Jan
9
BPL Team News and Stats
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Saturday, January 10
Arsenal (5) v Bolton (11)
Arsenal will be without defensive duo William Gallas (hamstring) and Mikael Silvestre (thigh) as the pair face three weeks on the sidelines. Centre-back Kolo Toure (groin) and midfielder Denilson (back) return after missing the FA Cup win over Plymouth, along with full-back Gael Clichy (calf) and Alex Song, who was suspended.
Bolton captain Kevin Nolan and defender Gretar Steinsson are suspended and centre-back Gary Cahill could remain sidelined after missing the past two games with rib and hip injuries. However, midfielder Gavin McCann is available after suspension.
Last season: Bolton 2 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 2 Bolton 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal W D D D W; Bolton L L W L L
Top scorers: Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 12; Kevin Davies, Johan Elmander & Matt Taylor (Bolton) 5
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Aston Villa (4) v West Brom (20)
Villa midfielder Gareth Barry (groin) and defender Luke Young (hamstring) could return. Defenders Martin Laursen and Carlos Cuellar are making progress from knee and hamstring problems respectively although tomorrow’s clash may come too soon for the pair.
James Morrison (groin), Gianni Zuiverloon (knee) and Felipe Teixeira (calf) have returned to training after injury but Albion boss Tony Mowbray will see if there is any reaction ahead of the trip. Abdoulaye Meite remains a doubt with a hamstring problem but Mowbray claims Ryan Donk remains part of his plans - despite reports that the on-loan Alkmaar defender was heading back to Holland.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W W D W; West Brom D L W L W
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 10; Craig Beattie & Roman Bednar (West Brom) 6
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
Everton (6) v Hull (8)
Everton midfielder Segundo Castillo comes into contention following a hamstring injury. Striker Victor Anichebe appears to have recovered from a back problem but manager David Moyes may opt to play Tim Cahill up front again and recall midfielder Marouane Fellaini to the team.
Hull boss Phil Brown is set to restore a number of his players. Captain Ian Ashbee, goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, midfielders Nick Barmby and Bernard Mendy and defender Kamil Zayatte were all rested for last week’s goalless draw with Newcastle in the FA Cup. Anthony Gardner (thigh), Andy Dawson (Achilles) and Caleb Folan (knee) could be back in contention for the Newcastle replay next Wednesday.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Everton L W D W W; Hull W D L L L
Top scorers: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 5; Geovanni (Hull) 6
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Fulham (9) v Blackburn (19)
Cottagers midfielder Jimmy Bullard, who has missed the last two games due to a dead leg and illness, is now struggling with a groin injury. Simon Davies has been suffering with an illness this week but is expected to be available, Zoltan Gera is fit after a calf injury and Andranik Teymourian (knee) is in full training but will not be risked.
Manchester City target Roque Santa Cruz is again unavailable for Rovers due to a calf injury. Midfielder David Dunn (hamstring) is another absentee but the defence is strengthened as Andre Ooijer and Ryan Nelsen return from suspension. Striker Matt Derbyshire and midfielder Martin Olsson are doubtful through illness.
Last season: Blackburn 1 Fulham 1, Fulham 2 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Fulham D D W D D; Blackburn L L W D D
Top scorers: Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 6; Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 7
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Middlesbrough (17) v Sunderland (15)
Stewart Downing is expected to be included in Boro’s squad after having his transfer request refused. Julio Arca is available after missing the FA Cup victory over Barrow through suspension, while Mohamed Shawky may be included following his recovery from illness. But Gary O’Neil (hamstring) is a doubt and Jeremie Aliadiere is out for between six and eight weeks with ankle ligament damage.
Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson (ankle) will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness after limping out of the FA Cup victory over Bolton. Phil Bardsley and Steed Malbranque were rested for that game because they are both on four yellow cards for the season, but could return. Midfielder Grant Leadbitter has returned to light training after a hamstring injury, but this game could come too soon.
Last season: Sunderland 3 Middlesbrough 2, Middlesbrough 2 Sunderland 2
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L D L L L; Sunderland L W W D L
Top scorers: Afonso Alves & Mido (Middlesbrough) 5; Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 9
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Newcastle (14) v West Ham (10)
Charles N’Zogbia is expected to shake off a dead leg and Shola Ameobi is recovering from a hamstring problem - but Newcastle are without midfielder Nicky Butt (suspension), Danny Guthrie (flu), Habib Beye (ankle) and Obafemi Martins (hernia). Joey Barton (knee) and Alan Smith (foot) have returned to training but are several weeks away from returns, while Claudio Cacapa (knee) and Igancio Gonzalez are still out.
