Fergie
Liverpool owner John Henry has labelled Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson "a genius".

Martin rejection to disappoint Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be frustrated at Sochaux star Marvin Martin's lack of interest in a move to the North London club.

Vidic is key to United's Fortune
Former Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune thinks the outcome of Saturday's trip to Anfield may rest on Nemanja Vidic's availability.

Benitez swipe at Fergie and rich United
Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez claims Manchester United's recent successes are down to money ahead of Saturday's clash between the two sides.

Mancini plays down striker injury crisis
Roberto Mancini reported Manchester City's striking crisis has eased - just as he made Carlos Tevez train on his own.

 

[ballsathome]

Fergie: Ban behind Rooney omission
Sir Alex Ferguson left Wayne Rooney out of his starting line-up for Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Liverpool because of his three-match England ban.

Ferguson fumes at Giggs' mistake
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson bemoaned the Ryan Giggs defensive mistake which almost handed Liverpool victory at Anfield.

McCarthy stands up for Henry
Mick McCarthy has hailed the importance of fans' target Karl Henry to Wolves and insisted he will be the first name on the team-sheet for Sunday's derby at West Brom.

Chelsea risk losing trio for nothing
Chelsea will risk writing off millions of pounds in fees by not selling Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou before their contracts expire next summer.

Redknapp denies Rio Ferdinand link
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has denied claims that he wants to sign Rio Ferdinand and Gary Cahill, insisting that he is totally satisfied with his current defence.

Wenger: Walcott not ready for central role
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Theo Walcott is not yet ready to play in a central role for the Gunners.

Monthly award for Harry Redknapp
Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has been rewarded for three wins from three games in September by being named the Barclays Manager of the Month.

"Roman won't gain from stadium move"
Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has insisted owner Roman Abramovich does not stand to gain financially from any possible stadium move.

Vermaelen on the road to recovery
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen insists he is "getting better every day" as he recovers from injury.

Liverpool demand revenue change
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has defended his stance on overseas television revenue but stressed the club has no intention of "damaging the league".

Redknapp: No problems with VDV
Harry Redknapp insists he has no problem with Rafael van der Vaart after the Tottenham forward branded claims he had criticised his manager as "rubbish".

 

[ballsathome]

Wenger: "Mertesacker like Tony Adams"
Arsene Wenger believes he can rebuild Arsenal's defensive fortunes around the towering shape of Per Mertesacker.

Wenger could buy to stop slump
After four defeats this season, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted he could buy in January if their slump continues.

Evra accuses Suarez of racist slur
The Football Association will investigate allegations that Manchester United defender Patrice Evra was racially abused by Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

Warnock fury at 'stupid' boots
QPR manager Neil Warnock revealed his fury at lightweight football boots after striker DJ Campbell was ruled out for up to eight weeks with a suspected broken metatarsal.

Wenger believes in Carl Jenkinson
Arsene Wenger is backing 19-year-old Carl Jenkinson to show his mental toughness and solve Arsenal's defensive problem.

 

[ballsathome]

Premier League Weekend Team News

Arsenal are in action on Sunday against Sunderland, while their north London-rivals Tottenham travel to St James Park to play Newcastle.

Sunday

West Brom vs Wolves

West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie is battling to overcome a foot problem in time for Sunday's derby clash with Wolves at The Hawthorns. Simon Cox and Somen Tchoyi are in contention to replace Odemwingie, last season's top scorer with 15 goals, if he is ruled out.

Summer signing Billy Jones is in line to make his first Barclays Premier League start at right-back should Steven Reid fail to recover from his fractured hand.

Wolves striker Steven Fletcher has been ruled out with a calf injury suffered in training.

It leaves Kevin Doyle as the only fully fit experienced striker, with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake not match-fit after a two month lay-off following a knee setback. Left-back George Elokobi is also sidelined with an ankle injury as Wolves look to end a run of four successive defeats.

West Brom (from): Foster, Fulop, Jones, Jara, Olsson, McAuley, Dawson, Tamas, Mattock, Shorey, Brunt, Morrison, Mulumbu, Scharner, Dorrans, Thomas, Tchoyi, Odemwingie, Long, Cox, Fortune.
Wolves (from): Hennessey, Stearman, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Hunt, Henry, O'Hara, Jarvis, Doyle, Hammill, Guedioura, Milijas, De Vries, Vokes, Edwards, Doherty, Craddock, Zubar, Ebanks-Blake.

Arsenal vs Sunderland

Carl Jenkinson is likely to replace right-back Bacary Sagna against Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Sagna fractured a fibula in the derby defeat at Tottenham and is due to be out for a minimum of three months.

Tomas Rosicky should be available after suffering a groin problem on international duty with the Czech Republic. Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou are also fit. Abou Diaby is back in training and should be back for the Carling Cup tie against Bolton while Thomas Vermaelen is two weeks away from a return.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has also recovered from a slight groin injury. Sunderland will be without striker Nicklas Bendtner for the game.

The Denmark international is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement with the Gunners, and that could present an opportunity to summer signings Connor Wickham, who has recovered from a groin problem, and Ji Dong-won.

Full-back Phil Bardsley completes his four-match ban and Titus Bramble is suspended pending police and club investigations, while Craig Gordon and Fraizer Campbell (both knee) continue to work their way back to fitness.

Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Song, Frimpong, Jenkinson, Ramsey, Arteta, Gervinho, Van Persie, Walcott, Fabianski, Park, Santos, Benayoun, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Djourou, Rosicky, Arshavin, Chamakh, Miquel, Squillaci.
Sunderland (from): Mignolet, Westwood, O'Shea, Brown, Richardson, Turner, Laing, Cattermole, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Colback, Elmohamady, Meyler, Sessegnon, Wickham, Ji, McClean, Cook.

Newcastle vs Tottenham

Tottenham will give a fitness test to Emmanuel Adebayor to see if he is fit to play in Sunday's game at Newcastle, after the striker suffered a hamstring injury in the club's win over Arsenal two weeks ago.

Rafael van der Vaart should be fit despite a hamstring niggle, but Sandro (calf) and Aaron Lennon (groin) are doubts and Niko Kranjcar is likely to be out for some time after tearing a thigh muscle while on international duty with Croatia.

Vedran Corluka also suffered a foot injury with Croatia and will miss this weekend's game, while long-term absentees William Gallas (calf), Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) remain sidelined.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was a relieved man after seeing all his international stars return to Tyneside unscathed. There were fears that France midfielder Yohan Cabaye (ankle) and Senegal striker Demba Ba (knee) might be struggling, but both are fit and available.

Danny Guthrie (groin) and Sammy Ameobi (hamstring), however, are doubts after picking up injuries on reserve team duty, while Mike Williamson (broken arm) remains on the sidelines.

Newcastle (from): Krul, Harper, Simpson, R Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Coloccini, S Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Marveaux, Obertan, Gosling, Guthrie, Ben Arfa, Abeid, Vuckic, Ba, Lovenkrands, Best, Sammy Ameobi.
Tottenham (from): Gomes, Friedel, Cudicini, Bale, Kaboul, Bassong, Walker, King, Assou-Ekotto, Rose, Parker, Modric, Livermore, Townsend, Carroll, Lennon, Falque, Sandro, Pienaar, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Dos Santos, Adebayor, Van der Vaart.

 

[ballsathome]

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AVB: Sturridge can play for England
Andre Villas-Boas is confident Daniel Sturridge will break into the England squad if he maintains his stunning Chelsea form.

Rio Ferdinand: I've plenty to offer
Rio Ferdinand intends to ignore the obituaries being penned about his career.

Mata: I'm loving life at Chelsea
Chelsea winger Juan Mata is enjoying the time of his life at Stamford Bridge after inspiring his side to a 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

Wenger: Our confidence is growing
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes his side are growing in confidence after their 2-1 win over Sunderland on Sunday.

Hernandez: The team comes first
Javier Hernandez insists he is no Manchester United hero despite coming off the bench to salvage a point at Liverpool.

Van Persie commits to Arsenal
Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has laughed off claims he wants to leave the Gunners.

Sir Alex belief in Welbeck ability
Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped striker Danny Welbeck to make a major impact for Manchester United and England in the coming months and years.

More injury woe for Ledley King
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp expects Ledley King to be out for a "while" after he picked up an abductor muscle injury in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Newcastle.

Rio: De Gea has renewed confidence
Rio Ferdinand is convinced a baptism of fire at Stoke will prove to be the making of David de Gea's Manchester United career.

Taylor owns up to penalty error
Steven Taylor admitted referee Lee Probert was right to award a penalty against him in Newcastle's 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Sunday.

McCarthy unhappy with Scharner
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy criticised the behaviour of West Brom midfielder Paul Scharner after the Baggies secured a 2-0 victory at the Hawthorns.

Suarez upset by racism claims
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has said he was "upset" by the allegation he racially abused Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

Balotelli lauded as goalscoring influence
Manchester City have the unlikely figure of Mario Balotelli to thank for easing tension ahead of a crucial week in their season.

Gerrard happy to be back playing
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits he has returned to action with a renewed appreciation for the game with which he has had a love affair his whole life.

Hernandez: The team comes first
Javier Hernandez insists he is no Manchester United hero despite coming off the bench to salvage a point at Liverpool.

 

[ballsathome]

Mertesacker: Top four vital for Arsenal
Per Mertesacker knows Arsenal cannot afford to fail to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.

McFadden makes Everton return
Everton have completed the signing of former forward James McFadden, the club have confirmed.

Silva full of praise for Mancini influence
Manchester City playmaker David Silva claims if he really is one of the best players in the world, it is down to manager Roberto Mancini.

Wigan loan youngster to Blackpool
Promising young Wigan striker Callum McManaman has joined npower Championship side Blackpool on loan until January.

Taylor to make peace in Suarez-Evra row
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor was on Monday ready to act as a mediator in the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra race row.

Hernandez hails 'unbelievable' De Gea
Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has praised young goalkeeper David de Gea, who impressed in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

"Foreign owners want end to relegation"
Several of the biggest Barclays Premier League clubs want to scrap relegation from the top flight, according to League Managers' Association chief Richard Bevan.

Mancini in for the long haul at City
Manager Roberto Mancini believes Manchester City have become one of the best clubs in the world and wants to stay for many years to prove it.

