TEAM NEWS: Terry & Torres start for Chelsea at Southampton
The Blues skipper starts his first Premier League game since the 3-2 defeat to Newcastle in February, while Eden Hazard is named on the bench and Juan Mata misses out completely
Fernando Torres
2013-03-30 14:25:00
TEAM NEWS: Kompany & Yaya Toure return for Manchester City against Newcastle
The centre-back is available for the first time in two months, although Sergio Aguero is not fit enough to start, while Vurnon Anita & Gabriel Obertan feature for the visitors
Yaya Touré
2013-03-30 14:30:00
Sunderland 0-1 Manchester United: Bramble own goal sees leaders grab seventh-straight league win
The Red Devils are closing in on a 20th title and comfortably took three points away from the Stadium of Light thanks to the defender's unfortunate first-half intervention
England
2013-03-30 14:38:00
Villa boosted by Bent return
Aston Villa have been boosted by Darren Bent's recovery from a foot injury - and the striker could be involved when they play Liverpool at Villa Park on Sunday. Bent, 29, has been out since February after suffering the injury in training, and his recovery has also been hampered by flu. But manager Paul Lambert said the forward, who has struggled for first team opportunities this season thanks to the form of Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann, was back to fitness. "Benty is back training," he said. "He had a little flu bug there for the last few days, but I think he is OK." The manager urged his young defenders to play with "common sense" as they face the challenge of stopping Liverpool's man of the season Luis Suarez. Villa have climbed out of the relegation zone thanks to consecutive wins over basement rivals Reading and Queens Park Rangers, but have been plagued by individual defensive errors this season. Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker and Joe Bennett have all been punished for mistakes in the last three games - and the consequences of any such charity with Suarez around are obvious. "It's very rare you can take a risk," Lambert said. "Just play common sense and safety first. Don't take a chance. "Because they are young they may try things but, if you make a mistake, you always learn from it. Play with your head. "Suarez is a great footballer and must be in the running, with Robin van Persie and Gareth Bale, for the awards. He's a top player, outstanding. "You have to be aware of him and the way he plays, but the lads know what they are up against with him." Lambert, meanwhile, gave an upbeat update on his good friend and former Celtic team-mate Stiliyan Petrov a year after the Bulgarian was diagnosed with leukaemia. "He is doing great," he said. "He has been a big, big loss to us. I can't imagine what he has been through with this." The manager indicated that Petrov could be in ine for a future coaching role at Villa, saying: "He would like to work with the young kids. I don't think he would like the stress of being a manager. "He would be great on advice and experience, but the main thing for him is to recover fully from a horrible illness. Once the time comes, we will speak to him."
My fixtures News
2013-03-30 02:00:00
Match facts : Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Head-to-head Aston Villa are looking to complete a league double over Liverpool for the first time since the inaugural Premier League season of 1992-93 - if successful they will become the third club to do the double over Liverpool this season, after West Brom and Manchester United. Villa have scored only four times in Liverpool's last 13 league visits to Villa Park. The last time they scored more than once was a 4-2 defeat in November 1998. Liverpool have beaten Villa only once in their last four league encounters, a 2-0 away win in December 2011 when Craig Bellamy and Martin Skrtel scored inside the opening 15 minutes. Aston Villa Villa have won three of their last five league matches. Prior to this they had won only four of their opening 25 games. Christian Benteke has scored six goals in his last seven league games for Villa. He is four goals away from equalling Dwight Yorke's record Premier League tally of 17 for the club in a single season. The Villans have conceded more goals after half time (37) than any other club, and their negative goal difference (-22) for the second half of matches is double that of any other team. Paul Lambert's side have conceded 56 goals this season, three goals shy of their highest ever Premier League season total of 59 set two years ago. Ciaran Clark (328) has made more defensive clearances than any other Premier League player. Liverpool Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals (26) than any other team in 2013. The Reds are yet to win a league game this season after conceding the opening goal, rescuing just four draws in 11 such instances. Brendan Rodgers's side are yet to beat a side from the Midlands in five attempts this campaign (D1, L4). Despite conceding two goals or more in six of their last nine league games, only Manchester City (13) have kept more clean sheets than Liverpool (11) this campaign. Philippe Coutinho has been involved in four goals in four starts for Liverpool in the Premier League (two goals, two assists).
My fixtures News
2013-03-30 02:00:00
Match Preview : Aston Villa vs Liverpool
New life has been breathed into Villa's season. Back-to-back wins have turned gloomy predictions of certain relegation into whispers of hope. "Three more wins should do it," a lifelong Villa fan told me this week. It's great to see confidence surging back into the club. Manager Paul Lambert is right when he says deserved points against Manchester City and Arsenal had slipped away before this mini-revival and his side will be buoyed by memories of the 3-1 win at Anfield in December. But nothing has been achieved yet. Villa are still in peril and still in need of heroes. They'll need keeper Brad Guzan to repeat his terrific performance for the USA in their shut out in Mexico this week because the Villa defence has been conceding at more than 2.3 goals a game recently and hasn't kept a clean sheet since before Christmas. They'll need Christian Benteke and Andy Weimann to break as quickly and decisively as they did at Anfield, when Liverpool actually bossed over 72% of possession and still lost. Villa have enough goalscoring threats to get out of trouble, that's for sure. Gabby Agbonlahor needs just one to equal Dwight Yorke's record of 60 for the club in the Premier League. He's netted in his last two games but hasn't scored in three in a row since 2009. Benteke has been one of the players of the season. Weimann is improving all the time and is reported to interest Liverpool among others as he enters the last year of his contract. The atmosphere will be rocking - Villa Park just like the old days. But history is littered with Liverpool wins there. Villa have beaten them just once in 14 home games since 1998. Liverpool recently went eight years unbeaten against the Midlands club home and away. Lambert's team are trying to win a third game on the spin for the first time in three years, but a word of caution: Liverpool have won four of their last five games in all competitions. Steven Gerrard has been in brilliant form and Luis Suarez, with his 28 goals, would be a hot favourite for Footballer of the Year if it wasn't for his dubious reputation. The long journey back from South American World Cup qualifiers may have jaded him but I'll still take him to score. Villa's resurgence may be halted here. But a point could prove so very precious. A draw for me!