Gianfranco Zola has Valon Behrami, Lucas Neill and Matthew Upson available after they sat out West Ham’s FA Cup win over Barnsley, while Scott Parker returns from suspension. Kieron Dyer could feature among the replacements, although he is still some way short of full match fitness.
Last season: West Ham 2 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 3 West Ham 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle D W W L L; West Ham L D L W W
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Newcastle) 9; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 7
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Portsmouth (12) v Man City (13)
England defender Glen Johnson makes his comeback from an ankle injury at the expense of Martin Cranie. Papa Bouba Diop (knee), Richard Hughes (hamstring) and Jerome Thomas (back) remain sidelined while manager Tony Adams will again name Peter Crouch as a lone striker.
City’s new signing Wayne Bridge is expected to make his debut at left-back. Nedum Onuoha has recovered from a hamstring problem but doubts remain over forward Robinho (thigh) while midfielder Stephen Ireland is suspended. Midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips is out for two to three weeks with a hamstring strain.
Last season: Man City 3 Portsmouth 1, Portsmouth 0 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D L L L L; Man City D L L W D
Top scorers: Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 12; Robinho (Man City) 12
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Stoke (18) v Liverpool (1)
Midfielder Matthew Etherington is expected to make his Stoke debut after arriving from West Ham this week. Manager Tony Pulis has promised to shake up his side following the FA Cup defeat by League One side Hartlepool. Striker Richard Cresswell is available again after suspension while Dave Kitson could get another run-out following knee problems as Ricardo Fuller remains banned.
Fernando Torres is expected to start for Liverpool but full-back Alvaro Arbeloa (hamstring) is unlikely to be involved. Midfielder Javier Mascherano has overcome an ankle knock, Fabio Aurelio is expected to return at left-back, with teenager Emiliano Insua on international duty for Argentina Under-20s. Midfielder Xabi Alonso has been ruled out with a foot injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke D D L L L; Liverpool W D D W W
Top scorers: Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 6; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 13
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Sunday, January 11
Man Utd (3) v Chelsea (2)
Rio Ferdinand returns for United after four games out with a back injury. Apart from Wes Brown and long-term casualty Owen Hargreaves United have a full-strength squad available as Patrice Evra is back after a four-match ban.
Chelsea welcome back captain John Terry and midfielder Michael Ballack from suspension. Winger Florent Malouda is out with a hamstring injury but goalkeeper Petr Cech, rested against Southend, should return.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W D W W; Chelsea W D D W D
Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 10; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Oct
19
BPL Saturday Review
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It was another high octane day in England’s top-flight with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all winning.
Liverpool and Arsenal both kept up the chase in the Premier League title race with come-from-behind wins on Saturday, just hours after leaders Chelsea had sauntered to victory over Middlesbrough.
Dirk Kuyt saved Liverpool’s blushes at Anfield where they twice trailed but went on to beat Wigan 3-2.
The Holland striker’s acrobatic volley with five minutes left sailed past former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to give the Reds all three points.
Amr Zaki had looked to have bagged the win for Wigan with his sixth and seventh league goals of the season.
He scored a blistering acrobatic effort on the stroke of half-time to give Wigan the lead after giving the visitors the lead on 28 minutes after a mistake by Daniel Agger.
The defender made up for his error eight minutes before half-time when he went on a surging run down the right flank before cutting inside and squaring to Dirk Kuyt who turned the ball home.
Albert Riera levelled the scores with 10 minutes left before Kuyt secured the win.
Arsenal also came from behind to snatch all three points at the Emirates where they faced Everton.
Second-half substitute Theo Walcott ensured all three points in the dying minutes after a one-two with Abou Diaby to make it 3-1.
Everton had taken the lead after a well-taken goal from Leon Osman after 10 minutes but Arsenal hit back through Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie before Walcott sealed the win.
In the lunchtime kick-off, Chelsea had briefly gone clear at the top of the table after thumping Middlesbrough 5-0 at the Riverside.
Luiz Felipe Scolari made the long trip north without eight of his first-team regulars but his squad’s strength in depth was clear to see as they condemned Boro to the heaviest defeat of Gareth Southgate’s reign.
The visitors dominated the first half and went in at the break 1-0 up after a 14th-minute goal from Salomon Kalou.
Juliano Belletti doubled Chelsea’s lead in emphatic style six minutes after the break when he hammered a swerving 35-yard strike past Ross Turnbull in the Boro goal.
Kalou made the points safe with his second when his shot took a wicked deflection off Middlesbrough defender David Wheater.
Frank Lampard gave Scolari further reason to be cheerful when he turned in Chelsea’s fourth with a close-range header after a slick move between Kalou and Nicolas Anelka.
Florent Malouda then pounced from three yards out after an Anelka strike squirmed through Turnbull’s hands to complete the rout with 66 minutes on the clock.