Ferdinand: I'm addicted to winning
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand insists he never gets bored by that winning feeling.

Gerrard confident of top-four fight
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes the club are in a good position to challenge to regain Champions League status.

Charlie Adam: I am not a diver
Midfielder Charlie Adam has denied he dived in the build-up to Liverpool's goal against Manchester United on Saturday.

500 million watched Liverpool-United
A staggering half-a-billion people worldwide tuned in to catch Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

 

[ballsathome]

Pressure mounts in Hillsborough case
Pressure is growing on both the Government and publishers News International after MPs united in their support of families of Hillsborough victims searching for justice.

Ferguson: No issue with Liverpool
Sir Alex Ferguson insists Manchester United have no axe to grind with Liverpool even though Saturday's Anfield clash has become the centre of a racism probe.

Barton to FA: I won't be censored
Joey Barton has told the Football Association they have no chance of making him censor his outspoken Twitter comments.

MPs promise full Hillsborough disclosure
Home Secretary Theresa May insisted the Government was committed to disclosing the full facts surrounding the 1989 Hillsborough stadium football disaster.

Dalglish leads Hillsborough support
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish sent messages of support as families of fans who died in the Hillsborough disaster saw their quest for justice move a step closer.

Fergie: Scrapping relegation is 'suicide'
Sir Alex Ferguson has slammed the idea of scrapping relegation and promotion for financial returns.

Evra keen to pursue racism claims
Patrice Evra has told Sir Alex Ferguson he wants to pursue his allegation of racism against Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Reina: Reds headed in right direction
Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina believes the club's recent recruitment drive has helped close the gap further to the Barclays Premier League's top teams.

Pardew pleased to close BPL gap
Alan Pardew is sure Newcastle have closed the gap to the Premier League's top sides.

Rollercoaster ride for Gary Cahill
Bolton defender Gary Cahill admits his season has been something of a rollercoaster ride.

Wilkinson keen to extend Stoke stay
Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson wants to see out his career at the club after a 10-year stay which is still on the up.

Victor Moses in Wigan contract talks
Wigan forward Victor Moses has opened talks over a new contract, his agent has confirmed to skysports.com.

Blackburn edge closer to Hoilett deal
Blackburn boss Steve Kean has reiterated his belief that star forward Junior Hoilett will pen a new contract at the club.

 

[ballsathome]

Tuesday 18th October 2011

Fergie: Scrapping relegation is 'suicide'

Sir Alex Ferguson has slammed the idea of scrapping relegation and promotion for financial returns.

Several of the biggest Barclays Premier League clubs want to do away with relegation and promotion in the top flight, according to League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan.

Bevan claimed the American and Asian owners of Premier League sides are keen on a franchising model.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Sunderland are all in American hands, Manchester City are run from Abu Dhabi, while other clubs including Chelsea and Blackburn also have foreign investors.

Bevan fears that if more teams change ownership, there could be a vote to abolish relegation, a move which would require the backing of two thirds of Premier League clubs as well as Football Association approval.

However, Ferguson is leading the opposition.

"I don't see where the end product comes in," said the Scot.

"There are at least eight teams in the Championship at the moment with great history.

"What do you say to those eight teams, they can never play in the Premier League?

"You may as well lock the doors. It would be absolute suicide for the rest of the teams in the country, particularly the Championship."

As Ferguson pointed out, if the axe fell now, two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest would be out, along with Leeds and both Sheffield clubs.

"All these great teams are the nucleus of the Premier League many years ago," he said.

"The only place you can make money and realise your ambition is the Premier League. You can't take that away from clubs."

Earlier, speaking at the Professional Players Federation conference in London, Bevan said: "There are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League.

"If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen."

He added: "You'll find that with American owners and some of the Asian owners as well.

"If you look at sport all around the world and owners trying to work out how to invest and make money, you'll find that most of them like the idea of franchises.

"Without doubt there have been a number of them (American owners) looking at possibly having more of a franchise situation.

"That would mean no promotion or relegation and that would obviously not be good news for English football.

"If I'm an owner coming in, I must recognise and embrace the history, the tradition, the supporters, the community, the philosophy of actually how this club should be operating and not deciding my club should be taken abroad or whatever."

Even if a two-thirds majority of Premier League clubs voted in favour of abolishing relegation, the move would still be unlikely to come about as the league's own rules dictate it would also require approval from the FA.

The Premier League clubs have not formally discussed any such move since Bolton chairman Phil Gartside proposed his two-tiered structure two years ago, an idea soon dismissed.

However, Bevan still believes it is a possibility, arguing any new owner of a Premier League club would not need to be foreign for them to see there would be money to be made from scrapping relegation.

"It doesn't matter whether you're from Birmingham or you're from Burma," he said.

A formal licensing system would give the FA the power to prevent clubs operating in this country should they vote to abolish relegation.

Bevan said: "We want to see a more formalised licensing programme.

"It has to sit with the FA and, ultimately, it has to sit as well with FIFA and UEFA. That has to be the pyramid and structure.

"The role that the FA play has to be a much stronger one than in the past.

"The RFU and the ECB and the FA are institutions.

"And institutions, when they're around successful businesspeople, often move a little bit slower.

