Fa Barclaycard Premiership News( 25 December 2008 )
English Premiership football News
Liverpool determined to stay top
Fa Barclaycard Premiership reaches halfway mark of the day after Christmas with Liverpool holding a narrow lead at the top.
Liverpool, who face Bolton at Anfield, have not won the title since 1990 but are a point ahead of Chelsea.
Rafael Benitez team has had a bigger lead but have established their last three home games.
"It was so long since Liverpool won the title, I was a 12-year old Everton fan the last time it happened," said Reds defend Jamie Carragher.
"We had some runs and we must begin to turn in those victories but we are still high."
Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee insists that the reds can retain their title charge.
"I know that at the beginning of the season, nobody thought we could be the other top of the table, but we have done," Lee told the club website.
"We do not prepare to fail, we thought we could be at the top, and we believe we can stay there. We are not surprised by the position we are in."
Chelsea have moved to the top of the table if they beat Everton on Saturday - a game which finished goalless and saw John Terry dismissed.
Terry will now miss the Blues fixture at home to bottom side West Brom, and the Sunday game against Fulham and the FA Cup tie against Southend.
The draw against Chelsea caramels also completed the sequence of 11 successive away victories.
But manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is boost by the news that the central defense Ricardo Carvalho is close to a return from a knee injury.
"This is the first time Ricardo has trained normally with us and I think that, after seven days - 10 days - he will start playing," said Scolari.
Surprise package Aston Villa are five points behind Liverpool in third - and Martin O'Neill's team take on fifth placed Arsenal in what could be the day after Christmas the most important fixture.
The Gunners can move level on points with Villa if they win, but Arsene Wenger team go into the fixture without injured skipper Cesc Fabregas, who is out for several months after damaging his middle knee ligaments.
Wenger's team are also without striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who is suspended, while Theo Walcott (shoulder), Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky (Hamstring tendon) remain sidelined.
Despite the injury problems at Arsenal, O'Neill hopes the current generation of players at the club to grow into a great team.
"Arsenal have been able to produce very fine side," said the Villa boss.
"I think this side, they have at present has the potential to be a great team."
O'Neill has injury worries over Martin Laursen and Carlos Cuellar.
Manchester United have played 16 accessories - two less than their title rivals - and return to the Premier League after their trip to Japan, where Sir Alex Ferguson of the team won the European Champions League.
Title Rivals Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have all failed to win any United have been in Japan.
And boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "The same thing happened when we went to Brazil for the world championship in 2000.
"While we were there, our title rivals Arsenal and Leeds two has been unable to secure a victory.
"I would obviously be rather high, Christmas Day, but I always wanted to be close to the leaders entering the new year and we managed that."
United, who are seven points behind Liverpool, Stoke travel to one side looking for their first victory since Nov. 22.
The last time traveler United Stoke for a league fixture was on Boxing Day 1984 - a match that Potters won 2-1.
"Manchester United has always been a great game for fans Stoke 20 odd years back, and I'm just glad it is mounted on the unit we can all look forward to the day after Christmas," said Stoke boss Tony Pulis.
"No disrespect to Barnsley and Plymouth, but we were playing clubs outside last Christmas and this year we United at home and then go to West Ham."
Hull are in sixth place in the table - and only eight points separate the Tigers and the 11 teams below them.
Phil Brown's side to play in difficulty Manchester City on Boxing Day, with Mark Hughes later spending Christmas in the relegation zone.
City have won one of their last nine Premier League games.
"It is difficult for everyone at the moment. We need to return to the means of obtaining as quickly as possible, because that term was too long," said Hughes.
But Hull boss Brown is looking to pile on the misery when they meet.
"There are a lot of pressure on Mark Hughes and I hope that we can to this complex situation with a good performance," said Brown.
"It will be a game difficult, a tough - Man City were supposed to be in the top six at the start of the season."
Blackburn are second from bottom in the table but go into their match with Sunderland BUOY by their victory over the weekend Stoke - their first match under new manager Sam Allardyce.
The future of Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz is the subject of recent speculation Paraguay and misses the match with a calf injury.
"Manchester United has always been a great game for fans Stoke 20 odd years back, and I'm just glad it is mounted on the unit we can all look forward to the day after Christmas," said Stoke boss Tony Pulis.
"No disrespect to Barnsley and Plymouth, but we were playing clubs outside last Christmas and this year we United at home and then go to West Ham."
Hull are in sixth place in the table - and only eight points separate the Tigers and the 11 teams below them.
Phil Brown's side to play in difficulty Manchester City on Boxing Day, with Mark Hughes later spending Christmas in the relegation zone.
City have won one of their last nine Premier League games.
"It is difficult for everyone at the moment. We need to return to the means of obtaining as quickly as possible, because that term was too long," said Hughes.
But Hull boss Brown is looking to pile on the misery when they meet.
"There are a lot of pressure on Mark Hughes and I hope that we can to this complex situation with a good performance," said Brown.
"It will be a game difficult, a tough - Man City were supposed to be in the top six at the start of the season."
Blackburn are second from bottom in the table but go into their match with Sunderland BUOY by their victory over the weekend Stoke - their first match under new manager Sam Allardyce.
The future of Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz is the subject of recent speculation Paraguay and misses the match with a calf injury.
Ricky Sbragia is currently in charge of the Black Cats after the departure of Roy Keane - Allardyce and supports the man who was a member of his coaching staff in Bolton to land the job permanently.
"He keeps saying he does not want the job, but I think with the experience he has gained over many years in many clubs, it is more capable than it takes a dabble," said Allardyce said.
"I've always been a very good coach, but if this work is long, I seriously consider if I were him, I would not be rejected."
West Ham is one place above the relegation zone and ahead of their match with Portsmouth manager Gianfranco Zola denied that he might be forced to sell players during the transfer window.
Players such as Craig Bellamy has been linked with other clubs, but Zola said: "For me, no, they will not be underway. The club have told me I will not be selling these players.
"I would be very annoyed if we did."
The day after Christmas other fixtures in the Premier League Newcastle travel to see Wigan, Middlesbrough and Everton visit Entertain Fulham Tottenham at White Hart Lane on a rare day when all 20 parties are in action.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has warned his players to forget all about Christmas.
"Christmas in the enjoyment of food and beverages is out of the window, as far as I'm concerned," said Boro boss.
by bbcnews.
"He keeps saying he does not want the job, but I think with the experience he has gained over many years in many clubs, it is more capable than it takes a dabble," said Allardyce said.
"I've always been a very good coach, but if this work is long, I seriously consider if I were him, I would not be rejected."
West Ham is one place above the relegation zone and ahead of their match with Portsmouth manager Gianfranco Zola denied that he might be forced to sell players during the transfer window.
Players such as Craig Bellamy has been linked with other clubs, but Zola said: "For me, no, they will not be underway. The club have told me I will not be selling these players.
"I would be very annoyed if we did."
The day after Christmas other fixtures in the Premier League Newcastle travel to see Wigan, Middlesbrough and Everton visit Entertain Fulham Tottenham at White Hart Lane on a rare day when all 20 parties are in action.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has warned his players to forget all about Christmas.
"Christmas in the enjoyment of food and beverages is out of the window, as far as I'm concerned," said Boro boss.
by bbcnews.
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