Later Manchester United also posted a comfortable win, four second-half goals giving them a 4-0 victory over West Brom.
The Baggies offered some stiff resistance in the opening 45 minutes which saw Wayne Rooney have a goal controversially chalked off.
However, it was Rooney who did put United ahead shortly after the break and that opened the floodgates.
Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the advantage before Dimitar Berbatov netted his first Premier League goal to make it 3-0.
Nani put the seal on victory with a late fourth to push United into the top four for the first time this season - six points behind Chelsea and Liverpoool but with a game in hand.
Sunderland boss Roy Keane will feel aggrieved that his side did not come away from Craven Cottage with more than a point after a 0-0 draw against Fulham.
Kieran Richardson saw his first-half free-kick ricochet agonisingly off both posts and had a similar second-half free-kick ruled out for pushing in the wall.
Djibril Cisse also rattled the woodwork with a late strike, but Fulham held on for the draw.
Aston Villa played out a goalless draw with Portsmouth at Villa Park.
John Carew came closest to scoring for the hosts but to David James’ relief, his last-gasp strike struck the bar and sailed over.
Brad Friedel pulled off an impressive save to deny Sean Davis after three minutes and both sides failed to break the deadlock thereafter.
It was the same story at the Reebok where Bolton’s game with Blackburn ended in a goalless stalemate.
Robbie Fowler made his first start for the visitors after Roque Santa Cruz was ruled out through injury, but the former Liverpool striker could not find the net.
Bolton’s best chance came from Jlloyd Samuel on the hour but his shot looped over Paul Robinson after an intervention from Chris Samba.
Oct
12
Fitness deadline for Terry
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John Terry will only have one training session to prove his fitness to Fabio Capello ahead of England’s trip to Belarus. 
Captain Terry missed the 5-1 victory over Kazakhstan at Wembley on Saturday with a back problem which first flared up during Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League draw with CFR Cluj.
With the Three Lions flying out to Minsk on Tuesday morning, the influential centre-back is facing a race against time to convince the Italian that he is ready for 90 minutes of international action.
Rio Ferdinand took the armband in Terry’s absence at the weekend with Matthew Upson drafted into the side, but the West Ham centre-back looked nervous at times.
Football Association director of communications Adrian Bevington confirmed that Terry was due to train with his team-mates on Monday, after which a decision would be made over whether he will travel with the squad.
Oct
9
Ferdinand set to captain England
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Rio Ferdinand could be handed the chance to lead his country once again when England play Kazakhstan on Saturday.
Current England captain John Terry is a major doubt for the World Cup qualifier, potentially paving the way for Manchester United’s Ferdinand to don the Three Lions armband.
Ferdinand, who admits he will consider his England career a disappointment if he does not win some silverware with his country, narrowly missed out on being handed the armband by Fabio Capello in August but is standing by to take over if the Chelsea man fails to shake off his back problem.
Terry has been troubled by the back complaint since a recurrence against CFR Cluj last week and while he was able to play a partial role in training on Wednesday after missing Tuesday’s session, he did not complete it all.
While the Football Association have yet to officially rule Terry out of the match, reports suggest the likes of Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott are already being readied to start on Saturday, and could even be required for the match with Belarus next week.
Emile Heskey is expected to be involved despite sitting out training on Wednesday with a back injury.
If called upon to lead the side, Ferdinand will be hoping to oversee two wins and help push England closer to a competition he is desperate to win.
The Manchester United defender has always said he will assess his success in the game by the number of trophies in his cabinet when he finally decides to retire.
Oct
8
Waddle wants Walcott out
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Chris Waddle has called for Arsenal’s Theo Walcott to be sensationally dropped for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The Arsenal teenager is expected to be one of the first names on Fabio Capello’s teamsheet for the matches against Kazakhstan and Belarus following his hat-trick in Croatia last month.
But Waddle, a star of England’s march to the semi-finals of Italia 90, remains unconvinced that Walcott has the guile to break down defence-minded opposition and has called for in-form Shaun Wright-Phillips to take his place on the right flank.
“When a match is tight and teams are sitting on the 18-yard box and defending deeply, he needs to develop another side to his game to break down the opposition,” Waddle told the Daily Mail.
“Despite his hat-trick, Walcott began the match very poorly in Croatia. He couldn’t control the ball, he looked very edgy and nervous. I would even go so far as to say that I wouldn’t necessarily pick him on the right flank against Kazakhstan and Belarus.
“If Capello uses injured Joe Cole’s absence to make room for Steven Gerrard, then I think Manchester City’s Shaun Wright-Phillips is a better bet than the Arsenal man.
“Everybody has been talking about Robinho, but Wright-Phillips has been the best player by far in a Manchester City shirt since his return to the club.