"Government are important to help them."


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Monday 17th October 2011

"Foreign owners want end to relegation"

Several of the biggest Barclays Premier League clubs want to scrap relegation from the top flight, according to League Managers' Association chief Richard Bevan.

Bevan claimed the American and Asian owners of Premier League sides would be keen on a franchising model that would fly in the face of English footballing tradition.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Sunderland are all in American hands, Manchester City are run from Abu Dhabi, while other clubs including Chelsea and Blackburn also have foreign investors.

Bevan fears that if more teams change ownership, there could be a vote to abolish relegation, a move which would require the backing of two thirds of Premier League clubs as well as Football Association approval.

The LMA chief executive is hoping that can be prevented by the recent Department of Culture, Media and Sport inquiry into football governance, which recommended the FA adopt a licensing system.

Speaking at the Professional Players Federation conference in London, Bevan said: "There are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League.

"If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen." He added: "You'll find that with American owners and you'll find that with some of the Asian owners as well.

"If you look at sport all around the world and you look at sport owners trying to work out how to invest and make money, you'll find that most of them like the idea of franchises.

"If you take, particularly, American owners, without doubt there have been a number of them looking at possibly having more of a franchise situation.

"That would mean no promotion or relegation. "That would obviously not be good news for English football.

"You need to make sure that the FA is strong enough to ensure that the principles on which our clubs are run, if I'm an owner coming in, I must recognise and embrace the history, the tradition, the supporters, the community, the philosophy of actually how this club should be operating and not deciding my club should be taken abroad or whatever."

Even if a two thirds majority of Premier League clubs voted in favour of abolishing relegation, the move would still be unlikely to come about as the league's own rules dictate it would also require approval from the FA, which would expect to hear widespread opposition from the rest of the game.

The Premier League clubs have not formally discussed any such move since Bolton chairman Phil Gartside proposed his two-tiered structure two years ago, an idea soon dismissed.

However, Bevan still believes it is a possibility, arguing any new owner of a Premier League club would not need to be foreign for them to see there would be money to be made from scrapping relegation.

"It doesn't really matter if you're from overseas or not, does it? he said. "It doesn't matter whether you're from Birmingham or you're from Burma."

A formal licensing system would give the FA the power to prevent clubs operating in this country should they vote to abolish relegation. Bevan said: "We want to see a more formalised licensing programme.

"You create a platform in which if I want to own Shrewsbury Town, Manchester United, whatever, I'm the caretaker of that club and take it from one region to another or play games abroad.

"It has to sit with the FA and, ultimately, it has to sit as well with FIFA and UEFA. That has to be the pyramid and structure. "The role that the FA play has to be a much stronger one than in the past.

"The problem with the RFU and the ECB and the FA are institutions. "And institutions, when they're around successful businesspeople, often move a little bit slower. "Government are important to help them."

 

[red amoeba]

no relegation? if the US owners have their way, football will be played in 4 quarters like NBA, each lasting 20 minutes = for max tv ad revenues

n there will be limitless substitution players can be sub in and out as many times as possible -xcept those being red carded.

n there will be playoffs? Finally Super Bowl / Super Final showdown?

LOL...i think Platini will flip...

 

[no_faith]

relegation make the clubs and players work harder.
no relegation all players holiday mood.

 

[jw5]

Liverpool wants to negotiate their own premier league tv fees.
They should go and form their own league.
Now foreign owned premier league clubs want to scrap promotion and relegation.
They should join Liverpool in their own league.
I bet this is led by the Blackburn owners.

 

[ballsathome]

Wenger to honour Arsenal contract
Arsene Wenger has committed his future to Arsenal by insisting he intends to see out the remaining three years of his contract.

Dalglish disappointed by Rangers loss
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish thought his side should have done better in their friendly match against Glasgow Rangers.

Ferguson excited by Manchester derby
Sir Alex Ferguson cannot wait for Sunday's Barclays Premier League derby showdown with leaders Manchester City.

Dalglish: Hillsborough truth will be out
Kenny Dalglish insists he was never in any doubt that the documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster would be released.

Dutch striker rejects Man United talk
Ricky van Wolfswinkel's agent has denied having any contact with Manchester United.

Cech won't blame Chelsea defence
Petr Cech refused to criticise his team-mates for Chelsea's recent lack of clean sheets on Tuesday.

Blackburn owners will resist change
Blackburn Rovers' owners have denied claims they would vote in favour of scrapping relegation from the Premier League.

Whelan blasts "stupid suggestion"
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan insists he would pull his team out of the Barclays Premier League if promotion and relegation was scrapped in the English top flight.

Abidal reveals Man City interest
Eric Abidal has revealed that Manchester City are one of the clubs keeping a close eye on his contract negotiations at Barcelona.

Vermaelen signs new contract with Arsenal
Central defender Thomas Vermaelen has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal that will see him stay at the North London club for a further four years.

Blues remain hopeful over Ramires
Chelsea remain hopeful Ramires will be fit for Sunday's Barclays Premier League match away to QPR after he missed training for their Champions League clash with Genk.

Mike Ashley backed by Pardew
Alan Pardew believes Newcastle owner Mike Ashley should be praised for running the club the right way and for his commitment to the cause.