My fixtures News
2013-03-30 02:00:00
Match facts : Arsenal vs Reading
Head-to-head Arsenal and Reading have already met twice this season, with the two games at the Madejski Stadium producing an incredible 19 goals. The Gunners won 7-5 to reach the Capital One Cup quarter-finals in October (despite being 4-0 down after 37 minutes), and then won 5-2 in the league in December. Arsenal have a 100% record against Reading, winning all 11 times they have met in league and cup. Arsenal Arsenal have won four of their last five Premier League matches. Among top-flight clubs, only leaders Manchester United have been in better form than Arsenal over their last eight league matches. The Gunners have led at half-time in seven Premier League matches this season - and have gone on to win them all. According to Opta, Arsenal have scored six goals on the counter-attack this season, more than any other club in the Premier League. Reading Reading have lost their last five Premier League matches. They have the worst away record in the top flight, earning just five points from a possible 45. The Royals have conceded 57 goals, more than any other Premier League side. Reading have the worst second-half record in the top flight; Arsenal have the best.
My fixtures News
2013-03-30 02:00:00
Match facts : Southampton vs Chelsea
Head-to-head Southampton lost 5-1 at home to Chelsea in the FA Cup third round in January. Eleven days later they fought back from 2-0 down to earn a point at Stamford Bridge, but it wasn't enough to spare Nigel Adkins the sack. Chelsea are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings with Southampton (W4, D3) since a 4-2 home defeat on New Year's Day 2002. The Saints last won this fixture at home in November 2000, when James Beattie scored the winner at The Dell with a 25-yard free-kick in stoppage time. Southampton They have earned 14 points from 11 games in 2013 (W3, D5, L3) and won two of their eight games under Mauricio Pochettino. However, they have surrendered a league-high 27 points from winning positions this season. The Saints have scored an unrivalled five own goals in the Premier League this season. Their tally of 42 Premier League goals this season is bettered only by the current top seven. Rickie Lambert is in line for his 500th career league appearance. He is the highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season with 13 goals, one ahead of Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney. Chelsea Chelsea have won successive league matches - and kept consecutive clean sheets - for the first time in 2013. They have only earned one point from their last three away matches. The Blues have opened the scoring in 19 league matches this season, more than any other team. Frank Lampard has scored 200 goals for Chelsea, two behind Bobby Tambling's club record tally. He has scored four goals in his last four league matches against Southampton. Juan Mata is the first player to both score and assist 10 or more goals in the Premier League this season.
My fixtures News
2013-03-30 02:00:00
Match Preview : Southampton vs Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino may have won only two of eight games in charge of Southampton but, coming against Manchester City and Liverpool, those two wins have added some serious lustre to the early weeks of the Argentine's career in England. A win over Chelsea would complete an impressive hat-trick of scalps at St Mary's. Pochettino has done pretty well since he came to Southampton, but don't forget that they were doing fine already and that Nigel Adkins's last game in charge was a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. I don't think they would have been relegated with Adkins in charge and I don't think they'll be relegated now. Rickie Lambert must agree - he's signed a two-year contract extension since the Saints last played. If Southampton seem a picture of relative harmony despite a managerial change, then Chelsea represent a diametric opposite. Amidst all the rancour, unpleasantness and infighting, Rafa Benitez may yet leave the Bridge with a couple of trophy wins and a Champions League qualification added to his CV; his hide must be of elephantine thickness. Chelsea have lurched this way and that under Benitez. They have put in some very poor displays indeed (Swansea, Brentford, Manchester City, Steaua Bucharest), but have also caught the eye with some terrific days (Villa, Arsenal, Stoke, Manchester United). Juan Mata's excellence has been just about the only constant in Chelsea's season. What of next season? The Chelsea fans' dream scenario might well be that the prodigal Portuguese returns, insisting on a new contract for Frank Lampard as a condition of his arrival, and that they sign a reliable goalscorer, a rock solid central defender and a Makelele-like midfield metronome. All, or none, of the above could happen, who knows? As usual the inscrutable Roman Abramovich's lips are sealed.
My fixtures News
2013-03-30 02:00:00
Match facts : Sunderland vs Manchester United
Head-to-head Sunderland have only beaten United once in the Premier League in 23 attempts. That was a 2-1 win at Roker Park in March 1997 - their first season in the Premier League. The Blacks Cats have only earned four draws out of those 23 Premier League matches, with United winning 18 times. Sunderland They have only taken three points from the last 21 available. Martin O'Neill's side have gained just six points from losing positions this season - only Fulham (four points) have fared worse. Danny Graham has gone 369 minutes without a league goal. Manchester United United have now gone 537 minutes in the Premier League without conceding a goal. They have equalled the most ever victories after 29 matches of a top-flight season (24 wins), along with Tottenham in 1960-61 and Chelsea in 2005-06. If they maintain their points-per-game ratio, they will break Chelsea's record for most Premier League points (95 in 2004-05). Wayne Rooney has been involved in 21 goals in as many Premier League appearances this term (12 goals, nine assists).