“I would definitely start him in the next two games.
“I know it sounds surprising after Walcott’s hat-trick in Zagreb, but, if there is room for only one of them, I hope Capello leaves the Arsenal youngster on the bench.”
Oct
7
Cruciate damage for Skrtel
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Liverpool have confirmed defender Martin Skrtel damaged his posterior cruciate ligament against Manchester City. 
The amount of time the Slovakia international is facing on the treatment table remains unknown, although it is unlikely he will be available to manager Rafa Benitez anytime soon.
The Reds centre-back is now due to visit a knee specialist where the exact timeframe required for his recovery will be discovered.
“Martin underwent a scan this morning (Monday) which showed damage to the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee,” said club spokesman Ian Cotton told the club’s official website.
Oct
4
English duo seal victory
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Paul Ince discovered who the real `guv’nor’ is as Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson engineered a 2-0 win.
The nickname Ince attached to himself as a player is more suited to Ferguson given the enormous number of trophies he has acquired in a stellar managerial career.
And the view from his Blackburn technical area was an unpleasant picture for Ince as United sauntered to victory thanks to a goal in each half from Wes Brown and Wayne Rooney.
With just one win from their previous six visits to Blackburn, United were not expecting an easy ride and, for the opening 25 minutes at least, they were not disappointed.
But it was United who prospered, Darren Fletcher failing to convert and Dimitar Berbatov again the architect as Ryan Giggs’ angled drive was tipped onto the bar by Rovers keeper Jason Brown.
The opener had controversy about it. TV replays proved there had been a collision between the keeper and Nemanja Vidic but also that the Serbian had never taken his eyes off the ball.
There was further irony in that Rooney was a major doubt on Friday, only to come through a fitness test on the ankle he injured in Denmark on Tuesday and then supply the cross which, with namesake Jason on the deck, Wes Brown steered home at the far post.
Cristiano Ronaldo made the second, surging past Martin Olsson after collecting Brown’s short pass by the touchline.
And, having charged into open space, Ronaldo was able to take his time and pick out Rooney, who produced an unstoppable first-time finish that flashed into the Blackburn goal. Substitute Carlos Tevez struck a post late on but the points were already won.
Oct
3
New deals for United duo
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Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher have committed their futures to Manchester United after signing new contracts with the Old Trafford outfit. 
Veteran midfielder Scholes has put pen-to-paper on a one-year deal, while in-form Fletcher has been rewarded for some bright displays with a contract that binds him to the club for a further three years.
Scholes turns 34 next month and is currently sidelined for the next 10 weeks with a knee injury, but Sir Alex Ferguson has been quick to renew the services of one of his best-ever players.
Oct
2
Kinnear reveals Ashley talks
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Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear has revealed that he may be at Geordie helm for longer than he had at first thought.
The 61-year-old, who was drafted in as interim manager last Friday, knows his stay at St James’ Park will be finite. However, as efforts continue to push through a sale, Kinnear hinted he could be at the helm for a little longer than first thought.
Asked if his stay could be permanent, Kinnear said: “I don’t think so, to be honest, because I know for a fact Mike is talking to eight consortiums.”
He added: “I don’t know the outcome of those. I haven’t got a time-scale on it, so I don’t really know what the outcome is.
“But I know he is in talks with at least eight consortiums because he has told me that himself.
“Who they are, what they are, when it will happen, there is no time-scale on it.
“I am contracted for eight games, but I assume that should due diligence and the deals go on a little bit longer, it may run into 10 or 12 games.”
It is understood prospectuses of sale - an official document detailing the club’s current financial position - have been sent out to seven interested parties with consortia from Nigeria and South Africa among the most prominent.
However, the potential purchasers have all had to sign a confidentiality clause to prevent those figures being made public.
The Nigerian group has made no secret of its interest, while the South Africans had kept their own counsel until Thursday when a report named and quoted Jonathan Cleland, a South African-raised Scot, as its head.
Oct
2
England handed Rooney injury lift
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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is expected to be fit for England’s next two World Cup qualifiers.
Rooney, 22, injured his ankle during United’s 3-0 Champions League victory away at Aalborg on Tuesday and was stretchered off during the second half. 
He is a doubt for United’s Premier League game against Blackburn on Saturday, but should be fit to take his place in Fabio Capello’s England squad.
They host Kazakhstan on 11 October and travel to Belarus four days later.
A United spokesman told the club’s website: “Wayne has an ankle injury and is doubtful for Saturday, but he should recover in time for England’s forthcoming matches.”
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United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be relieved Rooney has not suffered ligament damage as he will already be without influential midfielder Paul Scholes for 10 weeks.
Scholes, 33, damaged his medial knee ligaments in the same game and was stretchered off after only 16 minutes in Denmark.