Boca Juniors keen on Tevez loan
Boca Juniors vice-president Jose Beraldi have confirmed that the Argentinian side are keen on bringing old boy Carlos Tevez home on a loan move.

 

[ballsathome]

Hodgson gets Zoltan Gera boost
Zoltan Gera has set his sights on making his first team comeback for West Brom in Saturday's derby at Aston Villa after a successful return to reserve action.

Warnock hints at Clint Hill return
QPR boss Neil Warnock is considering recalling Clint Hill from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest.

McCarthy sorry for Scharner dig
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has apologised for his outburst towards West Brom midfielder Paul Scharner after Sunday's derby at the Hawthorns.

McLeish admits Jenas not ready yet
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish admits on-loan midfielder Jermaine Jenas is still "three or four games away" from being ready to make his debut for the club.

Bendtner backed by Larsson
Sebastian Larsson is backing his ex-Arsenal team-mate Nicklas Bendtner to kick-start Sunderland's season on his return to the line-up at Bolton on Saturday.

Glen Johnson eyes Norwich return
Liverpool defender Glen Johnson hopes his injury problems are finally behind him after returning to action against Rangers.

DJ Campbell out for two months
QPR have confirmed striker DJ Campbell faces up to two months on the sidelines with a fractured metatarsal.

Injury boost for Ledley King
Harry Redknapp does not expect Ledley King to be sidelined for too long after revealing the Tottenham defender has only suffered a grade one abductor tear.

Lindegaard: Derby not title decider
Manchester United keeper Anders Lindegaard believes it is far too early to build Sunday's derby clash with City at Old Trafford into a title decider.

Redknapp concerned over foreign owners
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp claims it will be only a matter of time before foreign owners insist competitive domestic matches are played abroad.

Berbatov to fight for United place
Dimitar Berbatov is determined to secure more first-team football at Manchester United after rejecting pleas from Bulgaria fans to come out of retirement.

Duncan Ferguson returns to Everton
Former Everton hero Duncan Ferguson is working with the club's youth set-up as he studies for his coaching badges.

McFadden has nothing to prove
New Everton signing James McFadden insists he has nothing to prove to anyone but himself after rejoining his former club until the end of the season.

 

[ballsathome]

Ivanovic: We never doubted Torres
Branislav Ivanovic insists Chelsea's players never doubted Fernando Torres would come good after the Spaniard edged closer to ending his nightmare start at the club.

Dalglish backs Suarez over Evra row
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has issued a robust defence of Luis Suarez after the striker was accused of racism.

Injured Kirkland returns to Wigan
Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has returned from his loan spell with npower Championship side Doncaster after just one match because of a back problem.

Sunderland boosted by key duo return
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will welcome back two of his key men for Saturday's crucial Barclays Premier League trip to Bolton.

Wolves to miss Foley for two months
Kevin Foley hopes to be back in action for Wolves before Christmas after a successful operation on his ankle.

Dinamo deny United bid for Kovacic
Dinamo Zagreb have insisted Manchester United have not made contact with them over Mateo Kovacic.

Wenger: Chamakh staying at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has declared Marouane Chamakh will not be leaving Arsenal in January, despite the striker's lack of match action of late.

De Jong ready for Manchester derby
Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong is confident their bitter rivals United will not be able to knock them off the top of the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.

Long looking for Villa revenge
West Brom striker Shane Long wants to avenge one of his biggest disappointments in football by winning at Aston Villa in Saturday's derby.

Arteta looking to keep things simple
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta believes their recent return to form has been down to keeping things simple on the field.

Johnson: Liverpool a happy place now
A year since Liverpool were taken over by Fenway Sports Group, defender Glen Johnson believes things at Anfield are very much on the up.

Redknapp wants more from Pavlyuchenko
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp would reluctantly consider offers for striker Roman Pavlyuchenko in the January transfer window.

Nani confident of derby victory
Nani is relying on Manchester United's incredible home record to see them to victory in Sunday's Premier League blockbuster with Manchester City.

Smalling revels in central role
Chris Smalling was delighted to get back into the centre of Manchester United's defence in Bucharest on Tuesday night.

 

[ballsathome]

​

Bruce: Man City a genuine title threat
Former Manchester United skipper Steve Bruce believes Manchester City are mounting a genuine challenge to topple their closest rivals this season.

​

Mancini praises 'teacher' Ferguson
Roberto Mancini has admitted Sir Alex Ferguson remains the managerial master - and he can only learn from the great Scot.


FA to be sensible over Olympic selection
The Football Association have vowed to open "sensible dialogue" with England's senior clubs over the issue of selection for the British Olympic team.

Bassong would consider Spurs exit
Sebastien Bassong would be open to a January transfer to QPR after claiming he was unfairly left out of Tottenham's first team at the start of the season.

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Henderson set for Liverpool recall
Liverpool's Jordan Henderson could be given a second chance to impress quicker than he may have expected as manager Kenny Dalglish contemplates his recall.

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Van Persie motivated by greatness
Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie admits the significance of scoring his 100th goal for the club was a real motivating factor behind his recent good form.

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Wenger: We have to play to our strengths
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called on his team to play to their strengths instead of relying on Stoke to suffer their usual European hangover.

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Suarez: Liverpool can beat anyone
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez believes the players have shown manager Kenny Dalglish they are up for the fight and capable of winning silverware.

Richards: United frightened of City
Micah Richards believes Manchester United are "a bit frightened" of Roberto Mancini's Manchester City ahead the Barclays Premier League clash at Old Trafford.

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Chelsea, Inter enter Hazard race
Chelsea and Inter Milan both entered the race to sign Lille's star winger Eden Hazard as the French club are set to cash in on the youngster.

Wenger admits Manchester power shift
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes Sunday's Manchester derby ends in a draw and admits that United and City are the two clubs to catch in this season's title race.

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Ranger charged with drunk driving
Newcastle striker Nile Ranger has been charged with drink-driving, a police spokeswoman confirmed.

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Coyle asks players to earn their place
Owen Coyle has told his players to prove they deserve a place in his team as Bolton look to climb further away from the bottom of the table against Sunderland on Saturday.

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Man City back down in Tevez saga
Manchester City have sensationally backed down from their initial position regarding the Carlos Tevez saga.

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Balotelli: No grudge against Ferdinand
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli insists he has made up with Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand ahead of Sunday's derby at Old Trafford.

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Scudamore dismisses scrapping relegation
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has rubbished talk of scrapping relegation and promotion in the top flight, labelling the suggestion "nonsensical".

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Fans plan another Kean protest
Blackburn supporters are to stage another protest calling for manager Steve Kean to be sacked at Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham at Ewood Park.

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Pardew targets Newcastle silverware
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is determined to end the club's wait for a major a trophy within two years.

 

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Warnock plays down QPR row
Neil Warnock has played down suggestions of a falling out between his two controversial midfield stars Joey Barton and Adel Taarabt.

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Wenger concerned over Olympics
Arsene Wenger believes Great Britain's quest for Olympic gold next summer will make life impossible for Premier League managers.

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Moyes dreaming of European nights
David Moyes admits Everton are desperate to get back into Europe and says he would happily take on the hectic fixture schedule it entails.

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McLeish wants more from Agbonlahor
Alex McLeish is looking to Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor to inflict derby misery on West Brom in Saturday's clash at Villa Park.

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AVB: League is now more competitive
Andre Villas-Boas believes it will be harder for Chelsea to win the Barclays Premier League this season than it was when Jose Mourinho landed back-to-back titles.

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Mancini: City out to win at Old Trafford
Roberto Mancini says Manchester City would settle for a draw in Sunday's derby against Manchester United, but insists he will be targeting a win at Old Trafford.

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Pardew wary of Newcastle problems
Alan Pardew admits he will not know everything about his high-flying Newcastle team until they run into problems.

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Martinez: My players are survivors
Manager Roberto Martinez believes Wigan have made it part of the club's DNA to defy the odds and he has urged the players to rediscover that mentality.

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Jones overjoyed at Stoke return
Kenwyne Jones was delighted to be back in action after marking his return to the Stoke team with a goal in Thursday's 3-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

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Coyle seeks Bolton home comforts
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is hoping Saturday's clash with Sunderland can be the first step towards re-establishing the Reebok Stadium as a daunting place to visit.

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McCarthy receives Rodgers backing
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers believes Mick McCarthy will drag Wolves out of their current predicament.

Koscielny backs defence to improve
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has promised there is plenty more to come from his partnership with Per Mertesacker.

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Hodgson: McLeish to Villa made sense
West Brom boss Roy Hodgson has backed derby rival Alex McLeish's summer move from Birmingham to Aston Villa.

​

 

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Richards claims Utd are running scared of City

ESPN staff
October 21, 2011

Micah Richards believes Manchester City are on the up © PA Photos

Manchester City defender Micah Richards believes Manchester United are now scared of their rivals, as the two teams prepare for their first derby of the season at Old Trafford on Sunday.

City have spent much of recent memory in the shadow of United, with a banner hanging at United's home for a number of years gleefully recording how long it had been since City last won a major trophy.

But that banner had to come down at the end of last season after Roberto Mancini's side won the FA Cup - beating United in the semi-final - and, with City currently top of the Premier League, Richards believes the balance of power in Manchester is tipping towards the blue half.

"United now know, much as they won't say it, that we are a genuine threat to them," the 23-year-old defender told the Manchester Evening News. "To get that banner down is quality - we have got the last laugh.

"We are not going out and saying we will win this game or that game, but they call us the noisy neighbours. I think they're a bit frightened."

Richards believes part of that is down to City's changing mental approach - after a huge amount of financial investment, the current squad believe they are the equal of their more illustrious rivals.

"It used to be the case that we went to United and got battered every time but in the last year or two we have gone to United and sometimes looked the better team, on their own patch, so it shows how far we have come in a short space of time," he said.

"We have improved a lot and want the ball down to play - in those days it was about getting 11 men behind the ball and defending, and if we got a chance we had to take it. That's what we did.

"If you speak to Mancini he wants to go there and win. People talked about us last season being boring and negative, but if you watch us now we are completely the opposite."

© ESPN EMEA Ltd

 

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Wenger: Olympics fantastic for Giggs
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes 37-year-old Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs is the perfect player to lead Great Britain's football challenge in next summer's Olympic Games.

Fergie: Modern management complex
Sir Alex Ferguson believes the art of football management is far harder now than it was when he began his stellar career.

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Dalglish counts on FSG support
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is confident owners Fenway Sports Group will continue to back him in the transfer market if he feels the need to strengthen in January.

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Ferguson: Don't write off Chelsea
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes it would be foolish to write off Chelsea for the title race.

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Wenger wants United-City draw
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits a draw between Manchester United and Manchester City on Sunday would be his desired outcome.

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Steve Kean focused on Spurs clash
Blackburn manager Steve Kean insists he is concentrating on kick-starting his team's season this weekend despite the backdrop of another fans protest looming.

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Wenger: RVP is the best in BPL
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hailed Robin van Persie as the best striker in the Barclays Premier League at the moment.

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New contracts for Arsenal duo
Arsenal duo Conor Henderson and Sanchez Watt have signed new contracts to commit their long-term futures to the club.

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McCarthy: Loyalty is a two-way thing
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has called for his team's fans to hold off booing until the final whistle as they look to end their five-match losing streak in the Barclays Premier League against Swansea on Saturday.

Police issue derby day warning
Greater Manchester Police have warned fans they will "clamp down" on anyone who causes trouble at Sunday's Manchester derby.

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Wenger: Arshavin has Arsenal future
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels Andrey Arshavin still has plenty to offer the Gunners.

Agent: Chamakh happy at Arsenal
Marouane Chamakh's agent has played down talk linking the Arsenal striker with a move to Roma and insisted he is happy at the Emirates Stadium.

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Mancini: City closing gap on United
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes his side have gained considerable ground on rivals Manchester United this season.

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Tevez decision postponed by City
Carlos Tevez is expected to learn the outcome of his disciplinary hearing at Manchester City early next week.

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McLeish: Shay was a given for me
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish admits he tried to sign keeper Shay Given during the summer of 2010 when he was boss of Birmingham.

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AVB plays down Barton comments
Andre Villas-Boas dismissed the impact Joey Barton's personal attack on John Terry might have during Chelsea's Barclays Premier League clash at QPR.

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Ferguson silenced over Evra case
The Football Association have silenced Sir Alex Ferguson over Patrice Evra's racism claims.

 

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Saturday 22nd October 2011

Premier League Weekend Team News

A look at the team-news for this weekend's Barclays Premier League action.

Saturday, October 22

Aston Villa v West Brom
Villa central defender James Collins is back in contention after missing the 4-1 setback at Manchester City with foot and groin problems. Villa boss Alex McLeish may recall midfielder Barry Bannan after leaving him out of the starting line-up at City following his exertions with Scotland, but striker Nathan Delfouneso (hamstring) and on-loan Jermaine Jenas (Achilles) are still ruled out.

West Brom midfielder Zoltan Gera is in contention to play some part after making his comeback from a long-term ankle problem by playing 45 minutes of the midweek reserve clash with Arsenal. Defender Steven Reid will be available after undergoing minor hand surgery, while manager Roy Hodgson has to decide whether to recall Peter Odemwingie after he impressed as a scoring substitute against Wolves.

Last season: West Brom 2 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 2 West Brom 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D D D W L; West Brom W L D D W
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 4; Shane Long (West Brom) 3
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Bolton v Sunderland
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is hoping to be able to pick from the same squad as the Trotters look to build on last week's win at Wigan. A couple of players are battling knocks but Coyle is hopeful they will be fit while defender Marcos Alonso returned to training today after eight weeks out with a broken foot.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is boosted by the return of key men Phil Bardsley, after suspension, and Nicklas Bendtner, who was ineligible to play against parent club Arsenal last weekend. Titus Bramble is suspended pending police and club investigations, while Craig Gordon and Fraizer Campbell (both knee) continue to work their way back to fitness.

Last season: Bolton 1 Sunderland 2, Sunderland 1 Bolton 0
Last five league matches: Bolton L L L L W; Sunderland L W L D L
Top scorers: Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 3; Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) 3
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).

Liverpool v Norwich
Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva serves a one-match suspension, which may give a chance for Jordan Henderson, dropped to the bench for the last two matches, to regain his starting place. Defenders Daniel Agger (rib) and Glen Johnson (hamstring) are fully fit again after playing in the midweek friendly defeat by Rangers.

Steve Morison is available for Norwich after suffering cramp and being replaced in last week's 3-1 win over Swansea. Out again with knee injuries, though, are defenders Elliot Ward and Daniel Ayala, while Zak Whitbread's hamstring problem keeps him out and long-term absentee James Vaughan is not expected to challenge for a place again until the New Year.
Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Liverpool L L W W D; Norwich L W W L W
Top scorers: Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 5; Anthony Pilkington (Norwich) 3
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Newcastle v Wigan
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has virtually a full squad to choose from. Skipper Fabricio Coloccini has had a minor toe problem, but is expected to be fit, while Haris Vuckic (broken hand) and Alan Smith (hamstring) are available again, with only central defender Mike Williamson (ankle) on the sidelines.

Striker Hugo Rodallega is set for a return to the Wigan starting line-up after making his comeback from a knee injury as a substitute a week ago. Steve Gohouri had 45 minutes to forget out of position at left-back in the home loss to Bolton and that could signal a return for Maynor Figueroa, who was dropped to the bench at the weekend.

Last season: Wigan 0 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 2 Wigan 2
Last five league matches: Newcastle D D W W D; Wigan L L L L L
Top scorers: Demba Ba (Newcastle) 5; Franco Di Santo (Wigan) 3
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).

Wolves v Swansea
Wolves will still be without striker Steven Fletcher, who is recovering from the calf injury that kept him out of last week's 2-0 defeat to West Brom. Meanwhile, Ronald Zubar (groin) has not reached match fitness and Kevin Foley (ankle) is also missing.

Swansea defender Steven Caulker is ahead of schedule in his return from a knee injury, but is still unavailable. Vangelis Moras could make his debut in defence after receiving international clearance to sign a short-term contract with the club, but Stephen Dobbie (ankle), Alan Tate (broken leg) and Kemy Agustien (hamstring) are out.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wolves L L L L L; Swansea L W L W L
Top scorers: Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 3; Danny Graham & Scott Sinclair (Swansea) 2
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Sunday, October 23

Arsenal v Stoke
Carl Jenkinson, who picked up a knee problem against Marseille in the Champions League in midweek, will be out for a fortnight, as will Kieran Gibbs (stomach muscles). Meanwhile, defender Thomas Vermaelen is back in full training and could be available in 10 days to two weeks, while Abou Diaby is also two weeks away from a return.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will check on winger Jermaine Pennant, who has been experiencing some trouble with his hamstring and did not feature in the Potters' Europa League win over Maccabi Tel Aviv. Jonathan Woodgate also missed that game as he is not part of Pulis' European squad and will come back into contention if he is fit, while Danny Higginbotham - out since April with a knee injury - may be involved.

Last season: Stoke 3 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 1 Stoke 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal W L W L W; Stoke W L D L W
Top scorers: Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 7; Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 4
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Blackburn v Tottenham
Defender Michel Salgado aggravated a hamstring problem in last weekend's 1-1 draw at QPR, so Jason Lowe is expected to fill in at right-back for Rovers. Midfielders David Dunn (calf), Vince Grella (hip) and Ryan Nelsen (knee) are all still out.

The likes of Scott Parker, Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart will be recalled for Tottenham after they were rested for Thursday night's Europa League win over Rubin Kazan. Manager Harry Redknapp has major problems in defence, with William Gallas (calf), Michael Dawson (Achilles), Ledley King (groin) and Vedran Corluka (foot) all unavailable, while Aaron Lennon (groin) and Sandro (calf) should be fit.

Last season: Blackburn 0 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 4 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Blackburn D W L L D; Tottenham W W W W D
Top scorers: Ruben Rochina (Blackburn) 4; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 5
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Fulham v Everton
Bobby Zamora and Clint Dempsey, rested for the midweek Europa League defeat at Wisla Krakow, and Danny Murphy (knee) are among the Fulham players returning. They will be joined by Philippe Senderos and Zdenek Grygera after recovering from respective knocks. Bryan Ruiz faces a fitness test on Saturday, but Orlando Sa (hamstring) and Simon Davies (knee) are out.

James McFadden, who rejoined Everton on a free transfer this week, looks unlikely to make his second debut for the club as he has not played a competitive game in more than a year due to a serious knee injury and his condition is being closely monitored by manager David Moyes. Victor Anichebe remains sidelined with a groin complaint, but other than that, Moyes has a full squad to choose from.

Last season: Everton 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 0 Everton 0
Last five league matches: Fulham D D D W L; Everton D W L L L
Top scorers: Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 9; Apostolos Vellios (Everton) 2
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Man Utd v Man City
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has recalled Rio Ferdinand to his squad after the centre-back was excused the Champions League trip to Romania in midweek. Rafael (shoulder) is still sidelined, but Tom Cleverley (foot) is due to return to training on Monday.

City have no fresh injury concerns, with striker Mario Balotelli returning after suspension in midweek and Owen Hargreaves, who made his league debut for City last week, set to be assessed in a practice match before the game. Carlos Tevez, the subject of disciplinary proceedings, is highly unlikely to be recalled.

Last season: Man Utd 2 Man City 1, Man City 0 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W D W D; Man City W D W W W
Top scorers: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 11; Sergio Aguero (Man City) 9
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

QPR v Chelsea
QPR defender Danny Gabbidon has still not recovered from a knee injury and will therefore miss out, but Adel Taarabt, who has been suffering from a mild virus, is likely to be fit. DJ Campbell, who had an operation on his foot this week, was expected to be out for two months but may come back sooner.

Ramires has failed to recover from the knee injury picked up in Chelsea's win over Everton last weekend but could be back for the Carling Cup tie against the same opponents next week.

John Terry, Didier Drogba and Juan Mata look set to return after being rested for Wednesday night's Champions League thrashing of Genk, while Fernando Torres serves the final instalment of his three-match domestic suspension.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: QPR D W D L D; Chelsea W L W W W
Top scorers: Joey Barton, DJ Campbell, Alejandro Faurlin, Heidar Helguson & Tommy Smith (QPR) 1; Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 5
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).